Wonderful is the 10th studio album by American musician Rick James, released in 1988 via Reprise Records.[1][2] It includes the hit song "Loosey's Rap", which topped the US R&B Charts.[3][4]
| Wonderful | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 5, 1988 | |||
| Recorded | 1987–88 | |||
| Length | 52:21 | |||
| Label | Reprise | |||
| Producer | Rick James | |||
| Rick James chronology | ||||
| ||||
The album peaked at No. 148 on the Billboard 200.[5]
Production edit
James wrote and produced the album.[6]
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [7] |
| Robert Christgau | C+[8] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [9] |
| Los Angeles Times | [10] |
| Orlando Sentinel | [11] |
| The Philadelphia Inquirer | [12] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [13] |
The Orlando Sentinel wrote that "despite the dumb lyrics, Wonderful sports some great dance-party music."[11] The Los Angeles Times praised "Loosey's Rap", writing that featured rapper Roxanne Shanté is "tougher than a truckload of leather-wearing Mary Jane Girls, and her B-girl boasting—which she sounds fully capable of backing up—makes her a formidable foil for James and his sly, teasing innuendoes."[10]
Track listing edit
All tracks composed by Rick James.
- "Wonderful" – 4:19
- "Judy" – 4:58
- "Loosey's Rap" (duet with Roxanne Shanté) – 3:54
- "So Tight" – 4:28
- "Sexual Luv Affair" – 5:13
- "Love's Fire" – 4:43
- "I Believe in U" – 5:53
- "In the Girls' Room" – 4:41
- "Hypnotize" – 4:19
- "Sherry Baby" – 4:43
- "Hot Summer Nights" (duet with Chrissi Scinta) – 5:10
Note
- Track 11 available on CD only.
Personnel edit
Adapted from the album's liner notes.[14]
- Rick James – lead vocals, backing vocals, bass guitar, drums, percussion, keyboards
Stone City Band:
- Levi Ruffin, Jr. – strings, synthesizer, backing vocals
- Tom McDermott – lead guitar
- William Echols – bass guitar
- Gregory Treadwell – keyboards, strings
- Kenny Hawkins – guitar
- Val Young – backing vocals
- Jackie Ruffin – backing vocals
Other musicians
- Roxanne Shanté – rapping (track 3)
- Chrissi Scinta – vocals (track 11)
Production edit
- Produced and arranged by Rick James
- Mixing engineers: Rick James, Bruce Kane and Levi Ruffin, Jr.
- Assistant engineer: Michael Nally
- Recorded and mixed at The Joint Studios, Buffalo, New York
- Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York by Jack Skinner
- Album coordinators: Levi Ruffin, Jr and Ann Mabin
- Art Direction and design: Mary Ann "My Thang" Dibs
- Cover concept: Rick James
- Photography: Caroline Greyshock, Stuart Watson
- Executive producer: Benny Medina
- A&R management: Karen Jones
References edit
- ^ "Rick James | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ Thompson, Dave (May 14, 2001). "Funk". Hal Leonard Corporation – via Google Books.
- ^ Aaron, Charles (August 8, 2014). "Rick James: 10 Essential Tracks". Rolling Stone.
- ^ Baker, Soren (October 2, 2018). "The History of Gangster Rap: From Schoolly D to Kendrick Lamar, the Rise of a Great American Art Form". Abrams – via Google Books.
- ^ "Chart History Rick James". Billboard. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
- ^ Wilker, Deborah (10 July 1988). "RICK JAMES STILL HAS TOUCH". Sun Sentinel. p. 3F.
- ^ "Wonderful - Rick James | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ Robert Christgau Review
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 571.
- ^ a b Johnson, Connie (11 Sep 1988). "RICK JAMES 'Wonderful'". Los Angeles Times. Calendar. p. 70.
- ^ a b Cote, Mike (24 July 1988). "RICK JAMES". Orlando Sentinel. Calendar. p. 7.
- ^ Tucker, Ken (10 July 1988). "Rick James Wonderful". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. I12.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 359.
- ^ Wonderful (liner notes). Rick James. Reprise. 1988.
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