Street Songs | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | April 7, 1981 | |||
Recorded | December 1980 – January 1981 | |||
Studio | the Record Plant, in Sausalito, California and Motown / Hitsville U.S.A. Recording Studios, Hollywood, California | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 34:45 | |||
Label | Gordy | |||
Producer | Rick James | |||
Rick James chronology | ||||
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Singles from Street Songs | ||||
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Street Songs is the fifth studio album by American musician Rick James, released in April 1981 on Gordy Records. It contained two of James's biggest hits: the singles "Give It to Me Baby" and "Super Freak".
"Give It to Me Baby", the lead single from the album, became James's second number one single on the R&B chart, spending five weeks at the top spot. The next single, "Super Freak", was an even bigger hit, reaching number 16 on the Billboard Top 100.
A Deluxe Edition was released in 2001 containing an additional 17 mixes and live versions of the album tracks. Although the song "Fire and Desire" (a duet he performed with singer Teena Marie) was not originally released as a single, the song itself received much airplay on R&B radio stations and has since become a classic hit. James and Marie would reunite to perform the song at the 2004 BET Awards 5 weeks before James' death.
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Robert Christgau | A−[3] |
The album became an immediate success upon its release, eventually reaching number three on the US Pop chart—James's highest-charting album during his career—and spending twenty weeks at number one on the US R&B chart. The album was certified platinum in the US in July 1981.[4] By 1983, the album had sold nearly 4 million copies worldwide.[5] At the 1982 Grammys, James was nominated for Best Male Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance for the album while being the first African American male artist to be nominated in the Best Male Rock Vocal Performance category for the song "Super Freak".[6]
All tracks composed and arranged by Rick James, except where noted.
Side A
Side B
Disc one
Disc two (Recorded Live at Long Beach, California, July 30, 1981)
Performers
Musicians
Weekly charts[edit]
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Year-end charts[edit]
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Year | Single | Chart positions[14] | ||
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US | US R&B |
US Dance | ||
1981 | "Give It to Me Baby" | 40 | 1 | 1 |
"Super Freak" | 16 | 3 | 1 | |
1982 | "Ghetto Life" | 102 | 38 | — |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Canada (Music Canada)[15] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[16] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |