By GoGoGirl (63.158.253.62) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 07:47 pm:

Hey All,

Let's give the drummer some.

I heard a song by RJ today. Can anyone guess it by me just posting a lyric?. And who backed him all the way up on the tune? He is one that we know and love well, indeed.

"And I bet you didn't know that"

http://www.rickjames.com/

By LadyMystique (216.108.198.254) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 07:51 pm:

Oh yes...my man Rick James! That lyric is from EBONY EYES off of the COLD BLOODED album released in 1985. It is a duet with Smokey Robinson.

By sly fan (63.207.60.106) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 07:52 pm:

Ebony Eyes..feat Smokey

By GoGoGirl (63.158.253.62) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 07:53 pm:

Hey All,

Now - who knew that Rick-o was the nephew of the Tempts' very own Melvin Franklin? Not I. I'll just say!

By LadyMystique (216.108.198.254) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 07:55 pm:

I knew! I keep up on him, trust me! LOL

BTW, that song is also available on the ANTHOLOGY 2-CD set, Smokey's Ultimate Collection, Rick's Ultimate Collection, and the Bustin' Out: The Very Best of Rick James 2-CD set.

By Isaiah (152.163.253.70) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 09:40 pm:

Damn, Lady M, now that's a fan!!!(smile!) One of my all-time favorite videos, this song, as well.. You Go GoGoGirl!!! I see ya holdin' it down 24/7 takin' me to heaven wit'cha bad self!!!(smile!)

Peace!
Isaiah

By Common (209.2.55.171) on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 09:55 am:

Hello everyone,

GoGoGirl- You've done it again. Rick has been one of my all time favorite entertainers. I have his first LP "Come & Get It" up until "Glow". I was so excited when I first read that he was teaming up with Smokey to do a duet. I remember the picture of them featured in jet, recording this song. I agree with Isaiah that video was really nice. It was in heavy rotation back in the day. Thanks for the memories!

Peace!

By LadyMystique (216.108.198.254) on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 09:51 pm:

Oh yeah...I do remember the video...vaguely though, but I do remember it!

By Don (68.75.191.178) on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 10:42 pm:

"Tell Me What You Want" from this same album is an awesome track f/ Billy Dee Williams, whoa.

Don

By Allen (24.31.32.197) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 09:22 pm:

I played Bass on Ebony Eyes.

: )

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 09:55 pm:

"Ebony Eyes" & "Fire And Desire" are the two best duet ballads Rick ever done, two killers in my humble opinion (smile).
S.S.

By Common (64.12.96.168) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 09:58 pm:

Allen: Did you?? Great work! It's been a while since I pulled out Rick's LPs & read the liner notes. I do recall seeing your name on a couple of his LPs. 'Ebony Eyes' has always been one of my favorite RJ slow jams.

Peace!

By Allen (24.31.32.197) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 10:10 pm:

Common, I sure did. I also played synth on the title track "Cold Blooded". Somehow, it slipped Rick's mind when he did the credits.

: )

By Tim D (64.12.96.102) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 09:12 am:

Allen...Have been trying to find you...Could you email me at iconspen@aol.com? tim

By Common (64.12.96.102) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 12:42 pm:

Allen: Thanks for the 411. Do you keep in touch with the members of the Stone City Band or the backup singers that used to record & tour with Rick? And do you plan on working with Rick anytime in the near future?

Peace!

By 1Wicked (24.126.64.72) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 03:58 pm:

Hey GoGoGirl:
Nice thread...but ya know Rick hated any "P-Funk" references. Though "You & I" sounded like it could well have come from a George Clinton project, Rick said his FUNK was completely different. LOL

Allen: Loved your work with Rick and Teena. Excellent "feel"...and that can add so much more to a project than "just" technical proficiency !

By - (68.42.209.170) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 11:16 pm:

At the Fox in Detroit Sunday March 21st, Rick James Teena Marie, and Morris Day.

By LadyMystique (216.222.240.137) on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 10:13 pm:

Allen that was you? EXCELLENT!

1Wicked-yeah he called his music PUNK FUNK!

By Juicefree20 (151.205.163.226) on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 12:13 pm:

Here's a little tid bit about Rick: http://www.detnews.com/2004/events/0403/23/d01-97549.htm

Juice

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 01:48 pm:

GoGo & Juice;
Good stuff, thanks for the links!!
S.S.

By brown9165 (198.26.118.37) on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 02:46 pm:

Hey Allen are you currently involved with any
projects.

By Juicefree20 (151.205.108.128) on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 03:08 pm:

Hey Sis, Anytime dear! How are you feeling?
Say hi to our fellow Cancerian Jimmy for me.
God bless!

Juice

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 03:42 pm:

Hi Juice;
Jimmy say Hello to you too. In fact, we just got back from picking up our perscriptions and guess what, I have Lipitor too just like you,LHM.
Mine is 10mg., how many is yours? Heck Juice that stuff is expensive bro.
Well have a good day.
S.S.

By Juicefree20 (68.161.48.203) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 10:33 pm:

Hey Sis, glad to hear that you & Jimmy are well. I don't know what I'll be prescribed, I see the Dr on Monday. Well, GHI will help pick up the tab.

Take care & God bless!

Juice

By Allen (24.31.32.197) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 01:46 pm:

Hello Everyone,

Common, I do make it a point to keep in touch with most of the Stone City Band. I spoke with Levi Ruffin a couple of weeks ago. I speak with Danny LaMelle often. I spoke with Oscar Alston (Ricks original Bassist) a couple of months ago.

I have much love and respect for those fella's. They and most musicians have many simularities with The Funks. They didn't do it on the same scale, but they contributed to all those hit records tremendously.

I don't know if the public knows, but Rick don't play Schitt. Thanks also for your comments on my "Feel". That's my main objective. Lord know's it ain't my chops!

Lady Mystique, yes ma'am. That was lil ole me. Glad you enjoyed it.

Brown, I have gotten bogged down in technical limbo. I am in the process of updating my gear. We do that a lot these days. I play bass. It has 4-5 strings and you generally play one note at a time. How the hell did I wind up with all these computers?

: )

By LadyMystique (216.37.228.72) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 07:25 pm:

Does Rick at least play guitar? Anyway, he is still my man!

I am waiting for another tour from them soon. I missed the tour with Rick and Teena Marie due to the snow storm.

By Allen (24.31.32.197) on Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 11:14 am:

LadyMystique,

When I said Rick doesn't play schitt, I didn't mean to belittle his musical talent. He's one of those genius' who has the ability to communicate his idea's to musicians very effectively.

He can play a little guitar and keys. Not well enough to record but enough to give a musician an idea of what he means. He is exstremely creative. He's not a great singer, but a very affective communicator.

By Common (152.163.253.70) on Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 07:27 pm:

Hello everyone,

Allan: Thank you so much for answering my questions. I was wondering what the Stone City Band has been up to lately. I had a little 'crush' on Levi & those dimples! LOL! So I thought I would ask how everyone was coming along. They are an extremely talented group of men & I hope they(and I hope you will be a part of it! ) are still continuing to keep the 'funk' alive.

I didn't know that Rick didn't play all those instruments. Yikes! I have read interviews where Rick has stated he didn't think of himself as a great singer. That's the main thing I've always liked about him: He never took himself too seriously.

Peace!

By Allen (24.31.32.197) on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 02:48 pm:

When I spoke with Levi, he mentioned that he and Rick had recently spoken. From what I was able to gather from that conversation, there's a possibility that a reunion may be possible.

Rick has mentioned it also in our last couple of conversations. But in this business you learn not to count your chickens until after you've eaten them.

I hope it happens. If it does, Oscar will hopefully be available to do it. If not, I'll see if I can. I loved playing with Rick & SCB on the "Cold Blooded" tour. I kinda miss wearing that white admiral's outfit.

: )

By Juicefree20 (68.161.49.152) on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 03:44 pm:

Hey Allen, all of these years, I thought that Rick was the man playing some BAAAAD guitar. I still have me Come Get It LP from '78, with Rick holding the guitar on the cover. You mean Bro didn't play those solos on You & I & later Ghetto Life??? Man, I'm kinda surprised to hear this. Nevertheless, you guys laced us with some funky, funky tracks & the ballads were great too. Stone City was no joke either, I always wondered why they didn't release more LPs, as their first one was pretty good.

Juice