Rick James – Super Freak

Single: Super Freak – #16 in US
Album: Street Songs.
Released: 1981.
Songwriter(s): Rick James; Alonzo Miller.
Label: Gordy.

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Rick James (born James Ambrose Johnson Jr. February 1, 1948 – August 6, 2004) was an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer.

“Super Freak” was the biggest pop hit for Rick James, reaching #16 in the US. He had just modest success on the Hot 100 but had four #1 R&B hits and secured a legend as a prolific producer and innovator of funk. The big R&B hit from the album was “Give It to Me Baby”; “Super Freak” made #3.

The famous bass line in this song was sampled by MC Hammer for his biggest hit, “U Can’t Touch This.” James filed suit against Hammer, which ended in an out-of-court settlement giving James a songwriting credit on the track. This resulted in James’ only Grammy Award when “U Can’t Touch This” won in 1991 for Best R&B Song.

This was released on Motown Records, and featured backup vocals by The Temptations, something James points out in the song when he screams: “Temptations sing.” One of their members, Melvin Franklin, was Rick James’ uncle.

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