6 August 2007                                                   email: greatscottproductions@earthlink.net

Rick James still has “Taste”

Fans, critics and radio enjoying new CD & book

Although it was three years ago to the day that the King of Punk Funk Rick James moved to the super freaky stage beyond, a couple of the newly released projects that he left behind continue to capture the praise and attention of fans, critics and radio programmers.  The second single from the Deeper Still album, his first posthumous release, “Taste” has begun its ascent of the Urban Adult Contemporary radio charts where the autobiographical funk tale is garnering spin increases weekly.  James produced the song that he wrote with David Stark, Bryan Loren and Doug Grisby.  It’s vintage James with candid lyrics about his notorious life of excess, abuse, flamboyance, defiance, and crime contrasted with a message of divine realization.              

Released on James’ own Stone City Records label May 15^th, the eleven songs that comprise Deeper Still were recorded in James’ Los Angeles home studio and were completed shortly before his passing.  The Grammy winner produced the album and wrote or co-wrote ten new songs while his distinctive voice sounds as robust and impassioned as ever throughout.  Reviewers from coast-to-coast and from outlets ranging from Billboard to Vibe, Amazon to Ebony, Wall Street Journal to Hustler, and New York Times to his hometown Buffalo News have noticed the change in musical direction portrayed on the collection.  On some tracks, James softened or replaced his hardcore funk edge in favor of incorporating Latin rhythms or to indulge his affinity for acoustic-based singer-songwriters.  Lyrically James showed expansion as well.  In addition to a few songs certain to please fans of his trademark sexual bravado, he wrote openly about his troubled life, disclosed pain and yearning for romantic love, and revealed some newfound spiritual wisdom.  The title cut was the first single, which went top 20 on the Urban AC charts.  “Taste” is an energetic and fun upbeat groove perfect for summer.  

James envisioned Deeper Still as a double album so there are additional songs intended for this record that have not yet been released.  There are also an abundance of unreleased recordings, which may surface in the future.

May also marked the online release of the autobiography The Confessions of Rick James: Memoirs Of A Super Freak, which is due to arrive in bookstores nationwide next month from Colossus Books, an imprint of the Amber Communications Group.  James wrote the raw, unedited tome in 1993-1995 while incarcerated in California’s Folsom State Prison.  The film rights to the book were sold and writer Sheldon Turner (“The Longest Yard”) is currently developing a script from the page turner that spans five decades - from childhood, the formative years in Canada while AWOL from the U.S. military, his struggle to launch a musical career, the rise to international fame, his subsequent demise and resurrection.  Additional information is available at www.rickjames.com.         

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                     Contact: Rick Scott 310.306.0375

24 May 2007                                                     email: greatscottproductions@earthlink.net

Rick James still raising mayhem with new CD & book releases

Deeper Still reveals mellower side while Memoirs of a Super Freak reveals all

It’s fitting that two new projects arrive in May from “The King of Punk Funk” who raised considerable mayhem throughout his lifetime.  Rick James finished recording Deeper Still in his Los Angeles home studio shortly before his death in 2004.  He produced the album and wrote or co-penned ten new songs for the collection, which reveals a more sensitive side to the artist who was determined to refocus his legacy on his remarkable musical talents and pioneering achievements instead of on his flamboyant and excessive “sex, drugs and funk & soul” lifestyle.  The disc was released last week (May 15) on his Stone City Records label.  For those interested in getting a raw, honest and unedited glimpse into what his life was truly like, the autobiography James wrote while incarcerated in California’s Folsom State Prison from 1993-1995, Memoirs of a Super Freak, is available now via online book retailers and will soon be in bookstores.

Interest remains strong in the larger than life persona who behind it all was merely searching for love. 

There was no denying James’ musical genius.  Despite his catalogue of chart-topping hits that uniquely blended funk, rock, R&B, soul and pop music, he was often better known for his drug abuse, kinky sex-capades, and the violence that landed him behind bars on more than one occasion.  But in his later years, James cleaned up his life and those in his inner circle state that he was determined to again enjoy mainstream success.  The Grammy winner’s distinctive voice sounds as powerful and agile as ever on Deeper Still.  Musically, he had begun to move away from his hardcore funk edge in order to incorporate Latin rhythms and explore his long-held passion for acoustic-based singer-songwriters.  Lyrically, James held true to his promise to write about what he knew.  On many of the songs on Deeper Still, he wrote candidly about the things that happened to him, disclosed his pain and yearning for romantic love, and revealed some of the awareness that sprang from his own self-realization.    

Radio programmers have welcomed James back as the album’s title track landed in the top 20 on the Urban Adult Contemporary charts.  Critics are also embracing this different James record.  Billboard wrote, “A little salsa with your funk.  That’s one of the surprises…Rather than rely on the tried-and-true formula that brought fame and misfortune, James channels an introspective muse while expanding his musical purview…Overall, the album reveals a still rich-voiced singer and talented songwriter who was determined to mount another comeback.”  Philadelphia Daily News stated, “…Deeper Still captures a Rick James different than you might know.  Not just the wired-up, super freak, but more often a sensitive dude, sharing truths about his past (‘Taste’), celebrating strong women (‘Sapphire’), even doing nicely with a folk-filigreed David Crosby tune, ‘Guinevere.’”  Amazon described that the album “…opens wide a window on the freak-master's mindset in his final days.  The gentle title song swerves away from empty come-ons and excessive suavity to celebrate romance and (of all things) commitment…mostly Deeper Still represents a mellowing.”  Black Renaissance Exclusive concluded, “This album actually reveals more of the true artistry of James with still strong and robust vocals.  He still has the bottom-heavy funk in his soul, but the lyrical content digs deeper into the man…the album covers a gamut of emotions from romantic pain and heartache to some painful realizations.  Deeper Still is an excellent counterpiece to the ‘original bad boy’s’ autobiography that provides a deeper dimension to his life.”  Many other features and reviews are hitting now or are scheduled to appear in a slew of publications including Vibe Magazine, Ebony, Urban Network, Baltimore Sun, Tacoma News-Tribune, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and James’ hometown newspaper, the Buffalo News.   

Colossus Books, an imprint of the Amber Communications Group, is publishing Memoirs Of A Super Freak.  The film rights to the book were sold and writer Sheldon Turner (“The Longest Yard”) is currently developing a script based upon the autobiography that spans five decades - from childhood, the formative years in Canada while AWOL from the U.S. military, his struggle to launch a musical career, the rise to international fame, his subsequent demise and resurrection.  Additional information is available at www.rickjames.com.          

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                     Contact: Rick Scott 310.306.0375

18 April 2007                                                    email: greatscottproductions@earthlink.net

The Super Freak returns: new Rick James CD

& tell-all book due in May

Deeper Still was the album the King of Funk finished prior to his death

Wrote Memoirs Of A Super Freak autobiography while in prison

Just when you thought the dance floors were safe comes a tidal wave of funk from the super freak himself: Rick James.  The King of Funk had just finished recording Deeper Still at the time of his passing.  The album will finally be released May 15^th on his Stone City Records label.  James produced the disc and wrote or co-wrote ten new songs, including the title track, which is already top 20 at Urban Adult Contemporary radio.   The month of Mayhem begins with the May 1^st release of the original bad boy’s autobiography, Memoirs Of A Super Freak, a revealing, raw, salacious and brutally candid no-holds-barred autobiography penned while James was incarcerated in 1993-1995 in California’s Folsom State Prison.           

Having miraculously survived numerous trips to hell and back that were infamous for excessive drug use and addiction, an insatiable sexual appetite and kinky escapades, and violence that was part of his self-described “sex, drugs and funk & soul” lifestyle, James had cleaned up his life and was intent on refocusing his legacy on his remarkable musical talents and accomplishments.  Recording Deeper Still in 2003-2004 in his Los Angeles home studio, those in his inner circle state that James was determined to bring his music back to the mainstream and enjoy the pinnacle of success once again.  He envisioned Deeper Still as a double album consisting of twenty new songs, but it had to be pared down to a single-disc comprised of eleven tracks.  The Grammy winner’s distinctive voice sounds as rich and robust as ever on the record. 

Opening the collection with the title track, the bottom-heavy, Latin-tinged shuffling beat underscores the change in perspective for the notorious playboy: it’s a love song that offers gratitude and pledges a faithful commitment.  While known for creating a unique brand of funk, at his core James was a true singer-songwriter capable of creating and delivering songs of musical substance and depth.  He elected to breakout of the mold he was locked in by covering a song by famed singer-songwriter David Crosby.  James’ version of “Guinnevere” is as ethereal as the original yet far more soulful.  The pained “Stop It” is a plea for love from an indifferent partner.  The autobiographical “Taste” chronicles James’ life, his mistaken search for love and understanding, and concludes optimistically with a bit of self-realization.  While “Stroke” is a potent groove, again James openly divulges his tale of where he’s been and what he’s been through, but emerges as a survivor intent on returning to the top.  An R&B slow jam, “Do You Wanna Play” is an unadulterated invitation to carnal pleasures.  “Not Alone” fondly recalls a romantic relationship while traveling upon a funky, horn-powered excursion.  While the track is a sensual mid-tempo groove, “Sapphire” is a song of empowerment praising strong black women.  In the singer-songwriter vein, an acoustic guitar leads “Maybe” along a journey through romantic pain and heartache.  Mixing an inventive Latin and African rhythm, “Secrets” is another intimate cry for love in the context of a difficult relationship.  Closing in his trademark freaky style, “Funk Wit Me” has a slinky, sexy vibe.                                     

Born in Buffalo, New York, James ran away to join the Navy Reserves at age 15, but later fled to Canada to avoid the Navy.  He began his career in the late 1960s by forming several bands, including teaming with musicians who would later form Buffalo Springfield (Neil Young amongst them).  He played bass in a band called the Mynah Birds that was signed to Motown Records yet they never released a record.  James enjoyed blending rock and funk and labeled his music “punk funk.”  In 1978, Berry Gordy signed James to Motown as a solo artist and released his debut album, Come Get It, which spawned the hits “You and I” and “Mary Jane.”  Perhaps his definitive album, Street Songs, was his fifth release.  In addition to receiving multiple Grammy nominations, the album scored two #1 hits – “Give It To Me Baby” and “Super Freak.”  James discovered and nurtured artists such as Mary Jane Girls, Teena Marie and Eddie Murphy, and dueted with Marie and Smokey Robinson.  Despite his pioneering success as an artist, James became better known for his overt use of sexuality, recreational drug use, and extravagant lifestyle.  After parting with Motown, James inked with Reprise Records and topped the soul chart again with “Loosey’s Rap,” a collaboration with rapper Roxanne Shante.  In subsequent years, rappers began sampling James’ library extensively to mine new hits, none bigger than MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This,” based on “Super Freak.”  After drug and legal problems kept James in court and in jail the first half of the 1990s, he reemerged in 1997 with Urban Rapsody, with a litany of guest stars that was well-received critically.  Unfortunately around the time comedian Dave Chappelle ushered James back to the forefront of popular culture in 2004 on The Chappelle Show, James died of a heart-attack.  Additional information is available at www.rickjames.com. 

Deeper Still contains the following songs:

“Deeper Still”                            “Not Alone”

“Guinnevere”                            “Sapphire”

“Stop It”                                   “Maybe”

“Taste”                                     “Secrets”

“Stroke”                                   “Funk Wit Me”

“Do You Wanna Play”

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