THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

418-Rick James-Super Freak.

1981-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 2.33. When it comes to quality Funk on Motown, ‘U Can’t Touch This.’

Rick James was born James Ambrose Johnson Jr. on February 1st, 1948, in Buffalo, New York, United States, he died on August 6th, 2004, from pulmonary failure, and cardiac failure. James had suffered from drug abuse since his teens, and at the time of his death he had various health conditions including diabetes. He had also previously suffered a stroke, and a heart attack, and was fitted with a pacemaker.

Rick James joined the U.S. Navy Reserve in order to avoid being drafted in to the army, but in 1964 he deserted to Toronto, Canada, where he co-founded the R&B, and Rock band ‘The Mynah Birds,’ whose line up of 14 rotating members between 1964-1967 included Neil Young (see also best songs 602 and 599) and Bruce Palmer (1946-2004) who would go on to form Buffalo Springfield. On finding out that Johnson was a fugitive it was the Canadian Pop singer Shirley Matthews (1942-2013) who suggested he changed his name to Ricky James Matthews, after a cousin of hers who had died. The Mynah Birds were signed to Motown records, but none of their recordings on that label were officially released until 2006.

The authorities eventually caught up with Rick James, and he was sentenced to a one year prison term for desertion. After his release he started a variety of musical projects, and he finally found success in 1977 when signing with ‘Gordy Records’ a subsidiary of Motown.Rick James released 12 studio Albums between 1978-1997, there was also a posthumous release called ‘Deeper Still’ in 2007. James also had great success writing and producing for other artists on Motown including The Temptations,(see also best songs 1031-777 and 569) Teena Marie,(1956-2010) (see also best songs 735) and The Mary Jane Girls.

‘Super Freak’ was taken from Rick James’ fifth studio Album ‘Street Songs’ from 1981, and was co-written by James, and Alonzo Miller, with James producing. Miller was a Los Angeles radio DJ who modified the tone of the lyrics in order that the song had a better chance of being played to a crossover white audience. It is said that Rick James was not initially excited about the song, but reputedly wanted to have something on the Album that ‘White folks could dance to.’ Some of the backing vocals on the track were provided by The Temptations who had recently returned to Motown records.

‘Super Freak’ is about a girl who is very adventurous sexually, a ‘Freak’ is slang for someone willing to try various fetishes, thus a ‘Super Freak’ will try just about anything.

In 1990 Rick James successfully sued the American rapper MC Hammer for his sampling of this song on his 1990 Billboard Number 1 single ‘U Can’t Touch This’, having both James’ name and Miller’s added to the writing credits. In 2006 the Dutch Dance Music group ‘Beatfreakz’ covered ‘Super Freak,’ taking their version to Number 7 in the UK.

‘She’s a very kinky girl, the kind you don’t take home to mother. She will never let your spirits down, once you get her off the street.’