LP Review: Throwin' Down
Released: 1982
Let’s take a moment to appreciate Rick James looking like Conan the Funky Barbarian.
Folks, Rick James has done the impossible. He released two good albums in a row! Throwin’ Down ain’t as a good as Street Songs. No surprise there since I gave Street Songs an A+, but Throwin’ Down ain’t no slouch by any means as James crystallized his punk-funk sound.
(Enjoy this album, because the crystallization soon becomes formulated laziness.)
James wastes no time making sure you don’t regret getting this LP as “Dance Wit’ Me” announces itself with one of the meanest synth-bass lines in funk history. The lyrics are straightforward about James wanting a woman to dance with him. This song wasn’t great because of its daring-do, but its greatness is all in the execution. Beyond that mean bass, there’s a catchy rhythm guitar and eventually gorgeous solos from funk-jazz legend Roy Ayers on vibraphone and the indefatigable Daniel LeMelle on saxophone.
Furthermore, the dance track has the ambience of a party built in as the backup singers actually sound like a crowd at a party chanting “party over here! party on down!” and James gives some Marvin Gaye-like coos reminiscent of “Got To Give It Up”, which is clearly this track’s ancestral spirit animal.
This monster jam guaranteed to make you sweat reached #3 R&B and #7 disco, while pop audiences suckered out (#64 pop).
Well that was undoubtedly the album’s high point, but we got plenty of other good songs on this LP.
The Funk
Thankfully, James isn’t all about the disco dance floor on Throwin’ Down. “Money Talks” follows in the foot steps of “Ghetto Life” and “Mr. Policeman” from Street Songs in critiquing society (“Money ran for president” is illustrative of the power James assigns to money in the US).
Okay, that was actually the only foray into politics. Time for more mindless dancing.
“Throwdown” accomplishes that quite well as does the recycled “Standing On The Top”. Initially produced and recorded for the Temptations’ Reunion album, that latter track is (mercifully) featured here in its edited four-minute version instead of the full 10 minutes it got on Reunion. I criticized that song’s appearance on Reunion because that was a Temptations album so it was silly in my opinion to have TEN MINUTES of a 40-minute album devoted to what was essentially a Rick James song with the Temptations as featured vocalists. Well on a Rick James album, I have less qualms. All about context!
James also has a sequel to “Super Freak” with “Hard to Get”. Okay, “sequel” is the polite way of saying James just took the “Super Freak” leftovers and put them in the microwave to come up with “Hard to Get”. Honestly, I can’t complain. These are good leftovers especially the absurd “oom bop bop oom bop bop” backing vocals.
Lastly, “She Blew My Mind (69 Times)” is a nostalgic foray into disco-funk by James with sweeping strings and a delicately plucked harp operating opposite some funky synth bass. Even Grace Slick stops by to give guest vocals.
The Ballads
“Teardrops” is a luxurious ballad. A bit too luxurious in fact as it turns too saccharine for my taste. At least it brings some variety with its jazzy bass.
Teena Marie stops by again for a dramatic duet on “Happy”. Its luxury is better utilized than “Teardrops”, but doesn’t rise to the heat of “Fire and Desire” from Street Songs. It suffers in comparison, but when judged on its own merits, it’s a good song.
The album finishes up on the moody attempt at lounge jazz singing: “My Love”. All things considered, it’s a success as the sax and vibes (as in vibraphone) serve to set the smoky mood. A brief three minutes in length, this is a good album closer.
All in all, the ballads aren’t as good as the funk tunes, but they garnish the album with an appropriate amount of pacing.
ALBUM GRADE: B+
In a few spots it’s quite obvious James was trying to recapture the Street Songs magic, but without the full Street Songs charisma. Nonetheless, this is a very good album and spent 10 weeks at #2 on the R&B albums chart. Can’t find what other LPs kept it out of the top spot, but 10 weeks at #2 is some impressive shit and better than a single week at #1.
Another gold record for Mr. James.
Song Scores
Dance Wit' Me: 9/10
Money Talks: 7.5/10
Teardrops: 6/10
Throwdown: 7/10
Standing On The Top: 7/10
Hard To Get: 8/10
Happy: 7.5/10
She Blew My Mind (69 Times): 7.5/10
My Love: 7.5/10