In 'N' Out
Released: 1980
Not content to have cranked out three solo albums in 1979 and 1980 (plus producing Teena Marie’s debut album), Rick James set about having his backing band get some limelight. The Stone City Band’s debut LP didn’t sell all that much, nor would any of their albums, but we here at Soulfinger aren’t focused totally on sales.
Is this album any good? Not sure I can call it good, but it is enjoyable. So I guess it’s good in the end.
It’s essentially a Rick James album, but with Rick James not being the central character. That actually means there’s a bit more stylistic variety than you’d normally find.
After a useless intro, the album really begins with “Little Runaway”. James refused to give up the spotlight just yet as he takes the lead vocals on this nearly 10-minute pleasantly disco-funky jam. It’s not going to blow your mind, but it also won’t annoy your mind. This song also has guest backing vocals from the Pointer Sisters. I can dig it.
Levi Ruffin gets the microphone on “Strut Your Stuff”. Not any better or worse than “Little Runaway”. It retains a largely similar musical approach, albeit with a touch of rock added to the proceedings and a Slave-like bass. Also, Ruffin sounds eerily similar to James. The commitment to disco-funk continues on “Party Girls”, which is slightly slower-paced than “Little Runaway” and “Strut Your Stuff”. And once more the results are neither offensive nor extraordinary, but enjoyable.
Side Two opens with a total change in pace with “In ‘N’ Out”. I preferred the dance music to this limp number. Not gonna complain too loudly, though. It is a change-of-pace song. Can’t go all party all the time.
Oh, this might actually be one of those times where a band divided the album into “fast ones” and “slow ones” cuz the next song (“Havin’ You Around”) is a light stab at LA pop meets the mellow version of the Ohio Players that strolls along quite nicely.
And much to my surprise, the band doesn’t go for the classic a clean divide between fast ones and slow ones.
“South American Sneeze” barges in with whistles and tongue rolls after “Havin’ You Around”. Wisely, this Latin music track is an instrumental as saxophone and guitar solos dominate the festivities as whistles blare in the background. Best track on the album.
Thank goodness they made the Latin song good, cuz “F.I.M.A. (Funk in Mama Afrika)” underwhelms. This faux afrobeat song leaves a lot to be desired. But it is pretty short, so it doesn’t really have any lasting harm.
ALBUM GRADE: C+
Song Scores
Little Runaway: 6.5/10
Strut Your Stuff: 6.5/10
Party Girls: 6.5/10
In ‘N’ Out: 5/10
Havin’ You Around: 6/10
South American Sneeze: 7/10
F.I.M.A. (Funk in Mama Afrika): 5/10
The Boys Are Back
Released: 1981
Well, a reggage-new wave cover of the Kinks’ “All Day and All of the Night” is one way to start an album. Not a great way, but it’s interesting, I’ll give them that. Not as interesting, but just as serviceable musically is “Feel Good 'Bout Yourself”, which is some punky funk stuff.
The Stone City Band delivers a decent ballad on “Keep Love Happy”, which even has a slide guitar. Appreciate that variety.
“Ganja” is the obligatory song about marijuana. “Freaky” is the obligatory song about freakin’. “Funky Reggae” is the obligatory faux reggae, but it does have a harmonica and flute. Hooray variety!
We almost escaped this album without encountering a subpar song, but then along comes “Lovin' You Is Easy”. A boring ballad. At least the LP rebounds with “Tin Soldier” an interesting jazz-fusion number with prominent fiddle.
ALBUM GRADE: C+
Nothing here is outright memorable, but the band does get a bit experimental. Certainly more variety than the typical Rick James solo album. However, none of the experiments really catch fire. Everything feels juuuust a touch away from greatness. Maybe things click better if they had a great vocalist. I dunno.
All that said, I do enjoy the LP and the collection of songs better as a package than as individual tunes. Once you’ve given Rick James’s better albums a spin, this is a nice LP to turn to.
Song Scores
All Day and All of the Night: 6/10
Feel Good 'Bout Yourself: 6/10
Keep Love Happy: 6/10
Ganja: 6/10
Freaky: 6/10
Funky Reggae: 6/10
Lovin' You Is Easy: 4/10
Tin Soldier: 6.5/10
Out From the Shadow
Released: 1983
Y’know, I didn’t appreciate how competently performed and solid the first two SCB albums were until I heard Out From the Shadow.
After The Boys Are Back’s more experimental approach failed to work, the SCB resorts to electro-boogie with one replaceable electronic groove after another. Worse yet, the grooves aren’t just replaceable, they largely sound like rejects and rehashes of better Rick James songs. The other two Stone City Band albums were at least original and thereby justify their existence.
An exception—THE exception—is “Ladies Choice”. That’s an electro-boogie song that jams. However, even it is a rehash of a Rick James song (“Dance Wit’ Me”) right down to Roy Ayers giving a vibraphone solo on each track. However, since it is rehashing a fucking awesome song, it manages to be good by having that greatness rub off on it.
ALBUM GRADE: D-
Song Scores
Bad Lady: 4/10
Love Hassles: 4/10
Spend the Night: 4/10
Telephone: 4/10
Ladies Choice: 7/10
Shake (Make Your Body Move): 2/10
Dance So Fine: 3/10
Lover And Only Man: 4/10