Rick James

The Super Freak's defining (pre-coke fiend) moment is an incredible distillation of Parliament, early disco, and the flat-out weirdness James was the king of. Forget about "Super Freak." "Give It to Me Baby" and "Fire and Desire" are every bit as essential: one's for dancing and the other's for, well, talking, perhaps, or slow dancing. You'll figure it out.

There's never been any doubt that James was commercial, as they say, but this time that's a plus--when he's not rocking, which is mostly, he even comes up with some dynamite love-man bullsh*t. And the street simulations are convincing enough. But I still want to know whether "The kind of girl you read about/In new-wave magazines" is "kinky" after the manner of the one in "Ghetto Life" who has "pigtails down to her shoulders." 'Cause with her, it may just be the hair. (Grade - A-)