Deeper Still (album) explained

Deeper Still
Type:studio
Artist:Rick James
Cover:Deeper Still (album).jpg
Border:yes
Released:May 15, 2007
Recorded:2003−2004
Genre:Funk, soul
Length:52:20
Label:Stone City Records
Producer:Rick James
Prev Title:Urban Rapsody
Prev Year:1997

Deeper Still is the thirteenth and final album by American funk singer Rick James. It was released on May 15, 2007, by Stone City Records,[1] three years after James' death.[2]

The album peaked at No. 195 on the Billboard 200 and No. 19 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in June 2007.[3] [4]

Critical reception

In his review on Allmusic, Alex Henderson states that the album "doesn't contain a lot of hard, aggressive, in-your-face funk of the "Super Freak"/"Love Gun" variety, but rather, is funky in a smoother, more polished and refined way à la 1980s underrated Garden of Love." He goes onto to comment that "while soul/funk/urban is Deeper Stills primary direction, James incorporates jazz on 'Sapphire' and successfully moves into rock/pop territory on 'Maybe'." Concluding that "Deeper Still is not among James' essential releases, but hardcore fans can take comfort in knowing that it is a respectable and dignified swan song from the influential funkster.[5]

Detrel Howell on SoulTracks states that the album "is a strong posthumous release that, in its diversity and in James' strong, sincere delivery, reminds us of the broad talent that Rick James possessed and why, years after his commercial peak, he was still an artist of importance."[6]

Billboard considers that "rather than rely on the tried-and-true formula that brought fame and misfortune, James channels an introspective muse while expanding his musical purview." It goes onto to state "Overall the album reveals a still rich voiced singer and a talented songwriter who was determined to mount another comeback."[7]

Keith Murphy in his review in Vibe states "This is far from the gritty hardcore funk of 1981s Street Songs (Motown) that made James famous. It's a curiously mild exit for such a furious singer."[8]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Rick James, except where noted.

  1. "Deeper Still" (Rick James, Daniel LeMelle)
  2. "Guinnevere" (David Crosby)
  3. "Stop It" (Bryan Loren, David Stark III, Doug Grisby, James)
  4. "Taste" (Loren, Stark III, Grisby, James)
  5. "Stroke"
  6. "Do You Wanna Play"
  7. "Not Alone" (Barry Shepherd)
  8. "Sapphire"
  9. "Maybe"
  10. "Secrets"
  11. "Funk Wit Me" (James, Ron Spearman)

Charts

Chart (2007)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard 200185
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums19

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rick James to release posthumous album. NME. 18 January 2007. 1 November 2019.
  2. Web site: Posthumous Rick James Album Due This Spring. Jonathon. Cohen. Billboard. 17 January 2007. 1 November 2019.
  3. Web site: Rick James:Chart History - Deeper Still. https://web.archive.org/web/20191031233733/https://www.billboard.com/music/rick-james/chart-history/BLS/song/528812. dead. October 31, 2019. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Billboard. 1 November 2019.
  4. Web site: Rick James:Chart History - Deeper Still. Billboard 200. Billboard. 1 November 2019.
  5. Web site: Deeper Still - Rick James. Alex. Henderson. Allmusic. 1 November 2019.
  6. Web site: Rick James - Deeper Still (2007). Detrel. Howell. SoulTracks. 1 November 2019.
  7. Billboard. 19 May 2007. 119. The Billboard Reviews. 71. 0006-2510.
  8. Vibe. Music - Revolutions. Keith. Murphy. August 2007. 15. 74. 1070-4701.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Deeper Still (album)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.