Fire It Up is the third studio album by American musician Rick James. It was released on October 16, 1979, on the Motown sub-label Gordy Records. The first single was "Love Gun". The album has sold under a million copies, according to Rolling Stone.
Critical reception
The Bay State Banner wrote that "James' vocal style remains functional, and the punk-funk horn section average... His strength is in his torrid compositions and captivating presentation." The San Bernardino County Sun noted that James relishes "loud, rowdy hand-clapping funk straight from the street." Newsday determined that "when James sticks with unadulterated hard stuff ... he is among the most crackerjack practitioners of funk rock."
The Rolling Stone Album Guide deemed the album "secondhand Bootsy Collins."
Track listing All tracks composed by Rick James.
Side A "Fire It Up" – 3:59 "Love Gun" – 5:44 "Lovin You Is a Pleasure" – 4:08 "Love in the Night" – 6:22
Side B "Come into My Life" – 7:10 "Stormy Love" – 2:05 "When Love Is Gone" – 7:32
2010 Bonus Track / 2014 digital remaster bonus track / 2014 Complete Motown Albums bonus track "Love Gun" (Promotional 12-Inch version) – 10:46
Personnel Rick James – vocals, acoustic guitar, piano, organ, Harpsichord, timbales, timpani (tympani), electronic drums [syndrums], drums, percussion The Stone City Band Levi Ruffin – synthesizer, synthesizer (strings ensemble), percussion, backing vocals Tom McDermott – six- and twelve-string acoustic and electric guitars Greg Levias – keyboards, Fender Rhodes electric piano Danny LeMelle – alto and tenor saxophone, flute, harpsichord Lanise Hughes – drums Lorenzo Shaw — drums Oscar Alston – bass guitar Shondu Akiem – electronic drums (syndrums), percussion Cliff Ervin – trumpet, flugelhorn John Ervin – trombone Julia Waters, Maxine Waters, Pat Henderson, Jackie Ruffin, Lisa Sarna – backing vocals California St. Clair, Cynthia Gable, Cynthia Nettles, Danny LeMelle, Jackie Ruffin, Julia Waters, Keith "Star" Ragin, Lisa Sarna, Maxine Waters, Pat Henderson, Tom McDermott, Winston L. Allen - choir on "Love in the Night" John Cabalka - art direction Ron Slenzak - photography
Charts Year Album Chart positions US USR&B 1979 Fire It Up 34 5
Singles Year Single Chart positions US USR&B USDance1979 "Love Gun" — 13 —1980 "Love Gun" — — 32
References
External links Rick James-Fire It Up at Discogs