Songoftheday 10/13/13 - A little girl came up to me, acting young and shy, a look of curiosity was flashing in her eyes...

Rick James - "17"
from the album Reflections (1984)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #36 (three weeks)
Weeks in the Top-40: 3

Today's Song of the Day is by funk/R&B master Rick James, whose 1983 album Cold Blooded, his seventh studio set with Gordy Records, had rewarded him with a top-40 single in the title track, and one that almost made it with his collaboration with Smokey Robinson, "Ebony Eyes". The following year, he released his first "greatest hits"-type set, Reflections, with seven of his earlier hits and album tracks, and three new songs. One of those, the ode to a frighteningly young girl "17", became his last big pop hit. Written and produced by the singer, it was a jam that skated certain states' age of consent laws...

"17" became Rick's fifth and final top-40 pop hit in August of 1984, while also reaching #6 on the R&B chart. In England, it was a minor hit at #76.

The following year, James released Glow, and while the first single, "Can't Stop", reached the Hot 100 pop chart for his last time at #50, the second release and title track ended up topping the dance club chart. In 1988, Rick would top the R&B chart with "Loosey's Rap" featuring Roxanne Shante', which would be his last appearance in the top-40 on that format, along with the dance club list as well. He would place a couple more minor singles on the R&B chart, but after his appearance on the 1989 various artists set Rock Rhythm & Blues, where his take on "This Magic Moment/Dance With Me" reached #74, his star would unfortunately fade into a whirlpool of drugs and legal troubles stemming from convictions from sexual assaults on women. Unfortunately, his legacy by the time of his death in 2004 was marred by all his bad deeds, which eclipsed the mark he left on soul music. Posthumously, his voice was featured in 2006 on rapper Busta Rhymes' "In The Ghetto", which reached #50 on the soul chart.

Up Tomorrow: The "red rocker"'s romance is bipolar.