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Throwin' Down is the 6th studio album by Rick James, released in 1982 via the Gordy imprint of Motown Records.[5][6] It peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard 200.[7] Although not as popular as Street Songs, Throwin' Down is certified gold by the RIAA. It was nominated for an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Album.[8]

Throwin' Down
Studio album by Rick James
Released	May 13, 1982
Recorded	1981-1982
Studio	Record Plant (Sausalito), Motown/Hitsville U.S.A. Studios (Hollywood)
Genre	Funk, soul, R&B
Label	Gordy
Producer	Rick James
Rick James chronology
Street Songs (1981) Throwin' Down (1982) Cold Blooded (1983)
Singles from Throwin' Down
"Dance Wit' Me" Released: April 22, 1982

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	B+[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[4]

Production

Michael Walden, Roy Ayers, and Grace Slick appear on the album.[9]

Critical reception

Robert Christgau wrote: "Stealing his licks from G. Clinton & Co. (or maybe himself, who cares anymore?), he's the nearest thing to a pop musician in the rock and roll sense that today's black charts—not to mention today's white charts—can offer."[2] The Washington Post wrote that "the musical settings are clumsy reworkings of Parliament's funk and the Temptations' psychedelic soul."[10]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Rick James, except where noted.

Side A

1. "Dance Wit' Me" 7:16
2. "Money Talks" 4:50
3. "Teardrops" 4:49
4. "Throwdown" 3:17

Side B

1. "Standing on the Top" (with The Temptations) 3:51
2. "Hard to Get" 4:07
3. "Happy" (with Teena Marie) 5:29
4. "She Blew My Mind (69 Times)" 4:11
5. "My Love" (James, Le Roi Johnson) 2:53

2014 digital remaster bonus tracks / 2014 Complete Motown Albums bonus tracks

10. "Standing on the Top" (Long Version) - 9:50
11. "Hard to Get" (12" Instrumental) - 4:12
12. "She Blew My Mind (69 Times)" (12" Extended Mix) - 6:30
13. "She Blew My Mind (69 Times)" (12" Instrumental) - 7:28

Personnel

• Rick James - vocals, guitars, bass guitar, harmonica, keyboards, synthesizers, Linn Drum programming, percussion
• Daniel LeMelle - flute, saxophone, trumpet, string synthesizers, backing vocals
• Levi Ruffin, Jr. - electric and acoustic piano, synthesizers, backing vocals
• John McFee, Tom McDermott - guitars
• Erskine Williams - piano
• Oscar Alston - bass guitar, backing vocals
• Lanise Hughes, Narada Michael Walden, Paul Hines - drums, percussion
• Nate Hughes - percussion, handclaps, backing vocals
• Roy Ayers, Donny Keider - vibraphone
• Teena Marie - Duet Lead vocals on Happy.
• Grace Slick, Jean Carn, Julia Tillman Waters, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Maxine Willard Waters, Patti Brooks, Tabby Johnson, Diane Nixon, Jeri Fields - backing vocals
• Moses Johnson, JoAnne McDuffy, Lisa Sarna - handclaps, backing vocals
• Aaron Dublin, "Bi"g John Main, "Jennifer", Ronald Byrd - handclaps
• Karat Faye - Engineer @ Record Plant L.A.

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[11]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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