Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
James Mtume's band Mtume hit its commercial and creative peak in 1983, when Juicy Fruit was released. The infectious, mildly risqué title song -- which contains the controversial lyrics "I'll be your lollipop/You can lick me everywhere" -- soared to number one on Billboard's R&B singles chart and ended up being sampled by quite a few hip-hoppers, including the late Notorious B.I.G. (who used the infectious gem on his 1994 hit "Juicy"). Some of the people who heard the "Juicy Fruit" single on the radio back in 1983 bought the single but not the album, which is a shame because the other tracks are also excellent. In fact, many of Mtume's hardcore fans agree that Juicy Fruit is the band's most essential album. This LP came at a time when funk was becoming increasingly technology-minded. Horn-driven funk bands were going out of style, and funksters were using a lot more keyboards and synthesizers. Juicy Fruit reflects that evolution; although not totally electronic, funk/urban pearls like "Hips" and "Ready for Your Love" are very keyboard-minded. Only one horn player is employed on this release: jazz saxophonist Gary Bartz, who did his share of R&B sessions in the late '70s and early '80s but eventually returned to being a full-time jazz improviser. Throughout Juicy Fruit, James Mtume takes a very hands-on approach -- in addition to producing the album and co-writing much of the material, he plays keyboards and provides some of the lead vocals (along with the expressive, big-voiced Tawatha Agee). Juicy Fruit isn't the only worthwhile album that James Mtume's band came out with in the '80s; as a rule, his '80s output was solid. But if you must limit yourself to one Mtume release, Juicy Fruit would be the best choice.
© Alex Henderson /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From 12.49€/month
Andy C. Wallace, Engineer - Barry Eastman, Keyboards - Bernie Grundman, Mastering Engineer - Bernie Worrell, Keyboards - D. Cannon, Composer - D. Cannon, Lyricist - David Frank, Keyboards - Ed Moore, Guitar - Fred Jackson, Vocal - J. Mtume, Composer - J. Mtume, Lyricist - James Dougherty, Mixing Engineer - James Mtume, Background Vocal - James Mtume, Keyboards - James Mtume, Producer - James Mtume, Vocal - Kevin Robinson, Guitar - Larkin Arnold, Executive Producer - Marc Marseglia, 2nd Engineer - Michael Murphy, Guitar - Mtume, Performer - P. Fields, Composer - P. Fields, Lyricist - Philip Fields, Background Vocal - Philip Fields, Keyboards - Raymond Jackson, Background Vocal - Raymond Jackson, Bass - Sam Natoli, 2nd Engineer - TAWATHA, Background Vocal - TAWATHA, Percussion - TAWATHA, Vocal - Tom Zepp, 2nd Engineer
(P) 1983 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Barry Eastman, Keyboards - Bernie Worrell, Keyboards - David Frank, Keyboards - Ed Moore, Guitar - Fred Jackson, Vocal - James Mtume, Composer - James Mtume, Lyricist - James Mtume, Producer - Kevin Robinson, Guitar - Larkin Arnold, Executive Producer - Michael Murphy, Guitar - Mtume, Background Vocal - Mtume, Keyboards - Mtume, Performer - Mtume, Vocal - Philip Field, Background Vocal - Philip Field, Keyboards - Raymond Jackson, Background Vocal - Raymond Jackson, Bass - Tawatha Agee, Background Vocal - Tawatha Agee, Percussion - Tawatha Agee, Vocal
(P) 1983 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Andy C. Wallace, Engineer - Barry Eastman, Keyboards - Bernie Grundman, Mastering Engineer - Bernie Worrell, Keyboards - David Frank, Keyboards - Dean Cannon, Composer - Dean Cannon, Lyricist - Ed Moore, Guitar - Fred Jackson, Vocal - James Dougherty, Mixing Engineer - James Mtume, Background Vocal - James Mtume, Keyboards - James Mtume, Producer - James Mtume, Vocal - Kevin Robinson, Guitar - Larkin Arnold, Executive Producer - Marc Marseglia, 2nd Engineer - Michael Murphy, Guitar - Mtume, Performer - Peppy Fields, Composer - Peppy Fields, Lyricist - Philip Fields, Background Vocal - Philip Fields, Keyboards - Raymond Jackson, Background Vocal - Raymond Jackson, Bass - Sam Natoli, 2nd Engineer - TAWATHA, Background Vocal - TAWATHA, Percussion - TAWATHA, Vocal - Tom Zepp, 2nd Engineer
(P) 1983 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Barry Eastman, Keyboards - Bernie Worrell, Keyboards - David Frank, Keyboards - Ed Moore, Guitar - Fred Jackson, Vocal - James Mtume, Composer - James Mtume, Lyricist - James Mtume, Producer - Kevin Robinson, Guitar - Larkin Arnold, Executive Producer - Michael Murphy, Guitar - Mtume, Background Vocal - Mtume, Keyboards - Mtume, Performer - Mtume, Vocal - Philip Field, Background Vocal - Philip Field, Keyboards - Raymond Jackson, Background Vocal - Raymond Jackson, Bass - Reginald Lucas, Composer - Reginald Lucas, Lyricist - Tawatha Agee, Background Vocal - Tawatha Agee, Percussion - Tawatha Agee, Vocal
(P) 1983 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Andy C. Wallace, Engineer - Barry Eastman, Keyboards - Bernie Grundman, Mastering Engineer - Bernie Worrell, Keyboards - David Frank, Keyboards - Ed Moore, Guitar - Fred Jackson, Vocal - James Dougherty, Mixing Engineer - James Mtume, Background Vocal - James Mtume, Keyboards - James Mtume, Producer - James Mtume, Vocal - Kevin Robinson, Guitar - Larkin Arnold, Executive Producer - Marc Marseglia, 2nd Engineer - Michael Murphy, Guitar - Mtume, Performer - N. Chancler, Composer - N. Chancler, Lyricist - N. Dozier, Composer - N. Dozier, Lyricist - Philip Fields, Background Vocal - Philip Fields, Keyboards - R. Andrews, Composer - R. Andrews, Lyricist - Raymond Jackson, Background Vocal - Raymond Jackson, Bass - Sam Natoli, 2nd Engineer - TAWATHA, Background Vocal - TAWATHA, Percussion - TAWATHA, Vocal - Tom Zepp, 2nd Engineer
(P) 1983 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Barry Eastman, Keyboards - Bernie Worrell, Keyboards - D. Davis, Composer - D. Davis, Lyricist - D. Forman, Composer - D. Forman, Lyricist - David Frank, Keyboards - Ed Moore, Guitar - Fred Jackson, Vocal - J. Mtume, Composer - J. Mtume, Lyricist - James Mtume, Producer - Kevin Robinson, Guitar - Larkin Arnold, Executive Producer - Michael Murphy, Guitar - Mtume, Background Vocal - Mtume, Keyboards - Mtume, Performer - Mtume, Vocal - Philip Field, Background Vocal - Philip Field, Keyboards - Raymond Jackson, Background Vocal - Raymond Jackson, Bass - Tawatha Agee, Background Vocal - Tawatha Agee, Percussion - Tawatha Agee, Vocal
(P) 1983 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Andy C. Wallace, Engineer - Barry Eastman, Keyboards - Bernie Grundman, Mastering Engineer - Bernie Worrell, Keyboards - David Frank, Keyboards - Ed Moore, Guitar - Fred Jackson, Vocal - James Dougherty, Mixing Engineer - James Mtume, Background Vocal - James Mtume, Keyboards - James Mtume, Producer - James Mtume, Vocal - Kevin Robinson, Guitar - Larkin Arnold, Executive Producer - Marc Marseglia, 2nd Engineer - Michael Murphy, Guitar - Mtume, Performer - P. Fields, Composer - P. Fields, Lyricist - Philip Fields, Background Vocal - Philip Fields, Keyboards - R. Sirois, Composer - R. Sirois, Lyricist - Raymond Jackson, Background Vocal - Raymond Jackson, Bass - Sam Natoli, 2nd Engineer - TAWATHA, Background Vocal - TAWATHA, Percussion - TAWATHA, Vocal - Tom Zepp, 2nd Engineer
(P) 1983 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Andy C. Wallace, Engineer - Barry Eastman, Keyboards - Bernie Grundman, Mastering Engineer - Bernie Worrell, Keyboards - David Frank, Keyboards - Ed Moore, Guitar - Fred Jackson, Vocal - J. Mtume, Composer - J. Mtume, Lyricist - James Dougherty, Mixing Engineer - James Mtume, Background Vocal - James Mtume, Keyboards - James Mtume, Producer - James Mtume, Vocal - Kevin Robinson, Guitar - Larkin Arnold, Executive Producer - Marc Marseglia, 2nd Engineer - Michael Murphy, Guitar - Mtume, Performer - Philip Fields, Background Vocal - Philip Fields, Keyboards - Raymond Jackson, Background Vocal - Raymond Jackson, Bass - Sam Natoli, 2nd Engineer - TAWATHA, Background Vocal - TAWATHA, Percussion - TAWATHA, Vocal - Tom Zepp, 2nd Engineer
(P) 1983 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
James Mtume's band Mtume hit its commercial and creative peak in 1983, when Juicy Fruit was released. The infectious, mildly risqué title song -- which contains the controversial lyrics "I'll be your lollipop/You can lick me everywhere" -- soared to number one on Billboard's R&B singles chart and ended up being sampled by quite a few hip-hoppers, including the late Notorious B.I.G. (who used the infectious gem on his 1994 hit "Juicy"). Some of the people who heard the "Juicy Fruit" single on the radio back in 1983 bought the single but not the album, which is a shame because the other tracks are also excellent. In fact, many of Mtume's hardcore fans agree that Juicy Fruit is the band's most essential album. This LP came at a time when funk was becoming increasingly technology-minded. Horn-driven funk bands were going out of style, and funksters were using a lot more keyboards and synthesizers. Juicy Fruit reflects that evolution; although not totally electronic, funk/urban pearls like "Hips" and "Ready for Your Love" are very keyboard-minded. Only one horn player is employed on this release: jazz saxophonist Gary Bartz, who did his share of R&B sessions in the late '70s and early '80s but eventually returned to being a full-time jazz improviser. Throughout Juicy Fruit, James Mtume takes a very hands-on approach -- in addition to producing the album and co-writing much of the material, he plays keyboards and provides some of the lead vocals (along with the expressive, big-voiced Tawatha Agee). Juicy Fruit isn't the only worthwhile album that James Mtume's band came out with in the '80s; as a rule, his '80s output was solid. But if you must limit yourself to one Mtume release, Juicy Fruit would be the best choice.
© Alex Henderson /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 8 track(s)
- Total length: 00:37:28
- Main artists: Mtume
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Epic
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B Funk
(P) 1983 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Distinctions:
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.