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.
It isn't hard to understand why Cold Blooded received so many lukewarm reviews when it came out in 1983; by that time, Rick James was being increasingly formulaic and predictable. Instead of taking a hint from Prince -- who maintained a risk-taking, adventurous spirit throughout the '80s, even if it meant stumbling on rare occasions -- James was content to recycle 1981's Street Songs over and over. That said, Cold Blooded definitely has its moments. Parts of this LP are forgettable, including the hit title song (which, like 1984's "17," was criticized for sounding so contrived). But some of the tracks are worthwhile, especially "P.I.M.P. the S.I.M.P." -- a compelling piece of social commentary that describes the way a ruthless street pimp preys on young women. The tune isn't an indictment of prostitution in general; if anything, "P.I.M.P. the S.I.M.P." makes a case for legalizing the world's oldest profession because legal brothels (like the ones in Nevada and Holland) usually aren't run by the sort of vicious individuals that James' tunes describes. And "P.I.M.P. the S.I.M.P." not only sheds light on a social problem that Lois Lee's Children of the Night organization had been addressing, it also gives James a chance to feature old-school rapper Grandmaster Flash, whose sociopolitical recordings of 1982 and 1983 influenced everyone from Public Enemy to Ice-T. Other worthwhile songs on Cold Blooded range from the soul ballad "Ebony Eyes" (an unlikely yet successful duet with Smokey Robinson) to "New York Town" (James' lively ode to the Big Apple). Cold Blooded is far from a total meltdown; although uneven and less than essential, the LP has more pluses than minuses. Nonetheless, James was capable of so much more in 1983.
© 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 $10.83/month
Rick James, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1983 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Reggie Andrews, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Rick James, Producer, String Arranger, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Daniel LeMelle, String Arranger, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1983 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Rick James, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - SMOKEY ROBINSON, FeaturedArtist
℗ 1983 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Rick James, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1983 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Rick James, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1983 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Rick James, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1983 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Rick James, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Grandmaster Flash, FeaturedArtist
℗ 1983 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Rick James, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Billy Dee Williams, FeaturedArtist
℗ 1983 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Rick James, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1983 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Rick James, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1983 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
It isn't hard to understand why Cold Blooded received so many lukewarm reviews when it came out in 1983; by that time, Rick James was being increasingly formulaic and predictable. Instead of taking a hint from Prince -- who maintained a risk-taking, adventurous spirit throughout the '80s, even if it meant stumbling on rare occasions -- James was content to recycle 1981's Street Songs over and over. That said, Cold Blooded definitely has its moments. Parts of this LP are forgettable, including the hit title song (which, like 1984's "17," was criticized for sounding so contrived). But some of the tracks are worthwhile, especially "P.I.M.P. the S.I.M.P." -- a compelling piece of social commentary that describes the way a ruthless street pimp preys on young women. The tune isn't an indictment of prostitution in general; if anything, "P.I.M.P. the S.I.M.P." makes a case for legalizing the world's oldest profession because legal brothels (like the ones in Nevada and Holland) usually aren't run by the sort of vicious individuals that James' tunes describes. And "P.I.M.P. the S.I.M.P." not only sheds light on a social problem that Lois Lee's Children of the Night organization had been addressing, it also gives James a chance to feature old-school rapper Grandmaster Flash, whose sociopolitical recordings of 1982 and 1983 influenced everyone from Public Enemy to Ice-T. Other worthwhile songs on Cold Blooded range from the soul ballad "Ebony Eyes" (an unlikely yet successful duet with Smokey Robinson) to "New York Town" (James' lively ode to the Big Apple). Cold Blooded is far from a total meltdown; although uneven and less than essential, the LP has more pluses than minuses. Nonetheless, James was capable of so much more in 1983.
© Alex Henderson /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:47:45
- Main artists: Rick James
- Composer: Rick James
- Label: UNI - MOTOWN
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B Funk
© 2014 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 1983 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog 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.