Super Freak (Part 1) – Rick James | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: Pop (#16) and R&B (#3); 1981

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

Rick James’ self-named “punk funk” music undoubtedly had its roots in Rick’s turbulent lifestyle. Expelled from five schools in his younger years and going AWOL from the U.S.

Naval Reserves, Rick founded a band in Canada called the Mynah Birds which included Neil Young. Several musical lives later, Rick helped rejuvenate the flagging Motown record company when his 1978 debut album earned a gold record and yielded two smash hit singles.

Three years later Rick’s singing career reached its peak with the platinum selling LP Street Songs and the signature single Super Freak (Part 1). In 1990 M.C. Hammer gave Super Freak a second life when he rapped over its instrumental track to create U Can’t Touch This.

This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.

Produced by:

  • Rick James

Lyrics Written by:

  • Rick James
  • Alonzo Miller

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Ed Osborne

Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).