Tonight on Showtime ‘Bitchin’: The Sound and Fury of Rick James’ + Motown Releases ‘Glow’ Deluxe

Bitchin’ is an intimate yet propulsive look at Rick James, one of rock, funk and R&B‘s most legendary and often underappreciated figures. Directed by Emmy®-nominee Sacha Jenkins.

Featuring rare footage of Rick‘s incredible live shows, never-before-seen home video, original interviews with legendary artists, collaborators and friends, and a treasure trove of recorded interviews with Rick James, who died in 2004 at the age of 56. The documentary presents a full picture of his dramatic rise and fall, focusing in on the “Punk-Funk” music he left behind.

“This film is yet another striking work from Sacha, as he continues to document and contextualize the most iconic figures and events that have shaped the contemporary Black experience in America,” stated Malhotra. “In this case, he’s really gone deep to illuminate the artist beyond the headlines and show the musically groundbreaking path of Rick James, without shying away from the painful and difficult demons he battled throughout.”

Best remembered as the creator of hits such as “Superfreak,” “Fire and Desire” with Teena Marie, “Give It To Me Baby” and “Mary Jane.” Listen to songs from the documentary.

Celebrating the extraordinary life of Punk Funk singer, songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and pioneer Rick James, today Motown/UMe has also released the digital Deluxe Edition of his 1985 hit album “Glow,” featuring 11 bonus tracks. Previously available only within James’ Complete Motown Albums digital collection, this new Deluxe Edition of Glow is available digitally on its own for the first time, and can be streamed and ordered.

Originally released in May 1985, Glow was James’ fifth solo album for Motown. Its fusion of rock, funk, and R&B, demonstrates James’ unique versatility and vision as an artist and showcases the tight and eclectic sounds of The Stone City Band. Upon its release, Glow hit Top 50 on the Billboard 200 and #7 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, and features the funky title track, “Glow,” a Top 5 R&B Billboard Single, combined with “Glow (Reprise)” on a 12” single, also hit #1 on the Dance Club Songs chart. Rick James and the band performed the song on an episode of the hit NBC-TV show, “The A-Team,” that year.

Another highlight is “Can’t Stop,” another Hot R&B/Black Singles and Dance Club chart top 10 that was featured in the blockbuster film “Beverly Hills Cop” starring Eddie Murphy. That same year, James produced Eddie Murphy‘s only major pop hit, “Party All the Time.”

“Glow: Deluxe Edition” features 11 bonus tracks including the rare, original 12″ mixes of “Glow” and “Spend the Night With Me,” along with each song’s extended instrumental version; the 12″ instrumental version of “Can’t Stop;” plus the then-new songs included on James’ hits collection from the previous year, Reflections, among them “Oh What A Night (4 Luv)” and “You Turn Me On,” with the additional bonus of the long 12″ and instrumental versions of the latter.

Brilliant hitmaker, soulful singer, riveting performer, influential producer/impresario, pioneer in the fusion of funk groove and rock attitude — Rick James was all of these and more. Flamboyant, provocative, charismatic, volatile and always outrageous, he was a consummate artist and a bona fide star. Constantly reaching, growing, and exploring new aspects of his talent were all part of the genius of Rick James.

Since he made the scene in the 1960s with The Mynah Birds, featuring the then-unknown Neil Young, and into the late ‘70s forward, with his own unique brand of Punk Funk music, he has been an inspiration to his peers and won the acclaim of audiences and critics alike. His songs have been covered and sampled by artists across different eras of music and genres, and the popularity of James’ music continues to garner new fans with digital Deluxe Editions of his entire Motown catalog, including Come Get It!, Bustin’ Out Of L Seven, Fire It Up, Garden Of Love, Street Songs, Throwin’ Down, Cold Blooded and The Flag. Also available are digital releases from James’ productions including three albums from the Stone City Band – In ‘n’ Out, The Boys Are Back and Out of the Shadow – as well as singer Val Young‘s Seduction and Rick James Presents Bobby M: Blow.

Rick James left us far too soon, but his legacy continues to inspire new generations of artists to get their super freak on.