July '88: "Wonderful" was released!

On this day in 1988, Rick James released his 10th studio album WONDERFUL!

 

Released in 1988, Wonderful marked Rick James’ return to Motown after several years on his own label, and it served as something of a comeback effort. The album blended his trademark funk grooves with slicker late-’80s production, showing flashes of the flamboyant energy that made him a superstar. Featuring the singles “Loosey’s Rap” (a duet with Roxanne Shanté that hit No. 1 on the R&B chart) and “Wonderful,” the record reaffirmed James’ presence on the R&B scene even as the musical landscape was shifting. While not as groundbreaking as his early-’80s classics, Wonderful stands as a spirited late-career statement from the funk icon.