RICK LAWSON

Daddy B. Nice's #68 ranked Southern Soul Artist

The fourteenth of fifteen children born near Raymond, Mississippi, Rick Lawson was a musical child prodigy whose uncle, Willie Banks, was known as "The Godfather of Gospel." Rick Lawson recorded his first single, a gospel song, at the age of ten, and by the age of sixteen had recorded his first album with his own gospel group, the Gospel Carriers.

Lawson began singing R&B professionally with the Jackson-area Mighty Upsetters Dance Band in the early 90's, and in 1994 was proclaimed Jackson's "Most Outstanding New Artist Of The Year." His first CD, 24/7, debuted in 2001 on Ecko Records. The title track was a cover of Tyrone Davis's "Kiss You (Where I Miss You)."

Lawson, known as the "The Babe Of The Blues," followed up with Pride & Joy in 2002, I Wanna Have Some Fun in 2003, and Ladies Night in 2004.

All were produced at Ecko Records by Southern Soul's prolific hit-maker, John Ward. Another Ecko label mate, O. B. Buchana, recorded "Both In The Wrong," a Raymond Moore/John Ward composition first recorded by Lawson on his 24-7 CD, on Buchana's 2004 Ecko release, Shake What You Got. A new Rick Lawson album, Sexified is anticipated.

Song's Transcendent Moment

"This is the party.
This is the place.
Everywhere I turn,
There was booty shaking in my face."

Tidbits

Dec. 7, 2005. Sexified (Ecko), Rick Lawson's newest CD, came out in the fall of 2005. "Freak Cowboy" entered playlists across the chitlin' circuit as the disc's favored radio single.

Nov. 26, 2006. Rick Lawson's Sexified has been a veritable Thanksgiving feast of radio singles. In the year since its release the LP has spawned at least three solid chitlin' circuit singles in roughly this sequence: "Freak Cowboy," "If You Hit It," and "She Was Cheating Better Than Me."

A couple of Reviews:
If it ain't broke don't fix it. Lawson is back serving up smooth Southern Soul and booty-wigglin' dance. "Slow Walk" was a huge hit down South. "It's Party Time" pops up again (seems to be a bad habit carrying a song over from a previous album). "I Don't Wanna Be Here" is a moody slow grinder about a breakup and "You Are My Friend" is a sweet slowie.

"Ladies Night" (Ecko 2004)

*** Ecko Records out of Memphis, Tennesee has been producing some of the best party soul & blues on the chitlin circuit since 1997 and the latest release by Rick Lawson proves they still have life left in the formula of mostly programmed uptempo dance tracks, upbeat southern soul and slow jams. Out of all the many Tyrone Davis imitators perhaps Rick Lawson is the most obvious- even using Tyrone's favorite vocal filler ("well"). LADIES NIGHT makes its intentions known right from the opening head-bobber "This Is The Party", one of three songs with the word "party" in the title. (also "Juke Joint Party" & "All Night Party Mood"). As is custom in the genre several of the songs are derivative of other southern soul songs, The great "I Found Me A Sure Thing" is a kissing cousin to "I Got A Sure Thing" and "I'm In A Steppin' Mood" is nearly identical to R. Kelly's "Step In The Name Of Love". Quinn Golden's recent hit "Bottoms Up" is reworked as "Bottoms Up Again". The dilemma of having "a girlfriend, a woman and a wife" crops up again on "Too Tight Too Close". Despite the formulaic sound and spirit- (and typical "cheating" subject matter)-thi
s new Ecko release it still feels fresh and keeps the party going.

"Sexified" (Ecko 2005)

*** There are two types of Southern Soul/Urban Blues: "Organic" (live musicians) and "Synthetic" (programming, sequencing). While Organic is normally to be preferred, the Synthetic sound has a life on it's own. I used to be a snob- reticent to programming but now I like it equal. This new Ecko Records release is actually a combination of live players and programming and it is excellent. Lawson is a good Tyrone Davis-disciple and has the benefit of a big production. "Sexified" is his fifth disc and may be his best. This is party soul exemplified like the shuffle bumpin' radio candy "I'm Your Man In The Streets" that opens the disc. Next up is the funky "Freak Cowboy" with Rick saying he needs a real horse not just a "pony" (you hear that Sheba Potts-Wright?). The retro-disco "Heavenly Lady" evokes the spirit of Barry White and the Love Unlimited Orchestra and is one of the brightest spots. A yearning vocal and sweet refrain. One of the key ingredients on this project is Morris J. Williams- giving mo' flavor to the aging Ecko sound. Williams plays synthesizer, sings backing vocals and creates some of the rhythm tracks on this release- he even co-wrote 8 of the 11 cuts here- most notably the grinding booty shaker "Shake What You Got" (not the O.B. Buchana hit) and "Baby Mama Drama". On The latter Lawson complains he's got 5 babies by three different women..but wait! There's two more on the way! I think he should take Frankie Lee's advice from "The Ladies And The Babies"! ("If you can't afford to help support the babies/You better think twice before you grab the lady!") More woman issues crop up on "That Boogie Bear". Even though his woman is playing him for a fool he sho'nuff can't resist that "booger bear". The cut also features some tight drums via Curtis Steele. "She Was Cheatin' Better Than Me" borrows the "Booty Scoot" bassline and is a potential hit single on an album with commercial appeal. Yep, "Just Another Juke Joint Party" indeed.


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Sexified: Review

Rick Lawson has the sweet Motown-inspired vocal style of one of the great soul groups of the late '60s and early '70s, not at all unlike Cuba Gooding of the Main Ingredient or General Johnson of the Chairmen of the Board. Unlike the comparatively chaste lyrical stance of those groups, however, Lawson is not at all above singing choruses like "I'm your freak cowboy" or delivering an R. Kelly-style wry psychodrama like "Baby Mama Drama." The tunes on Sexified don't have a bit of hip-hop influence other than the unabashedly frank (but never cheaply vulgar) lyrical topics, however. Although the arrangements feature modern synths as much as they do vintage wah-wah guitar, this is proudly retro-soul, providing richly melodic settings as well as deep grooves. The closing "She Was Cheatin' Better Than Me" is a particularly choice near-classic of the style, but there's not a dud to be found on this album. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide All Music Guide