Early original handwritten song lyrics by Rick James for the song ‘She Blew My Mind (69 Times),’ the eighth track on his sixth studio album, Throwin' Down, which was released in 1982 via the Gordy imprint of Motown Records. The lyrics, entitled “‘69 Times’” and signed along the upper margin, “Rick James,” are handwritten in pencil on an off-white 8.25 x 14 sheet of notebook paper. The lyrics read, in part (spelling retained): “Little girl you’ve gone to far / From a twinkle to a big bright star / and the fame and fortune that you find / don’t take long to blow your mind. / Little girl your heart was pure / and your mind was strong enough to endure it / had I known you be so insecure / I’d been there for you to share… / Little girl remember when / we would sit and talk of life by the fire / and we promised not to separate / now the love has turned to hate / Little girl I love you / and our low was fate and true destiny / it so hard to think that we are threw / and it so sad you don’t talk to me / You turned my head around / turned me upside down / you turned my head around / blew my mind 69 times.” James writes “End” at the conclusion and adds his initials, “RJ.” Another hand had added two words in ballpoint. Includes a printed sheet with updated lyrics to ‘69 Times.’ In fine condition.
Accompanied by a letter of provenance from Lisa Sarna, an original member of Rick James and the Stone City Band during the late 1970s and early 1980s, who states: “During our studio sessions, Rick would often ask me to rewrite lyrics so that Motown executives could understand his handwriting. I kept these handwritten versions as reference materials in case the label had questions about the songs.”
From the personal collection of Lisa Sarna, an original member of Rick James and the Stone City Band, who worked as one of James' backup singers, a group coined ‘The Colored Girls.’ Sarna’s distinct voice can be heard on several notable tracks and albums, in particular as the ‘Say What’ girl on the track, ‘Give It to Me Baby.’ Her contributions extend to albums such as Street Songs, Fire It Up, Urban Rhapsody, Throwin’ Down, In & Out, Garden of Love, Bustin’ Out, Temptations Reunion, Teena Marie’s Wild & Peaceful, and Laura Branigan.
