Early original handwritten song lyrics by Rick James for the song ‘Call Me Up,’ the seventh track on his fifth studio album, Street Songs, which was released in 1981 on Gordy Records. The lyrics, unsigned, are handwritten in pencil on both sides of an off-white 8.5 x 11 sheet of notebook paper. The lyrics read, in part (spelling retained): “Love me tender baby / I don't like no pain (I don't like no pain) / Make me surrender sugar / When you call my name ( My name is Rick) / Rock me roll me / Baby don't you stop (don't you ever stop) / Wake me, shake me / When your love gets hot / I can feel your body burning to my flesh / Like fire, hot fire / Baby you can call me up (you know my number) / Hey baby you can call me up / Call me up.” 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 at the Record Plant in Sausalito, 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. Recording ‘Street Songs’ was one of my most exciting and favorite albums. So many artists I had grown up listening to were in the studio with Rick and Stone City Band. Stevie Wonder, The Water Sisters, Narada Michael Walden, The Temptations and other artists sang background vocals with us or played on different songs throughout the album.”
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.
