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Early original handwritten song lyrics by Rick James for the song ‘Don't Give up on Love,’ the second track on his fourth studio album, Garden of Love, which was released in 1980 on Gordy Records. The lyrics, unsigned, penned in ballpoint on two light yellow 8.5 x 11 sheets of ‘Rick James, Stone City Band’ letterhead, read, in part (spelling retained): “When you turn your back on love / it's like turning off a light / you’re in the dark and all alone / to denie yourself of feelings / it's like looking for a candele / in the dark of night when there's a storm / to inslave inner feelings of the / heart, the soul and mind / will cause you just pain / in a matter of time / and to lock in all emotion / cause your heart has just been broken / and expect your love to come / then your out of your mind / Give your love / Give it more than just a minute / put your heart and body in it / give me all your love…Make it last until forever / tell me that you'll never ever leave me in a day / Don't give up on love.” In very good to fine condition, with creasing to the first page.
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. This album had a much more relaxed feel to it and gave us all a chance to catch up and hang together.”
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.
