Considered to be his debut record, in reality Rick James had 3 or 4 different false starts over a lengthy span - which could have rightly been considered debut records - before the real one came out when he was 30 years old. Ironically, a musician roughly similar to him, but 12 years his junior - Prince Rogers Nelson - came out with his first record in the same time frame. Compared to Prince, James acted as if he had been entrenched as a long time star, deftly employing a wide range of styles from decadent disco to spaced-out ballads to street-wise funk. The dance floor-hungry "You And I" is the centerpiece, while the retro-flavored "Mary Jane" stuck a claim in pot-head territory, which was heady thinking at the time. James had definitely given funk a new look and direction with this one.
The Great White Cane was the end result of a number of groups and collaborations between Toronto, Los Angeles, and Detroit which were highlighted in one way or another by Rick James. So, it was entirely possible the King of late 70s and 80s punk funk could have been a crossover rock star in the era of Crosby, Stills, and Nash and James Taylor. Then you have a look at the cover and...putting that aside, the music itself comes off energetic, definitely live-attuned, but the swagger he was so noted for later on is only here in spots ("Find It"). This is more Chicago and Santana with a bit of classic soul tossed in the melting pot ("Don’t You Worry"). Not saying it's not professional, but like the cover itself it's hard to take serious this well-meaning but slapdash affair.
Yup...Spock and the spores. He goes gaga for a bit over Jill Ireland, then Kirk ruins his fun with a pinpoint stream of ugly epithets. Because even in the 23rd century there's no time for laying on your butt in a ecstasy-like stupor.
The size of those medication bottles is the real scandal here! You need two people just pick up one container. Didn't they have workmen's comp in the 23rd century?
