Process And The Doo Rags - Too Sharp

If there’s one thing I’m partial to, it’s a Rick James side-project. And James had quite a few of them, all imbued with his trademark production, melodic style, and lyrical tropes (dutty women and genitals, largely). This album formed part of his early to mid-80’s peak period, where he just couldn’t produce enough great music...it makes you wonder where he got all his energy from.

The concept behind P&TDR was a 50’s doo-wop vocal harmony group, plying their trade against a modern musical background. They were dressed all 50's: zoot suits, processed hair, popped collars, correspondent shoes, but manage to still look very 1980's.

The first side of the album is made up of quality dance tunes, with added live audience sounds in-between, rather oddly.

The second side drops the tempo after the first track, and includes a hat-trick of cover versions, some of which work better (the acapella version of Thin Line Between Love And Hate) than others (Daddy’s Home).

The sleeve photo shoot has them standing outside a theatre. My internet sleuthing shows this to be The Little Harlem in Buffalo, New York – Rick James’s home town. This building was of considerable historic significance to the Black and Queer communities in the area.

Incidentally, this is an Aussie white label, which was once in the possession of 2BBB radio in Bellingen, NSW.

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