independent and unofficial
Prince fan community
Welcome! Sign up or enter username and password to remember me
Forum jump
Forums > Associated artists & people > Why wasn't Taja Sevelle's Fountain Free (1991) released on Paisley Park Records
« Previous topic  Next topic »
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
Author

Tweet     Share

Message
Thread started 05/15/15 11:00am

databank

avatar

Why wasn't Taja Sevelle's Fountain Free (1991) released on Paisley Park Records

The other day I realized (and Militant confirmed) that the reason why Mazarati's second album from 1989 was released by Motown not Paisley Park/WB was because it was Mark's pet project and he took them at Motown with him (and most likely forced them on the label, hence the limited Canada-only release).

.

As for Sheila's Sex Cymbal from 1991, the reason why it could be released on WB without the PP label was because she was in fact never signed on Paisley Park in the first place: having been signed on WB in 84 before the label was funded, she was in fact under contract with WB and, as for Prince's own albums, the PP sticker was just added to the album covers in order to give some visibility to the label and make Prince happy, so when she parted with him, it was just easy to take the PP sticker off.

.

Now comes the very odd case of Ms. Taja Sevelle. I wonder if she was as well never signed with PP. Thing is her first album was in fact released on both PP and Reprise, another WB sublabel (that would eventually release Fountain Free). We know that the masters of The Time's Pandemonium, another joint PP/Reprise venture, still belong to WB (alongside Sheila's two PP albums) when the masters of most PP albums reverted to Prince in 1994. I wonder, is that that she was in fact signed to Reprise and only got the PP sticker because she'd been introduced to WB through Prince? This would explain it all and mean that Prince doesn't own the master to her first album.

.

There was one other example of joined PP/Reprise release/ Tony LeMans' album. I therefore wonder if WB still has the rights to that one, too.

.

Does anyone have any knowledge on why Fountain Free wasn't a PP album?

A COMPREHENSIVE PRINCE DISCOGRAPHY (work in progress ^^): https://sites.google.com/...scography/
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #1 posted 05/16/15 5:41pm

SoulAlive

It's interesting that Taja's album got much more promotion than the Jill Jones album.Taja had videos for all three of the singles from her album ("Love Is Contagious","Wouldn't You Love To Love Me",and "Popular"),all of which were shown heavily on BET.In addition,she was featured in a sit-down interview with Donnie Simpson on 'Video Soul'.That's alot of promotion for someone who's not that great a singer.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #2 posted 05/17/15 5:49am

databank

avatar

SoulAlive said:

It's interesting that Taja's album got much more promotion than the Jill Jones album.Taja had videos for all three of the singles from her album ("Love Is Contagious","Wouldn't You Love To Love Me",and "Popular"),all of which were shown heavily on BET.In addition,she was featured in a sit-down interview with Donnie Simpson on 'Video Soul'.That's alot of promotion for someone who's not that great a singer.

WB was resurrecting Reprise after a long hiatus and counted on Taja Sevelle being the label's second era's first success, so they put more money in it than in the usual PP album. Taja is an excellent singer technically speaking, she has a very different voice than Jill but technically they're on the same level, and Taja was a songwriter, something Jill wasn't, so WB could hope to develop Taja as a solo artist. Taja would eventually release a more ambitious, intellectual and arty-farty album in 1998, Toys Of vanity, and it's reall a wonderful record nod

A COMPREHENSIVE PRINCE DISCOGRAPHY (work in progress ^^): https://sites.google.com/...scography/
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #3 posted 05/19/15 8:06pm

SoulAlive

"an excellent singer" ? biggrin

Taja is a decent vocalist,at best.Her debut album wasn't terrible,but it's not a classic or anything.A few cool tracks but nothing really special.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #4 posted 05/19/15 9:09pm

motherfunka

avatar

databank said:

SoulAlive said:

It's interesting that Taja's album got much more promotion than the Jill Jones album.Taja had videos for all three of the singles from her album ("Love Is Contagious","Wouldn't You Love To Love Me",and "Popular"),all of which were shown heavily on BET.In addition,she was featured in a sit-down interview with Donnie Simpson on 'Video Soul'.That's alot of promotion for someone who's not that great a singer.

WB was resurrecting Reprise after a long hiatus and counted on Taja Sevelle being the label's second era's first success, so they put more money in it than in the usual PP album. Taja is an excellent singer technically speaking, she has a very different voice than Jill but technically they're on the same level, and Taja was a songwriter, something Jill wasn't, so WB could hope to develop Taja as a solo artist. Taja would eventually release a more ambitious, intellectual and arty-farty album in 1998, Toys Of vanity, and it's reall a wonderful record nod

Agreed!

TRUE BLUE
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #5 posted 05/20/15 7:51am

lezama

avatar

databank said:

SoulAlive said:

It's interesting that Taja's album got much more promotion than the Jill Jones album.Taja had videos for all three of the singles from her album ("Love Is Contagious","Wouldn't You Love To Love Me",and "Popular"),all of which were shown heavily on BET.In addition,she was featured in a sit-down interview with Donnie Simpson on 'Video Soul'.That's alot of promotion for someone who's not that great a singer.

WB was resurrecting Reprise after a long hiatus and counted on Taja Sevelle being the label's second era's first success, so they put more money in it than in the usual PP album. Taja is an excellent singer technically speaking, she has a very different voice than Jill but technically they're on the same level, and Taja was a songwriter, something Jill wasn't, so WB could hope to develop Taja as a solo artist. Taja would eventually release a more ambitious, intellectual and arty-farty album in 1998, Toys Of vanity, and it's reall a wonderful record nod

I liked both of her albums. And I've even liked the later singles she's released as well.

Change it one more time..
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #6 posted 05/20/15 10:17am

databank

avatar

lezama said:

databank said:

WB was resurrecting Reprise after a long hiatus and counted on Taja Sevelle being the label's second era's first success, so they put more money in it than in the usual PP album. Taja is an excellent singer technically speaking, she has a very different voice than Jill but technically they're on the same level, and Taja was a songwriter, something Jill wasn't, so WB could hope to develop Taja as a solo artist. Taja would eventually release a more ambitious, intellectual and arty-farty album in 1998, Toys Of vanity, and it's reall a wonderful record nod

I liked both of her albums. And I've even liked the later singles she's released as well.

There are 3 of 'em nod

A COMPREHENSIVE PRINCE DISCOGRAPHY (work in progress ^^): https://sites.google.com/...scography/
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #7 posted 05/21/15 7:22am

lezama

avatar

databank said:

lezama said:

I liked both of her albums. And I've even liked the later singles she's released as well.

There are 3 of 'em nod

Oh shit.. I just realized I don't have Toys of Vanity.. doh!

Change it one more time..
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #8 posted 05/21/15 11:35am

databank

avatar

lezama said:

databank said:

There are 3 of 'em nod

Oh shit.. I just realized I don't have Toys of Vanity.. doh!

The best one, by far nod

A COMPREHENSIVE PRINCE DISCOGRAPHY (work in progress ^^): https://sites.google.com/...scography/
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #9 posted 05/21/15 12:15pm

13stretch

I think the question everyone wants answering is why was Good Questions second lp never released ? I have to admit i bought there album because it was on PP .

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #10 posted 05/21/15 1:04pm

databank

avatar

13stretch said:

I think the question everyone wants answering is why was Good Questions second lp never released ? I have to admit i bought there album because it was on PP .

I don't think a second LP was ever planned.

IDK on what basis artists were renewed or not. We know T.C got a "pay or play" 3 albums deal. We know Tony LeMans was to release a second LP and Eric did release one. We know Dale couldn't get that even though she kept working with Prince on a track for her cancelled, non-PP second album. We don't know whether Mazarati would have released their second LP on PP if Mark hadn't taken them to Motown. And we know for some strange reasons it seems the Margie Cox/MC Flash album wasn't even considered for the label even though P had recorded the whole thing. Lots of unanswered questions in the end sad

I'd love someone to write an in-depth article or make a documentary about the label, interviewing people and shit nod

A COMPREHENSIVE PRINCE DISCOGRAPHY (work in progress ^^): https://sites.google.com/...scography/
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #11 posted 05/21/15 2:11pm

SoulAlive

It's kinda strange how most of the Paisley Park artists only released one album.I guess these artists only had a one-album deal,just to see how it goes? That's probably a smart move.....who wants multiple albums from someone like Dale Bozzio?! nuts

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #12 posted 05/25/15 12:57pm

fms

avatar

I'm fairly certain Mazarati 2 wasn't released only in Canada. I remember seeing the album and single Saga of Man in stores where I loived in Ohio.

databank said:

The other day I realized (and Militant confirmed) that the reason why Mazarati's second album from 1989 was released by Motown not Paisley Park/WB was because it was Mark's pet project and he took them at Motown with him (and most likely forced them on the label, hence the limited Canada-only release).

.

Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths...(Jeremiah 6:16) www.ancientfaithradio.com

dezinonac eb lliw noitulove ehT
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #13 posted 05/25/15 4:07pm

databank

avatar

fms said:

I'm fairly certain Mazarati 2 wasn't released only in Canada. I remember seeing the album and single Saga of Man in stores where I loived in Ohio.

databank said:

The other day I realized (and Militant confirmed) that the reason why Mazarati's second album from 1989 was released by Motown not Paisley Park/WB was because it was Mark's pet project and he took them at Motown with him (and most likely forced them on the label, hence the limited Canada-only release).

.

Might have been an import I guess, I know in France we'd often get albums that were US releases only so I'm pretty sure US gets canadian releases. According to Discogs it was only Canada but who knows... In all cases it was a very limited release.

A COMPREHENSIVE PRINCE DISCOGRAPHY (work in progress ^^): https://sites.google.com/...scography/
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Forums > Associated artists & people > Why wasn't Taja Sevelle's Fountain Free (1991) released on Paisley Park Records