independent and unofficial
Prince fan community
Welcome! Sign up or enter username and password to remember me
Forum jump
Forums > Prince: Music and More > Question Regarding Prince Warner Bros Legacy
« Previous topic  Next topic »
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
Author

Tweet     Share

Message
Thread started 02/21/15 12:59pm

jdcxc

Question Regarding Prince Warner Bros Legacy

At the time of his 1977 Warner Bros signing, Prince was promoted as the youngest ever major label artist to produce, compose and play all the instruments on his debut.

Was this true and does it still stand today? This would be pretty impressive considering the history of recorded music.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #1 posted 02/21/15 1:57pm

OnlyNDaUsa

avatar

some of that may have been based on their lying about his age at that time.

"Keep on shilling for Big Pharm!"
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #2 posted 02/21/15 3:20pm

jdcxc

OnlyNDaUsa said:

some of that may have been based on their lying about his age at that time.



Even with the lie, he was still only 20 at the release of "For You." I can't think of any popular artist who was younger with the qualifiers.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #3 posted 02/21/15 4:20pm

OnlyNDaUsa

avatar

jdcxc said:

OnlyNDaUsa said:

some of that may have been based on their lying about his age at that time.

Even with the lie, he was still only 20 at the release of "For You." I can't think of any popular artist who was younger with the qualifiers.

actually he was 19... iirc the album was relased in April with its first single Soft and Wet released 2 months later on Prince's 20th birthday.

"Keep on shilling for Big Pharm!"
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #4 posted 02/21/15 4:22pm

bonatoc

avatar

I would have to say Stevie Wonder? But apparently he was 22. So says Wiki.

The Colors R brighter, the Bond is much tighter
No Child's a failure
Until the Blue Sailboat sails him away from his dreams
Don't Ever Lose, Don't Ever Lose
Don't Ever Lose Your Dreams
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #5 posted 02/21/15 5:21pm

vinaysfunk

Yes, I believe this is true and still stands true today.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #6 posted 02/22/15 4:21am

jdcxc

bonatoc said:

I would have to say Stevie Wonder? But apparently he was 22. So says Wiki.



Not Stevie's debut. He had already been groomed by Motown for 10 years before his independence.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #7 posted 02/22/15 7:55am

novabrkr

jdcxc said:

bonatoc said:

I would have to say Stevie Wonder? But apparently he was 22. So says Wiki.

Not Stevie's debut. He had already been groomed by Motown for 10 years before his independence.


The question was about an artist allowed to be the producer, main songwriter and instrumentalist on his record.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #8 posted 02/22/15 8:12am

OnlyNDaUsa

avatar

novabrkr said:

jdcxc said:

bonatoc said: Not Stevie's debut. He had already been groomed by Motown for 10 years before his independence.


The question was about an artist allowed to be the producer, main songwriter and instrumentalist on his record.

again there was some fudging. Chris Moon wrote or co-wrote more than just Soft and Wet. Several of the songs were on the Demo tape used to get his contract. But it was all part of the branding. There was also a co-producer on for you (but prince claimed he did not do much).

Then there was that really (and prince admitted it too) exaggerated list of instruments...what was it 27? but most were just variations of a few instruments.

If you go watch the American Bandstand interview (they were still shaving 2 years off his age) and to me it seems Prince was really not too comfortable telling the lies.

Then on Prince there Andre or Dez? or one of the guys was also involved in at least one recording. And over the years Prince took songs by others (Do Me Baby and Party Up) and made them his own.

Not that is unusual or a big deal. I mean how many albums did they make between 81-87? 15 or so?

(6 prince albums and 3 movies) (3 time albums) (3 Shelia E albums) (jill jones) (2 madhouse albums) (another 13 or so Prince songs) what did i miss? (81-87) As well as loads of unreleased songs...

[Edited 2/22/15 8:22am]

"Keep on shilling for Big Pharm!"
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #9 posted 02/22/15 8:24am

novabrkr

OnlyNDaUsa said:

novabrkr said:


The question was about an artist allowed to be the producer, main songwriter and instrumentalist on his record.

again there was some fudging. Chris Moon wrote or co-wrote more than just Soft and Wet. Several of the songs were on the Demo tape used to get his contract. But it was all part of the branding. There was also a co-producer on for you (but prince claimed he did not do much).

Then there was that really (and prince admitted it too) exaggerated list of instruments...what was it 27? but most were just variations of a few instruments.

If you go watch the American Bandstand interview (they were still shaving 2 years off his age) and to me it seems Prince was really not too comfortable telling the lies.

Then on Prince there Andre or Dez? or one of the guys was also involved in at least one recording. And over the years Prince took songs by others (Do Me Baby and Party Up) and made them his own.

Not that is unusual or a big deal. I mean how many albums did they make between 81-87? 15 or so?


Prince was the producer, main songwriter and instrumentalist on his record in any case. The question was about him being the youngest artist that WB had allowed to have such a great amount of control on his own record.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #10 posted 02/22/15 8:26am

OnlyNDaUsa

avatar

novabrkr said:

OnlyNDaUsa said:

again there was some fudging. Chris Moon wrote or co-wrote more than just Soft and Wet. Several of the songs were on the Demo tape used to get his contract. But it was all part of the branding. There was also a co-producer on for you (but prince claimed he did not do much).

Then there was that really (and prince admitted it too) exaggerated list of instruments...what was it 27? but most were just variations of a few instruments.

If you go watch the American Bandstand interview (they were still shaving 2 years off his age) and to me it seems Prince was really not too comfortable telling the lies.

Then on Prince there Andre or Dez? or one of the guys was also involved in at least one recording. And over the years Prince took songs by others (Do Me Baby and Party Up) and made them his own.

Not that is unusual or a big deal. I mean how many albums did they make between 81-87? 15 or so?


Prince was the producer, main songwriter and instrumentalist on his record in any case. The question was about him being the youngest artist that WB had allowed to have such a great amount of control on his own record.

except we do not know if that was even real or just part of the marketing.

"Keep on shilling for Big Pharm!"
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #11 posted 02/22/15 8:55am

novabrkr

OnlyNDaUsa said:

novabrkr said:


Prince was the producer, main songwriter and instrumentalist on his record in any case. The question was about him being the youngest artist that WB had allowed to have such a great amount of control on his own record.

except we do not know if that was even real or just part of the marketing.


Oh, c'mon.

It's obviously his own stuff.

[Edited 2/22/15 8:57am]

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #12 posted 02/22/15 11:36am

jdcxc

OnlyNDaUsa said:



novabrkr said:




jdcxc said:


bonatoc said: Not Stevie's debut. He had already been groomed by Motown for 10 years before his independence.


The question was about an artist allowed to be the producer, main songwriter and instrumentalist on his record.




again there was some fudging. Chris Moon wrote or co-wrote more than just Soft and Wet. Several of the songs were on the Demo tape used to get his contract. But it was all part of the branding. There was also a co-producer on for you (but prince claimed he did not do much).

Then there was that really (and prince admitted it too) exaggerated list of instruments...what was it 27? but most were just variations of a few instruments.

If you go watch the American Bandstand interview (they were still shaving 2 years off his age) and to me it seems Prince was really not too comfortable telling the lies.

Then on Prince there Andre or Dez? or one of the guys was also involved in at least one recording. And over the years Prince took songs by others (Do Me Baby and Party Up) and made them his own.

Not that is unusual or a big deal. I mean how many albums did they make between 81-87? 15 or so?




(6 prince albums and 3 movies) (3 time albums) (3 Shelia E albums) (jill jones) (2 madhouse albums) (another 13 or so Prince songs) what did i miss? (81-87) As well as loads of unreleased songs...


[Edited 2/22/15 8:22am]



Only an Org member would minimize this crazy bold accomplishment. The assistant producer had very little input to the album. Moon's co-writing credit does not detract from the one man band claim.

If you think about the fact that there have been literally thousands of major label debut releases since 1978, P's debut is Guiness book worthy. Not to mention the balls it took as a 18-year old to turn down two other major label deal offers that did not give him as much control.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #13 posted 02/22/15 1:27pm

OnlyNDaUsa

avatar

jdcxc said:


Only an Org member would minimize this crazy bold accomplishment. The assistant producer had very little input to the album. Moon's co-writing credit does not detract from the one man band claim. If you think about the fact that there have been literally thousands of major label debut releases since 1978, P's debut is Guiness book worthy. Not to mention the balls it took as a 18-year old to turn down two other major label deal offers that did not give him as much control.

i minimized NOTHING it is called being knowledgeable well in this case it is more to do with having READ the liner notes...

"Keep on shilling for Big Pharm!"
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #14 posted 02/22/15 9:31pm

Zannaloaf

OnlyNDaUsa said:

jdcxc said:


Only an Org member would minimize this crazy bold accomplishment. The assistant producer had very little input to the album. Moon's co-writing credit does not detract from the one man band claim. If you think about the fact that there have been literally thousands of major label debut releases since 1978, P's debut is Guiness book worthy. Not to mention the balls it took as a 18-year old to turn down two other major label deal offers that did not give him as much control.

i minimized NOTHING it is called being knowledgeable well in this case it is more to do with having READ the liner notes...

yep...

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #15 posted 02/25/15 3:09am

databank

avatar

OnlyNDaUsa said:

jdcxc said:


Only an Org member would minimize this crazy bold accomplishment. The assistant producer had very little input to the album. Moon's co-writing credit does not detract from the one man band claim. If you think about the fact that there have been literally thousands of major label debut releases since 1978, P's debut is Guiness book worthy. Not to mention the balls it took as a 18-year old to turn down two other major label deal offers that did not give him as much control.

i minimized NOTHING it is called being knowledgeable well in this case it is more to do with having READ the liner notes...

U may be interested in reading some books about Prince, or at least check Princevault.com. Those sessions have been heavily documented, we know who played on what and Tommy Vicari who was executive producer (not co-producer) has been interviewed about it alongside others who were around. What I find quite fascinating is that Patrice Rushen plays on For You, she was big at the time and it wasn't so clever IMHO not to credit her.

A COMPREHENSIVE PRINCE DISCOGRAPHY (work in progress ^^): https://sites.google.com/...scography/
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #16 posted 02/26/15 9:27am

TonyVanDam

avatar

jdcxc said:

At the time of his 1977 Warner Bros signing, Prince was promoted as the youngest ever major label artist to produce, compose and play all the instruments on his debut. Was this true and does it still stand today? This would be pretty impressive considering the history of recorded music.


Debbie Gibson broke that record in 1987 at age 16.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #17 posted 02/26/15 3:44pm

metallicjigolo

avatar

TonyVanDam said:



jdcxc said:


At the time of his 1977 Warner Bros signing, Prince was promoted as the youngest ever major label artist to produce, compose and play all the instruments on his debut. Was this true and does it still stand today? This would be pretty impressive considering the history of recorded music.


Debbie Gibson broke that record in 1987 at age 16.



Not entirely accurate. She wrote all the music, but produced and instrumentals were done by others.
Prince did an interview with a woman at Record World. They talked about whatever, then he asked her: "Does your pubic hair go up to your navel?" At that moment, we thought maybe we shouldn't encourage him to do interviews.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #18 posted 02/26/15 4:02pm

jdcxc

metallicjigolo said:

TonyVanDam said:



jdcxc said:


At the time of his 1977 Warner Bros signing, Prince was promoted as the youngest ever major label artist to produce, compose and play all the instruments on his debut. Was this true and does it still stand today? This would be pretty impressive considering the history of recorded music.


Debbie Gibson broke that record in 1987 at age 16.



Not entirely accurate. She wrote all the music, but produced and instrumentals were done by others.


She had a gangload of producers and arrangers for that bubblegum bullshit.

Still no comparables...in the history of recorded music!!!!
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #19 posted 02/26/15 11:13pm

TonyVanDam

avatar

metallicjigolo said:

Debbie Gibson broke that record in 1987 at age 16.

Not entirely accurate. She wrote all the music, but produced and instrumentals were done by others.


CORRECTION: Debbie plays keyboards.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #20 posted 02/26/15 11:15pm

TonyVanDam

avatar

jdcxc said:

She had a gangload of producers and arrangers for that bubblegum bullshit. Still no comparables...in the history of recorded music!!!!


Debbie Gibson was NOT a MF-ing Beyonce or Rihanna. rolleyes

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #21 posted 02/27/15 4:53am

jdcxc

TonyVanDam said:



jdcxc said:

She had a gangload of producers and arrangers for that bubblegum bullshit. Still no comparables...in the history of recorded music!!!!




Debbie Gibson was NOT a MF-ing Beyonce or Rihanna. rolleyes



Don't even put her in the same hemisphere as Beyonce. Big deal...she can play a little keyboard. Her music is laughable and should not even be part of any serious musical discussion or comparison to serious artists. "Shake Your Love"...cmon man!
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #22 posted 02/27/15 1:41pm

bonatoc

avatar

I solemnly protest.

"Shake Your Love" is an integral part of the American Cultural Heritage.
3 minutes 37 seconds of pure, pristine, eardrum and cerebellum pain, akin to the great plagues the pilgrims endured.

Now press play, think of your week's sins, and repent.


The Colors R brighter, the Bond is much tighter
No Child's a failure
Until the Blue Sailboat sails him away from his dreams
Don't Ever Lose, Don't Ever Lose
Don't Ever Lose Your Dreams
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Forums > Prince: Music and More > Question Regarding Prince Warner Bros Legacy