I'm always hearing stories of Prince taking peoples credit on album sleeves. Eg- Morris Day actually wrote "Partyup" and Wendy & Lisa were always duped of their co-composing credit on the SIGN O THE TIMES album for various tracks - BUT... the big question is... Who plays the strings on the beautiful track "Baby" from the FOR YOU album?

Always thought it was Prince on synth. There are synths all over that album -- just what a one-man-band needs.

Eh, it's Prince playing a synthesizer.

You know, I've never been thoroughly convinced that those strings were all synths. There are certain vibrato sounds in those strings that I thought could only come from an authentic string section.

Baby
Prince: All lead and background vocals, acoustic guitar, Orr bass, electric guitars, acoustic piano, Oberheim 4-voice, Arp Soloist, orchestra bells, Fender Rhodes piano, Mini-moog, drums

Taken directly from the CD credits, I just happened to have it with me at work.

Question: What is an Arp and a Mini-moog?

psykosoul said:

It's called LFO.

LovesexyIsThe1 said:

They are very famous analog synthesizers. Both are monophonic though.

toejam said:

Maybe it was Claire Fisher.

GeSmi1

Novabreaker said:

Sorry dude, have another listen (preferably with good quality headphones). It just sounds too real to be a synthesiser. Even today's most advanced synths don't have sounds THAT realistic, let alone in 1978! I'm convinced it's a small string section... BUT WHO???
[This message was edited Sat May 8 3:37:06 2004 by toejam]

I think Patrice Rushen had a hand in the strings according to DMSR.

toejam said:

Ok, I'll have another listen...

They certainly sound realistic, not like analog strings altough they can sound enough realistic on their own too. And the arrangement itself is a bit too complex for a 19-year-old Prince to come up with, I think.

I don't know anymore.

...Patrice Rushen aided with the programming of the synths and actually played on a few songs, including 'Baby'. Rushen's boyfriend, Charles Veal, also contributed by arranging the strings on 'Baby'. - taken from Days Of Wild.