I love Mazarati's 1986 debut album for Paisley Park Records.It is an underrated gem.This album is notable for the Prince-written hit "100 MPH",but there are other great songs as well.The bass-heavy ballad "I Guess It's All Over",the Time-like "She's Just That Kinda Lady",the hilarious,scandalous "Suzy" and the nice rock ballad "Lonely Girl On Bourbon Street" are all top-notch songs.To those of you who are not familiar with this album,here is the tracklist and my comments about each song....

***"Player's Ball"---This was the first single.It's a catchy funk track,the perfect opening song.Anybody remember the video? Those outfits were hideous:)

***"Lonely Girl On Bourbon Street"---Lyrically,this is a sad song about an old girlfriend who now "walks the streets with her skirt up high".It's a stunning rock ballad.

***"100 MPH"---I know y'all are familiar with this song! A killer slice of Prince funk,this is the centerpiece of the album.

***"She's Just That Kinda Lady"---I love this one! Sounds like a Time outtake,but it's great!! Coulda been a single.

***"Stroke"---This song received some attention on R&B radio.It's another funk track.

***"Suzy"---This song is about a transvesite! The chorus goes "Girl your voice is real sexy...but it sounds just like a MAN to me!".Musically,it's fierce,but it's the lyrics that command your attention...lol...

***"Strawberry Lover"---Jill Jones adds background vocals to this slow rock number.In case you're wondering what the song is about,here's a lyric..."Controversial acts to be shared by two in love....when it's strawberry baby,two ain't enough....my brother here,he likes it but I like you more....you want us both? Yes? Then shut the door!!"

***"I Guess It's All Over"---This is an effective "you-did-me-wrong" ballad with grinding bass that just jumps out at you! Honestly,Prince should have recorded this song himself!


Interestingly,there are two known outtakes from this album.One of them is "JerkOut",which was later given to The Time.The other is a funky number called....."Kiss"!(And you all know who recorded that one...lol...)

No you are not ,Loved it too !!!!!

Yeah, I dig that album, it was tight.

I LOVE that album!!! I still listen to it. I loved that whole era of Paisley Park, when a Strawberry jam would drip from my radio.

wouldn't say eye loved it, but it was a decent album.

Ive just heard 100 MPH, but Im dying to hear the rest. You would figure someone would look into re-releasing the album, when every copy that is put on ebay sells for $300.

hak said:

I'm along these lines.

100 MPH
Stroke
She's Just That Kind Of Lady
&
Player's Ball
are the ones I always liked.
Any one have any of the Mazarati 12 inches?

Nope I loved Mazarati too!!!!

It's official - 5 people loved it.

Mazarati kicked ass. I paid a grip for the original CD of the first album and I have a clean bootleg of the second unreleased album. The first one showed some promised even if Terry Casey couldnt sing that much. The guitar work is nice and how bad can a album be with a great Prince tune in the middle of it?

I even liked that funky drag queen look they had.

I love the Mazarati album because it is very consistent.It's more focused than The Family's album,which had some good tracks but also a few filler songs.Mazarati's album is like the best Time albums,with an emphasis on funk and rock.I think Brown Mark did a great job on the production (it's obvious that Prince helped out alot,too).

I really miss the early days of Paisley Park Records (1985-86),when there were some great albums being released.As the 80s' wore on,Prince began signing lackluster artists like Dale Bozzio and Good Question.

I loved Mazarati's album.....especially Lonely Girl on Bourbon Street. That song was a killer. Someone stole my album unfortunately, and I have yet to replace it. And by the way, for you Mazarati fans, did you notice that guitarist Tony Christian came out as a solo artist named Giorgio? Not positive, but they looked identical, and Giorgio said on BET that he and BROWNMARK used to live together, but were no longer friends because Mark accussed him of stealing a song. Giorgio had the jam, "TINA CHERRY". Cannot remember the song that BM accused him of stealing, but it was the first single he released. Anyone got any info on this?

The1AndOnlyAndTheOnly1 said:

Hmmm....that's an interesting story.I remember reading an article on Giorgio in Black Beat magazine, where he mentioned that Prince wanted to sign him to Paisley Park Records.The deal fell through and Giorgio was pissed at Prince and BrownMark,saying "They wanted to sign me,and take all the songwriting and production credits for themselves.Now I understand how Prince's thing works....he finds people who will do anything to become stars.I'm not one of those people".

I didn't know that Giorgio was in Mazarati!! He had three solo hits in the mid-80s,"Sex Appeal","Tina Cherry" and "I Don't Want To Be Alone" (all three tunes were very Prince-influenced).I also recall BrownMark confirming in a 1988 interview that the Mazarati album "was just me,Prince and
Terry Casey(the lead singer)".No other band members were involved in any way.

Love it! and the Players Ball 12" mix was killer!

Mazerati BROUGHT some funk, now!

The main critique I had of that group was "Sir" Terry Casey's voice.. like someone was choking him while he was trying to sing..

"100 mph" was good, but the basslines to "She's just that kind of lady" & "Stroke" were TOO PHAT. I also like "Strawberry Lover." (does anybody understand?)

I even saw Mazerati IN CONCERT, in Richmond VA in '86.. they played in this old movie theater on Broad St.. they were like an hour late & they played on this tiny stage that was BARELY big enough for all of them. We were right in front. They put on a good enough show- loud & funky.

I'd love to get their album on cd..

In 1987,BrownMark signed with Motown Records as a solo artist.He brought Mazarati to Motown as well.A second Mazarati album,titled 'Mazarati II' was released in 1988.I've never heard it,can someone give us a review? The first two tracks were called "The Saga of a Man" and "Words" (I got the full tracklist somewhere).
[This message was edited Wed Apr 3 4:45:15 PST 2002 by DavidEye]

That's it - appear to have struck double figures!

BTW - I thought it was 'OK' - and much prefer other Paisley material.

they were ok....that guys vooice was kinda annoying it was very princely.....there was some good music tho' and the look they had was crazy

mazarati's album was a lot of fun! they also did a jammin' cover of "17 days" on their tour

No you're not the only one that loved it!
Like everything else it was short lived!
I really miss the family.That's my favorite
prince project!

DavidEye said:

Man that album was the Heeshezeeee. Players ball and Strawberry Lover. Cant find it anywhere on CD. That album caused a riff between Prince and Brownmark. Brownmark discovered them and Brownmark felt like he wasnt getting his props.

NO YOU ARE NOT, I LOVED THOSE GUYS, THEY WAS FUNKY, MARK BROWN WAS ON TIME WHEN HE INTRODUCED THEM TO US,,I STILL HAVE THE ALBUM, AND THE 12 INCH TO PLAYERS BALL. THANKS FOR TAKING ME BACK.

They reminded me of Ready for the World...who reminded me of Prince...what does that tell you?(cuz i dont have a clue)

But the album was decent at best. Nothing that Ready for the World couldnt have done-except for 100mph.

Loved it! Have it on vinyl and cassette.

It is nice. Burned it to CD for easy listening pleasure.

U R not alone!!!

downloaded it...wasnt impressed....

SlayerNPG said:

I saw the Vinyl some days ago for less than 10 Euro (five dollars or even less?). It was the original album - does anybody know if this one is available also as CD?

CrystalVault said:

I can't see why someone would pay $300 for ANY CD! If you really want this album,just go to a used record store that sells old vinyl albums.You can get it for about $5.00.

Well, somebody had to like it...

"don't ever lose your dreams"

Mazaratti was cool . There videos were cool. I loved the song 100 mph and Player's Ball.