which should i get?

i think romance 1600 is more interesting, but glamorous life is more classic. both are definitely funky.

i'm afraid you're going to have to get them both.

Anxiety said:

Co-Yup.

Anxiety said:

damn

You really should get both, but if you could only get one, it has to be The Glamorous Life.

That is what started Sheila's career as "Sheila E" vs. Sheila Escovedo the percussionist (who already had a thriving career).

Plus, IMO you can listen to the whole album through (I used to listen with my best friend in college to this over and over again.... on cassette!!!)

In addition to the album verison of the title track (the 2nd half after the lyrics is where Sheila really goes off on the percussion...turn up your headphones). ... you get great funk jams like Oliver's House and Shortberry Strawcake.

The Belle of St. Mark and a couple nice ballads round the mix.

Romance 1600 was a concept album which 20 years later is not as easy to listen to IMO. It has some great songs. A Love Bizarre comes from this album, although I don't like this version anymore compared to the live versions Sheila and Prince have been doing since the Live Romance 1600 video.

I am a HUGE Sheila fan but I almost never listen to this one.

Glamorous Life is so much better imo. Every song is great and that long version of the title track is totally slammin.


Romance is worth finding for Love Bizarre but thats about it for me. The rest of it is mediocre.

Now the 3rd album is the best out of the 3 imo. Check that one out if you can.

Pagey said:

yes the 3rd self titled album is my favorite too....

a little off topic.....but

I was at Meijer (like Walmart) if u don't have em around ....

anyway...

they had 1 little box of cassettes with no more than 20 in the box...

so.. i said.."hmmmn...let's dig thru it..."

and there was 2 Sheila E. cassettes...Sex Cymbol and Sheila E.


was listening 2 "side 1 of Sheila E." this morning...


what a find!!!!!

I definately prefer "The Glamorous Life".

nobody likes romance 1600 but me.

Anxiety said:

I LOVE IT TOO.....

Anxiety said:

I didn't say I didn't ilke it.

I just think TGL is a the must have for anyone's collection and a better album.

GaryMF said:

i think romance 1600 is sheila's ATWIAD...of course TGL is the classic sheila album to own, but i think there are a lot more interesting things going on in romance 1600...TGL is more instant gratification, and of course there's nothing at all wrong with that...

noon rondevous


for that reason alone get TGL
then on your next pay check get 1600

I'd go with 'Romance 1600'.It has four excellent songs: "Toy Box","A Love Bizarre","Dear Michaelangelo" and "Bedtime Story".It's a fun,adventurous album and vocally,Sheila sounds more confident than she did on her debut album.The arrangements are fresh and lively.


'The Glamorous Life' has it's moments,but I think it sounds rushed and hastily produced.The title track is wonderful,but the other songs are mediocre.There's not alot of interesting music here,but I guess since it was her debut,they held back a little.

Don't buy either

Save your money and spend it on getting that sticky "a" key fixed on your keyboard (see subject line)

freakyfeet said:

Why must you choose?


You wouldn't want toast without jelly, would you?


Don't be a fool.... get them both!

Get em both.

squirrelgrease said:

Night and day. Don't choose, live forever, say u'll buy both. Ooo-wooo-ooohhh....

Glamorous Life hands down and you won't be disapointed. A classic album.

DavidEye said:

Well said and I agree.

The Glamorous Life is funky!!My favorite track is "Shortberry Strawcake".Jesse Johnson is all over this jam!

larryluvlife said:

This why I chose the Glamorous Life b/c as most regular orgers know Legs loves her some Jesse for sure.

Milty said:

BOTH !!!
If u really have 2 choose, TGL is pure MPLS sound, rough electro funk in the vein of 1999, The Time & V6/A6 albums. R1600 sounds more like ATWIAD, with lotsa percussions & Eddie M on sax, it sounds more like pop music than TGL.
Prince was obviously experimentating some weird stuff on both albums, so they sometimes sound strange, but both are amazing albums.
[Edited 4/2/05 7:11am]

Exactly. That's why I prefer "The Glamorous Life".

shaomi said:

I HAVE to disagree. In Romance 1600 sounds more like jazz fusion. There's not a whole lot of pop on that album. It sounds mothing like ATWIAD to me, either. There is a LOT of precussion and sax on the CD and the music is much busier, so there's a watering down of the funk BUT...the arrangements are very clever. TGL is a really good album, but its Sheila as a Prince girl rather than the talented musician that she is.
GET THEM BOTH!
[Edited 4/3/05 20:09pm]

Get 'em both! (smile) However, if I had to choose, I would go with "Romance 1600."

BlaqueKnight said:

I HAVE to disagree. In Romance 1600 sounds more like jazz fusion. There's not a whole lot of pop on that album. It sounds mothing like ATWIAD to me, either. There is a LOT of precussion and sax on the CD and the music is much busier, so there's a watering down of the funk BUT...the arrangements are very clever. TGL is a really good album, but its Sheila as a Prince girl rather than the talented musician that she is.
GET THEM BOTH!
[Edited 4/3/05 20:09pm]
[/quote]

There IS a psychedelic touch 2 Romance 1600 that made me said it is not that far from ATWIAD.
Apart from more percussions by Sheila, it's also her as Prince's girl since she wasn't much more involved in the music than on TGL, apart "Merci For The Madspeed Of A Clown In Summer" which has no involvment by Prince.
I agree that the arrangements are way much sophisticated than TGL, though.