What was the deal with The Family? Did Prince perform on all the instruments and sing? Were they purely a fabrication?

i believe, if ive heard correctly, and by just listening, that prince played the instruments mostly and the others did vocals.

Prince wrote all the songs (with the exception of 'River Run Dry' by Bobby Z, and giving Eric Leeds a co-writing credit on the instrumental tracks 'Yes' and 'Susannah's Pajamas'), only taking a credit for 'Nothing Compares 2 U'.

Prince plays everything you hear on that album - with the following exceptions:

Sax - Eric Leeds,

a rhythm guitar part on 'Yes' - Wendy Melvoin

Strings - Clare Fischer.

The album was recorded between June and October 1984

BananaCologne said:

This KILLS me when people do posts like this. Not that I'm contesting the vaildity of what you are saying, but what are yr sources?

JudasLChrist said:

This... plus an extensive book, magazine and God-only-knows-what-else collection and a continually expanding knowledge of aforementioned crap trivia only useful for forums like this spanning 23 years.

That all ok with you now? Great.

BananaCologne said:

Oh...I haven't seen that days of wild book...is the info different from "The Vault"?

JudasLChrist said:

'The Vault' is the bastard offspring of 'Days of Wild' and 'Turn It Up'

It's everything and more.

Hmmm, very interesting. What made them break up?

Battling egos, delusions of grandeur, Prince's micro-managing -- take your pick. Remember this was after Purple Rain. Prince had exploded to a level of fame previously thought impossible. It was just crazy. The man affected music, fashion and a host of other things. When you see that level of success happening to a friend, you can't help but wonder if you can achieve the same thing. Certainly, there are other explanations for the break-up. But ultimately, I think ego was behind it all. Just my opinion. Okay, you may all commence tearing me to pieces now..

brothaluv said:

According to lead singer Paul Peterson,the problem was that Prince was too focused on other projects.The Family's album came and went without any real promotion (a problem that occured with other Paisley Park albums too).By the time it was released in the late summer of 1985,Prince was already focused on 'Under The Cherry Moon' and Mazarati.Paul was pissed and quit the band only a few months after their album was released.Prince later sued Paul.

DavidEye said:[quote]

brothaluv said:

And Prince lost.

JudasLChrist said:[quote]

DavidEye said:

that´s what I call a real family-affair!

One of the saddest parts of the Paisley Park saga.....such a missed opportunity.

I remember reading in one of the Black teen rags that there was going to be a concert with Sheila E headlining and The Family and Mazerati opening. I almost had a heartattck right there! Sadly it never came to be.

The Family only played one live date ever, at First Ave in 85 I think. The show exists on bootleg and I've seen it.

Crazy, 18 years later, at the Family Jamm, they reunited and played basically the same set, and were actually even BETTER! They were one tight band and it's a shame they never got to express their full potential.