92-96 NPG line up are the best he's ever had live.

That's not to say that The Revolution were anything but an amazing band. They were tight together and could hold a solid grove for days. They developed beautiful melodic scope and could hold it down while formation dancing.

I just think the weight of Michael B's foot,snare and pounding toms, Sonny T's nasty grooves playing with the very edges of the pocket. Levi's Chicken Greese slickness and Tommy and Morris's ability to fill the space the other isn't playing just wins it for me

Revolution: Wendy, Lisa, Matt, Mark, and Bobby

NPG: Rosie, Tommy, Michael, Sonny, and Levi

Moving to Associated Artists forum.

The Revolution - Wendy, Lisa, Bobby Z, Dr.Fink, Brown Mark, Miko, Eric, Atlanta, Susannah, Jerome, Wally, Brooks.

The NPG - Morris Hayes, Michael B, Sonny T, Tommy Barbarella, Mayte.

I've always found it hard to compare post-Revolution lineups to the Revolution because well never know what the Revolution would sound like covering the later material(Gett Off, Musicology, et al.) but we've had experince with various NPG takes on Revolution hits(some good and some not so good).

luv4u said:

m13los said:

I am a big fan of both bands but which one is the best live! The line up's obviously vary through the years with both bands. But if you had to pick the Ultimate Revolution band and the Ultimate NPG band what would it look like. Here is my line up's to get you started.. The Revolution.. Wendy and lisa, Susannah Melvoin, Sheila E, Cat Glover, Eric and Alan Leeds, Bobby Z.. The NPG .. Michael B, Sonny T, Mr Hayes and possibly Mayte to add a little extra on stage...

You don't have a bass player for the Revolution

I think the noituloveRevolution executed the songs best sounding like the album cuts.

Which 4 me is important because I love that "Prince" sound

also most of them were not influenced by 'their own sound' or having been influenced by some other artist they played for.

This question for me is always difficult because we compare someone in the Revolution say in 1985 who may have been only playing for 5-10 years vs somone in the NPG in 1998 who because of time has been playing for 15-20 years

Revolution: Bobby Z(drums) Sheila E(percussion) -she could also lead and let Prince playing an instrument back up(so we could get her album songs live) Lisa Coleman(keys), BrownMark(bass), Dr Fink(keys), Wendy(guitar) Eric Leeds Eddie(flute/sax) M Atlanta(sax) Bliss(trumpet) Jill Jones(vocals)

NPG: Rhonda(bass) Ira(bass) Mico(guitar) Michael B(drums) Morris Hayes(keys) Cassandra(keys) Candy (sax) Andy(vocals)

[Edited 3/22/12 12:14pm]

HonestMan13 said:

The Revolution - Wendy, Lisa, Bobby Z, Dr.Fink, Brown Mark, Miko, Eric, Atlanta, Susannah, Jerome, Wally, Brooks.

The NPG - Morris Hayes, Michael B, Sonny T, Tommy Barbarella, Mayte.

I've always found it hard to compare post-Revolution lineups to the Revolution because well never know what the Revolution would sound like covering the later material(Gett Off, Musicology, et al.) but we've had experince with various NPG takes on Revolution hits(some good and some not so good).

The Revolution was very funky on songs like A Love Bizarre, Love or Money, Kiss, and you had the Flesh live sessions ie You Gotta Shake Something DMSR, so I think they could have easily done Gett Off & Musicology... If songs like those would have been even created if the Revolution we know remained.

OldFriends4Sale said:

m13los said:

I am a big fan of both bands but which one is the best live! The line up's obviously vary through the years with both bands. But if you had to pick the Ultimate Revolution band and the Ultimate NPG band what would it look like. Here is my line up's to get you started.. The Revolution.. Wendy and lisa, Susannah Melvoin, Sheila E, Cat Glover, Eric and Alan Leeds, Bobby Z.. The NPG .. Michael B, Sonny T, Mr Hayes and possibly Mayte to add a little extra on stage...

You don't have a bass player for the Revolution

Not to mention Alan Leeds is not a musician, but Eric Leeds is!

IMO, the difference between them is the drums.

Bobby used electronic drums...after that, Prince's live shows improved GREATLY when Sheila, then Michael B started pounding on real skins.

Other than that, they were both awesome.

StonedImmaculate said:

IMO, the difference between them is the drums.

Bobby used electronic drums...after that, Prince's live shows improved GREATLY when Sheila, then Michael B started pounding on real skins.

Other than that, they were both awesome.

Bobby used live drums most of the time, it wasn't until the 1999-Purple Rain years that Prince had him playing the electronic drums mostly

But also during the SOTT but mostly Lovesexy 'concerts' Sheila played drums but there was also a lot of linn programming because she'd also be upfront on vocal/percussions

Parade tours Bobby Z played real/organic drumming again

That's what I mean...during the Revolution years, the drums were electronic. And I'm pretty sure Bobby was still playing electronics on the Parade tour. I'm positive his kick drum wasnt natural. Sheila on the SOTT and Lovesexy tours played mostly real skins. There were the snippets when she was on her timbales or whatever, but the majority was natural.

I wish I could have seen the Revolution live, back then. I've heard tons of boots, but even the recent soundboards sound "light" when compared to SOTT/Lovesexy and the early days of the NPG (Diamonds and Pearls/ActI) boots. I went to the Lovesexy and Act I shows in LA...both were mindblowing, but Act I was RIDICULOUS. I just wonder if I put the post-Revolution live shows on a pedestal because I actually "experienced" it. The sound was just...deeper, live and on boots.

I believe withthe Parade tour there was a combination of electronic and organic, but mostly the latter

Even during 1999 and PR the drums were a combination.

a lot of times when they did impromptu shows at say 1st Avenue, he would just play organic.

like the 1982 show with the Time and Prince where they preview All the Critics, the drums were all organic and very 'fleshy' same with the 1983 Benefit show-mostly organic