So we've read countless professional reviews about Prince's albums at the time of release, but do we know about his side-projects and other Paisley Park albums?

I'd LOVE to know what critics thought of all these albums at the time they were released. How were albums by The Time and Vanity 6 perceived in the early days? Did they like The Family and Madhouse albums? Were they as enthusiast as we were about Jill Jones' album? Was Tony LeMans' album compared with Scritti Politti? Did they foresee how visionnary Ingrid Chavez' album was? Did anyone on earth show some love for poor T.C. Ellis? How bas were the reviews for Carmen Electra's album? etc.

If u have any scan or memories to share

Thanks.

haven't bothered to check, but I have a hard time believing that very many of his side projects were high-profile enough to even warrant reviews in the usual publications. most of them were shoved out there with little-to-no promotion and limited knowledge at the time of what his involvement was, even if they appeared under the "Jamie Starr," "Paisley Park" or "NPG" monikers. he's always had a very laid-back approach to putting effort into promoting these projects or claiming credit for the finished outcome in most cases. except in rare circumstances.

Review of Tony LeMans' "Higher Than High" single From Billboard Magazine:

Twenty-six-year-old multi-instrumentalist may be a newcomer to the scene but his promising debut release harks back to the day of Sly Stone (to which this single is dedicated) while maintaining a refreshing contemporary ambience. The West Coast-based singer/songwriter's offering escapes categorization within the grooves because of its infectious mesh of funk-edged pop with R&B, not unlike producer Gamson's homebase Scritti Politti. Ripe for multiformat attention.

Review of Mavis Staples' 'The Voice' album From People Magazine:

Mavis Staples is one of the more potent voices of modern soul, but her roots are in gospel. And, on this stunning new album, she sings with a soaring, liberating power that can make you feel the intensity of a Sunday service, even if you're just lying on your couch or driving in your car.

In one of the stranger musical couplings, noted bad-boy Prince has produced and written most of the songs on this new disc, as he did in 1989 on Staples' 'Time Waits for No One.' In Prince, Staples has found a fluid, funky guiding force, and in Staples, Prince has found a muse with a voice that can make your hair stand on end.

On the title track, inspired by the Rodney King case, Staples unleashes her husky, snarling alto, tearing into the charged, mid-tempo track. 'The Voice' refers to Jesus, but Staples has infused every song with gospel's sparkle, be it the juiced-up rap "A Man Called Jesus," a remake of Prince's "Positivity" or the sweeping ballad "Blood Is Thicker Than Time."

With backup help from her family and members of Prince's New Power Generation, Staples carries gospel's urgency and humanity onto the pop charts again.

Back in those days,I read Black Beat magazine,which always reviewed those albums.Here's a few interesting quotes I recall from the reviews (many written by the editor Steve Ivory)...

'JILL JONES' (1987)---....what's interesting about Jill's album is that she,like other Prince proteges,gets all the material that he thinks he is 'above',at this point in his career.Fact is,his unbalanced Sign O' The Times album could have used something as sassy and percolating as "For Love",or something as relentlessly funky as "All Day/All Night"....

'APOLLONIA 6' (1984)---since this is "another Starr production" (which means it was actually produced by Prince),the only concern should be: are there any good grooves here,and can I get into them?....In any case,whoever wrote "A Million Miles (I Love You)" deserves a medal! The track is relentless,moving with the attitude and pump of "Irresistible Bitch"....

'TAJA SEVELLE' (1987)---....When Prince recently spoke of Paisley Park's quest for alternative music,hopefully he wasn't referring to this project,which sounds like Sheila E.'s The Glamorous Life,after taxes.Taja's vocal tang is tolerable enough on "Love Is Contagious" but "Take Me For A Ride" is as good as it gets here...."Mama 16" offers a prolific message but who can get next to that weird groove?

Check warr.org you have reviews of lots of associated acts

SoulAlive said:

Back in those days,I read Black Beat magazine,which always reviewed those albums.Here's a few interesting quotes I recall from the reviews (many written by the editor Steve Ivory)...

hopefully he wasn't referring to this project,which sounds like Sheila E.'s The Glamorous Life,after taxes.

Thanks for the reviews

If anyone has more