Crappy quality but great performance. I think it perfectly captures the energy it has on the recorded version.

Watching this again, I still can't understand how she wasn't a huge megastar back then. Second, I want her to find the funk again. I hope the new album she's working on brings it hard.

Third thing: I wonder if she was signed to that standard $250/week contract that all the other associates seemed to have gotten at the time. Because if so, she worked her ass off for not much more than minimum wage. But I'm guessing that all the years she had been in the business prior made her smarter and more valuable than that.

Thanks for posting this!

Who is in the band?

Benjamin Rietveld

Susie Davis

Juan Escovedo

Karl Perrazzo

Miko Weaver

Steph Birnbaum

Eddie M

Well she went back to playing the drums behind Prince so that slowed downed her carreer. She also said she was not happy being out front. I also remember her stating in a few interviews that she gets royalty checks, stared making good money when she first went to work for Lionel Richie and that she had good investments in the 80s. Kind of weird that she made out good while some of the others did not.

Efan said:

Watching this again, I still can't understand how she wasn't a huge megastar back then. Second, I want her to find the funk again. I hope the new album she's working on brings it hard.

Third thing: I wonder if she was signed to that standard $250/week contract that all the other associates seemed to have gotten at the time. Because if so, she worked her ass off for not much more than minimum wage. But I'm guessing that all the years she had been in the business prior made her smarter and more valuable than that.

Thanks for posting this!

Stephen Birnbaum is hot in this clip!

Efan said:

Watching this again, I still can't understand how she wasn't a huge megastar back then. Second, I want her to find the funk again. I hope the new album she's working on brings it hard.

Third thing: I wonder if she was signed to that standard $250/week contract that all the other associates seemed to have gotten at the time. Because if so, she worked her ass off for not much more than minimum wage. But I'm guessing that all the years she had been in the business prior made her smarter and more valuable than that.

Thanks for posting this!

I think she was really popular during the 1984-1986 years

.

I think she should have had a place in the movie Purple Rain, which I believe would have given her a wide audiences notice

.

Romance 1600 wasn't as strong as Glamorous Life, and I think/wish more attention was payed to single/coverart/video presentation

Glamorous Life 4 me is perfect from beginning 2 end

.

I agree bring back that Minn funk, she's been working with Eddie M alot more, it would be cool for the next album to have a good mix of members from that period especially her band, even the Time, the Family etc, she can rock the linn

.

Efan said:

Watching this again, I still can't understand how she wasn't a huge megastar back then. Second, I want her to find the funk again. I hope the new album she's working on brings it hard.

Third thing: I wonder if she was signed to that standard $250/week contract that all the other associates seemed to have gotten at the time. Because if so, she worked her ass off for not much more than minimum wage. But I'm guessing that all the years she had been in the business prior made her smarter and more valuable than that.

Thanks for posting this!

Agreed. She IS the end all of the Vanity vs Apollonia debate.

GuyBros said:

Efan said:

Watching this again, I still can't understand how she wasn't a huge megastar back then. Second, I want her to find the funk again. I hope the new album she's working on brings it hard.

Third thing: I wonder if she was signed to that standard $250/week contract that all the other associates seemed to have gotten at the time. Because if so, she worked her ass off for not much more than minimum wage. But I'm guessing that all the years she had been in the business prior made her smarter and more valuable than that.

Thanks for posting this!

Agreed. She IS the end all of the Vanity vs Apollonia debate.

I wish Vanity 6 continued with Prince, and his purple kingdom was increased. 1984 should have had the Time, Vanity 6, Sheila E. Prince the Revolution (and a Jill Jones section)

I know somehow the Time disbanding gave us what we had of the Family. I would have loved both groups.

Vanity 6 had a very sexy place, V6 the Time Prince & the noituloveR Triple Threat tour etc

Can't wait to watch this later at home WITH SOUND.

Efan said:

Third thing: I wonder if she was signed to that standard $250/week contract that all the other associates seemed to have gotten at the time. Because if so, she worked her ass off for not much more than minimum wage. But I'm guessing that all the years she had been in the business prior made her smarter and more valuable than that.

No, she told me last year that when they first met he asked her what she was making per show. She told him the number and his reply was: I can't afford that. It took a few years before he could afford her. So I guess it wasn't the standard contract.

Efan said:

Watching this again, I still can't understand how she wasn't a huge megastar back then.

I think it's a combination of several factors.She was signed to Paisley Park Records and didn't get the proper promotion.Some of the wrong singles were released.For example,I think "Toy Box" should have been the lead single from Romance 1600.It would have caused quite a stir! The other factor is,Sheila put her solo career on hold in 1987 to play drums for Prince.....at the exact same time that she released her stongest,most consistent album! That was a questionable career move.

SoulAlive said:

Efan said:

Watching this again, I still can't understand how she wasn't a huge megastar back then.

I think it's a combination of several factors.She was signed to Paisley Park Records and didn't get the proper promotion.Some of the wrong singles were released.For example,I think "Toy Box" should have been the lead single from Romance 1600.It would have caused quite a stir! The other factor is,Sheila put her solo career on hold in 1987 to play drums for Prince.....at the exact same time that she released her stongest,most consistent album! That was a questionable career move.

I love "Toy Box," but it's basically a remix of "The Glamorous Life." I'm kind of glad she didn't release it, simply because it didn't show much range musically. (Plus, "Sugar Walls" had already been a hit right before that, so I don't think "Toy Box" would have been that big a deal...the world had kind of had its fill of women singing odes to their cooters.)

Much as I love "Romance 1600," I don't think it was an album with a lot of hit potential. Her first album is really the one that should have been milked for one more hit single (either "Noon Rendezvous" or "Oliver's House").

I love Sheila's third album just as much as anybody, but was it really full of hit potential? Note that Rolling Stone didn't even bother to review it. It was like the album was dead in the water even before it was released.

Efan said:

Much as I love "Romance 1600," I don't think it was an album with a lot of hit potential. Her first album is really the one that should have been milked for one more hit single (either "Noon Rendezvous" or "Oliver's House").

actually,"Noon Rendezvous" was released as a single.In late 1984,it was released as the third single from the album but received no promotion at all.I find it odd that she only made one music video from this album.If there had been a video for "The Belle Of St.Mark",that song would have done so much better.It had all the ingredients to be a Top 10 smash but in the 80s,a video was essential.Without it,the song struggled on the charts.

Efan said:

I love "Toy Box," but it's basically a remix of "The Glamorous Life." I'm kind of glad she didn't release it, simply because it didn't show much range musically. (Plus, "Sugar Walls" had already been a hit right before that, so I don't think "Toy Box" would have been that big a deal...the world had kind of had its fill of women singing odes to their cooters.)

Come on,Efan....those songs don't sound that much alike "Toy Box" is actually funkier,with some incredible bass-playing by Prince.And at that time,people wanted to hear songs about women's private parts,so I know it would have found an audience Cyndi Lauper had a huge hit with "She Bop" (which covers the same topic),but I think "Toy Box" is better.

The first single that was chosen ("Sister Fate") is decent,but it's not an outstanding song.It barely made the R&B Top 40 and didn't even reach the pop charts at all.I'm certain that "Toy Box" would have done much better.

Efan said:

I love Sheila's third album just as much as anybody, but was it really full of hit potential? Note that Rolling Stone didn't even bother to review it. It was like the album was dead in the water even before it was released.

This goes back to what I said earlier.Sheila was on Paisley Park Records and as we all know,that label had major problems promoting the music.The album itself is filled with hit potential."Faded Photographs" is a strong,powerful pop song that had 'Top 10 pop' hit written all over it..."The Pride And The Passion" and "Love On A Blue Train" should have been the follow-up singles.

This album was dead on arrival because of a lack of promotion and because,at that point,Sheila had put her solo career on hold.

SoulAlive said:

Efan said:

Much as I love "Romance 1600," I don't think it was an album with a lot of hit potential. Her first album is really the one that should have been milked for one more hit single (either "Noon Rendezvous" or "Oliver's House").

actually,"Noon Rendezvous" was released as a single.In late 1984,it was released as the third single from the album but received no promotion at all.I find it odd that she only made one music video from this album.If there had been a video for "The Belle Of St.Mark",that song would have done so much better.It had all the ingredients to be a Top 10 smash but in the 80s,a video was essential.Without it,the song struggled on the charts.

It was a similiar situation with Apollonia 6's "Blue Limousine".It was released as a single in late 1984 but received no promotion at all.There was no video,no airplay,no nothing.I bet that most fand didn't even know that it was a single!

Efan said:

SoulAlive said:

I think it's a combination of several factors.She was signed to Paisley Park Records and didn't get the proper promotion.Some of the wrong singles were released.For example,I think "Toy Box" should have been the lead single from Romance 1600.It would have caused quite a stir! The other factor is,Sheila put her solo career on hold in 1987 to play drums for Prince.....at the exact same time that she released her stongest,most consistent album! That was a questionable career move.

I love "Toy Box," but it's basically a remix of "The Glamorous Life." I'm kind of glad she didn't release it, simply because it didn't show much range musically. (Plus, "Sugar Walls" had already been a hit right before that, so I don't think "Toy Box" would have been that big a deal...the world had kind of had its fill of women singing odes to their cooters.)

Much as I love "Romance 1600," I don't think it was an album with a lot of hit potential. Her first album is really the one that should have been milked for one more hit single (either "Noon Rendezvous" or "Oliver's House").

I love Sheila's third album just as much as anybody, but was it really full of hit potential? Note that Rolling Stone didn't even bother to review it. It was like the album was dead in the water even before it was released.

Seriously?

I never knew that.

SoulAlive said:

Efan said:

I love "Toy Box," but it's basically a remix of "The Glamorous Life." I'm kind of glad she didn't release it, simply because it didn't show much range musically. (Plus, "Sugar Walls" had already been a hit right before that, so I don't think "Toy Box" would have been that big a deal...the world had kind of had its fill of women singing odes to their cooters.)

Come on,Efan....those songs don't sound that much alike "Toy Box" is actually funkier,with some incredible bass-playing by Prince.And at that time,people wanted to hear songs about women's private parts,so I know it would have found an audience Cyndi Lauper had a huge hit with "She Bop" (which covers the same topic),but I think "Toy Box" is better.

The first single that was chosen ("Sister Fate") is decent,but it's not an outstanding song.It barely made the R&B Top 40 and didn't even reach the pop charts at all.I'm certain that "Toy Box" would have done much better.

I agree.

"Toy Box" is a funkier tune, and back-in-the-day it was a regular in my mix tapes.

PurpleJedi said:

Efan said:

I love "Toy Box," but it's basically a remix of "The Glamorous Life." I'm kind of glad she didn't release it, simply because it didn't show much range musically. (Plus, "Sugar Walls" had already been a hit right before that, so I don't think "Toy Box" would have been that big a deal...the world had kind of had its fill of women singing odes to their cooters.)

Much as I love "Romance 1600," I don't think it was an album with a lot of hit potential. Her first album is really the one that should have been milked for one more hit single (either "Noon Rendezvous" or "Oliver's House").

I love Sheila's third album just as much as anybody, but was it really full of hit potential? Note that Rolling Stone didn't even bother to review it. It was like the album was dead in the water even before it was released.

Seriously?

I never knew that.

I remember People magazine reviewed the album and their review pissed me off.They were very harsh,saying "Sheila doesn't even play drums on this album.This means that she doesn't get very musical at all,since her voice is non-descript"

I think they got confused by the credits.The album credits list Timothy Riley as the drummer,but that doesn't mean that Sheila wasn't playing drums too! Smh

PurpleJedi said:

SoulAlive said:

Come on,Efan....those songs don't sound that much alike "Toy Box" is actually funkier,with some incredible bass-playing by Prince.And at that time,people wanted to hear songs about women's private parts,so I know it would have found an audience Cyndi Lauper had a huge hit with "She Bop" (which covers the same topic),but I think "Toy Box" is better.

The first single that was chosen ("Sister Fate") is decent,but it's not an outstanding song.It barely made the R&B Top 40 and didn't even reach the pop charts at all.I'm certain that "Toy Box" would have done much better.

I agree.

"Toy Box" is a funkier tune, and back-in-the-day it was a regular in my mix tapes.

Based on Prince's instrumental long version of Toy Box, an extended version of the song would have been killer, but I still don't think the song would have been a hit, much as I love it. That stripped-down, no-chorus funk wasn't winning people over (like The Screams of Passion).

SoulAlive said:

PurpleJedi said:

Seriously?

I never knew that.

I remember People magazine reviewed the album and their review pissed me off.They were very harsh,saying "Sheila doesn't even play drums on this album.This means that she doesn't get very musical at all,since her voice is non-descript"

I think they got confused by the credits.The album credits list Timothy Riley as the drummer,but that doesn't mean that Sheila wasn't playing drums too! Smh

I recall People magazine giving "Lovesexy" a terrible review...BUT...they also gace "Sex Cymbal" a great review.

PurpleJedi said:

SoulAlive said:

I remember People magazine reviewed the album and their review pissed me off.They were very harsh,saying "Sheila doesn't even play drums on this album.This means that she doesn't get very musical at all,since her voice is non-descript"

I think they got confused by the credits.The album credits list Timothy Riley as the drummer,but that doesn't mean that Sheila wasn't playing drums too! Smh

I recall People magazine giving "Lovesexy" a terrible review...BUT...they also gace "Sex Cymbal" a great review.

I'm not gonna say that Sex Cymbal was great...but I like it a ton.

Efan said:

PurpleJedi said:

I recall People magazine giving "Lovesexy" a terrible review...BUT...they also gace "Sex Cymbal" a great review.

I'm not gonna say that Sex Cymbal was great...but I like it a ton.

I always liked Sex Cymbal. Can't understand why it's so disliked (other than the fact that it was post-Prince).

Remember that it was out waaay before Ricky Martin and the "Latin Invasion"...so I was really digging the latin-themed tunes. "Dropping Like Flies" should've been a HIT (were it not for that regrettable C&C Music Factory remix)

PurpleJedi said:

Efan said:

I'm not gonna say that Sex Cymbal was great...but I like it a ton.

I always liked Sex Cymbal. Can't understand why it's so disliked (other than the fact that it was post-Prince).

Remember that it was out waaay before Ricky Martin and the "Latin Invasion"...so I was really digging the latin-themed tunes. "Dropping Like Flies" should've been a HIT (were it not for that regrettable C&C Music Factory remix)

I love those Droppin' Like Flies remixes! (I love the Sex Cymbal remixes too.) The very last remix of Droppin' Like Flies, the instrumental one, is fantastic. It's a great song to listen to on a nice bike ride or a jog.

Efan said:

PurpleJedi said:

I always liked Sex Cymbal. Can't understand why it's so disliked (other than the fact that it was post-Prince).

Remember that it was out waaay before Ricky Martin and the "Latin Invasion"...so I was really digging the latin-themed tunes. "Dropping Like Flies" should've been a HIT (were it not for that regrettable C&C Music Factory remix)

I love those Droppin' Like Flies remixes! (I love the Sex Cymbal remixes too.) The very last remix of Droppin' Like Flies, the instrumental one, is fantastic. It's a great song to listen to on a nice bike ride or a jog.

I own the 12" maxi-single and honestly, I haven't played it since I originally bought it and got tired of it after the first playing.


Maybe once I have my turntable hooked up I will give it another listen.

BTW - I like the 'Sex Cymbal' remix WAAAAY better than the album version. I remember hearing it on the radio one day and being sorely dissapointed when I bought the cassingle (yeah remember those?) which was the album version.

PurpleJedi said:

Efan said:

I love those Droppin' Like Flies remixes! (I love the Sex Cymbal remixes too.) The very last remix of Droppin' Like Flies, the instrumental one, is fantastic. It's a great song to listen to on a nice bike ride or a jog.

I own the 12" maxi-single and honestly, I haven't played it since I originally bought it and got tired of it after the first playing.


Maybe once I have my turntable hooked up I will give it another listen.

BTW - I like the 'Sex Cymbal' remix WAAAAY better than the album version. I remember hearing it on the radio one day and being sorely dissapointed when I bought the cassingle (yeah remember those?) which was the album version.

"Listen to the rhythm while I'm hyping up the tempo!"

Seriously, I think you should give the DLF remixes another shot. Then again, they're really dated, so maybe if you didn't like them then, you're not going to like them now.

But at the very least, give the instrumental version a listen, because I still maintain that it's great.

Efan said:

PurpleJedi said:

I agree.

"Toy Box" is a funkier tune, and back-in-the-day it was a regular in my mix tapes.

Based on Prince's instrumental long version of Toy Box, an extended version of the song would have been killer, but I still don't think the song would have been a hit, much as I love it. That stripped-down, no-chorus funk wasn't winning people over (like The Screams of Passion).

Its a song about some kind of erotica, but the music was too playful, too much jamming to make it sexy. Not one of my favorites

OldFriends4Sale said:

Efan said:

Based on Prince's instrumental long version of Toy Box, an extended version of the song would have been killer, but I still don't think the song would have been a hit, much as I love it. That stripped-down, no-chorus funk wasn't winning people over (like The Screams of Passion).

Its a song about some kind of erotica, but the music was too playful, too much jamming to make it sexy. Not one of my favorites

The playfulness is what makes it so great, I think. Since it's about childhood masturbation and playing doctor and how that evolves as you grow up, I think making the music kind of whimsical suits the song. It's a mixture of naughtiness and innocence.

Efan said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

Its a song about some kind of erotica, but the music was too playful, too much jamming to make it sexy. Not one of my favorites

The playfulness is what makes it so great, I think. Since it's about childhood masturbation and playing doctor and how that evolves as you grow up, I think making the music kind of whimsical suits the song. It's a mixture of naughtiness and innocence.

wish it would have been more like ' Sister ' + ' Tamborine ' + A Love Bizarre

.

Olivers House had that kinda youthful teenager/college age being naughty in the suburbs

very playful with all the bad stuff that happens when youth are unsupervised.

.

For some reason Toy Box doesn't work for me. Will listen again and a couple of live versions.

[Edited 7/11/13 5:29am]