Yeah, I don't know.

The Revolution was sort of its own monster, so it's hard to compare that. Is Purple Rain his best record? Or is it because it was such a monster unto itself, that you really can't compare anything to it anyway?

The Revolution was popular because of the movies, etc. Not solely for that, but the name - Prince and the Revolution - was in the vernacular like "totally" or "gag me with a spoon" was back then. They were made into stars, and that only enhanced their appeal to fans. Prince didn't have a movie with 1999, or Controversy. They had videos. But you put Bobby, Lisa, Mark, Matt, and Wendy into a movie, give them lines, and put them in interviews, and boom - instant fame machine.

The Revolution went as far as they could, I think. That's certainly not to slight anyone in the band. I love all of them, have talked to most of them at one point or another, and they are fucking stellar musicians and beautiful, kind, and generous people. There will never be another Revolution. (And I'm talking the 5 piece, not the enhanced 1986 version). I don't know if people would have the same "best of all" opinion had there not been two movies, and the albums were just what they were, without a visual aid of the silver screen. They'd have been popular, but I think the eternal adulation comes, a bit, from the fame of Purple Rain. Not fully, but it's an element that can't be ignored.

But the stripped down NPG of the mid 90s, once he ditched The Game Boyz, and when Rosie, and Levi left - that was one tight band. Sonny on bass, Tommy on keys, Morris on keys, Michael on drums, and on guitar. That. Shit. Was. Tight. The Revolution couldn't play "The Exodus Has Begun" or "Endorphinmachine", or "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" or "Space". But the NPG could. The Revolution could have never made The Gold Experience (arguably the best album between 1993-2000; of course the NPG could not have made ATWIAD either.) The irony is that for an almost all-black band, it was the most rock heavy he'd ever been to that point. That new gold guitar, and his muse being a fight with a major corporation (who happened to be signing his paychecks) made them aggressive, funky, and no holds barred. They didn't give a fuck.

The Revolution was magic. It was a special moment in time that will never happen again. (And how lucky are any of us to have experienced it as it happened back then?) It's like stars aligning or something. It was cosmic, and supernatural.

The SOTT band was great, but for me, if I had to rank the bands, they'd be third, out of the three noted here. Of course NPG became more of a go-to name over time, and members rotated in and out quite frequently. There have been plenty of post 1996 versions of the NPG that I didn't much care for, at all. Other versions were much more appealing.

The Revolution was perfect for the 80s, but the 4-piece NPG was perfect for the 90s.

ecnirp0421 said:

Prince appeared to like his NPG band but buy far was the Revolutions was the better of all his bands.And i hope they be at the b.e.t awards honoring Prince.

Gotta respectfully disagree. Every band seemed to kind of represent where Prince was at that particular time, so i can't really say any of them were the flat-out best. I really dug Rainbow Children NPG line-up as well as SOTT lineup and the Diamonds and Pearls/ Love Symbol album NPG and also the Gold Experience NPG. It's tough, because the more i listen to the various band configurations, the more i appreciate them all for their unique qualities and strengths.

He always played with monster musicians. I do favor the melodies he created in collaboration with the Revolution. Think there was a synergy there. Although I love jazz & R&B, and his Musicology period and performers, as well as his blues period, those idioms were well trod. So imo the biggest breakthrough of fusion of sounds was his Revolution period. Rock & funk & new wave together = explosion!

Part of that was the time... there was an opening in the music lexicon, if pop music was like a ship Prince was the one who took the helm and said, "This is where we're going." That happened in the late 70s and 80s.

Claiming that the Revolution is the best Prince band is laughable. Anyone who saw the Musicology tour knows better. In fact, almost every version of the NPG is easily better. If you break it down by player, NPG beats the Revolution at every position. How are Fink and Lisa better than Morris and Renato? Other than Kirk, which drummer (SHeila E, Blackwell, Micheal B, Cora) doesnt slay Bobby Z? And dont get me started on guitar - going from Dez to Wendy was a step down (not saying that she was bad but Dez was that good). Kat Dyson was as good or better. Miko was way better. Mike SCott slaughtered all of them. Bass is the closet spot - Brownmark was a mf. But so was Sonny and Levi. Rhonda brought something new and expanded the overal sound in my opinion.

"Dez was that good"...I always thought P really dug Dez's playing. When I watch the boots he really let Dez stretch out and wail. Usually P always smiled and watched him closely when he soloed...."Mike Scott slaughtered all of them"...Mike Scott was a beast on that guitar..very underrated....."Brownmark was a mf"..."Miko was way better".....I loved hearing Brownmark and Miko play off each other during the "Parade" era.....best funk bassist and rhythm guitarist from P's camp...."Rhonda brought something new and expanded the overall sound"....Yes..I agree with that..She could pop and slap, but she also played the 5 string and fretless jazz stuff smoothly....."which drummer doesn't slay Bobby Z?"...lol!...That may be true, but I'll always have love for Bobby Z.

SPYZFAN1 said:

"Dez was that good"...I always thought P really dug Dez's playing. When I watch the boots he really let Dez stretch out and wail. Usually P always smiled and watched him closely when he soloed...."Mike Scott slaughtered all of them"...Mike Scott was a beast on that guitar..very underrated....."Brownmark was a mf"..."Miko was way better".....I loved hearing Brownmark and Miko play off each other during the "Parade" era.....best funk bassist and rhythm guitarist from P's camp...."Rhonda brought something new and expanded the overall sound"....Yes..I agree with that..She could pop and slap, but she also played the 5 string and fretless jazz stuff smoothly....."which drummer doesn't slay Bobby Z?"...lol!...That may be true, but I'll always have love for Bobby Z.

Yes! The Brownmark and Miko combo was a huge part of the Parade live sound.

The Revolution were Prince's best band but the Revolution were not Prince's best session players.

People who like to fool themselves that Prince's dancing and clothes and general aesthetics weren't important can argue for whatever forgettable version of the NPG they prefer all day. They're never gonna get it.

Largely Agree with Trivialpursuits post though.

LEEDS Prince’s [subsequent] musicians were always talented. But arguably, they’re not of the level he once had. If they don’t bring any ideas, they don’t challenge him, they don’t stimulate him. The Revolution were constantly bringing songs to his attention. They would leave rehearsal and go listen to a Duke Ellington record or a country-western record. He was all ears. The more money he’s had, the more he’s been able to isolate himself from the real world. He handpicks his input.

ecnirp0421 said:

Prince appeared to like his NPG band but buy far was the Revolutions was the better of all his bands.And i hope they be at the b.e.t awards honoring Prince.

FUNKYNESS said:

jazzz said:

FUNKYNESS said:

Claiming that the Revolution is the best Prince band is laughable. Anyone who saw the Musicology tour knows better. In fact, almost every version of the NPG is easily better. If you break it down by player, NPG beats the Revolution at every position. How are Fink and Lisa better than Morris and Renato? Other than Kirk, which drummer (SHeila E, Blackwell, Micheal B, Cora) doesnt slay Bobby Z? And dont get me started on guitar - going from Dez to Wendy was a step down (not saying that she was bad but Dez was that good). Kat Dyson was as good or better. Miko was way better. Mike SCott slaughtered all of them. Bass is the closet spot - Brownmark was a mf. But so was Sonny and Levi. Rhonda brought something new and expanded the overal sound in my opinion.

- I guess you're the type of person who would have liked to see Prince play with chick corea, vinnie colaiuta, john scofield, jaco pastorius...the kind of musicians that would outplay renato, sheila, mike scott, sonny... but would it have sounded great?? Music is not just a technical thing, but also a 'feel' thing. And that feeling was GREAT with the Revolution!

Yeah, personally I'd take the Doctor gurning away in his scrubs while he squeals out a fairly simple monophonic solo over Renato noodling out a technically brilliant bit of elevator music any day. I don't doubt that Prince played with better musicians, but for me the Revolution just had a rawness and unexpectedness which felt like it brought more to his music...

Prince never played with a band called "Revolutions".

jazzz said:

More org mythology....

Jestyr said:

Prince never played with a band called "Revolutions".

oh yeah, fair point

OldFriends4Sale said: