I keep going back to a certain video that I love from The Revolution. The Revolution certainly had a great, but short run, with three proper albums (and one other song on SOTT).

For me, it's the "America" video. There's such an exhiliration about it. They were finally done with Purple Rain, as far as reenacting the videos on tour, and the bigness of it in general. They toss out an album with no fanfare, which had a #2 and #7 hit on it, and went to #1 itself. They hair, the lace, - so much had changed. There was just an air of freshness and aggression about them that was amazing, for me, in that video. And it was before they were bogged down with Mico, Jerome, Wally, & Greg.

But when do you think The Revolution was at their best? Either on a song, in a particular show, a performance, a video. What one instance stands out?

Bogged down with Miko? That's absurd. Miko was absolutely essential on the Parade tour.

The Parade tour smashed it... Purple Rain made The Revolution superstars and Parade showed just how funky and versatile they were as musicians/performers

-

As for Miko...I think he is the best rhythm guitarist Prince ever had (apart from himself!)

-

As for a "moment"...for me Mutiny @ Cobo...everything about it oozes quality...even Eric's bum note

[Edited 6/19/16 5:44am]

[Edited 6/19/16 5:54am]

"Miko was absolutley essential on the Parade tour"..."he is the best rhythm guitarist Prince ever had".....THIS. I love Wendy, but there were some nights he really smoked her in the dust. There's a funny clip (during the "P.R" "Baby I'm A Star" jam) where P runs to Miko and whispers something in his ear. Miko has a big happy "Wow!!" expression on his face...I wouldn't be surprised if he told Miko he was the next guy in the guitar slot........I love the "America" video. One of my faves..I hope someday the whole performance gets leaked or released.

..never noticed it before but at 6:46 onward, P overdubbed a second clean funk guitar part. Sounds great thru phones.

paulludvig said:

Bogged down with Miko? That's absurd. Miko was absolutely essential on the Parade tour.

Miko is the opposite of Wendy so those who worship her willl say silly things like this. He was a better guitarist as well.

FUNKYNESS said:

paulludvig said:

Bogged down with Miko? That's absurd. Miko was absolutely essential on the Parade tour.

Miko is the opposite of Wendy so those who worship her willl say silly things like this. He was a better guitarist as well.

but he would never have the song writing connection she did with Prince.
That in the long run would always win out

Wendy & Miko had two different guitar styles.
but I love Miko too
Loved him with Sheila E,
Since he was passed around so much I proper Jill Jones album with Miko on guitar would have been nice

I love the feeling of the America video too
I wish we could hear the 1985 France show this was done at.
I heard them doing Go & Tempation live and it was tight and hot

.

4 me it's the 6.7.1984 Birthday show

and the 8.1983 Dance Benefit show

I wish more Puprle Rain tour shows were like these, Prince would have enjoyed them much more

FUNKYNESS said:

paulludvig said:

Bogged down with Miko? That's absurd. Miko was absolutely essential on the Parade tour.

Miko is the opposite of Wendy so those who worship her willl say silly things like this. He was a better guitarist as well.

Yeah that. He's clearly a better guitar player, but people forget that he had a lot of studio time with Prince as well. He was with the camp for many years, longer than Wendy, and his style influenced the sound. (Those snappy, intricate and precise funk licks high up on the fretboard). He was also a very versatile player.

[Edited 6/20/16 13:25pm]

paulludvig said:

FUNKYNESS said:

Miko is the opposite of Wendy so those who worship her willl say silly things like this. He was a better guitarist as well.

Yeah that. He's clearly a better guitar player, but people forget that he had a lot of studio time with Prince as well. He was with the camp for many years, longer than Wendy, and his style influenced the sound. (Those snappy, intricate and precise funk licks high up on the fretboard). He was also a very versatile player.

Not necessarily true. Wendy was around since, at least, that Rolling Stones concert. (She told me that herself.) So that's six years. Mico was around from 1986 or so, until 1990. That's 4 years, directly, but he did play on "I Would Die 4 U" 12" I think, played on The Family record, and worked with other things. So - we'll call it even.

Anyway, when I say bogged down with Mico, I mean that the Revolution as a 5 piece + Prince was tight. Everyone had their part, and then some. I wasnt challenging his abilities. The dude can play, and we all know the SOTT band was one of Prince's best bands (definitely in my top 3). I just liked the original Revolution line up, before The Family folks got absorbed into that.

I should add the Birthday 1984 gig was tight as hell, too. Definitely a stand out moment.

paulludvig said:

FUNKYNESS said:

Miko is the opposite of Wendy so those who worship her willl say silly things like this. He was a better guitarist as well.

Yeah that. He's clearly a better guitar player, but people forget that he had a lot of studio time with Prince as well. He was with the camp for many years, longer than Wendy, and his style influenced the sound. (Those snappy, intricate and precise funk licks high up on the fretboard). He was also a very versatile player.

[Edited 6/20/16 13:25pm]

1. Miko did not have a lot of studio time with Prince. Hardly even close as much as Wendy.

2. they were probably in the camp just as long as each other. Technically Wendy was behind the scenes since 1980/81. She was backstage when Prince & band were having stuff thrown at the Rolling Stones shows. As well as she was connected with the 1999 noituloveR background vocals on Free and Irresistable Bitch (so we don't know what pre 1983 (unreleased music shee might have been on)

3. As far as what Miko actually played on is far less that what Wendy played on (Miko was assigned guitarist on the Family album/music) but Wendy actually played guitar, as well as on Apollonia 6, SOTT

4. Miko was live for Sheila E the Glamorous Life and I believe he recorded on 2 Sexy. Prince wanted him to be guitarist 4 the Family. He performed at the 1st Avenue show but did nothing on the album. Merci4theSpeedofAMadClownInSummer was a fulll Sheila E band recording, but I don't know if Miko was on that one. He did guitar on the extended Mountains cut(the Wendy & Lisa created). He did nothing on SOTT. nothing on the Black Album, I believe he played guitar or only voca on Eye Know, nothing on Batman, he was on guitar on We Can Funk(86 unreleased) but only Wendy is on guitar on the released(1990 version)

5. Now, there are songs that Miko played on studio that Prince took it and did the guitar himself. This is some of where I got frustrated with Prince in that people did do studio work but got no album work credit. $$$ I wish he would have had Miko officially on the Family album (I wish at least Romance 1600 had more band cuts) etc The Time, Madhouse etc

6. I don't know how much of Miko's playing actually influenced Prince's sound. But I know Prince did 'borrow' licks from Miko as well as others. He talked about that in the post 1990 interview.

[Edited 6/20/16 15:29pm]

TrivialPursuit said:

paulludvig said:

Yeah that. He's clearly a better guitar player, but people forget that he had a lot of studio time with Prince as well. He was with the camp for many years, longer than Wendy, and his style influenced the sound. (Those snappy, intricate and precise funk licks high up on the fretboard). He was also a very versatile player.

Not necessarily true. Wendy was around since, at least, that Rolling Stones concert. (She told me that herself.) So that's six years. Mico was around from 1986 or so, until 1990. That's 4 years, directly, but he did play on "I Would Die 4 U" 12" I think, played on The Family record, and worked with other things. So - we'll call it even.

Anyway, when I say bogged down with Mico, I mean that the Revolution as a 5 piece + Prince was tight. Everyone had their part, and then some. I wasnt challenging his abilities. The dude can play, and we all know the SOTT band was one of Prince's best bands (definitely in my top 3). I just liked the original Revolution line up, before The Family folks got absorbed into that.

I should add the Birthday 1984 gig was tight as hell, too. Definitely a stand out moment.

Wendy was around since Lisa joined the band in 1980, so that's 7yrs plus her guitar/vocals/voice are on Graffiti Bridge songs(where Miko who was in the 1990 band was not on any album songs)

Miko was in Sheila E's live band for the Glamorous Life tour he was at least in her band by June/July 1984. But not in the band yet by the Glamorous Life video released in June.

Miko actually did not play on the Family album (Wendy did)

She is even vocally on Madhouse that's the Revolution talking #2

OldFriends4Sale said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

paulludvig said:

Yeah that. He's clearly a better guitar player, but people forget that he had a lot of studio time with Prince as well. He was with the camp for many years, longer than Wendy, and his style influenced the sound. (Those snappy, intricate and precise funk licks high up on the fretboard). He was also a very versatile player.

[Edited 6/20/16 13:25pm]

1. Miko did not have a lot of studio time with Prince. Hardly even close as much as Wendy.

2. they were probably in the camp just as long as each other. Technically Wendy was behind the scenes since 1980/81. She was backstage when Prince & band were having stuff thrown at the Rolling Stones shows. As well as she was connected with the 1999 noituloveR background vocals on Free and Irresistable Bitch (so we don't know what pre 1983 (unreleased music shee might have been on)

3. As far as what Miko actually played on is far less that what Wendy played on (Miko was assigned guitarist on the Family album/music) but Wendy actually played guitar, as well as on Apollonia 6, SOTT

4. Miko was live for Sheila E the Glamorous Life and I believe he recorded on 2 Sexy. Prince wanted him to be guitarist 4 the Family. He performed at the 1st Avenue show but did nothing on the album. Merci4theSpeedofAMadClownInSummer was a fulll Sheila E band recording, but I don't know if Miko was on that one. He did guitar on the extended Mountains cut(the Wendy & Lisa created). He did nothing on SOTT. nothing on the Black Album, I believe he played guitar or only voca on Eye Know, nothing on Batman, he was on guitar on We Can Funk(86 unreleased) but only Wendy is on guitar on the released(1990 version)

5. Now, there are songs that Miko played on studio that Prince took it and did the guitar himself. This is some of where I got frustrated with Prince in that people did do studio work but got no album work credit. $$$ I wish he would have had Miko officially on the Family album (I wish at least Romance 1600 had more band cuts) etc The Time, Madhouse etc

6. I don't know how much of Miko's playing actually influenced Prince's sound. But I know Prince did 'borrow' licks from Miko as well as others. He talked about that in the post 1990 interview.

[Edited 6/20/16 15:29pm]

1. He did, actually. Not saying everything, or even most, was released.

2. Standing backstage is not the same thing as standing on stange. Miko performed with Prince since at least '83.

3. Neither Wendy or Miko played a great deal on the released recordings.

4. I bet he plays on IGBABN

5. Agreed

6. Agreed

paulludvig said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

1. Miko did not have a lot of studio time with Prince. Hardly even close as much as Wendy.

2. they were probably in the camp just as long as each other. Technically Wendy was behind the scenes since 1980/81. She was backstage when Prince & band were having stuff thrown at the Rolling Stones shows. As well as she was connected with the 1999 noituloveR background vocals on Free and Irresistable Bitch (so we don't know what pre 1983 (unreleased music shee might have been on)

3. As far as what Miko actually played on is far less that what Wendy played on (Miko was assigned guitarist on the Family album/music) but Wendy actually played guitar, as well as on Apollonia 6, SOTT

4. Miko was live for Sheila E the Glamorous Life and I believe he recorded on 2 Sexy. Prince wanted him to be guitarist 4 the Family. He performed at the 1st Avenue show but did nothing on the album. Merci4theSpeedofAMadClownInSummer was a fulll Sheila E band recording, but I don't know if Miko was on that one. He did guitar on the extended Mountains cut(the Wendy & Lisa created). He did nothing on SOTT. nothing on the Black Album, I believe he played guitar or only voca on Eye Know, nothing on Batman, he was on guitar on We Can Funk(86 unreleased) but only Wendy is on guitar on the released(1990 version)

5. Now, there are songs that Miko played on studio that Prince took it and did the guitar himself. This is some of where I got frustrated with Prince in that people did do studio work but got no album work credit. $$$ I wish he would have had Miko officially on the Family album (I wish at least Romance 1600 had more band cuts) etc The Time, Madhouse etc

6. I don't know how much of Miko's playing actually influenced Prince's sound. But I know Prince did 'borrow' licks from Miko as well as others. He talked about that in the post 1990 interview.

[Edited 6/20/16 15:29pm]

1. He did, actually. Not saying everything, or even most, was released.

2. Standing backstage is not the same thing as standing on stange. Miko performed with Prince since at least '83.

3. Neither Wendy or Miko played a great deal on the released recordings.

4. I bet he plays on IGBABN

5. Agreed

6. Agreed

1. Yes I agree he did some sessions work. But not much with Prince. He was mostly a live musician.

2. She was in the camp and on 1999(1982) Miko did not perform with Prince. He was in Sheila E's band, but the band was not formed till mid 1984. She did not have a band ready by the shooting of the Glamorous Life video

3. Wendy played and sang on a great deal of released recordings. including protege stuff, and cuts like Dance Electric

4. what song is IGBABN?

5. I still wish other musicians like Miko were more involved in the album projects. Like GL Romance 1600, the Family etc

OldFriends4Sale said:

paulludvig said:

1. He did, actually. Not saying everything, or even most, was released.

2. Standing backstage is not the same thing as standing on stange. Miko performed with Prince since at least '83.

3. Neither Wendy or Miko played a great deal on the released recordings.

4. I bet he plays on IGBABN

5. Agreed

6. Agreed

1. Yes I agree he did some sessions work. But not much with Prince. He was mostly a live musician.

2. She was in the camp and on 1999(1982) Miko did not perform with Prince. He was in Sheila E's band, but the band was not formed till mid 1984. She did not have a band ready by the shooting of the Glamorous Life video

3. Wendy played and sang on a great deal of released recordings. including protege stuff, and cuts like Dance Electric

4. what song is IGBABN?

5. I still wish other musicians like Miko were more involved in the album projects. Like GL Romance 1600, the Family etc

Wendy Melvoin

Miko Waever

• Michael Weaver

paulludvig said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

1. Yes I agree he did some sessions work. But not much with Prince. He was mostly a live musician.

2. She was in the camp and on 1999(1982) Miko did not perform with Prince. He was in Sheila E's band, but the band was not formed till mid 1984. She did not have a band ready by the shooting of the Glamorous Life video

3. Wendy played and sang on a great deal of released recordings. including protege stuff, and cuts like Dance Electric

4. what song is IGBABN?

5. I still wish other musicians like Miko were more involved in the album projects. Like GL Romance 1600, the Family etc

Wendy Melvoin

Guitar player in The Revolution

1982-1986

Miko Waever

• Michael Weaver

Guitar player in Sheila E.'s band, The Revolution, The 87-89 Band and The NPG

1984-1991

So 4 years for Wendy (and that's really stretching it, as she didn't play guitar on the 1999 album or tour), 7 years for Miko.

IGBABN=It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night

paulludvig said:

paulludvig said:

Wendy Melvoin

Guitar player in The Revolution

1982-1986

Miko Waever

• Michael Weaver

Guitar player in Sheila E.'s band, The Revolution, The 87-89 Band and The NPG

1984-1991

So 4 years for Wendy (and that's really stretching it, as she didn't play guitar on the 1999 album or tour), 7 years for Miko.

IGBABN=It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night

5 yrs 1999(1982) - Parade(1986)

4yrs 1983-1986 is recording and performing with Prince in band

.

Miko was a live guitarist for Prince (IGBABN) was live
Miko left Prince in 1990 not 1991

* Hearing the Revolution perform Alexa de Paris live 1986 was brilliance

OldFriends4Sale said:

* Hearing the Revolution perform Alexa de Paris live 1986 was brilliance

Was that the Parade warm up show at First Avenue? That was an interesting show.

TrivialPursuit said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

* Hearing the Revolution perform Alexa de Paris live 1986 was brilliance

Was that the Parade warm up show at First Avenue? That was an interesting show.

YES!! I don't have a good video copy of the whole show, but you can tell it was another groundbraking move. I do have a good sound & vid copy of Alexa de Paris from this show. I love the audiences response throught the song.

OldFriends4Sale said:

paulludvig said:

So 4 years for Wendy (and that's really stretching it, as she didn't play guitar on the 1999 album or tour), 7 years for Miko.

IGBABN=It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night

5 yrs 1999(1982) - Parade(1986)

4yrs 1983-1986 is recording and performing with Prince in band

.

Miko was a live guitarist for Prince (IGBABN) was live
Miko left Prince in 1990 not 1991

I don't know about Miko's involvement in Prince's creative process but on the limited information I can draw from:

-

Miko performed the funkiest licks on rhythm guitar I have heard in any Prince band

-

Wendy provided Prince with a new position in how to invent a new funk

-

Both were invaluable... for my favourite Parade era

"Miko performed the funkiest licks on rhythm guitar I have heard in any Prince band"...."Wendy provided Prince with a new position in how to invent a new funk".....Yup. The slow funk groove at the end of "Life Can Be So Nice" (Detroit birthday show 86) is a perfect example. Those guitar chords that they both played were unreal....straight out of the Sly & The Family Stone book.

Computer Blue

live, studio

I can never get enough of what was happening on this song
this is an example of greatness that was scary. I shadow of what could happen when people connect.
on tour when they would go into the 3rd part of the song with the na na na naa na that felt like harder rock, it was too short, I wish Prince would have allowed it to go someplace like on the studio renditions, instead of going into a JBrown-ish jam.

But that songs, I listen to almost every day in 1 form or another and it is not enough.

SPYZFAN1 said:

"Miko performed the funkiest licks on rhythm guitar I have heard in any Prince band"...."Wendy provided Prince with a new position in how to invent a new funk".....Yup. The slow funk groove at the end of "Life Can Be So Nice" (Detroit birthday show 86) is a perfect example. Those guitar chords that they both played were unreal....straight out of the Sly & The Family Stone book.

Digging it from 3mins!

[Edited 6/22/16 14:29pm]

SPYZFAN1 said:

..never noticed it before but at 6:46 onward, P overdubbed a second clean funk guitar part. Sounds great thru phones.

extra background vocals too

Power Fantastic was recorded mid March 1985
a song based on a composition by Lisa Coleman called "Carousel"
according to engineer Susan Rogers
Prince sang in a corner of the room
It was some of the most intimate experience of her career:
She felt at the very center of artistic creation
Eric Leed, who played a lilting flute solo
walked out of the studio feeling goose bumps
"That's one of the greatest things we ever did," he remembered

Susan Rogers noted this song was "Nailed in one take"

Power Fantastic was supposed to be one
of the cornerstones of Prince & the Revolutions
next project the Dream Factory

Understandably, in all the confusion something was bound to fall between the cracks. Intended for “The Dream Factory,” POWER FANTASTIC is just about as eponymously titled a song as there could be. At one of the first sessions in Prince’s sprawling new house, separation earned a whole new meaning when Lisa Coleman found herself playing the grand piano in the upstairs living room while the rest of the band huddled in the crowded basement studio. Connected only by mikes and earphones, The Revolution still managed to pull off the exquisite song in a single take – even the jazzy intro that Prince suggested just as tape was ready to roll.

POWER FANTASTIC also serves to introduce the newest dimension in Prince’s music – the only instrument he couldn’t play himself – horns. Having worked together since music school, Eric Leeds and Atlanta Bliss’s intonations seemed to merge into a single bionic instrument when they played their tightly voiced parts. Here, though, it’s not their spitfire riffs but free-form flute and muted trumpet that set the airy, bass-free mood.

The song also happens to be one of the widest bootlegged of Prince’s unissued masters. Ambivalence about bootlegs aside, any artist would be pleased to improve their uneven sonic quality. In this case we can also set the record straight on the sexy trumpet work which has often been miscredited to the late Miles Davis – that alone, Atlanta’s best compliment.

Late at night when the world's a-sleepin'
U are frightened cuz the power's creepin'
In your room, it's something U're afraid of
Life of doom is what this feeling's made of

Power fantastic is in your life at last
U're a little apprehensive
Cuz what it is, is what U want and need

Minor G is the chord of pleasure
It will be played 11 measures
U will see fire, but U're cool as ice
U are a liar, huh, if U say this isn't nice Power fantastic is in your life at last
U're a little apprehensive
What it is, is what U want and need Power, power Power fantastic is in your life at last
U're a wee bit apprehensive
Cuz what it is, is what U want and need Power, power
A power fantastic

OldFriends4Sale said: