Prince had many talents, but planning live performances wasn’t one of his strengths. Last-minute concert announcements, long lines and general confusion often ruled in the Purple One’s world. But the thing is, however frustrating it could all be, all complaints disappeared once he strutted onstage and started to work his magic.

Without Prince around to save things, the high-profile tribute concert dedicated to his memory Thursday night at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center could have been a disaster. Luckily, it wasn’t, and offered a few flashes of pure genius and plenty of opportunities for warm nostalgia, but too many head-scratching detours that slowed down the momentum. With a running time just under five hours, it could have used some serious editing.

Chaos ruled from the moment Prince’s sister Tyka Nelson announced the concert in July to the moment the lights went down Thursday night. Initially planned for the new U.S. Bank Stadium, it was eventually downsized to the X, and the final lineup was revealed a mere month ago.

On Tuesday, John Mayer dropped out of the show, and rumors that Christina Aguilera would, too, came true late Thursday afternoon. While the pair brought some star power to the proceedings, neither had an obvious connection to Prince, so they really weren’t missed. (Anita Baker, an actual friend of the Purple One, also canceled her appearance for reasons unknown.)

That left the tribute with just two marquee names — Stevie Wonder and Chaka Khan — and a few dozen others, many without much name recognition beyond devoted fans. But those lesser-known folks actually knew Prince, worked with him and, in a few cases, slept with him. Sheila E. wasn’t there, nor was the Revolution, but few could complain about the terrific, expanded New Power Generation, with members of 3rdEyeGirl, that backed up the majority of the night’s performers.

Things kicked off at 7:30 p.m. with a short video touting Prince’s stealth charitable giving, something he kept quiet while he was alive. President Barack Obama briefly appeared on the big screens and then the music started. St. Paul R&B band Mint Condition went on first and tore through “America,” “D.M.S.R.” and “When Doves Cry.” Morris Day and the Time followed, with “The Bird” and “Jungle Love” inspiring pockets of the sold-out crowd of 17,000 to get up and dance.

Then, Revolution drummer Robert “Bobby Z.” Rivkin took the stage and explained the band wasn’t appearing because Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman were tied up in Los Angeles, where they work as composers in the television industry. He went on to speak about Prince, telling the crowd “boy, did he love laughter,” “no one can touch Prince’s guitar playing” and that the Purple One “could reach deeper and touch people like no one has ever done.”

Rivkin then said the New Power Generation was the house band for the rest of the evening and a long line of vocalists filed onstage to tackle both Prince’s best-known songs and some surprising obscurities.

Prince’s childhood friend and early bandmate Andre Cymone did a lot of the heavy lifting, including “Uptown,” “Housequake” and “Pop Life,” with Doug E. Fresh rapping as Cymone crooned. Tyka Nelson even came out and sang a brief, a cappella “For You.”

Singer/songwriter and late-period Prince collaborator Judith Hill nearly brought the house down with a chilling take on “The Cross” that emphasized its gospel leanings, followed by a spirited “How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore.” Cymone brought a similar rush of emotions to “The Ladder.” Little-known soul singer Luke James surely earned a few new fans with “Do Me Baby” and “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World.”

Less successful was former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, who struggled with Vanity 6’s “Nasty Girl” and, inexplicably, was allowed to mangle “Baby I’m a Star.” Portuguese vocalist Ana Moura can actually sing, but her cover of “Walk in Sand” — from “20Ten,” a Prince album that was never actually released in the U.S. — and a slowed-down “Little Red Corvette” brought things to a crawl.

Chaka Khan and Stevie Wonder, however, had the audience cheering with “I Feel for You” and “1999.” At that point, it felt like the end of the show was near. Instead, the band took an intermission and returned for another full set of more than two dozen songs.

Philadelphia soul singer Bilal played the BET Awards Prince tribute and sat in with the Revolution last month at First Avenue. Once again, his offered a stunning take on “The Beautiful Ones” as well as “If I Was Your Girlfriend.” Tori Kelly, another BET Awards vet, gave it all to “Let’s Go Crazy” and “Diamonds and Pearls” and then joined Wonder for “Take Me with U” and “Raspberry Beret.” Then came the show’s one big surprise guest, British pop singer Jessie J, who did “I Wanna Be Your Lover” and “Nothing Compares 2 U.”

But, the latter half of the evening had its share of slow moments. It was great to see Prince’s first wife, Mayte Garcia, show up to dance (with a sword on her head!) but her time could have easily been cut in half. Wonder came back once again for a lovely cover of Donny Hathaway’s “Someday We’ll All Be Free,” but followed it up with own “Superstition,” a move that had many in the dwindling crowd wondering just how long this thing was going to last.

After an instrumental jam, with dozens of the show’s performers standing in the shadows at the back of the stage, the first chords of “Purple Rain” drew cheers. Rather than hand it over to a guest, the band backed a recording of Prince singing it live. Purple confetti streamed down from the rafters and, finally, the Prince tribute was history.

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I thought it was great and i love how the NPG and more recent band members were given shine as opposed to the same ol same ol usual players. It was long and it wasn't flawless but I mean, neither was the Revolution tribute but great just the same. I'm pretty sure if P was here, both shows would've been flawless