In late 1984, Vanity was no longer part of Prince's Minneapolis funk-rock empire. The singer was signed to Motown as a full-time solo artist, and her former group, Vanity 6, had evolved into the trio Apollonia 6. Commercially, Vanity didn't get very far on her own -- many people saw her as a glaring example of style and image over substance and felt that she couldn't be creative without Prince's input. But, in fact, Vanity's solo debut, Wild Animal, isn't bad. While no one would accuse Vanity of having Teena Marie's chops -- her voice is undeniably thin -- the singer's writing is generally decent on this 1984 LP, which she produced with Bill Wolfer. Wild Animal isn't nearly as Prince-sounding as some might assume; on material that ranges from the single, "Pretty Mess" (an infectious slice of funk-rock with a groove that brings to mind Shalamar's "Dancing in the Sheets"), to the haunting "Samuelle" and the rockin' "Strap on 'Robbie Baby'," Vanity sounds like's she's making an honest effort to forge ahead. Some of the lyrics are risqué, although for the most part, Wild Animal isn't as raunchy as Vanity's work with Vanity 6. This out of print LP isn't for R&B purists -- Wild Animal is essentially an R&B album, but Vanity laces her R&B with big doses of rock and pop. Despite her obvious limitations as a vocalist, Wild Animal is a respectable solo debut. But the public refused to take Vanity seriously as a solo artist, and this album's unimpressive sales reflected that.
Who is Bill Wolfer? What else did he produce? I've always felt that Vanity might have had more success if Motown was willing to spend big bucks to bring in some "hot" producers.Imagine what Jam and Lewis could have done with Vanity!
In late 1984, Vanity was no longer part of Prince's Minneapolis funk-rock empire. The singer was signed to Motown as a full-time solo artist, and her former group, Vanity 6, had evolved into the trio Apollonia 6. Commercially, Vanity didn't get very far on her own -- many people saw her as a glaring example of style and image over substance and felt that she couldn't be creative without Prince's input. But, in fact, Vanity's solo debut, Wild Animal, isn't bad. While no one would accuse Vanity of having Teena Marie's chops -- her voice is undeniably thin -- the singer's writing is generally decent on this 1984 LP, which she produced with Bill Wolfer. Wild Animal isn't nearly as Prince-sounding as some might assume; on material that ranges from the single, "Pretty Mess" (an infectious slice of funk-rock with a groove that brings to mind Shalamar's "Dancing in the Sheets"), to the haunting "Samuelle" and the rockin' "Strap on 'Robbie Baby'," Vanity sounds like's she's making an honest effort to forge ahead. Some of the lyrics are risqué, although for the most part, Wild Animal isn't as raunchy as Vanity's work with Vanity 6. This out of print LP isn't for R&B purists -- Wild Animal is essentially an R&B album, but Vanity laces her R&B with big doses of rock and pop. Despite her obvious limitations as a vocalist, Wild Animal is a respectable solo debut. But the public refused to take Vanity seriously as a solo artist, and this album's unimpressive sales reflected that.
Who is Bill Wolfer? What else did he produce? I've always felt that Vanity might have had more success if Motown was willing to spend big bucks to bring in some "hot" producers.Imagine what Jam and Lewis could have done with Vanity!
I think Jam and Lewis would have been an amazing asset to her. If only.... I wonder if Prince thought they pilfered Janet Jackson's Nasty Boys from Nasty Girls?
Who is Bill Wolfer? What else did he produce? I've always felt that Vanity might have had more success if Motown was willing to spend big bucks to bring in some "hot" producers.Imagine what Jam and Lewis could have done with Vanity!
I think Jam and Lewis would have been an amazing asset to her.
I agree.They were able to take Janet Jackson (with her vocal limitations) and turn her into a superstar with all those amazing songs.They could have done wonders for Vanity,too.
Who is Bill Wolfer? What else did he produce? I've always felt that Vanity might have had more success if Motown was willing to spend big bucks to bring in some "hot" producers.Imagine what Jam and Lewis could have done with Vanity!
I think Jam and Lewis would have been an amazing asset to her. If only.... I wonder if Prince thought they pilfered Janet Jackson's Nasty Boys from Nasty Girls?
I agree. I wonder why they did not do more with the Uptown fallouts? Did they do anything with Morris Day?
Maybe they all felt the need to do a little break from anyone that might have been too connected with Prince at the moment?
I think Jam and Lewis would have been an amazing asset to her. If only.... I wonder if Prince thought they pilfered Janet Jackson's Nasty Boys from Nasty Girls?
I agree. I wonder why they did not do more with the Uptown fallouts? Did they do anything with Morris Day?
Maybe they all felt the need to do a little break from anyone that might have been too connected with Prince at the moment?
They produced "Fishnet" (a Number One R&B hit) for Morris Day in 1987,and of course they produced Alexander O'Neal (Prince's first choice to be the Time's leader).
"He definitely loved the ladies, and he had impeccable taste in women. Vanity is always the one that pops into my mind because she was so beautiful. Meeting her for the first time, you’re blown away by her beauty, and you think to yourself, “Of course that’s Prince’s girl. Of course.” And man, she was also a beautiful human being -- so nice and so warm and so caring to us in The Time, because we were the backup band for the Vanity 6 album and for the tour."
Definitely my favorite song off her Wild Animal Album!!!
WILD ANIMAL (title track)
This songs 'bout a little gorilla He got long shiny black hair all over his body King Kong never ever left me alone My King Kong never ever looks at any other woman Up in the beat arouund the bend Here comes little king kong again Over the vine, above the tree Here comes little King Kong looking for me and that is why he and I hung around that is why he is my wild animal
King Kong never ever tucks me away My King Kong never ever... any other ladies Up in the beat around my bend Here come King Kong again... over my vine and that is why he and I carry on Ooh ooh that is why he is my wild animal I love to play in his hair Shiny black big brown green eyes That's all it takes for me to fantasize That's all it takes for me to climb my King Kong King Kong, ooo, ooo, ooo, my little
Definitely my favorite song off her Wild Animal Album!!! The music the lyrics, I wish she would've made a video for this song
SoulAlive said: Notice how they latched on and used the name "Vanity" when she went by the name "D.D. Winters" for that movie.
That ape looks revolting! Uurgh! She also used the name D.D Winters in the film Terror Train (1980) which starred Jamie Lee Curtis.
I have Terror Train. She didn't have a big part but she was seen a lot throughout it. It's a horror flick. I used to be a huge fan of horror movies back in the day but my taste has definitely changed because It was a bit too gruesome for me. I'm just glad D.D didn't get killed in it. It was nice to see her starting out.
"She was trying to pursue a more wholesome type of character because she was doing those pretty steamy music videos,” Taimak remembers of his first and only big screen love interest. “Berry Gordy asked me if I thought she was the right one and I told him ‘yes.’ Not only because she was gorgeous but because she had something that the other actresses, although may have been better actresses, didn’t have. And he hired her." ~Taimak~
She says Denise puts on Vanity. It is wonderful to hear her describe it that way; it makes me think of Vanity in a very different way. Love both Denise and Vanity..
"My Father, my lover, my brother, my sister . . . " hmmmm- I do not know what to make of that
Thank you galak . Very interesting... "He was my father, my lover, my brother, my sister."
That quote is loaded. How do you walk away from someone who is everything?
[Edited 9/9/17 20:16pm]
That wasn't the first time she said he was like a father to her.
DMSR: "Prince became like a father to me. He loves playing dad. The first thing he did when we met was to nurse me, take care of me. I was very dependent on him. Cause I needed a father because of the terrible insecurity I had experienced as a child."
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I've always felt that Vanity might have had more success if Motown was willing to spend big bucks to bring in some "hot" producers.Imagine what Jam and Lewis could have done with Vanity!
I agree.They were able to take Janet Jackson (with her vocal limitations) and turn her into a superstar with all those amazing songs.They could have done wonders for Vanity,too.
It was nice to see her starting out.
