I think generally when most people think of Sheila E.'s time with Prince, the attention is drawn to the two big hitting singles from her first two albums - The Glamorous Life and Love Bizarre. Most of her album tracks were a bit weak, but obviously Prince had a plentiful vault. What are some unreleased/recorded by another artist songs that you think would have done well with Sheila upfront on the vocals?

Mikado said:

I think generally when most people think of Sheila E.'s time with Prince, the attention is drawn to the two big hitting singles from her first two albums - The Glamorous Life and Love Bizarre. Most of her album tracks were a bit weak, but obviously Prince had a plentiful vault. What are some unreleased/recorded by another artist songs that you think would have done well with Sheila upfront on the vocals?

Go back and listen to Romance 1600 a few more times.

I think Glamorous Life is the strongest most cohesive album. You're transorted someplace Uptown and from beginning to end it's like a story.
.
Romance 1600 I love the band the look the era, but the album isn't so strong. Some great experiments and sounds

.

A Love Bizarre

Dear Michaelangelo (my favorite)

Merci4theSpeedofaMadClown (band compisition)

.

I wish on this album Prince let the band take the vibe of the first 2 mentioned here and do a few more songs for the album

.

Sheila E (strong album) feels like 2 types of album music mixed into one

.

It would have been cool to see/hear what Traffic Jam, Kiss Me Quick, would have sounded like on Romance 1600 Steph B was an ax man, so I would think to add something that gives him more electric guitar time.

Maybe some of the Brenda songs from the Apollonis 6 album, Sugar Walls, G-Spot, Manic Monday & Screams Of Passion

OldFriends4Sale said:

I think Glamorous Life is the strongest most cohesive album. You're transorted someplace Uptown and from beginning to end it's like a story.
.
Romance 1600 I love the band the look the era, but the album isn't so strong. Some great experiments and sounds

.

A Love Bizarre

Dear Michaelangelo (my favorite)

Merci4theSpeedofaMadClown (band compisition)

.

I wish on this album Prince let the band take the vibe of the first 2 mentioned here and do a few more songs for the album

.

Sheila E (strong album) feels like 2 types of album music mixed into one

.

It would have been cool to see/hear what Traffic Jam, Kiss Me Quick, would have sounded like on Romance 1600 Steph B was an ax man, so I would think to add something that gives him more electric guitar time.

Ah, good points about band cohesion- sidebar, but Steph Birnbaum is a real talent. Dude has a very diverse repertoire that he's built over the years.

And yeah, there were a few songs that were left in the vault/given to other artists that she could have made great. Something like The Line from Lovesexy era would have been cool to see on one of her later albums.

[Edited 2/8/19 20:08pm]

[Edited 2/8/19 20:08pm]

Sheila E. in GIRL POWER

Side 1

Soul Company (From Sheila’s unreleased 4th Paisley Park album)

My Baby Knows How to Love Me (From Jill Jones’ unreleased 2nd Paisley Park album)

Cool Love (Given to Sheena Easton)

Boom Boom (From Jill Jones’ unreleased 2nd Paisley Park album)

Side 2

Girl Power (From Sheila’s unreleased 4th Paisley Park album)

Baby Go-Go (Given to Nona Hendryx)

The Sex of It (Given to Kid Creole)

Yo, Mister (Given to Patti LaBelle

Eternity (Given to Sheena & Chaka)

jaawwnn said:

Mikado said:

Most of her album tracks were a bit weak,

Go back and listen to Romance 1600 a few more times.

My thoughts exactly. "Shortberry Strawcake" is an aural orgy of funk & new wave. "Oliver's House" tells a cheeky story that still has a sultry delivery. "Next Time Wipe The Lipstick Off Your Collar" is a quirky and fun ballad. (Truly one of those moments where Prince's statement about "just playing the black keys" is obvious.) "Noon Rendezvous" is sexy. "Sister Fate" has an urgency that I didn't initially understand why, but in the vein of the whole record, it makes more sense now. "Dear Michaelangelo" is weird and haunting and keeps you engaged. The list goes on...

Those tracks were not "weak". Not all were single-worthy, but they stood on their own.

I would have liked to heard Sheila sing "Manic Monday".

I think if Sheila had been given Love is contagious (Taja Sevelle) it could have been a big hit 4 her. It would suit Sheila's voice - I do like Taja's version having said that.

jungleluv said:

I think if Sheila had been given Love is contagious (Taja Sevelle) it could have been a big hit 4 her. It would suit Sheila's voice - I do like Taja's version having said that.

Taja's voice is much higher in range than Sheila's. The key would have to drop, or Sheila would have to sing it an octave lower, which may cause the song to lose its tingly luster.

TrivialPursuit said:

jungleluv said:

I think if Sheila had been given Love is contagious (Taja Sevelle) it could have been a big hit 4 her. It would suit Sheila's voice - I do like Taja's version having said that.

Taja's voice is much higher in range than Sheila's. The key would have to drop, or Sheila would have to sing it an octave lower, which may cause the song to lose its tingly luster.

I can imagine Sheila singin it. She can handle the high notes just fine

jungleluv said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Taja's voice is much higher in range than Sheila's. The key would have to drop, or Sheila would have to sing it an octave lower, which may cause the song to lose its tingly luster.

I can imagine Sheila singin it. She can handle the high notes just fine

Taja has a whistle range. Sheila is far from that.

jungleluv said:

I think if Sheila had been given Love is contagious (Taja Sevelle) it could have been a big hit 4 her. It would suit Sheila's voice - I do like Taja's version having said that.