Here are my all-star Prince bands. I didn't include people like Larry Graham and MonoNeon and others who arguably did not tour with him.

FIRST TEAM

DRUMMER: BLACKWELL

GUITAR: MIKE SCOTT

BASS: GOUCHE

KEYBOARD: LISA

HORNS: MACEO

VOCALS: ROSIE

:

SECOND TEAM

DRUMMER: MICHAEL B.

GUITAR: DEZ

BASS: SONNY T.

KEYBOARD: CASSIE

HORNS: CANDY

VOCALS: LIV

:

THIRD TEAM

DRUMMER: SHEILA E.

GUITAR: DONNA

BASS: RHONDA

KEYBOARD: RENATO

HORNS: ERIC LEEDS

VOCALS: BONNIE

:

FOURTH TEAM

DRUMMER: CORA

GUITAR: MIKO

BASS: BROWNMARK

KEYBOARD: MORRIS HAYES

HORNS: NAJEE

VOCALS: ALLO

:

FIFTH TEAM

DRUMMER: HANNAH

GUITAR: WENDY

BASS: CYMONE OR IDA

KEYBOARD: DR. FINK

HORNS: ADRIAN

VOCALS: SHELBY

dodger said:

Wendy in team 5
You’re going to need a big boat

Andy Allo?

All this thread is going to do is reveal how slept on Brownmark is/was by all era of fans, and reveal who is partial to which eras.

To me, the problem with some of those lineups is most of them wouldn't belong in the other eras. Dez could play with any era band. Can't say the same of other guitarists.

lavendardrummachine said:

Andy Allo?

All this thread is going to do is reveal how slept on Brownmark is/was by all era of fans, and reveal who is partial to which eras.

To me, the problem with some of those lineups is most of them wouldn't belong in the other eras. Dez could play with any era band. Can't say the same of other guitarists.

Andy was fourth, which I think is about right even though she is probably a better solo artist than the other vocalists. She has an angelic voice, but not the strongest voice for a big concert. Some of his best concerts were with her.

I think most of them could play in every era, especially the ones on the first and second team. Sheila is probably the only one to play in most eras. THe only ones that I would say could not play in every era woudl be Wendy, Hannah and some of the more jazz oriented artists like Cassie and Renato.

Brownmark is underrated. But, not a better bassist than Gouche and Sonny T. Prince had some great bass players. I found that guitar was the weakest category. Bass was probably the strongest. Rhonda and Ida are also underrated.

lavendardrummachine said:

Andy Allo?

All this thread is going to do is reveal how slept on Brownmark is/was by all era of fans, and reveal who is partial to which eras.

To me, the problem with some of those lineups is most of them wouldn't belong in the other eras. Dez could play with any era band. Can't say the same of other guitarists.

Andy was fourth, which I think is about right even though she is probably a better solo artist than the other vocalists. She has an angelic voice, but not the strongest voice for a big concert. Some of his best concerts were with her.

I think most of them could play in every era, especially the ones on the first and second team. Sheila is probably the only one to play in most eras. THe only ones that I would say could not play in every era woudl be Wendy, Hannah and some of the more jazz oriented artists like Cassie and Renato.

Brownmark is underrated. But, not a better bassist than Gouche and Sonny T. Prince had some great bass players. I found that guitar was the weakest category. Bass was probably the strongest. Rhonda and Ida are also underrated.

donnyenglish said:

lavendardrummachine said:

Andy Allo?

All this thread is going to do is reveal how slept on Brownmark is/was by all era of fans, and reveal who is partial to which eras.

To me, the problem with some of those lineups is most of them wouldn't belong in the other eras. Dez could play with any era band. Can't say the same of other guitarists.

Andy was fourth, which I think is about right even though she is probably a better solo artist than the other vocalists. She has an angelic voice, but not the strongest voice for a big concert. Some of his best concerts were with her.

I think most of them could play in every era, especially the ones on the first and second team. Sheila is probably the only one to play in most eras. THe only ones that I would say could not play in every era woudl be Wendy, Hannah and some of the more jazz oriented artists like Cassie and Renato.

Brownmark is underrated. But, not a better bassist than Gouche and Sonny T. Prince had some great bass players. I found that guitar was the weakest category. Bass was probably the strongest. Rhonda and Ida are also underrated.

2012+ being his best live era is a deinite...opinion. I do think the Wlecome to America tour just before Allo may have been his most well rounded tour. Toning down the backing vocals would have helped that tour. Ida handled some guitar duties and they didn't credit another guitarist on those dates (but I think they had one in the band pit). The next shows with the girls and Andy were trainwrecks... which again, maybe that worked for you, it's an opinion.

Sheila is the most celebrated, and highest regarded, but she took too much focus and changed the music. Can you imagine if she was on Sex Shooter or The Bird? There'd be so much more kickdrum and symbols than needed.

The guys with the technical session prowess could in theory play anything, and perfectly, but that doesn't mean it was better. Sometimes it makes things boring and takes away the soul. Too many of them played Family Stone covers that wouldn't pass at a small town wedding.

No, of course Brownmark isn't a "better" bassist, but he was the better bassist for the eras he was there. Same with his vocals. It's just right. I think a lot of lists are going to overlook him unles it's from a Revoltion purist.

Cat???

ForbiddenFruit said:

very easy

One word

Revolution.

and Eric.

This would be the ideal Prince band imo:

John Blackwell - drums

Lisa & Dr Fink Keyboards

Miko - Guitar

Eric Leeds/Atlanta Bliss Horns

Sonny T Bass

Vocals cant pick one...Boni, Rosie, and Andy were all great vocals...Boni and Rosie both super powerful and Andy's vocals are heavenly imo. I also really like Susannah's voice as well.

But yes, he had a knack of finding so many ace players...hard to say anyone is THAT much better than the others. The above are just my faves.

Poplife88 said:

This would be the ideal Prince band imo:

John Blackwell - drums

Lisa & Dr Fink Keyboards

Miko - Guitar

Eric Leeds/Atlanta Bliss Horns

Sonny T Bass

Vocals cant pick one...Boni, Rosie, and Andy were all great vocals...Boni and Rosie both super powerful and Andy's vocals are heavenly imo. I also really like Susannah's voice as well.

I had a friend I met in the Navy in 1987. He was a huge Prince fan (he wasn't a Wendy fan and held high regard for the pre-1983 verison of Prince's band, plus The Time). We used to battle all the time about Prince's band members, who added what, etc. So these threads on the Org always spawned interesting conversation between us. (He died suddenly a few months ago, just before 1999 Deluxe was released, which he would have eaten up top to bottom.)

His version of this list would be different than mine, but here's mine:

Drums - Michael Bland

Bass - Sonny Thompson

Guitar - Wendy Melvoin, Dez Dickerson

Keys - Morris Hayes, Lisa Coleman

Backing vocals - Boni Boyer, Rosie Gaines, Susannah Melvoin, Tamar

Horns - Atlanta Bliss, Eric Leeds, Brian Gallagher

However, all that aside, the NPG during the mid-90s with just Michael, Sonny, Tommy, and Morris was probably the strongest and baddest band he ever had. If you had to drop anyone else into that power house, Dez would be the prime choice, with his rock and punk background being a match.

An All-Girl Band 4 Me woulda looked like this:

Drums: Sheila E. (didn't know They had a falling out)

Bass: Me'Shell N'Degeocello or Rhonda Smith

Keyboards: Patrice Rushen & Lisa Coleman

Guitar: Wendy Melvoin

Backing Vocals: Susannah Melvoin, Shelby J & Elisa Fiorillo

woogiebear said:

An All-Girl Band 4 Me woulda looked like this:

Drums: Sheila E. (didn't know They had a falling out)

Bass: Me'Shell N'Degeocello or Rhonda Smith

Keyboards: Patrice Rushen & Lisa Coleman

Guitar: Wendy Melvoin

Backing Vocals: Susannah Melvoin, Shelby J & Elisa Fiorillo

That's nice. Prince said HIS ultimate band would have Sheila on percussion, not drums. WHich would be nice, becvause then we could add Blackwell.

ALso yes, let's not forget Elisa's excellent voice.

TheTruth123 said:

woogiebear said:

An All-Girl Band 4 Me woulda looked like this:

Drums: Sheila E. (didn't know They had a falling out)

Bass: Me'Shell N'Degeocello or Rhonda Smith

Keyboards: Patrice Rushen & Lisa Coleman

Guitar: Wendy Melvoin

Backing Vocals: Susannah Melvoin, Shelby J & Elisa Fiorillo

That's nice. Prince said HIS ultimate band would have Sheila on percussion, not drums. WHich would be nice, becvause then we could add Blackwell.

ALso yes, let's not forget Elisa's excellent voice.

OK!! Let's add Nikki Glaspie on Drums & put Sheila E on Percussion!!!!

If I included frequent collaborators then the All Star Band would be:

Bass: Larry Graham (tough to leave out Michelle and Mono)

Drums: Blackwell

Guitar: Lenny Kravitz

Keybaords: Judith Hill

Horns: Maceo

Vocals: Liana La Havas

Everyone (except Blackwell) can sing.

I agree that Michael B, Sonny T and Prince was one of my favorite ensembles. I also think Third Eye Girl meshed well together. The live Out Loud tour was among his best.

[Edited 5/23/20 9:42am]

Brown mark always underrated, even I did it, till I saw him and the revolution live in 2017 and then a few times after, this dude is no joke. And Morris Hayes a lot better than credit given. To me one of the most important musicians he ever had.

lastdecember said:

Brown mark always underrated, even I did it, till I saw him and the revolution live in 2017 and then a few times after, this dude is no joke. And Morris Hayes a lot better than credit given. To me one of the most important musicians he ever had.

Agreed!

Enough of Shelia E and her dominate personality.

Third Eye Girl and AA were really fun to watch, they all were talented and seemed sincere with each other.

I would put Eric Leeds above Maceo and Kandy. Eric's horns were funkier and more unique. Maceo and Kandy reminded me of conventional jazzy style sax, which I don't like.

lurker316 said:

I would put Eric Leeds above Maceo and Kandy. Eric's horns were funkier and more unique. Maceo and Kandy reminded me of conventional jazzy style sax, which I don't like.

Eric Leeds, who I love, is funkier than Maceo? Eric Leeds would even be offended by that statement. I think most fans prefer anything 1984-1988 regardless of how unobjective their opinions are.

lurker316 said:

I would put Eric Leeds above Maceo and Kandy. Eric's horns were funkier and more unique. Maceo and Kandy reminded me of conventional jazzy style sax, which I don't like.

Eric's sax is the best fit with Prince's music.

.

.

Other players might be more proficient or jazz giants, but that doesn't mean they fit as well with Prince's music.

why would a thread about all time members feature nobody that actually played in the time? Just weird...

mediumdry said:

why would a thread about all time members feature nobody that actually played in the time? Just weird...

You mean like we should include folks like Jesse J, Jellybean, etc.? If so, I think you raise a good point. A good argument could be made that The Time would be his all star band.