hardwork said:

I mean, honestly, does anyone here think "U Got the Look" could have been "improved" by having Jill Jones singing on it instead of Sheena Easton?

I wouldn't rule it out, but I never loved that song much to begin with.

SoulAlive said:

Ottensen said:

SoulAlive said:

so basically,some of y'all are saying that Prince didn't have alot of confidence in his own proteges? "it won't be a hit if Jill records it,so I'll give to Sheena instead"

Okay, okay, you got me...it may be a little harsh of me to admit, because I know some of the girls are fan faves- but based on the quality of their collective works, I believe Prince had a lot (though obviously not all) of the protégés around as vanity acts and ego indulgences; it's not as if the vast lot of them had any extraordinary talent, per say...most weren't even musicians or decent songwriters. They usually just fit a specific aesthetic meant to convey all the mysterious auras of the Prince Universe and I think our boy was WELL aware of that. Prince was, in addition to all his other talents, a pretty astute businessman so far as the inner workings of the record business was concerned, and I believe he definitely knew which female protegé should be in what lane and WHY.... and I'mma leave it at that so I don't sound so much like an old curmudgeon (although it's probably already too late for that)

lol,you are absolutely right but to her credit,Jill can actually sing.She has a great voice.

SoulAlive said:

lol,you are absolutely right but to her credit,Jill can actually sing.She has a great voice.

Yeah but not like the vocalists he worked with after he stopped using her. Plus there was still a heavy dose of "I can write hits for anyone, I'm a starmaker" combined with "It's 2am, I need someone convenient who is enamored with me to show up and take direction, without being a pain in my ass". He took 4 years to write her record and didn't really go full blast promoting it. There were a lot of great songs Jill could have done...Manic Monday for one. He couldn't have been all that commited to it.

I bet if someone would have told Sheena just a year earlier she would have a huge Top Ten hit on the R&B Singles Chart (The Black Singles Chart, at that time), be all over black radio and performing on Soul Train, she would have thought they were crazy.

[Edited 6/18/20 15:12pm]

Jill would have did a good job with Some Kind Of Lover from A6. Brenda's version was good, but I would love to hear jill sing it.

The 1978-1989 period more particular the 1981-1986 left such a vaccume in time

the endless possibilities are a part of why this period was so great

lavendardrummachine said:

Poplife88 said:

Yep...totally agree. She deserved better. I love her voice and album...if it was released in 84 with Sugar Walls as the lead single, she would've had a hit.

They didn't promote the record though. Would have been the best song on her record, but would it have mattered what was on it?

Manic Monday wouldn't have been the same hit if Apples 6 got it. The Family got Nothing Compares, but they couldn't turn it into a generational massive hit song.

Jill could have done a great version of the Sheenah Easton version, but I'm not sure she would have found the hit in that song if Prince gave it to her outright it might have just sounded like My Man. There's more of a chance Sheenah Easton could have made a hit out of My Man.

[Edited 6/2/20 10:48am]

Right. Agree with your points here, except in fairness to The Family and NC2U - they only had one live show, and no video was made for NC2U. The band dissolved before any promotion, additional videos or concerts to support their album.

*

I read that Prince had watched Sheena sing on her American Bandstand debut (maybe for "Morning Train"?) and he loved her voice and looks. He wanted to give her a song that would change her "good girl" image. I think he succeeded, but I do remember watching the video for Sugar Walls and thinking, dang Sheena's done a 180 and is going full on sex kitten now!!

*

Yes, Manic Monday was 100% better with The Bangles release. Although, I do love Brenda Bennett's backround vocals on the A6 original. Honestly, I think Brenda had a kick-ass voice - love the low tone she had. I think she may have been able to have some solo success had Prince done a record for her during the PR mania.

*

I think Jill had a good voice, but I honestly think her best work was her backrounds on the songs. Maybe it was the song choices for her record, but it just didn't do it for me. Too "poppy" and sounded forced. G Spot and All Day All Night were better with Prince's vocal, in my opinion. Lots of people like Mia Bocca, but I hate the song and the way it sounds. Different strokes, I guess...

Does anyone remember when The Simpsons mentioned Sugar Walls in the Treehouse Of Horror episode? It's when Homer bites into the witch's candy house.

https://youtu.be/SCYIVeskHEc

[Edited 6/27/20 17:29pm]

starkitty said:

Jill would have sang thee SHIT outta sugar walls. And I came to that conclusion by realizing she would’ve been amazing doing u got the look & working backwards.

Possibly, but I think Prince knew that Sheena would take it up the charts, which she did. She was already making hits, and Prince also knew that doing a 180 with her image would intrigue fans. I think he made the right call.

violetcrush said:

starkitty said:

Jill would have sang thee SHIT outta sugar walls. And I came to that conclusion by realizing she would’ve been amazing doing u got the look & working backwards.

Possibly, but I think Prince knew that Sheena would take it up the charts, which she did. She was already making hits, and Prince also knew that doing a 180 with her image would intrigue fans. I think he made the right call.

I couldn't agree more.

The Demo for Sugar Walls with Prince's vocal is my holy grail.