I have a recollection of Prince saying in an interview--I read it, I don't recall hearing him say this--that he was disappointed with what Wendy & Lisa were doing musically. Maybe "disappointed" it too harsh a word. It was something about them losing focus or something like that. It wasn't flattering, I know that. And I remember this was around the time Eroica came out, and I really love that LP. Of course, he's listening to anything by peers (and former bandmates) differently than I would--but it was a real head-scratcher for me. (Then again, I stopped being surprised by anything he said in interviews so I took it with a grain of salt.)

Does anyone else remember this? Am I totally blurring time? (I mean, we're talking 30 years ago...)

saltobello said:

I have a recollection of Prince saying in an interview--I read it, I don't recall hearing him say this--that he was disappointed with what Wendy & Lisa were doing musically. Maybe "disappointed" it too harsh a word. It was something about them losing focus or something like that. It wasn't flattering, I know that. And I remember this was around the time Eroica came out, and I really love that LP. Of course, he's listening to anything by peers (and former bandmates) differently than I would--but it was a real head-scratcher for me. (Then again, I stopped being surprised by anything he said in interviews so I took it with a grain of salt.)

Does anyone else remember this? Am I totally blurring time? (I mean, we're talking 30 years ago...)

I remember in the 1990 Rolling Stone interview he mentioned being disappointed when he saw the "Waterfalls" video. He told W&L they needed to be jumping off speakers and making a big splash with their first video. When he saw it was Wendy sitting playing acoustic guitar with Lisa on piano he knew it wasn't going to be a big hit.

I don't remember him saying he was disappointed or disliked the music itself, just that he wanted to see them be bigger stars and thought they took the wrong approach. Unless you're thinking of a different interview...

EDIT: Found the exact quote from that interview-
So far, Prince says, the two women haven’t listened to the few tidbits of advice he has offered. For their first video, Prince recommended that they try to announce themselves by making a splash, by “doing something like jumping off a speaker with smoke pouring out everywhere. Something.” When he saw the video, however, Wendy was sitting in a chair, playing her guitar. “You can’t do that when you’re just getting established — kids watching MTV see that and they go click,” Prince says, miming a channel being changed. “They’d rather watch a commercial.”

Still, Prince’s pronouncements seem proffered more in mourning than in malice. “Wendy and Lisa are going to have to do some more serious soul-searching and decide what they want to write about,” he says sadly and shakes his head. “I don’t know what Wendy and Lisa are so hurt about. I wish I did, but I don’t.”

[Edited 6/22/21 16:45pm]

Thanks, Renfield. That last quote comes pretty close.

"Are You My Baby" (from W & L's "Fruit At The Bottom" Album) is the NASSIEST Bass Line Prince never wrote!!! And when i met Miss Wendy, I got 2 tell Her that! She also played that Bass Line! I think They were listening, and also blazed Their own path!!!