Jill Jones, also known to O.G. Prince fans as "J.J." first met Prince when she was singing backup with Teena Marie when Teena was opening for Prince on his Dirty Mind tour. Jill's not only all over the 1999 album, "1999", "Lady Cab Driver" "Automatic" "Free", but in the videos as well. The Marilyn Monroe lookalike with the open trench coat had me sleepless on some nights. Her appearance in the "Automatic" video ought to be against the law. She's so fine, it hurts. J.J. and Lisa looked much better together than Lisa and Wendy. I wanted to jump in bad. But as fine as Jill was, she could also sing. Jill ended up doing backup for Vanity 6 during the 1999 tour. I like Rosie Gaines. Rosie has more range, but Jill had "IT". Great voice and a killer look. The girl was baaad. P wasted her talent on Jill's long awaited solo album. I feel the songs P gave her was second rate throwaway filler. She ended up touring with Chic for awhile in Japan. I remember once during the Purple Rain tour at a show at Long Beach, a few of us ran over to some empty seats that were on the side of the stage on the second level. There, you had a birds eye view of what was happening backstage. It was there I saw Wendy trip and fall trying to run up the stairs to get back on stage in time for a cue. Where I saw at least 5 of Prince's white guitars. Where I saw Jill and I yelled out "J.J.". She looked up somewhat surprised that someone was even calling her, saw me, smiled and blew me a kiss that I still have trapped. Anyway, Jill was my favorite P female vocalist. Who's yours?

hmmm.....

jill is a good choice....and great post there

but my heart belongs to wendy and lisa.....something about the way they harmonize....something about the emotional weight their vocals give a song....something about their off centered charm...

golly...i just love em..

I really liked Jill Jones' album. I'd go so far as to say it's the best non-Prince Paisley Park release after The Time's 'Pandemonium.'

I never really got into her album with Chris Bruce a few years ago. I have to give it a few more spins.

Jill has the best, most powerful voice, no argument.

But W&L had some deeper quality to them that made me relate to the music more, and enjoy them more. For me they have a certain intangible 'something' that Jill just doesn't.

Also, just in my opinion, Jill got a liiiiittle bit too screechy sometimes which I personally didn't enjoy.

I liked Jill as his backup singer and thought she added a special something as a backup. I bought her first album and liked it but the voice alone was...so so. I agree about Wendy and Lisa adding more to the mix. But JJ.....she did look awfully good in the 1999 vid and Automatic vid...which by the way...where in the world can I get a copy of the Automatic vid?

Jill was Always my Favorite after Vanity. Wendy and Lisa are Great and of course Shelia .

I like Jill "Baby your a trip" still one of my fave paisely ballads,Wendy & Lisa did have a different chemistry and all the women respectively add their own signiature flavor to Prince projects, JJ & Lisa 1999 era,W&L Purple Rain era on through Parade era and Sheila,Bonnie,&Cat Lovesexy era,all were wonderful additions to Prince's traveling bands.

If I had Jill in my pocket, I'd done everything I could to release her into the main-stream, even if it meant she might eventually make a home in someone else's pond. She came from a musical family and had a lot of her own talent -- loved her voice and attitude! And it was all her own.


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edit: i'm so stupid and u didn't just read this, ok
[This message was edited Sun May 9 21:12:11 2004 by Jasziah]

I think it's understood that Wendy & Lisa are tops among Prince proteges.

Jill Jones is my fav

sextonseven said:

understood 2 who? U?

blackguitaristz said:

That seems to be the general concensus here and I agree.

sextonseven said:

Well, that's good for u. I'm happy that u agree.

blackguitaristz said:

I'm happy I agree too.

I liked Jill Jone's voice best also.