I recently heard the first Graham Central Station(1973) album and its a song on there called "Tell Me What It Is" and it sounds just like Prince is singing on that song. The whole song sonds like something Prince would do...even the way the vocals are all sang together("Letitgo") I notice that I hear a lot of what Prince does in some of the old GCS albums and Miles Davis albums..I wonder if they are his main influences..has anyone heard the song by GCS "Tell ME What It Is?"

DigitalGardin said:

Prince was certainly aware of GCS and I'm sure they had an influence on his music. I have two of their albums. Graham Central Station album you mentioned and one I picked up the other week called Ain't No Bout A Doubt It. I would say that Larry is one of his influences rather than his main influence. Tell Me What It Is does sound very Princely. What struck me about this record though is the opening track We've Been Waiting which is acapella and I wondered if that inspired the title track of For You

On a side note on the Ain't No Bout A Doubt It album there's a track called This Ain't Nothing But A Warner Bros Party!!! Somehow can't imagine Prince and Larry bustin' that one out anytime soon!!!!

As for as a person he takes advice from on a personal stand point---yes!
Got him to make his first two or three thoughts no longer his own, even though he 100% believes they are his.own...LOL



James Brown without a shadow of a doubt is his #1 influence. Dress and music wise, dance steps, career path etc.

The vocal on TELL ME WHAT IT IS even sounds like Prince..listen to it!
[This message was edited Sun Jul 18 13:23:35 2004 by DigitalGardin]

Yes - in more ways then one.

Some may be surprised on who is who's influence in music.
I believe a lot of artist will talk a lot more, or only about some artist that kinda had an influence on there works, and usually stay away from the real influences in order to not let people compare them to others, make it harder for people to make their thoughts.

soulyacolia said:

if only he were to bust out with that one durin a paisley party (if they were still goin on)...oh, to see the expression on prince's face....

I wonder if Mani will be on stage with a towel one day?

lbadored said:

and perhaps p would take off his shoes, too...

Prince has never hidden that the fact that his two major infleuences were James Brown and GSC.

Prince even used to sell the GSC albums in his stores, long before he hooked up with Larry. These were the only non "paisley" albums on sale. That says a lot.

Also, P's first band name, before they became Champagne? "Grand Central"!

Some of Prince's earlier rock tracks sound like they could have been influenced by Graham Central Station's "Earthquake".

GCS's "Water" also sounds very Princely.

I think Sly's gotta be considered too. Especially during P's revolution era. The intergender and interracial band was a lot like the Family Stone.

No way. As corny as this may sound, Prince's #1 influence has to be God.....or Jehovah, or whatever he calls him now.

No. P has a diverse set of influences.

Larry Graham is more like a #2.

soulyacolia said:

It 'twas still a jam, though We got the Doobies and Grahams and Tower of Power too