Just been listening to "In Time" off the Essential Sly and the Family Stone and damn me if United States Of Division isn't nearly a complete carbon copy!

This bugs me, as I've not really heard much in Prince's career that has been note-for-note derivative....

...I guess even a great musician like Prince has to steal sometimes...

But enlighten me...

...are the any other songs he has almost completely ripped-off?

Play USOD and "In Time" back to back and you'll see what I mean.

sorry, don't hear it.
But then again, I hear striking similarities between Family Name and Africa Talks To You (Ashphalt Jungle) that no one else hears
[Edited 9/25/04 13:25pm]

I haven't heard the Sly Stone song you are referring to, but even if it is a rip off, I've never considered the songs on the B-sides of P's singles to be taken seriously(La La La, He He Hee for example). They are songs that don't have much meaning and should not be compared to the songs on his albums. Now if he put USOD on the Musicology CD, THEN i could understand you being upset.
[Edited 9/25/04 13:46pm]

"Fresh" by Sly & The Family Stone is one of Prince's favorite albums...I wouldn't be surprised if he "stole" other elements from that record. He did cover "Babies Makin' Babies" in concert alot on the "Gold" tour (I believe).

Oh, the B-Side theory doesn't hold water...Some of Prince's best work were his b-sides.

Serveitupfrankie*

Best as far as funky and fun to dance to, but not something that you would want to put on an album for the masses. A lot of the B-sides only P fans can appreciate. Not say they are not good songs, but it seems P feels this way too. That is why he does not put them on the album.

Yeah, but some of his best songs are B-sides. I refer to the current tally on B-side survivor.

anyway, Sly has always been a strong influence on prince, as are all the other greats of the 70s. I haven't heard United States of Division yet so I can't judge whether or not he's ripping off sly, but the amount of Prince songs that are immitations/rip-offs of James Brown is quite high: The Work, Sexy MF, Movie Star, Everlasting Now (I might be alone in listing that last one), hell I'd say 2 Nigs United 4 West Compton and Musicology are very JB-esque.
[Edited 9/25/04 16:02pm]

MAKE YO MAMMA HAPPY reminds me of something from SLY's "Fresh" album

mrdespues said:

The Exodus Has Begun = Night of the Thumpasorus People (Parliment/Funkadelic)

Nobody is 100% original, hendrix borrowed lots of licks from buddy guy, the only way to someone be all original is put them on a island alone with lots of instruments without ever hearing songs, and visiting him and telling him to play and make sounds.

psykosoul said:[quote I hear striking similarities between Family Name and Africa Talks To You (Ashphalt Jungle) that no one else hears
[Edited 9/25/04 13:25pm]
[/quote]

Well, Prince did cover Africa Talks To You during a 1986 rehearsal...

i may not be right...but i've always thought that let's go crazy had elements of The WHo's "My Generation". for some reason i've always thought that.