A few years back, at the '02 Celebration, I had a chat with one of Prince's employees about his recording techniques.


My question was: "Since Prince composes, arranges, produces and performs virtually everything he releases - and as he's so deeply involved in every facet of the creative process - how does he know when a piece of work is 'complete'? Does he use other people's opinions, is it when he gets bored with a particular track or does he just know?"


The answer was: "Simple. He is the music - he just knows".


The reason I'm posting this is because the whole process still absolutely fascinates me and I was wondering if any Orgers could shed some light on it. (I realise anyone who's been in the inner-circle will have signed confidentiality agreements, so I don't expect any salacious gossip).


So - have you been present at a Prince recording session?


I'd just love to know how the final product started out. Was it a jam session? Did he start with the lyrics/music? Does he go into the studio and think "Today, I write a funk/pop/jazz/rock song" or does he literally record whatever's going through his head at the time?

I was in the audience for the recording of the SOTT movie, sacrifice Of Victor and Cafe De Paris videos. Do they count!?!


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SquirrelMeat said:

Lucky you!

Well, I was hoping for studio stories mostly but I'd be interested in any tibits. Was everything recorded as seen or was anything re-shot?

onenitealone said:

U know dang gone well that none of us orgers can sit in on a recording session there would be all kinds of background static

trc1 said:

Yeah... some Orgers spring to mind!

I have read some comments on here previously, though, by Orgers who have worked at Paisley Park or know people who've worked there. I probably look like a right 'fam' asking stuff like this but the whole thing just fascinates me.

I don't think Prince will ever give a revealing insight into how he works or the artistic process but - just to see how one man can create so much - would be wonderful.

onenitealone said:

This is why I posted a question about a book about Prince in the studio. I have toyed with the idea of working on one, but I don't know how much interest there would be for it.

The link is
http://www.prince.org/msg/7/133615
but few people left their comments so maybe it wouldn't sell.

The bottom line about a book like this is it takes a long time to really get all the details accurate, so writing it would be a chore of love, rather than a big money maker. For the most part, books about Prince don't sell very well outside of the hardcore fans.

SquirrelMeat said:

That is so weird; I was watching my newly acquired copy of the Sign O The Times DVD and realizing there are many audience shots and that you can see faces very clearly and I was wondering to myself if anyone from those shots is now an Orger! Are you visable in any of those shots, 'Meat?

madhouseman said:

Hi Madhouseman - I think it was your thread which reminded of that conversation, actually. I, for one, would LOVE a book like that and I'm sure lots of fans would be interested if one was available. I'd love to know how certain songs were created, who was involved, etc..

oops - double post!
[Edited 2/24/05 4:28am]

I've got a digital 8-track and I do a lot of my own home recordings playing all the instruments etc. I'm not saying I'm anywhere near Prince's standard, but I think as a composer you just know when to stop. There comes a point when you realise that if you add anything else, you're going to swamp the music and you're going to lose what it was you originally intended.

On the other hand, I think it was George Lucas who said about his movies that he never feels as though they're completed - he always feels as though he could do something more to improve them. He literally has to force himself to finish by a deadline otherwise he would never finish anything!

toejam said:

toejam, I assume the composition process is different for every artist, but can I just ask... do you ever 'hear' the entire track in your head as a complete piece of music as it's rumoured with Prince? I'd just love to see how Prince throws down a track, based on what's going through his mind at the time. And how he chooses that instrument over that instrument. It amazes me.

toejam said:

I find that creating the track isnt the part that can get confusing as it is new in your mind and still gives that buzz which made you create it in the first place. The problem for me arises when it comes to the production and mastering of the final product. By this stage I have heard the track so many times, have scrutinised how every sound is placed in the mix and the focus and 'buzz' have simply gone. Sometimes it is then hard to know when it is finished because there are always imperfections that maybe only my ears can hear, but are there none the less.

Ive always found it best to make the track as a rough mix to the point where it is passable as a rough demo and then leave it alone for a few weeks at least (sometimes months even. And maybe never at all!). Then come back to it when it sounds fresh again...

Somehow though, I can imagine Prince getting through several songs in a day sometimes. recorded, mixed AND mastered!

Im sure Prince's vault is full of unfinished songs which never made it to the mastering stage, parts of songs, ideas that were never followed through, demo's galore, finalised tracks which just never made the album cut, samples, loops, riffs, solos... etc etc...

onenitealone said:

No, not for me. I find the composition and the recording go hand in hand. I might record a piano part first, then I might add a guitar part that I think sounds best with the piano then I'll add bass etc etc.

Sometimes I dream a song that sound completed in the dream, but most of the time I forget them before I get a chance to record what I remember or sometimes I even make the effort to write as much of it as I can as soon as I wake up only to find in the morning I've ripped off something (usually a Prince track ) without even realising it!

Just a couple thoughts, if I may.....I'm sure Prince hears entire songs/comps in his head, but it's safe to say he also does A LOT of experimenting... Don't you musicians out there find (when you get an idea or inspiration) you try to get as much of the initial idea as possible, right away? As Prince has stated, he doesn't sleep much; not to mention doesn't have to worry about the 9-5, like most of us. Think about how much more time one could invest in an initial idea. My point: I think Prince runs with an idea til he's gotten what he wants out of it.

Also, it's always been open for argument whether Prince's internal censor, has always been "in tune". There is a lot of material that could be considered "over-produced". It seems Prince is strongest when he's writer, lead singer, & got a kick-a@# band behind him, rather than letting the drum machine roll.....

write too and i find for me it comes in 2 ways. way 1 is, i hear something in my head i MUST quickly lay down before i forget it. many times i've been repeating a line (melody or bass line or piano phrase or vocal run) out loud over and over until i can run to my keyboard/mic/guitar and lay it down onto the 16 track. the other way "it" comes is just to sit down, with no agenda other than to play. and you lay track upon track upon track and end up with something you didn't "envision" but you created just the same. it's almost like assembling a puzzle. you may not know what the final pic looks like, you just put the pieces 2gether so that they fit. when it's done, u know.
that's not 2 say u don't go back and tweak over the weeks, months, years..

hmmm....onenightalone, your Best Bet is an orgnote on this one cuz.. anybody who could say wouldn't want 2 mess up another chance 2B there....again! i do the songwriter/singer/producer thing & personally, mine comes in various ways: totally complete(& it can piss u off not 2 get everything u heard on the track), an idea i gotta rush & get down B4 it gets gone, a bass/rhythm/melody line that nags until i work it 2 satisfaction (OK now, my scorpion mind heard that thought ) or i transpose 2 another key & get a whole different vibe on it.....(toejam i feel u on that "dreamin' when i wrote this" thang:Prince told his business n GB with that rollin' outta bed 2 the keyboard moment=try keeping a Dream journal, u'd B surprized how it can help)
....Been 2 PaisleyPark....can't say much more than that

Thanks for all your comments, guys -

And good luck with your compositions!