A lot of people talk about how good Prince is on lead guitar with comparisons to Hendrix, Santana etc..., but to me the thing that stands out is his rhythm work, its incredible. On a BBC radion show "Purple Reign-The Prince Story"; Jimmy Jam said he was the best rhythm guitar ever, high praise indeed and I'd agree with that.

I know there have been other great rhythm players like Nile Rodgers and Phelps Collins to name just two, but what do y'all think?. Is the quality of his rhythm work sometimes over looked? What are the tracks that most show his ability?

Among my personal favourites are Controversy, the end of the album version of 1999,the Vicky Vale part of Batdance which to me is funky as hell, if that went on for ten minutes I'd be happy.

4 sure ...his rhythm guitar parts are well constructed melodies and act as more of a support for the rest of the groove than backin up the lead guitar...

and ye,that vicki vale part is an awesum piece of music..that funk riff IS HOT!!

The opening section to 'U Got The Look (Long Look)'...


makes me every single freakin' time

onenitealone said:

Funk at its best!!!!

I love his rythmn especially anytime he plays it funky. I am a guitarist and I know that it's kind of hard to duplicate his rythmn even on single chord things. I've really never heard anybody play rythmn excactly like him. Even funk guitarists never sound quite the same. There is something about the way he plays rythmns in the sense of where he lets those disonant chords sound and then where he mutes them, the result is nastily funky. Songs that come to mind specifically are 1999, DMSR, Controversy, some of the stuff from Batman, and yes even some stuff from Musicology (I.E. Illusion, Coma, Pimp, and Circumstance). There are tons of others but these are a few that stand out right away.

onenitealone said:

Absolutely right...