Something i think is overlooked when it comes to Princes music, is his ability to play bassguitar. Maybe thats a result ofthe fact he uses drummachines and electronic basssounds a lot, or that he often has had other bassplayers playing the bass (the best in my opinion being Sonny Thompson, raw and deep)

But right now i am listening to Play in the sunshine from Sign of the Times, a pop / rocktune and i hear a very melodic bassplayer (Prince, that is) who is almost on the same level of some top-bassplayers in this type of music, like Paul McCartney from the Beatles and Mike Mills from REM.

But also on funky tracks he can be an amazing bassist: listen to a song like Lets Work, or different cuts on Dirty Mind, Sign of the Times and Musicology.

Anyone agrees?

Don't forget to mention the incredible bass line that he plays
on "777-93-11" in The Time's second album "What Time Is It?"

Prince is so good at everything that people don't realize how good he is at everything. As weird as that sounds it makes sense.

I enjoy the 12' of Let's Work.

cranshaw62 said:

You're cute.

Alphabet St. may or may not be Levi (sounds like Prince's playing to me, though), but it's some of the funkiest bass I've ever heard, and it's totally buried in the mix.

I really liked that extended bass stuff he did during Face Down at thw Jam of the Year shows.

Even some non-funky stuff like Call My Name has great bass on it.
[Edited 4/12/05 10:46am]

FunkMistress said:

Oh man he kills it on this version! I love it!

I always liked that footage of him at the mixing desk, playing the bass over partyman. that was coolbeans.

I love on the Rave DVD where he and Larry G. have a mini-bass off

but...then...when he chucks the poor bass across the stage...
that makes me cringe everytime.

If I was on stage you would see me dive in for that bass in a hot minute!

What about the bass in "What's My Name?"

Riverpoet31 said:

I agree wholeheartedly, Play In The Sunshine contains one of the greatest basslines Prince has ever laid down. The entire SOTT album is full of great basslines ie. If I Was Your Girlfriend, Housequake, The Ballad of Dorothy Parker and Adore to name a few. However, Play In The Sunshine always blows me away every time I hear it. The bass work is often overlooked because the song is so chaotic, but it's simply brilliant. I definitely feel you with the McCartney comparison, Prince is on that level.
[Edited 4/12/05 14:15pm]

2 Nigs United 4 West Compton, La La La He He Hee (Highly Explosive) two more kickass bass performances. (and no, they're not Levi either)

Marrk said:

That was 1 of the coolest things I've seen, he made it look so easy and effortless.

I LOVED when he played bass guitar at the NAACP awards. Such a funky sound and he looked so good playing it!

Face Down (live in New York) 8m.33sec. he says "I'm Sorry" a few times and then tears shit up.

Don't know where i got it, or if it's a bootleg or not.
[Edited 4/13/05 8:46am]

he plays bass on Cloreen Baconskin.....

lycheepepper said:

The lord loves the truth.

Prince is an underated everything.....!

I'm not really sure but I know I loved Levi.

thekidsgirl said:

Watch closely when he does this. It looks like the bass stands itself up right near where the steps come down. Prince is one smooth guy!

No one has mentioned the little thing he did at the NAACP awards. I thought that was pretty kick ass!

7lovesymbol7 said:

I mentioned it and he looked awesome playing it..the playing was great too

Marrk said:

he was killing it! and it was crazy the way he was just sitting there waiting for that part to come and then he just calmly and cooly commences to funk it up!

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

U R soooo Right about Play in the Sunshine. Not a fan of the song AT ALL. To chaotic for me, just like U said. But the baseline is wonderful and well though out as well. I'm glad U made me take a listen to this or I would have never known. I gave up on that song years ago!

Lariza said:

I seen and heard him play "The Jam" way to many time to be impressed by it anymore. However I will never 4get the day I saw him play the One Eye(bass that is) and play piano at the same time....highly entertaining.

The problem with many Prince records is, they are often terribly mixed and mastered..

I mean, his best cd (in my opinion) Sign of the Times, is sounding thin, flat. I always have to turn it up really loud to hear the seperated instruments (my neighbours not always agree with that, but thats another thing ....)

I am really hoping WB and Prince will get an agreement on releasing remastered version of his records, so i finally get to hear the basslines on Play in the Sunshines (and other gems) clearly....