Prince can program that Linn Drum like a monster!



The song could use more Linn Drum! I got a fever... and the only prescription is more Linn Drum!

That high hat is the shit!

It's all about the bass!

Its the combination of the Bass, Guitar and the drums. Plus the lyrics are
c o o l

coolcat said:

THAT'S MORRIS ON THE DRUMS FOOL!!!

tricky2 said:

I'm 99% sure you're wrong on this. I hope someone else can verify. I'm sure it's a Linn Drum machine that Prince programmed.

At the very least, it's live drums mixed with the Linn. The song is practically all handclaps.... you can't really even here the snare.

I read somewhere that the beat was from a preset onein the Linn, but that seems kinda unlikely, given the syncopation.

coolcat said:

Is there any "old school" fans left out there that can back me up???!! PLEASE!

I'm not lying to you!! That is Morris Day playing live on the track. There are no electronic drums. You probably didn't know that Morris is a world class drummer.

tricky2 said:

I"m "Old School" fan.... and as I just posted..... the main beat of the drum is a 'handclap'..... rather than a snare drum (although therei s a softer snare used sometimes too, but for the most part, you hear the "clap" on all the 2's and 4's throghout the song).

That can only be done with a drum machine (or a liev person clappign, which would never sound as uniform as it does).

It's possible Morris played some live drums over it, but even if that's true, the main beat of the song is driven by a machine, and Prince was using the Linn LM1 at the time.

GaryMF said:

Okay orgers, I'm resigning my membership. I guess Morris, Bean and Jesse were lying to me. This will never be resolved. I'm done.

GaryMF said:

The only way we'll know for sure is if someone can come up with something that can tell us who played what instruments on that track. I think it's very possible that accoustic drums were recorded first. Then the hand claps were added in the rhythm track using a Simmons drum-kit pad. They were very popular during the 80's. If any of you can remember, A lot of drummers would have that octagon shaped plate set up besides or over the toms when playing live. This is very interesting. If anyone knows for sure, please let us know. PS as i've stated before. When I saw the Time play live at 1st Ave nightclub. Jellybean Johnson played the song perfectly, just like the record. He wasn't lip-synching it, and he did use some kind of pad.

ThePunisher said:

Truer words were never spoken! That's exactly right. All I meant to say is at a minimum, there are some electornic drums in there, even if someone played them live as to appose to programmign it.

My personal opinion, is that it sounsd like the main beat is programmed but I if Bean, Morris and Jesse say he did play it live, I'm not going to disagree. If anything, mroe props to Morris for keeping it tight!

tricky2 said:

They told you in person that Morris played it live? Ok. I won't disagree with you then.

Anyway, I remember that "Possessed: The Rise and Fall of Prince" by Alex Hahn had a detailed list of credits. I don't have a copy, but maybe someone can check it out to see what it says about the drums on 777-9311.

Nobody got my SNL reference in the original post.

Great song....prince did an amazing job there....

To me, I can only ear Linn beats.

The ryhthm is repeated too precisely for even a master drummer. Heck, John Blackwell seemed to struggle a little when playing this live as well as "All The Critics".

Some programmed beats just can't be replecated by one drummer live.

Awesome song. Great guitar!!!!

Linn LM-1!!! Repeat, Linn LM-1. I've seen The Time 4 times in the last decade and Jellybean plays it way more "human" than what you hear on the record. Plus, there are accounts of the old Time rehearsals (check Keyboard Magazine from early 1990 w/Jam & Lewis) where the band had to learn their parts after the record had been done.

It is a Linn Drum based upon my study and knowledge. But the underlying question (programmed or not) is who is resposible for the increadible beat/drums. The Time sessions are the most misunderstood sessions because no one really knows (IMO) who is who on the recording sessions. The unofficial Time site provides an in-depth look and of course credits Prince with 777-9311, but some of the instrumentation sounds different from his individual playing style. To say the least: We do know the Prince was heavily involved in all aspects, but just how who is on what will always be a mystery to me -- unless you guys and gals can clear it up.

One of the baddest and funkiest jams that Jami.....er, I mean The Time has ever produced. My favorite, hands down. I would kill to write something as funky as that.