I'm pretty sure that I have read several times people praising the beginning of Mountains because it's so complicated, with two instruments (don't remember which) starting on the 1 or something. I'm not a musician so I feel a little confused about this.

Enlighten me people!

There's a lot going on in the beginning of that song. Sounds like the Linn drum with acoustic guitar, piano and horns. The melody arrangement almost sounds middle eastern and has a jazz feel to it. "Mountains" also had a lot of twists and turns in it musically. Back in 1986 nothing on the radio sounded like that. That's why it's so unique.

Ok. Yes, there are a lot of instruments and sounds which makes it, as you say, unique. It's good!
Hmmm, I still wonder about this "two instruments on the one" -thing... Maybe I just have misunderstood the comments...

VenusBlingBling said:

I THINK YOU MEAN "GUITARS AND DRUMS ON THE 1" AM I CORRECT?

tripp said:

Yes, you are!

I blasted this song in the car this morning. This song is truly inspired

This should have been the 20 minute 12 inch, not America.

VenusBlingBling said:

This track was when Prince spent some tim making original music.. Just exactly what is he doing with this, it's not easy to tell. the handlcaps echo its very complex like "Dorothy Parker" or "777-9311" Only Prince could come up with those crazy drum tracks..

CaptainJack said:

Yes, that's what I mean! Is that something particularly complicated?

VenusBlingBling said:

Not really - it's just Prince saying guitars and drums do your thing now.

if he said on the 2 it would mean do it in 2 beats time ie 1,and in...

on the 3 would be 1,2, and away we go

purpledoveuk said:

That's all? I knew that. But I guess that is a quite unusual way of beginning a song.
Well, it sounds good

Thanks guys for not having to feel so confused anymore
[Edited 5/12/06 15:47pm]

VenusBlingBling said:

Are you talking about the basketball bouncing sound in the beginning or the part where he says guitars and drums on the 1?

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

That's what I meant. I've read several times ppl saying how brilliant that part is, so that got me wondering.
But now I know that what I thought they meant was correct. So the beginning is not so very complicated to play, but it's unusal and inventive.

DMSR said:

I'm sure W&L deserve some credit considering they composed it originally.

IIRC, they recorded this in London, without him, and Prince added to it later.

The track “Mountains” was originally an untitled song recorded by Wendy and Lisa at Advision studios in London while Prince was in France filming UTCM. It was presented to him and recorded with the full band on Saturday, November 30, 1985 at the Washingon Avenue Warehouse in Minneapolis. While most of the band had been in the studio together, it was actually Matt Bliss’ 1st session with Prince and the Revolution.

“One track that I will never forget is of course "Mountains", because that was my audition,” Matt recalls. “And that was my first introduction to not only working with Prince, but being creative with him in a recording situation. When we had first written the parts to the middle part in there that was my first day up there and sitting down, meet all the rest of the band and take a break, myself and Eric and Wendy and Lisa and Prince sat down together and developed these songs, I mean developed the horn part in "Mountains", that was something that sort of sticks out in my mind as another milestone.”

Additional work was done on the track in Minneapolis and it was shelved until Friday, March 28 1986, when it was edited for the 7 inch and 12 inch mixes for release (the 2nd released from PARADE). Some additional horns were overdubbed for the song on April 1, and more mixing and editing followed on April 6, 22, and 27th.

It was eventually released on May 7 1986 (single release) and the 12 inch was released on May 21.

If you are looking for additional information about what the song means, check out Matthew 21:21

In answer Jesus said to them: "Truly I say to YOU, If only You have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what I did to the fig tree, but also if YOU say to this mountain,'Be lifted up and cast into the sea,' it will happen.
----

This information is from the book “The Prince Studio Sessions”.
[Edited 5/14/06 19:09pm]