After listening to "Musicology", "One Night Alone", "The Rainbow Children", "Lovesexy", it seems to me when he records live the music is a lot less overproduced and contrived. Although most fans will say Lovesexy was his best touring band and in the studio, the NPG lineup of 93-96 augmented by Mr. Hayes isn't that far behind. Could you imagine if Michael Bland didn't play on "The Gold Experience". I'm hoping the next album, will see him record live, instead of playing everything himself.

I like Prince playing everything himself-pure genius!

I thought most of the "Lovesexy" album was NOT recorded live by the band.

I don't think there's any evidence that Lovesexy, Musicology, TRC were recorded live? Other than, when any musician lays down their part, it is recorded 'live'. The tracks on these albums were not recorded with all the band playing live in one room in one take,so to speak. There are tracks that are basically from live takes spotted throughout Prince's albums, but even then he has a tendency to overdub extra instrumentation, so whether it is entirely 'live' is arguable.

Prince is just that good a producer and musician that he can make you think there's an entire band playing live when in fact it is just him on his own in the studio doing all the instruments one by one and composing them together.

I don't want to listen to NPG or any other Prince group(including revolution).

I want to listen to Prince!

Prince should play EVERYTHING; i'm anal about music like that; can't help it.

mikek1 said:

I agree... SOTT is wicked and it covers a wide range of styles - from pared down (title track, it) to large-scale production (Housequake). I think he does a great job making the music sound full and live, even tho it's just him.

The Family record - the Time - that's all him, right?

sexxydancer said:

I would tend to agree with you, but after 3121, feeling it was very limited and uninguaging, I must say, I look foward to Prince playing with someone besides himself.

MickG said:

me 2