He plays every instrument too. Think about it....how many artists can claim that from their CD's. Prince does EVERYTHING! We're really lucky.

No dear! We've been BLESSED! Though that picture from the all star game with him and Piff Doody, did make me queasy at the thought of Prince insanely entertaining the thought of letting that two bit hack produce his next album.

pald1 said:

What does playing every instrument have to do with producing an album?!?!?!

The point of a producer: to give advice to the artist on what to leave out or re-try a different way. Not to play the freakin' music.
[Edited 2/20/07 1:04am]

Prince is 2 much into his own music to use a producer. And that's a good thing. Whether it be good or whether it be bad. It's Prince.

Prince doesn't need a producer!

All he needs is a creative consulat like Mary Lambert or Larry Graham!

.
[Edited 2/20/07 2:22am]

I have to admit I would be a bit disappointed if Prince ever let anyone else produce his album, even if the results turned out good.

One of the things I love so much about Prince and his music is that he does so much of it himself. Instruments, vocals, composing, arranging, producing, etc. Everything he does is completely his identity and vision. It's what makes him unique, there's not many people who are capable of all that he does.

It's pretty much a moot point though, we all know Prince would never let anyone else produce his album, the only reason he signed with Warner Brothers in the beginning was because they were the only label that would let him produce himself. He has too much of an ego to hand over the reins to anyone else. But that's why I love him.

SteveJ2004 said:

Ditto

pezdispenser said:

Well, in the case of someone who is just a singer and doesn't play anything, I guess they either do play the instruments themselves (or at least program the synth/samples!) or organise getting in session musicians. I've always imagined with many of these singers they go into the studio and it is all already done for them!

Can you imagine a producer saying to Prince, "your guitar playing isn't good enough. I'm gonna get this guy I know in to do your parts..." WOULD NEVER HAPPEN! Prince can't be produced because he is never going to listen to someone who knows less about music than him, and there are few with more experience.

Cheek said:

Mary Lambert is a video and movie director!

Would love to see what the dust brothers could do with him... They make perfect records. If your a musician or songwriter, you know what i'm talking about.

ocadv said:

Just like Beck

MikeMatronik said:

Exactly!... You know what i'm talking about!

ocadv said:

It would be great. They did some great tunes with Beck

Well was once produced by Prince

I know where you're coming from , but I disagree to a point. I think to bring in another Producer would give Prince the kick he needs. I feel he's been a little lazy over the last few years ... probably since Emancipation the production has been patchy. Some fresh blood showing prince some new moves would keep him on his toes, and give us fans something new.

On the flipside, I do like the fact that we're getting a 100% Prince project eachtime I peel the plastic off a new Prince CD

metalorange said:

Nah, they would say, try it this way, or try it that way. They wouldn't replace him cause HE CAN PLAY IT. The only time a producer is hired by musicans that can play and write their own stuff is just cause they respect that producers taste in music and their "ear" and they are hired to comment on what they like and what they think should be still worked on. They are hired to bring out the best in the artist. Prince used to be a good producer (judging by the stuff left in the vault) ie: he was almost ruthless on what made the final cut, only what he felt was the best at the time, nowadays he just seems to be letting anything out.
[Edited 2/20/07 12:29pm]

He doesn't get others to produce his albums because he doesn't work well with others and is too ego driven to hand over his vision to someone else.

metalorange said:

Yes, but even when there were quite a few others back in the day with more experience, he still wouldn't

What's ironic is that Prince is a terrible producer of other peoples albums.

superspaceboy said:

I disagree:

the family
the time
sheila e.
Vanity 6
Aples 6

Those feature excelent production from Prince

MikeMatronik said:

I think those are probably the exceptions, but most everything after Jill Jones
is awful...

Mayte Garcia
Ingrid Chavez
Mavis Staples
Carmen Electra

MikeMatronik said:

I agree with that as well.

The last thing he needs is a producer. They would have him sounding like everyone else. He wouldn't let people produce him back when music as a whole was good so why the hell would he let someone produce him now that music as a whole has turned into bullshit?

Of top of all the reasons people have mentionned, there's also his hours. For a long time, he was a studio addict prone to marathon sessions that probably no big name producer would put up with. I think he himself mentionned that when explaining why he was never produced by anyone else. People can't keep up.

superspaceboy said:

Ingrid Chavez and Chaka's album feature great production imo.

MikeMatronik said:

I know, you ass!