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PrintableGaryMF said: BananaCologne said: I was talking about the sequencing more than what we actually got to hear - hence why I put 'pretty much' sorry for not being clearer on this. I don't really understand waht you mean here. What do you mean by sequencing? (it can have different connotations....e.g. programming the beat into a sequencer, or how the songs are ordered on album) It means that he played the drums in one continuous take, beginning with "Christopher Tracy's Parade" and stopping at the end of the last measure of "Under The Cerry Moon", without missing a beat. By the way, any kind of electronic effect on any musical instrument can be applied in post production at the mixing board through all kinds of signal processors, if the instrument was hooked up right beforehand that is. So Prince probably played on a regular drum kit that was all triggered up, so that afterwards he could alter the sound of the drums with all kinds of sonic trickery. | |
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About Lady Cab Driver: I think I agree that only the snare is live, because even when he plays two-handed fills, you can hear the hi-hat continuing. Anyway, it IS a great beat. | |
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blackguitaristz said: AvramsDad said: Dig it holmes, I "altered" yer post because he only played ONE DRUM on LCB. What is with ya'll? I don't know if there's an alternate version of it, but his "deletion" of the crash only further points to the minimalist production that comes with using a DRUM MACHINE. I understand you and giovanni777 using other examples of P's drumming and I agree. But if yer using LCB as an example, it just doesn't stand up. That all. And see, I've always thought it was 'real" drums on that track. The full kit, minus of course, the crash. Perhaps that's why he has the snare so high up in the mix. He could have easily used a crash and still use the Linn. Perfect example; The title track, 1999, Automatic, Let's Pretend. The snare being so authentic and the drum pattern, overall, totally had me thinking he was in the pocket like a motherfucker. I know he has his little 'clap" doubling on the snare all the way through. The instrumental section of that song which leads up to his little rock guitar flourishes is bangin'. Well, I KNOW that it's a full acoustic drum kit on "International" and "Free". Although that's standard drumming.  Everything you typed up there is spot on. I wasn' tryna to ruffle anybody's feathers, but it just obvious to me if you listened to it (and again most of 1999 for that matter), that he would dub some live parts over the drum machine.  | |
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Two other songs that feature his drumming that I have mentioned on this site more than a few times on various threads in the past are "God", the instrumental version and "Another Lonely Christmas". As far as drumming, those are my faves.
Ah, yes, great drums on Another Lonely Christmas, perhaps the most bonkers drums he's played, lifts that song out of mediocrity. Nice choice. PIPS! Eurgh... |
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FUNKHUNTER said: GaryMF said: I don't really understand waht you mean here. What do you mean by sequencing? (it can have different connotations....e.g. programming the beat into a sequencer, or how the songs are ordered on album) It means that he played the drums in one continuous take, beginning with "Christopher Tracy's Parade" and stopping at the end of the last measure of "Under The Cerry Moon", without missing a beat. By the way, any kind of electronic effect on any musical instrument can be applied in post production at the mixing board through all kinds of signal processors, if the instrument was hooked up right beforehand that is. So Prince probably played on a regular drum kit that was all triggered up, so that afterwards he could alter the sound of the drums with all kinds of sonic trickery. Exactly what I had said. "He's a musician's musician..." |
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This discussion just begs 2 address Prince's "mastery" of combining drum machine with live kit playing, which he's done throughout his musical adventure, and that noone has ever come close 2. "He's a musician's musician..." |
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Giovanni777 said: This discussion just begs 2 address Prince's "mastery" of combining drum machine with live kit playing, which he's done throughout his musical adventure, and that noone has ever come close 2.
Although it has to do more with his programming, thought you might find this interesting. http://www.prince.org/msg/7/201698?pr | |
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ufoclub said: Two of prince's recording engineers at different times (Femi Jeyi and Michael Koppelman if I remember right) have said that Prince is actually better on the drums then guitar or piano. I trust them! They also say that he does not really ever release or record all the musical exercises he does 'round the clock in the studio. Some say that his most musically amazing stuff is not heard because he wants to maintain the "Prince" pop image. but he has released NEWS, TRC.. | |
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Giovanni777 said: Think of the drumming on the early instrumental demos and on the 1st two albums. Then think of his drumming on the 1999 album... "Lady Cab Driver" anyone?
Shall I go on? Peace. agree with giovanni777, dude played those drums on his first joint, on i'm yours.... | |
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You know what I'd love to see? Prince releasing an instructional DVD of his drumming technique. I know, I know, it'll never happen. Wouldn't that be what "Musicology" is all about though?
I've been a junkie lately for instructional drum DVD's, and some of my recent favorites have been by Terry Bozzio, John Blackwell and my absolute favorite is "Soul of the Funky Drummers" featuring Jabo Starks and Clyde Stubblefield. I mentioned before how Prince's "pocket" is one of the things that make him such a cool drummer, and listening to Clyde hit that pocket and stay there is amazing, especially when he's stripping beats down to just the bass and snare with no ghost notes. Hey, I want to thank everyone on this thread for such great thoughts and commments on an aspect of Prince I find really compelling. It's refreshing to read rational thoughts, and no one (yet) has mentioned Prince's sex life, his religion, or his mutant foot. P.S. Lady Cab Driver? Linn w/ live snare. Can anyone think of someone who used this technique before Prince? |
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I think Prince's drumming is good but not as good as he is at guitar:
 [Edited 2/28/07 18:56pm] | |
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wlcm2thdwn said: I think Prince's drumming is good but not as good as he is at guitar:
[Edited 2/28/07 18:56pm] Thanks 4 the pic  I was just going to say that out of all these drum heads nobody posted a pic, but you saved this thread. | |
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jn2 said: ufoclub said: Two of prince's recording engineers at different times (Femi Jeyi and Michael Koppelman if I remember right) have said that Prince is actually better on the drums then guitar or piano. I trust them! They also say that he does not really ever release or record all the musical exercises he does 'round the clock in the studio. Some say that his most musically amazing stuff is not heard because he wants to maintain the "Prince" pop image. but he has released NEWS, TRC..I'm just quoting them, there are now exceptions. My art book: http://www.lulu.com/spotl...ecomicskid
VIDEO WORK: http://sharadkantpatel.com MUSIC: https://soundcloud.com/ufoclub1977 | |
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NightGod said: P.S. Lady Cab Driver? Linn w/ live snare. Can anyone think of someone who used this technique before Prince? Possibly Rick James? I mentioned on another thread that both P and RJ combined live drums with drum machines.  |
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I must say i haven't really paid much intention to his own drumwork on earlier records, but does anyone agree with me that his drumwork on Musicology and 3121 is very mediocre?
Just listen to the drums on Cinnamon girl and Fury for example. | |
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I much prefer his drumming to his lead guitar playing, no doubt, but his rhythm guitar playing is second to none. | |
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peterfalconer said: I much prefer his drumming to his lead guitar playing, no doubt, but his rhythm guitar playing is second to none.
Agreed on your latter comment, but you don't like his lead guitar work at all? | |
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ufoclub said: SlamGlam said: ufoclub said:
so prince puts out inferior songs? musically and technically, yes. Even his bandmates have said he gets mad if they complicate things too much... "single notes". He usually keeps it pop, because that principal paved him a powerful signature career. And it also sounds better at max'd out loud volumes in live settings. With a few exceptions here and there, he prefers to project theatrical simplicity. This includes his lyrics which are normally aimed at a specific pop level audience. ...and u know this how? Luminous beings are we...not this crude matter.
Is this 2morrow or just the END of time? The Funk will always b with u "I've got a face, not just my race, Bang Bang I've got you babe!" | |
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YODAHENDRIX said: ufoclub said: musically and technically, yes. Even his bandmates have said he gets mad if they complicate things too much... "single notes". He usually keeps it pop, because that principal paved him a powerful signature career. And it also sounds better at max'd out loud volumes in live settings. With a few exceptions here and there, he prefers to project theatrical simplicity. This includes his lyrics which are normally aimed at a specific pop level audience. ...and u know this how? because of interviews with and even in talking with his recording engineers or bandmates. My art book: http://www.lulu.com/spotl...ecomicskid
VIDEO WORK: http://sharadkantpatel.com MUSIC: https://soundcloud.com/ufoclub1977 | |
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calldapplwondery83 said: peterfalconer said: I much prefer his drumming to his lead guitar playing, no doubt, but his rhythm guitar playing is second to none.
Agreed on your latter comment, but you don't like his lead guitar work at all? Not right now, no. His playing style has changed a lot over the years - which of course, is no bad thing. One thing that hasn't changed, though, is that he's got a very messy technique and a very individual style (which I normally like). Until now he's always played solos that suited this style, and sounded absolutely wicked: Why U Wanna Treat Me So Bad; Bambi; Temptation; Alexa de Paris; U Got The Look; Sign O The Times... Right up to Gold, Shhh, Calhoun Square and such. More recently, though, he's been trying too hard to play like his idol Santana, and apart from the fact I don't like Santana anyway, Prince just doesn't have the right technique for the job. And since he started using the whammy bar on every second note it's just got worse! I'm not against Prince's own style of playing, nor am I against him changing as a guitarist and trying out new things - I just don't like the sounds he happens to be making these days! | |
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Riverpoet31 said: I must say i haven't really paid much intention to his own drumwork on earlier records, but does anyone agree with me that his drumwork on Musicology and 3121 is very mediocre?
Just listen to the drums on Cinnamon girl and Fury for example. I agree that its not particularly flashy stuff from Prince, although the simplicity adds a charm. The drum sounds on Musicology are really strange, some very experimental stuff. Listen to how distorted the live kit is on 'Reflection'. Strange but I like it. I almost feel like Prince is holding back on the drums he plays to let the songs shine through more. Anyway, his playing is on Musicology is much nicer than that nasty, frilly, over-the-top, 'session' style that John Blackwell has. Ugh. Gross. PIPS! Eurgh... |
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Drum Machine with Loops & production = A++++
Live Drumming he is just ok = C+ | |
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Ceaser said: Two words.....
"I'm Yours" WORD! ..."think from a positive place, and eliminate the negative fate"... | |
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Ceaser said: Two words.....
"I'm Yours" He played sooo fine don't yall agree! Sexual Chocolate!  surviving on the thought of loving you, it's just like the water
I ain't felt this way in years... | |
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KidaDynamite said: Ceaser said: Two words.....
"I'm Yours" He played sooo fine don't yall agree! Sexual Chocolate!  | |
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