I know, this subject has been 'on' many times before, especially when it comes to the input of Wendy and Lisa, and almost often did lead to 'flaming', but i think its an important subject to discuss when it comes to Princes music.

Right now i am listening to the album Around in the World in a day, and i can't help thinking that this band brought something 'extra' to Prince music: the female background vocals, the use of beatlesque melodies and harmonies, and most of all: more colourfull music in terms of how the songs 'sound', more instrumental richness then Princes 'one-man-band' efforts.

The same of course can be said for Purple Rain: by using a lot of the basictracks live, Princes music on Purple Rain did sound more lively and energetic then on his more hermetic sounding one-man efforts.

IMO the album Parade is a result of Prince giving a lot of 'space' to his bandmembers for their input. It is known that Prince gave basic-tracks to Wendy and Lisa to elaborate on, and it probably explains the stylistic richness of this album. I dont see Prince the 'one-man-band' delivering an album that goes from beatlesque pop to french chansons, and from vaudeville to a folky acoustic ballad.

Sign of the Times mixed Princes demo-esque 'solo'tracks with more rich efforts created by Prince and the revolution. The album benefits tremendously from that mixture.

On Lovesexy much of the music sounds 'bandcreated' to. I think Eric Leeds and Matt Blistan (and maybe Sheila E) had a large input on that album. Especially when it comes to the hornparts, i think Prince did benefit a lot from the input of trained jazz-musicians like Eric and Matt.

Taking a leap to the New Power Generation here. The original NPG (Michael B, Sonny Thompson, Tommy Barbarella and Levi Seacer jr. as most important bandmembers) seemed to bring a fresh live-element in Princes music. According to Levi many basictracks of the songs on the symbol album were recorded live in the studio, as a result of jamming together. Again, its gives the music a certain richness and livelieness Prince often doesnt reach on his own.

Of course, colaborations dont always work, at least IMO. Emancipation, New Power Soul and Rave sound like Prince, the one-man-band creating music in the studio, and delivering those tracks to Kirk Johnson, asking him: make those songs sound commercial and contemparory for me. The result? sometimes great songs brought down by plastic, superficial production.

Alltough its not one of my personal favourites, The Rainbow Children seemed to benefit from Princes awe for the capabilities of drummer John Blackwell. It did lead him to make organic, lively sounding music.

Let me be clear, i am NOT saying that Prince as a one-man-band did not create great music. I even think, it layed down the base for his greatness. This person obsessed with music, spending hours, days, weeks alone in his recording studio trying to translate what he heard in his mind unto tape.
Dirty Mind, 1999, the solo-tracks on Sign of the Times and the songs on the Batman album, often sound dense, urgent, claustrophobic almost, expressing a person fighting his inner demons, trying to 'squeeze' great music out of that. But somehow it seems like his possibilities to deliver that kind of music ended some time ago.
I mean, listen to albums like Rave, Musicology and 3121: you can hear his songwriting and composing abilities. But he isnt evolving, he is looking back, he is repeating himselve. And the band he is using dont really have any input, they are 'just' on the payroll. They play what he is demanding.

To conclude, IMO Prince as a one-man-band, an artist in control of his own music is on a dead end. It doesnt lead to surprising, creative music anymore. He needs some gifted sidemusicians or bandmembers that stimulate him to try something new, that make him loosen up a bit, strong individuals that help him get on a new level.

Anyone agrees with me? I am curious about your opinions.