As annoying as he can be, sometimes you just have to give it up for the guy.

Prince gave away some of his best music to other people who otherwise would (and probably should) have gone unnoticed (Andre Cymone ?!?). At the height of his popularity he could have been working with some of the biggest names out there but he chose to work with underdogs.

Sure, in the end he made some bucks off of it, but nothing like the cash (and commercial longevity) he could have had if he saved stuff (like Sheila E's & Jill Jones' entire CDs) for himself for a rainy day.

And while the die-hard fans knew about his pseudonyms, the rest of mainstream America to this day remains unaware that he was the talent behind hits for the Bangles (Manic Monday), Stevie Nicks (Stand Back), et al. He could have taken direct credit for the work, but chose not to.

So I guess the point of this musing is that while Prince's mercurial nature can be frustrating...he's been very generous to people who (in the end) probably aren't even still his friends. He certainly wasn't obligated to work with them (Andre Cymone?!?).

yeah..he is a nice guy, sometimes..


but i wouldnt credit him for Stand Back..Stevie wrote that on her own..He came in and put pretty sprinkles...and awesome they were...but *she* should get credit for writing that kick arse song...

SkletonKee said:

I agree...that crunchy synth hook he added made the song, in my opinion.
[This message was edited Wed Oct 2 9:41:54 PDT 2002 by S3V3N]

S3V3N said:

Exactly--and although some of them may have been dubious talent-wise, he gave careers and jobs to his friends that surrounded him. Gave them employment etc. Not exactly sound business acumen, but it shows his heart is there for them etc..even if he is a harsh taskmaster.

Anybody know if there is an extended version of Stand Back by Stevie Nicks available on CD or MP3?

S3V3N you are so right I was saying that the other day.

SkletonKee said:

Sprinkles? Key you aere trippin'. That "budda budda" sound that makes up the song is Prince...its the same synth played fast that makes the song I Would Die For You. And the whole song is a LRC rip..Miss Thing said so. The verse and chorus directly lifted from LRC. Everyone knows the Stevie Nicks story right? If not here it goes...her and a guy (manager) were driving one night and the song came on, they pulled over and listened to it and were taken by it, she quickly wrote Stand Back and recorded it. I read about this in Stevies box set I have tee hee

?
[This message was edited Wed Feb 26 23:44:36 PST 2003 by IstenSzek]

id like to give credit to prince for allowing Wendy and Lisa so much input into the Revolution...

i actually discovered Wendy&Lisa before I got into Prince...i purchased his discs to hear more from them, and i ended up getting hooked on him...no other heterosexual male would allow two woman to be so much part of his music and persona...


so, hats off to prince!!!

rdhull said:

What is LRC?
[This message was edited Wed Oct 2 9:53:08 PDT 2002 by S3V3N]

rdhull said:

nope, not trippin...prince bit Luther Vandross with Adore but I still give Prince credit for writing one of the best love songs ever..even if he was trying to knock of another artist...

i agree that his synth work was a major part of the song working..but i also think her powerful passion-filled vocals had to do with the song's sucess..also.

S3V3N said:

Litte Red Corvette.

IstenSzek said:

Don't get me wrong...I'm as objective as any other person on here. This was just something I was thinking about the other day...that seems to escape Prince as credit.

SkletonKee said:

Oh no doubt her raspy ass makes the song (and easy for me to sound good at it heehe) ...butr Stand Back direclty lifts the verse(plaintive) chorus(rave up) melody of LRC...whereas Prince was doing a tribute to the astyling of Vandross...I think he was trying to do Al Green also though...trying to add some "choich" to Adore. Vandross then a year or so later bit Adore with his Here And Now.

S3V3N said:

And you should post these things...little by little the objectivity of the org fizzles...its like AMP jr. Intelligent people are writing from bias instead of being objective, disregarding being fair and sometimes impartial to a fault.
[This message was edited Wed Oct 2 10:02:21 PDT 2002 by rdhull]

I can see your point S3V3N. But there's also Prince the control freak. It was very generous to give songs away to well-known artists and not take the credit. On the other hand, with artists that he discovered and made a protege, he was anything but generous. Of course he gave them their big break but he took away what matters to most artists- individuality and the creative process. If he had let Paisley Park artists have the say in their careers, maybe they would be more invested in what they were doing, and in turn, excite more of an audience. I know people are tired of the comparison but with Madonna's Maverick, she has a diverse group of acts that she doesn't meddle with. Many of them are quite successful. They don't have the Madonna stamp all over their sound. And this only makes her look better. With Prince, I sometimes get the feeling that his attitude is, "so what if this flops, it's not my thing." But really it is. And the more he watered down his catelogue with assosciated artists, the worse it made him look.

Prince gave LA Reid and Babyface money to start their own company when Solar dropped their group "The Deele". He probably did the same after firing Terry and Jimmy. To go on and do bigger and better things. People do not like being pushed out of their comfort zone. You only fail if you stop trying to grow and expand yourself mind body and soul. Are we the masters of our own destinies or are some of us here to help others realize theirs?

rdhull said:

FUUUCK! How many times must this b said?

Thank U rdhull 4 knowing ur shit!

U can practically sing "Stand Back" word 4 word against the music of "Little Red Corvette"... this is not news.

Stevie herself said so LIVE on the VH1:Storytells episode she was in.

She said it! Y is this so hard 2 understand (or believe)?

June7 said:

the messenger?

June7 said:

and your point is? i knew this...and i stick by my statement...

I agree.I bet if we had access to more info, we would find that he has done loads of work to help other artists.

June7 said:

This must explain why I never liked that song!!

I used to blame her annoying warble/yodel.

I blame Lindsey Buckingham.

queen627 said:

I like this! Yes!

S3V3N said:

SkletonKee said:

Um, Tony Orlando and Dawn...LMAO!

I think that sometimes he should put his pride aside and collaborate with big names who would love to work with him (but won't necessarily pander to his every desire) - I'm thinking D'Angelo, ?uestlove, Outkast and Beck. They would all work with him at the drop of a hat and the material they do could be incredible...

And what about the recordings he did with Lenny Kravitz that will probably never see the light of day? Another great shame.

Yes, indeed prince is a very generous person, and not MANY people know this. I have heard he gives generous amounts of his money to help educate black/poor kids in a chicago school. he also offered his help to kim basinger when she was sued for wanting "out" of a movie she didnt want any part of, and there were others... now, these people werent the best of friends with him either at the time. he also gives non-monetary help of himself, if he can. === so, when he takes on these lawsuits he's bringing about on these bootleggers/song stealers he's exhibiting his right to protect HIS music and distribute it as HE wants, not as his FANS wants. he may b very generous with helping people out, but not when it comes to taking a "free" helping of his music. his art. i'm sure his reasons are good, maybe more than some of u can understand, but it IS his. enjoy what he gives us, FORGET THE STUFF IN THE VAULT, ALREADY! he doesnt OWE us that! maybe you'll NEVER see it! realize that! sometimes some of u fams think u can tell HIM what 2 do with his kids..."do this prince, do that." "you'll make more money." "you'll climb the charts again!"... he's going forward, not backward. if he wanted all that "mick jagger" type hype, he'd have it! he knows how 2 get it... he's too smart not to. === he's doing what he wants it seems. leave it be! he's too sophisticated 4 the masses/charts/rockers. too elegant! thats why he wants his music held back unless he gives his permission. if he let ALL that talent out there like some bands/musicians do, he probobly would be MORE popular. u can all see, with his views on bootlegging, that he DOES NOT want this. u can understand him being very upset with his fans recently. the ones that should, as fans/fams be respecting him and his concerns. where's the loyalty? it's time to listen to him. do u want him to quit completely? stop the paisley jams/celebrations? stop touring? go into hiding and not put out ANY music for years? of course, he can do this anyway, if he wants and if it makes him happy, but dont let YOURSELVES be to blame!

grandebelle said:

Right on !!!

queen627 said:

Are you sure? I've never heard that before!