I think it's well known that when Prince was first signed to Warner Brothers,they wanted Maurice White from EWF to produce his first album. What do you think it would've sounded like if Prince said yes, and how do you think working with Maurice would've shaped Prince's sound?

I only have positive things to say about the little I know of Maurice White, and I do hope that Maurice is feeling well these days...I have seen EWF 5 times...and 3 of those times, Maurice was unable to attend because of health issues.

Tame said:

Of course, I just was wondering what would've happened if Prince worked with Maurice.

Paris9748430 said:

That's a really good question. Or maybe I think so cuz I have wondered about it too First of all, I think the album would've been more chart ready, with White bringing that full backing instrumentation to the project. The key to me is whether any new songs might have bloomed from the collabo. My guess is that White would have recognized the talent (was White up for it on his end?? hmmm) and the mutual respect might have led to some intriguing jam sessions in the studio. Maybe some earlier use of horns especially, something Prince ended up getting to anyway. Maybe the earlier chart success leads to a complacency and there's less drive fueling the 1999 and PR emergence..... nahhhhh

Well, I guess the obvious answer is that it would have sounded more like EW&F - not that would have been a bad thing, as they were a great band. As JumpUpOnThe1 said, it probably would have had a horn section and been a little more chart ready. It probably would have sold more too, with EW&F fans checking it out.

However looking back on it, I respect the fact that Prince wanted to do his own thing. And while those first albums may not be 'classics', they certainly hold their own. I think they also made him realise that in order to really be 'big', you had to different, hence Dirty Mind

He'd sound like Philip Bailey.

EWF were a disciplined organization. No drugs, alcohol, only clean living.
Letmethink...no.
Prince did quite well, without direction.
(From what I've read, the other members of EWF were resentful over the amount of control exerted over their personal lives.)

Personally I think it would be more polished, since Maurice was already producing hits w/ EWF.

But I think that Prince would not want that, so as to not be seen as EWF's "protege", even though I'm sure he admirers him.

Prince is just like that.

We would be asking what happened 2 that Phillip Bailey sound alike from the late 1970's.

xplnyrslf said:

That's why they're only known as Earth, Wind & Fire.
Air was kicked out aerly on, during their pre-successful days because of the hard-core booze & drug lifestyle that this fourth element was constantly engaging in.

Illustrator said:

You're goofy.

Illustrator said:

Oops.
That should be water, not air.
The correct answer is water.

Yep.

Water.
[Edited 1/13/08 11:38am]

Illustrator said:

Yeah...cuz I was gonna say aren't "Air" and "Wind" basically the same thing?

I've never been a big fan of EWF. Too much gloss and corniness. I agree with George Clinton, "Earth, All Wind, No Fire."

Prince's creative process demands control over his own art.

Why not a song or two? I like EWF for what they did in their day--a collaboration here wouldn't be any different thant what Prince has done with others from time to time.