I always thought this, but never put it out there. If you listen to some the early B-52's songs, I can hear Dirty Mind, Vanity 6 and a cast of other songs he wrote and produced in the early 80's.
Especially Ricky Wilson's and Keith Strickland's rhythm guitar parts.
Anybody else hear this?

ummmm I dont think so

Yes,I think he was influnced by the new wave sound of the early eighties in general, i was just listening to Yaz 1982 album "Upstairs At Eric's" (great album) and i could hear some of prince's 80's sound in there.

I can hear it

Anything P heard that he dug, ESPECIALLY then, it was going to work it's way into his "sound". The B-52's were popular just like Gary Numan. Just like Devo. Both of who P "borrowed" from. Elvis Costello, same thing. But yeah, I hear what you're saying. More so on "Bite The Beat" on Vanity6 album.

He has been throwing in a riff from Rock Lobster into Anotherlover... recently. First time I remember it from was the Superbowl 'press conference'.

He does play Rock Lobster in Concert.

PopeLeo said:

Yep..."Rock Lobster" is the jam though. P has a knack for showing who he digs by covering their songs in his set. He did the same thing when he played The Cars "Let's Go".

prince and the b-52's probably have some influences in common.

I sincerely hope not

blackguitaristz said:

I'd agree with this statement. Prince was writing those songs around the time that New Wave and Synth-Pop were in full flourish. So I'm sure he was picking up on those sounds that those great New Wave artists were doing. In fact, I read that Warner Brothers (whom The B-52's and Devo were signed to in the U.S., interestingly enough) used to send Prince free records of their latest talent roster. So I'm sure he was listening to a lot of them and getting new ideas.

NWF said:

No doubt.

You can't tell me that Gary Numan's "Cars" didn't influence "Automatic". I mean its so obvious.
[Edited 4/16/08 1:18am]

Jezebel said:

That's why I mentioned Gary Numan.

Gary Numan was a HUGE influence on Prince around 1999/PR. I think Lisa opened his eyes to this. If you listen to Numan's song "I DIE YOU DIE" and compare the last part (after 3:05 or so until the end of the track) to the extended unreleased version of COMPUTER BLUE, they sound almost identical. I think that is why Prince didn't have that part of the song on the album... that, and it was a matter of time (too long of a track).

I remember Gary Numan being influenced as well and doing a cover of a Prince song too. U Got the Look (Live) was released on his album "Down in the Park", so it seems to be a mutual thing between the two of them.

Oh yes definately!...he was probably falling over himself to be like them.

Not just The B-52s...but The Cars and The Knack, as well.

Not to mention Brian Eno and David Byrne's My Life in the Bush of Ghosts. There are definitely aspects of that in the Madhouse albums.