I often wonder, especially in the early days before computers and sequencers were a heavy part of the recording process, how Prince did those long extended jams on his albums.

What I mean is - many of his songs would be a few verses, a few choruses, and then would launch into long jams... such as DMSR, 1999, Just Another Sucker, Just As Long As We're Together, Let's Work, etc.

To write a structured song with verses and bridges, etc, is relatively simple. It's all mapped out basically. Like the Kenny Rogers song "The Gambler" for an extremely simple example.

But I wonder, how did Prince "map out" those jams if he was doing it all on his own. Could he "hear" all the parts in his head before starting? Or did he literally say "I am going to make this song 8 minutes and 25 seconds."?

This sounds like a simple question, but when you are actually recording in that fashion, it is really a mystery. The reason being is that if you are recording the drum part first, for example, and at 8:14 you decide to do a fill or a stop, then you will have to remember to change with the drums at 8:14 when you are doing the bass, synth, vocals, etc...

I am probably phrasing this question to sound complicated, but I'm trying...

For another example... The song "I'm Yours" has kind of a massive build up, or crescendo, throughout the song to the ending. Somehow Prince had to known in his mind to make all the parts interlock to create this crescendo properly.

It would be one thing to record a song like this with a full band and give the other bands members cues and whatnot, but playing all the instruments yourself? Without the aide of ProTools (in 1980)? And at a studio that probably charged $50+ per hour?

That's fucking amazing.

Good point.
Are you a musician, by chance?

I've always wondered that, too. It reminds me of the part of Amadeus where Mozart is dictating the Requiem to Salieri.

"And then the first violins play..."

It's crazy and great all at the same time. That's Twins for ya.

He's a genius. but we know that right?!

Genesia said:

it's what makes him so special! it's a rare gift.
he can do ALL tht & is handsome 2 boot! big bonus!

Ok, all the MUSICIANS, PLEASE RESPOND!
What are your theories on this?

Bloody great question.

I digress.
Some of his layered vocals leave me in awe.
His version of Love Thy Will Be Done is a perfect example of this.

Great question. I'm anxious for some people like Blackguitaristz, Langebleu, and Boris to respond.

I'm curious how he recorded extended versions as well. What I always assumed he did for extended version was he picked up the tape where the original song left off and took it in a new direction--that is, that he did not record the entire long version of Kiss, say, in one sitting.

Maybe he used a similar process for those album versions that go into long jams?

I cant believe the lack of responses to one of the best observations Ive ever read on here

This is a great post bernie, I wish I had answers for you!

muirdo said:

I know. I'm glad you brought it back. I think it was just lost over the weekend, when there isn't much traffic here. Hopefully some more responses will start coming in.

muirdo said:

Seriously!
I want to hear something deep, right now.

ToraToraDreams said:

when ur in the studio alone..and ur recording..the best thing to do is record the desired part..and if u want to add more..u just playback what was already recorded and lay more over it.But who can really know how prince did it..