What song (s) would you say is Prince's best in terms of how he played the intruments on it is?

My favorite songs of his in this context are:

1. "Just as long as we're together" -The instrumentation on this song is just supurb! The level of musicianship is awsome.

2. "Do it all night"! - Probably one of the funkyest baselines he's done and very well played.

3. "Bambi" - This is the rawest performance of his entire career, everything from the tempo to drums to the screeching guitar solo's are just amazing.

4. "Savoir"- Just a downright elaborate carnival of sounds.

5. "HornyToad"- Amazing everthing.

6. "She's always in my hair"- I love the way he played every instrument on this song.

per the thread title, i'd say most anything 1985-1988, 1994-1995, 2001, etc.
as for the question in your post, i'd have to pick mainly his live performances
most of 'em, from early days onward

I also loved She is Always in my Hair.

The best was Shhh.

That whole ensemble was HOT! REnato, Michael, Prince.... it was like a muscial orgasm.

sorry, so graphic but that is what it sounds/feel to me.

lets go crazy, guitar!

The guitar is an instrument that can wail, sing and cry and scream it is pouring out emotions from the one playing it. Prince has all those wonderful emotions to share with the world and comes through in his playing. guitar is my absolute favorite, and second is the colorful piano.

xtrafab said:

You know what. You're right. I didn't think about that.

Shh and Venus Di Milo

without lyrics these songs are the shit!

alexa de paris

So many! especially during the eighties. I like to think in terms of arrangements here, not necesarilly single instrumental parts.

From the top of my head, a top 10:

1. Automatic:
A dry, cold beat, those 'interlocking' synth riffs, the stattaco melodylines, together they create an almost hypnotic 'dancefloor experience'.

2. Around the world in a day (title track):
The Minneapolis sound mixed with exotic world music instruments. Sounds weird on paper, sounds great on record. That typical MPLS-bridge (Papa, i think i wanna dance!) is especially awesome.

3. The screams of Passion (The Family):
Mixing the minneapolis sound with baroque orchestrations this time. The way how Prince psychedelic synthsounds combine with Clare Fishers meandering strings is brilliant.

4. New Position:
Maybe even better then Kiss. Funk stripped down to the bone, distorted backing vocals and those caribean steel drums just 'Work'' !

5. Mountains (10 minute version)
Almost an eighties-take on Sly Stones 'I wanna take you higher', but even better arranged. Some of the best 'musical climaxing' on a Prince track.

6. If i was you girlfriend:
Maybe the penultimate Prince-song, in terms of lyrics, production style and arrangement. Those eery synths, distorted background vocals and something that sounds like a meandering accordeon, combined with the uptight vocal delivery makes for a classic: Lets try to imagine what silence looks like...

7. Mia Bocca (Jill Jones)
Still my favourite arrangement for any (popular) piece of music ever. Sober and elaborate at the same time, such a great combi of hard, dry syncopated beats and a meandering orchestra. The built up is yummy also.

8 (Madhouse)
Alltough it has some 'easy listening' elements (the flute, the harp, the slowness of the music), the strange 'ooh-ooh' loop in the background, gives it a weird edge, and the way how the arrangement builts up, resulting in those trumpetriffs and Eric Leeds soloing is magnificent.

9. Lovesexy (the title track)
Almost to busy for its own good, but when youre in the mood for it, the arrangement of this song is a total mindblow! There is so much to be found in this song: a dry, understated beat, the synthbass, dissonant hornriffs, gospellike chanting, those typical interlocking synth riffs, hard-rock guitar riffing, crazy soundeffects, synthstrings near the end. Like some richt, energetic 'audio-orgasm'.

10. Dolphin
Alltough the melodylines could be a bit stronger, when it comes to the playing together by the NPG it is one of the finest efforts from that band.
Especially the rhythem section is terric: Michael B's sober but soulfull drumming combined with the souplesse of Sonny Thompson on the bass.
The bridge shows that Prince really has grown as a guitarist: you dont always have to show off and go for the biggest, longest solo to create a great guitar solo.
Finally i totally dig those more raw, edgy background vocals Prince throws in the mix during the last two chorusses.
[Edited 9/12/08 10:09am]

Diamonds And Pearls (the breakdown still catches me out)
Thieves In The Temple (arabic influences)
most of the Madhouse tracks (who else would think of "baby doll house" as a loop
3121 (dissonant yet catchy and futuristic at the same time)
Glam Slam ( the classical outro juxtaposed with the poppyness of the song sums up princes creativity

There are several but I'll just list a few:

God Instrumental (Love Theme From Purple Rain)
Lady Cab Driver
Another Lonely Christmas
Do Me, Baby
Adore

The Time:
Girl
Oh Baby

Sheila E:
The Glamourous Life

computer blue... the long ones. Any of 'em.

Too many to name.

Mine!

xtrafab said:

whatever he wants...

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[Edited 2/8/09 9:10am]

That's such a good question!

With Prince, he almost never disappoints when it comes to the musicality of his work. Along with the lyrics, its one of the biggest things I pay attention to.

Some of my personal favorites include:

Shh
- amazing from start to finish!! The drumming is incredible and his use of the guitar captures his every emotion. So powerful

The One
- to me, defines the serenity of Prince's musical soul. The peacefulness of his soul. Takes my breath away

Alexa de Paris
- an incredible jam session that's like a rollercoaster ride you don't want to get off. When the guitar takes off, Prince does his thing extremely well, might I add

The Word
- takes you into Prince's world, the playground that is his recording studio. You can picture him adding every instrument and... well, I say this song practically wrote itself

I agree with the statements about Automatic, A Million Days (LOVE the acceleration of that guitar. Makes that song come alive!), and The Most Beautiful Girl in the world (I prefer the album version for many reasons, but the biggest is the wonderfully beautiful ending where it all winds down).

Isn't Prince a wonderful musician?
He really knows his stuff