he has returned to almost every sound, cept this

Alamine said:

Why on Earth would he want to go back to that sound? It was something different for him at the time, and it was fairly successful (largely based on the PR tailwind). Honestly though, ATWIAD is one of my LEAST listened to Prince albums of the '80s. It has some gems, but to me it is not the "greatness" that so many people proclaim. For example, "Raspberry Beret" was never a favorite of mine. In fact, the only time I listen to it is if it comes on radio or TV. "The Ladder," which is credited to Prince and his father is one of my favorites off that album as were "Tambourine" and "Condition of the Heart." Overall, it was a nice concept album that was good for a one-time deal. However, it was not a "sound" that IMO needs to be recreated.

Now that I responded to that, I have to say something about all the threads and comments that I see on this board relating to W&L and their "input" into Prince's success, especially after listening to their long-awaited new album.

For all the deluded folks who think that somehow W&L are the architects of Prince's greatest successes - THEY WERE NOT!

After listening to their post-Revolution output and Prince's pre- and post-Revolution, I cannot believe that some people continue to give them so much credit. Although PR was credited to Prince & the Revolution, Prince completed the bulk of that album on his own. The W&L input was minimal, even Wendy alludes to this on the PR 25th anniversary DVD. She said that PRINCE was in the zone writing for that album. She did not say "we" were.

The only albums that they had any significant input on were Parade and ATWIAD. They had some input on some of the SOTT songs, but again, most of that album was Prince's work - not theirs. I heard the original versions of the songs that they worked on on Dream Factory, and I like the versions that appeared on SOTT much better because they were just funkier and rawer than the W&L versions. I always felt that Prince lost a bit of his swag during the Parade/ATWIAD era. I am so glad that he decided to not continue with the band he had with W&L or released the Dream Factory. He got it back on SOTT with the new, funkier band, and they tore the roof off with LoveSexy. I actually wished that band configuration stayed around a bit longer. However, I was not at all sad when the Revolution era ended because it was time.

W&L are great at their brand of coffee shop/dorm room pop/rock music and their TV/movie scores. However, I think they need collaborations with other artists (Prince, MeShell Ndegeocello, Erykah Badu, etc.) to bring out the best in them. They seem to do better feeding off artists who are more dynamic.

So, did they influence some of Prince's sound during the time when they were with him? Yes, of course they did just as any of the other musicians who have worked with him have influenced Prince over the years. For example, Dez Dickerson's input/influence is routinely overlooked on this site. However, I think his input was more significant and beneficial to Prince's sound than W&L. Sheila E.'s influence is neglected here as well. I hardly ever see a thread around here about Sheila's musical influence on Prince. The fact remains that all his musicians have probably influenced him in some way. I really don't get what some fans' fascination is with W&L in particular, well not besides the obvious, but I will leave that alone.

At the end of the day, W&L benefitted far more from playing/writing with Prince than he did from playing with them, as time has clearly revealed. Just my

I thought it was the PARADE album not ATWIAD which was MORE INFLUENCED by WENDY and LISA. ATWIAD was PRINCE being INFLUENCED by the BEATLES and YES, he can do that again and he has shown us this by him doing ROCK COVERS and now the new song Colonized Mind sounds DYLANESQUE. I think if PRINCE wants to do that ATWIAD sound again he can WITHOUT WENDY and LISA'S INPUT. I would like him to work with them again though. I also DON'T THINK PRINCE wants that ATWIAD sound AGAIN. It wasn't his MOST SUCCESFUL album by the way. His most SUCCESSFUL sound is his FUNk/GUITAR and his SENSUAL BALLADS/RELIGIOUS EPITHENIES.

Personally, I wouldn't want him to go back to that sound. Or the Parade sound or image for that matter.

yes

David Coleman(Lisa's borther)was the influence for ATWIAD album not Wendy and Lisa. Wendy and Lisa was more the influence on Parade.

David passed away which is why he prolly wont touch that sound out of respect for him.

I dont blame him IF this is the case.

Yeah, the Coleman/Melvoin family is all over Around The World in A Day and W&L put a lot into Parade (including writing at least the music for Mountains & Sometimes It Snows In April - those tracks are more the 80's W&L sound than Prince, imo).

Obviously, Prince doesn't need them to write great songs but his music has been less experimental, less surprising without them.

jtfolden said:

Agree 100%... I think this question is a weird idea, though. I think W&L and Prince could all never return to whatever old sound.

Rinluv said:

Me either.

JudasLChrist said:

...and now it's my turn to agree with you! You could get the whole gang back in the same studio, same instruments, etc... and I think they'd have a really hard time "returning" to anything and have it feel/sound "honest".

I think Prince's own attempts at returning to prior sounds has been a mixed bag, as well.

bellanoche said:

Preach it, I agree with you 100%. The fascination with W & L around here gets nauseating, after awhile, truth be told. People seem to think that W & L are the alpha and omega to Prince's career, and that is simply not true! They need to take their blinders off and accept the truth for what it is. My honest opinion.

Never said that.
he has returned to every sound, all i said was why not that era
can he not becasue of W@L

i just axed a question dont get so sensitive

Alamine said:

No one on this thread is getting "sensitive". You asked us a question, and we're giving our honest opinion.

In all honestly Wendy & Lisa related or not from this thread:

NO I dont want another era of Prince and the Revolution PR-Parade days. The days are over yes. And fun times it was but Im not going expect that.

If I want memories Ill put in the old albums/CD/MP3/whatever and let the music play. Clean my home, whistle while I work type stuff and I will happily drink my purple koolaid while doing so. then Ill join reality....again.. after the song is over.

Until then let it rest and die off like the years before.

I like variety in my music if I want to listen to 60's today I will and 80's music tommorrow I will. We all have different tastes in music is my point.

Just my

And theres not a damn thing wrong with that. Its not 1985 anymore.

Funny how when "Controversy pt.2" is mentioned a couple of weeks back, people are creaming themselves, but if W&L are mentioned in the same sentence as ressurecting an old sound it's blasphemy!

jtfolden said:

Yeah right. That's probably them on Tamborine or Condition of the Heart.

Reading you guys, you've got the feeling that Prince was not even there in the first place. Crap.

Obviously Wendy & Lisa didn't single-handedly create Prince's sound from that era, but the thing I miss most about Wendy, Lisa, Dez, and even Eric Leeds being around Prince is their influence on his personal desire to push himself. They were some of the most innovative and talented musicians he ever worked with; they introduced him to new sounds and new concepts and caused him to push himself in new directions. I think Dez's influence is why there were so many rockabilly/punk influenced songs around 1980-82 ("Jack U Off," "When U Were Mine," "Sister," "Horny Toad"). And Wendy & Lisa encouraged him to explore his more experimental/folksy side.

The musicians he surrounds himself with these days don't seem to bring anything new to his sound or way of thinking. They simply play what he says to play. Prince has been left to his own devices for years and I think that's why we've gotten so many tired old James Brown retreads and half-hearted attempts are recapturing the Linn-drum sounds that defined his commercial peak. Wendy, Lisa, Dez, and a few others brought a uniqueness to Prince's way of approaching songs and I think that's what a lot of fans of those artists miss.

Now cue Vainandy to gripe about W&L using some variation of the phrase "artsy-fartsy" and some recollection of how hot Prince's music was in 1982.

renfield said:

Vainandy makes up for it by being hot.

renfield said:

1) You forget he was still at the begining back then. So when everything is easier and you do not repeat yourself. You intentionnally forget Dirty Mind, Controversy, 1999, SOTT, Lovesexy and the Black Album where W&L had an influence close to 0.
2) You intentionnally do not mention all the other great musicians who have played a big part around him throughout the glory years (i.e Sheila E)
3) Yeah right TRC, The Undertaker, Gold Exp, The Truth, One Nite Alone were not daring enough I guess.
4) Yeah rigth his last four guitar tracks are tired as well I guess.
5) Will some of you understand that not everybody is fond of W&L's sound and influences ? I'm personnaly so glad he left W&L. I much prefer his sound with Michael B, John Blackwell, Sheila E, Sonny T or Renato Neto just to give a few examples.
6) Stop acting as usual like if Prince was totally under influence and W&L conducted, composed, performed and arranged everything for Parade, PR and ATWIAD cuz it's simply a lie. Where are they on When doves Cry, Tamborine or Condition of the Heart (shit I just named 3 of my favorite tracks ever and W&L did not participate to these tracks !)

probably not

sarkozyiszeman said:

Uh oh, now you did it...here comes the Wendy and Lisa made Prince and was the only reason Prince's success crew.

It seems like the actual topic is getting strayed away from a little. Prince could re-create any sound he chose to, any time he chose to. Look at the caliber of musicians he surrounds himself with and I think the topic question answers itself.

bellanoche said:

P.R.E.A.C.H.

That sound was fun and interesting for a time, (Parade) but not something I'd like to see long term. The influence watered down and emasculated his sound somewhat.

Or as VainAndy would say, it was too artsy-fartsy.

Never been a big fan of the ATWIAD sound.

wonder505 said:

Shhh, they'll hear you.

Sarkozy is right on point though.

sarkozyiszeman said:

You completely misconstrued renfield's entire post. He mentioned other associates besides W&L, pointed out that they weren't the be all and end off influential associates, AND covered pre-Revolution 80s albums you said he 'intentionally' missed.

bellanoche said:

Here it comes!
[Edited 12/28/08 14:09pm]

bellanoche said:

thank u!

I personally don't want Prince to go back to the AWIAD sound blah been there done that.

I preferred if Prince and Wendy/Lisa continue to explore their musicial journeys on their own. The only time I would like to see them together again if there is a reunion tour but this time it must includes all the 1983-86 Revolution members.

Don't put all W&L fans into one box thinking we all believe Prince wasn't nearly as good as he was when he was around. I said this for the last many years and said it again and as a W&L fan that Prince produced good music before and after his era of teamwork with the girls. But I do admitted that whenhe was working with them, they encouraged him further push his limits. And in return, Prince influence them as well with the production side, among other things.

sarkozyiszeman said:

again another thank u!!!

sarkozyiszeman said:

...and it's hilarious that no-one has noticed he has recently evoked some sounds and feels from that time, without W&L... folks even thought they were on some songs that they weren't...

Prince may have been inspired by Wendy & Lisa's musical tastes and ideas, and YES, that is a valuable contribution, but Prince under-credited himself tremendously during not only that period, but also in '88, with 'Lovesexy', and recently, with 'Planet Earth'... both cases playing nearly all instruments.

His history with that is very funny, especially with the Sheila E stuff... some of the best music. While 'Glamorous Life' was credited similar 2 a Time album, 'Romance 1600' was full band credits, and we all know who played their ass off on that album... well... Sheila did 2, of course.