It seems that for a very brief period in the 1990s Prince experimented with some synth/dance/techno type stuff, and it would have been very interesting if that path had continued along with a Trent Reznor collaboration...thoughts?

Purplewhat said:

Aside from the Trent collab, I agree. Mayte told Uptown that he was working on a techno album called New World in 95 or so. I'm guessing New World (obviously) and Human Body were from that project. It would be interesting to hear the rest of that stuff, though I suppose it might have morphed into Emancipation.

When talking about Prince using other producers, the one type of album I said I would love from Prince is a dance album. Not the "DMSR" type dancing, but the "Sleep Around" type dancing. A club beat, catchy hooks; just a fun album, sexy, saucy, maybe an anthem or two. Sometimes, the remixes of Prince's songs (when he let people like Shep remix his stuff) were just as good as the album versions. Madonna had this idea when she approached Confessions On A Dance Floor. She's often used the remix versions of her songs in concert (Like A Prayer, Express Yourself, Erotica, Fever, etc). So she thought, why not approach an album as if the songs are remixes.

I'd love Prince to do that. There's so many great dance producers/remixers out there that would be great for a project like that, and to have a Prince album that isn't a Prince production...that'd be HEAVEN.

(Same goes for using a rock producer like Mutt Lange or Rick Rubin etc to create a great rock album, through and through.)

ernestsewell said:

I agree. Are you familiar with the Junior Boys? I think they could produce an amazing album for Prince.

Again,a pox on a your Mutt Lange idea though. We do not need Prince sounding like Def Leppard or Shania!

I doubt that will ever happen. I think Prince walked by Trent once and didn't even look him in the eye. Trent, considered this rude and unprofessional, and it doesn't seem likely they'll collaborate. Plus the lyrical content in Trent's music is , if anything, radically different from Prince's.


But I think Prince could do to electro music what Madonna was touted as having done with it in "Ray of Light". In that album release, Madonna claimed she like 'techno' music but felt it too cold and unfeeling---obviously she had not heard old Orb, Moby or Connelly. Even acts that took synth pop into syrupy territory,like the Blue Nile, where doing 'emotional' electronic music.
But Prince could take this to whole new levels none of the other could dream of if he wanted.

Even early 90s tracks like "Melt With U" evoked a certain perverse, organic, vibe on top of the otherwise mechanical electronic backdrop---Prince , if anything, can make anything (but rap) sound like he was born to play it.

Imago said:

That doesn't mean Trent would try to push Prince into crucifying monkeys or something. But regardless of the lyrical content of Trent's music, I almost wonder if Prince could get away with playing something like "The Hand That Feeds" or "Only". Trent's music is pretty hard core, lots of screaming and moaning, and not in the "Do Me, Baby" sorta way. Trent might have to reel it back a bit.

TwiliteKid said:

I think I've heard the name Junior Boys. Not sure. Mutt Lange has a bigger sound that just Shania or Def Leppard. He's certainly produced a lot of different people w/ different sounds. A good producer pulls up a new sound, but also uses the artist's groove to blend with that. I think Mutt, or someone similar, could pull another great song out of Prince. He's not the only one, just one on the list.

Ah yes Loose and the Human Body - great songs. Lets not forget I wanna melt with you.

TwiliteKid said:

Hey! Mutt Lange produced AC/DC's HIGHWAY TO HELL & BACK IN BLACK. The latter being one of the most top selling rock albums to date!!

For the record, Trent Reznor always cited Prince as an early influence. I've heard stories that Down In It from Pretty Hate Machine was directly influenced by Dead On It from the Black Album. The story, as I've heard it, was that Trent wrote his lyrics over Dead On It and turned it into Down In It. Judging by the original demo, it's quite possible, especially since it was a bit slower. But this is all off topic...

If I had to suggest someone for Prince to work with it would be Jon Brion. For those unfamiliar with him, he's produced albums for Aimee Mann, Fiona Apple, Rufus Wainwright and scored movies for P.T. Anderson and a number of other filmmakers. He's quite the studio wizard and gets incredible sound out of whomever he is collaborating with, but the immediate reference I want to point out is the recent Of Montreal remix EP for which he did both mixes. The second one's name escapes me at the moment, but it's such a clear tribute to 80s style Prince 12"s. Everyone here should go hunt it down on iTunes or Amazon immediately and get blown away!

Technically speaking, I think I'm still off topic with that, but I had to get it out.

pastawrangler said:

Not sure about all that, but he did sample a Prince song on "Ringfinger".

pastawrangler said:

Jon Brion is amazing. I'd love it Prince worked with him. Do you have Jon's solo album?