A guitar-playing friend of mine (no, no, you'd like him - he's a musician) has stated once or twice that he wished Prince would stop mucking about and just play. Any suggestions as to what I should play him to blow his doubtful mind?

Rock n Roll Hall of Fame...that should quite him down for a little while.

You know,..this whole thing from people who attempt to trip off of P as a guitarist...Seriously, if your friend is a musician, triple shame on him for trying to act like he's not hip to how killin' Prince is as a guitarist. This is NOT news. Especially to other musicians... WE know that Prince can shred and burn. He's been high lighting this for his entire career. What, has your friend been living in a cave on the Planet Neptune? I'm sure even the Neptunians are quite aware of P's prowess on the axe. When folks try to play naive or cavalier about Prince as a guitarist, it's all a front. You don't have to try to win over anybody. This cat already knows P can play cuz if he didn't, he wouldn't even be talking to you about Prince in the first place. Nothing you could hold up to him that Prince has done is gonna bring him over to your side. He's not going to want to cop to it. Prince has been getting this type of shit forever. Easily since PR. I've heard where some people didn't want to believe that it was REALLY Prince up there on the screen who was playing. Like he was faking and shit. I was like "All u have to do is take your ass to one of his concerts and see it for yourself." Did they want to go? Fuck nah. Like Jack said "You can't handle the truth!" That's what I would suggest to your friend. Tell him that another musician on this site told u to tell him that all he has to do is go see Prince live in concert. Don't watch no bullshit dvd of a live concert. But to actually go in person. So he can see it and hear it and feel it in the flesh. Then talk to him afterwards.
[Edited 6/11/09 23:53pm]

the Leno performance of Guitar from the Lotusflower site - RanR Hall of Fame is overhyped IMHO - the Leno performance has nice legatos, open string notes and tremolo tricks - he makes it look effortless.

A guitar-playing friend of mine (no, no, you'd like him - he's a musician) has stated once or twice that he wished Prince would stop mucking about and just play. Any suggestions as to what I should play him to blow his doubtful mind?

You know,..this whole thing from people who attempt to trip off of P as a guitarist...Seriously, if your friend is a musician, triple shame on him for trying to act like he's not hip to how killin' Prince is as a guitarist. This is NOT news. Especially to other musicians... WE know that Prince can shred and burn. He's been high lighting this for his entire career. What, has your friend been living in a cave on the Planet Neptune? I'm sure even the Neptunians are quite aware of P's prowess on the axe. When folks try to play naive or cavalier about Prince as a guitarist, it's all a front. You don't have to try to win over anybody. This cat already knows P can play cuz if he didn't, he wouldn't even be talking to you about Prince in the first place. Nothing you could hold up to him that Prince has done is gonna bring him over to your side. He's not going to want to cop to it. Prince has been getting this type of shit forever. Easily since PR. I've heard where some people didn't want to believe that it was REALLY Prince up there on the screen who was playing. Like he was faking and shit. I was like "All u have to do is take your ass to one of his concerts and see it for yourself." Did they want to go? Fuck nah. Like Jack said "You can't handle the truth!" That's what I would suggest to your friend. Tell him that another musician on this site told u to tell him that all he has to do is go see Prince live in concert. Don't watch no bullshit dvd of a live concert. But to actually go in person. So he can see it and hear it and feel it in the flesh. Then talk to him afterwards.
[Edited 6/11/09 23:53pm]

blackguitaristz said:

well WE know it, but he so rarely exhibits it on his records, i can see why someone who isn't familiar with the nuances and minutiae of Prince's career wouldn't.

errant said:

Nah,..I strongly disagree. I think there are plenty of great examples of P's playing in the studio that showcases his skill as a guitarist. Rhythm and lead.

blackguitaristz said:

sure, but they're usually buried way down in the mix.

errant said:

U sure your eardrums aren't clogged up with ear wax? Cuz uh, going all the way back to 79 with Bambi & Why You Wanna to the lead solo fills on Lady Cab Driver as well as his rhythm on Lady Cab,.... To the middle lead on Let's Go Crazy and the solo breakdown towards the ending of Let's Go Crazy, as well as his rhythm guitar on the 12',...and all of the guitars on the track Paisley Park, just those FEW examples alone, (which are all early in P's career and which are NOT hidden gems from the average cat on the street) those leads and rhythms are VERY high up in the forefront of the mix. NOT buried at all.

blackguitaristz said:

there are some exceptions, but most of Prince's lead guitar is buried in the mix to the point where when you listen to them, you say to yourself "oh yeah, there was a solo in this song".... "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man," Joy In Repetition".... the list of hidden classic Prince guitar solos is endless.