Hey, I don't have either of these albums. Are they worth getting, does anyone have a favourite? Cheers

I love Vanity 6 so much better than Apollonia.
I know Vanity did "Sex Shooter" as a test for audio or whatever sounded much better tan Apollonia 6's.

cheesecakequeen said:

It wasn't a test audio, IIRC. It was due to be another V6 song, but when she jumped ship, it was reworked for A6.

cheesecakequeen said:

mmmmm

Smillan said:

Both have good and bad points, but V6 tends to be more popular. It fits right in with 1999, Controversy, The Time, and What Time Is It?

A6 has a few interesting and fun tracks, and a few stinkers as well. They're worth having for collection purposes too.

ernestsewell said:

Ooooh
Hell, I was lied to!

cheesecakequeen said:

I just say that because the original version w/ Vanity was more of a rock number. Not full on rock, but if you've heard it, you know it's a long the lines of LRC, opposed to the reworked pop version we know from A6.

Vanity....obivously.

Vanity is a better singer and hotter, but I'd fuck the shit out of Apples too.

I guess everyone here will say they love Vanity more than Apollonia, maybe becuz Vanity was 1st, she's seen as more original?

Nevermind I love both of them, both have some really great trax.

u need both albums. they are very era correct.highs and lows on both.loved each one though.

^ I agree about highs and lows,

these are great trax imo:

Vanity 6:
Nasty Girl
If a Girl Answers (Don't Hang Up)

Apollonia 6:
Sex Shooter
Happy Birthday Mr. Christian

the rest is so and so... just okay.
[Edited 6/18/09 15:10pm]

cheesecakequeen said:

Right on both counts.

Definitely Vanity 6.

Aside from Sex Shooter, the Apollonia 6 was made up of 'ok' to 'average'
material. If Vanity had stayed with the band, or if Apollonia had been
interested in pursuing a singing career, it would've been a very different
and much stronger album. But since Apollonia wanted to carry on with her
acting career and wasn't interested in staying with the band post Purple Rain
Prince understandably withdrew most of the stronger tracks before it was
released.

Both albums are great. Vanity 6 is a bit of an electropop classic, a lot of people really like that album outside of it's Prince connection. It's relatively influential. The Apollonia 6 LP is one of my fav's, but I'm drawn to the campy underdog side of Prince's work any way - 'Happy Birthday Mr. Christian' is one of my all time favourite P. tracks.

They're totally worth getting. After getting all of the albums in his own name(s), I think the produced and related artists albums/productions are just as important to Prince's body of work.

That goes for the Time, NPG, everyone down to Ingrid Chavez and Carmen Electra, there's something on each of those records that Prince was tinkering or expirmenting with that would shape the stuff he released himself, and they fill in the blanks between the transition from album X and album Y.

Which of these groups sang 'Makeup'? That is a great track.

^ Vanity 6 (with Susan on lead vocals)

Here's the tracklistings...

Vanity 6

1. Nasty Girl
2. Wet Dream
3. Drive Me Wild
4. He's So Dull
5. If A Girl Answers (Don't Hang Up)
6. Make-Up
7. Bite The Beat
8. 3 x 2 = 6

Apollonia 6

1. Happy Birthday Mr. Christian
2. Sex Shooter
3. Blue Limousine
4. A Million Miles (I Love You)
5. Ooo She She Wa Wa
6. Some Kind Of Lover
7. In A Spanish Villa

.

Great to see Happy Birthday Mr. Christian gets some love in this thread, (Nouveaudance).

I agree it's a great funky track.....

BorisFishpaw said:

Which sounds exactly like "Toy Box" from Sheila E.

^ Probably no coincidence, especially since some of Sheila E's first album was
originally intended for the Apollonia 6 album (though of course, Toy Box is
actually from her second album)...

Tracks originally intended for the Apollonia 6 album...

The Glamorous Life
Sex Shooter
Take Me With U
17 Days
Manic Monday
G-Spot
Oliver's House
Next Time Wipe The Lipstick Off Your Collar

.
[Edited 6/18/09 17:03pm]

thedance said:

and it was the final track added to the album, right at the last minute.

BorisFishpaw said:

I think "Blue Limousine" is fantastic too But I agree,the other tracks are 'ok' to 'average'.




I agree.The V6 version of "Sex Shooter" is excellent and "Vibrator" is totally outrageous! Add "G-Spot" to this album and you got an incredible Side One right there.It's a shame that Vanity left...the album probably would have been incredible and much stronger than the first album.

BorisFishpaw said:

5 absolute classic tracks (I mean the first 5). I'm actually glad he gave Glamorous Life to Sheila, and SO glad he kept Take Me With U and 17 Days for himself. I cant imagine them any other way.

<--rides for Blue Limousine

BorisFishpaw said:

Holy Crap. This would have been such a strong album. Would have put Vanity on the map forever. I'm making an I tunes tracklist right now. Does a version of 17 Days exist with Vanity/Apples singing?

I would have a hard time choosing between the two. They're both totally of the moment, it seems to me, yet they hold up really well. Vanity 6 is such a 1982 album, a nice mix of New Wave with what Prince sounded like at the time. I love how V6 fit in with and at the same time could be juxtaposed against the other popular girl groups of that time.

Apollonia 6 is really an overlooked gem of the Minneapolis Sound, for me anyway. Aside from the whole first side, Some Kind of Lover and A Million Miles are wonderful examples of Prince's 84/85 sound (I really wish those two songs had been given to Sheila for The Glamorous Life; I would gladly trade Next Time Wipe the Lipstick Off Your Collar for them). Finally, In a Spanish Villa is slight, but I love it. It's a very nice close to the album.

Wildboy said:

Unfortunately not, though it was Brenda who sang lead vocals on their
version of 17 Days (just like the song which replaced it; Blue Limousine).
In fact you can still hear her vocals in the background on Prince's version.

^

Thanks Boris