I know that Prince would never let this happen, but...

If you had the opportunity to become producer for Prince on an album, what would you strive to accomplish? What ideas or sounds would you stress? What limits or suggestions would you present to him in the recording process?

Producers can have a lot or a little influence on albums. What would you do?

I would " Just do it"
Refreshing

shonenjoe said:

I would rent a warehouse in Eden Prairie, dust off some of his old gear like the LM1, read his old tour rider and provide him with a couple of bags of Doritos and other stuff, like tea , call some of his old band members and look them all up inside of that warehouse.

And I would give them my old tapedeck and some old cassettes to record on,nothing digital. But that´s just me.

i'd say

''you have a vault full of material-have a break and lets work on my stuff''

as security throw me over the paisley fence

I would lock him up in a basement with a 4 track, a synth, drums, bass and guitar and a copy of the Headphone Masterpiece.

I'd take him out of his element.
I'd start by hooking him up with a group of musicians half his age, that are influenced by a variety of styles.
I'd have him jam with them and record every note.
Then when they found their groove and their sound I'd book them in a non-state-of-the-art studio, something with a lot of analog equipment and record them to tape... not digital.
I'd get enough in the can for at least two full-length albums, then narrow it down to just one disc of the best of the material.
I think that would make for and interesting CD...

I want an album from Prince that is personal and authentic in emotion... about his happy, sad, and dark times and not his ego

I would tell him to use four letter words.

I'd force him to work with other major producers and songwriters (other than himself) to capture a completely different sound from him. I would call it Prince - Raw. I would also promote the set "like you've never heard him before" and do a documentary on the entire process and promote it all on the web.

I'd ask P to leave me alone for a month.

ARock said:

I agree with this especially.

And I like the idea of analog equipment as well.

There was another thread a while ago about who could produce a Prince album.
After much back and forth, it seemed that for better or worse, that only Prince could produce Prince, that a Prince album has to be produced by Prince.

Its too late for anyone else to come in and rearrange the kitchen and fridge and help Prince cook. Its up to Prince to quit serving baloney sandwiches or reheating 80's leftovers and start cooking something a little more challenging and tasty.
[Edited 7/29/09 14:18pm]

KoolEaze said:

I'm with U 100%
has forgotten the hunger

I'd have him get over his Family name issue and just go hang out in St Paul with St Paul Eric Jellybean Susannah and just jam
play behind them on guitar at some impromptu shows

I use the Family because the music they are playing now, shows respect to the sound Prince created yet it's still fresh

I really believe it was the 1999-Dream Factory sound that truly is a unique sound. And a sound created by Prince with accompanying friends and musicians in a city with a unique music scene. That sound to me just doesn't get old.

But I'd get him with Dez Brownmark Eric Eddie M Wendy Dr Fink & Renato, Lisa, Sheila, Cat(she's the only dancer that really reflected Prince music rhythmically) Do so shows in St Paul and Minneapolis opening for the Time, get the band and back Sheila E on songs from her 1st 3 albums, I think it would all kick start the appreciation for his own sound, I don't think he does.

Prince doesn't need a Producer. He does fine by himself. Lotusflow3r is brilliant. "A Large Room With No Lights" is superb. Perhaps the only living person skilled enough to produce Prince would be Quincy.
[Edited 7/29/09 18:09pm]

NONSENSE said:[quote]Prince doesn't need a Producer. He does fine by himself. Lotusflow3r is brilliant. "A Large Room With No Lights" is superb. Prince being the master of the remix, I'd like to see what he could do with other vault song or past hits jazz style, instrumental, or accoustic.

I don't know so much about finding a producer but I'd love to see him work with artist that he respects and actually listens to himself. I'd like to hear him with Lenny Kravitz, ?uestlove, D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, Common, Alicia Keys, Outkast. not just live jams of already released material but new compostions with influence from both sides. it could produce fantastic new music. An example of that for me was "Waiting Room".

NONSENSE said:[quote]

NONSENSE said:

I agree he doesn't need a producer but master of the remix he isn't

I think some of the most magical songs were studio jams and creations

most of the vault remade songs were 7 notches beneath the original

Old Friends 4 Sale
Tick Tick Bang
for example

HonestMan13 said:

YES! Waiting Room is criminally overlooked. A Song Of The Heart is too.

More Cowbells less Sax

OldFriends4Sale said:[quote]

NONSENSE said:

There are songs that benefitted greatly from remixing, especially in the 1994-95 era. Space and especially I Hate U come to mind.
However, I agree with you when it comes to studio jams and rehearsals. Some of those are pure magic. And I like how he reinterprets and rearranges some songs,like Something In The Water in its many various incarnations. Then again, he is also the master of royally destroying an already great song.

I'd hire Jamie Starr, sit back and watch.

I will ask him to change his drum machines and programming... Sometimes it really feels he relies too much on his "minneapolis sound"... I know it is his "own style", but sometimes it gets really repetitive.... And oh, yeah, nevah evah evah evah rap again
...
Oh maybe ask him to lend me Brian Velente for one night... He, I'l the producer I gotta get some benefits

emesem said:

I think the Headphone Masterpiece maybe my favorite album from this decade.

Good Call.

I also agree with going back to analog. Either that are use both analog and digital. Protools is one hell of a program!! I'd just bring in some members of the band and have them jam. Play the jam back and listen for anything good and make some songs that way. Sit him down and talk about a bunch of stuff and hope that song ideas/lyrics come from the convo. I'd really would love to mix his next album, how sick would that be!!

If I could Produce Prince's album, I'd Produce something for myself first (hint- hint)

shonenjoe said:

id have some snoop dogg stuff on there w00ts!