During the Christmas holidays I listen to this song each day.
Just wondering is that Prince or Sheila E. on drums?

Taurus said:

Well it's a B side to I Would Die 4 U so i'll go with Bobby Z.

Most likely it's Prince. The song dates to 1984 I believe. Sheila didn't necessarily start sitting in on drums for stuff until a couple of years later, or so. It sounds more like a one-man band recording, than the Revolution. I don't have my DMSR book near to try and look it up though.

^ A couple of years later? I believe Sheila E is on drums on the Pop Life Remix from 1985...?

I don't know the answer to the original question. But I guess it's Prince or Bobby Z on drums, not Sheila.

On page 264 it states that Another Lonely Christmas was recorded at Sunset Sound during 27 Dec 1983-25 April 1984 sessions, but I don't see anything mentioned about who played the drums. I would think Ernest and thedance would be on target.

oh I could look it up also but I am being lazy this evening!

Banana daquiri is my answer.

Elle85n09 said:

See, the more I think about it....it's a toss up. However, with him being at Sunset, opposed to in MPLS, it could very well be just him playing it all. There is a "live" sound to it (like most of the stuff on Purple Rain), but it's so rare for all the band to be in Mpls, that it probably is Prince. However, I don't believe it's Sheila E.

Elle85n09 said:

Is that at the end, where it just lists all the songs and recording sessions? I sometimes go back and check in the actual text of the book because it might tell "And Sheila E was in the studio. She and Prince cut Xxxxxx song at Sunset Sound." or something like that. I'm still going with it being a one-man band thing, so therefore....Prince is on drums.

thedance said:

I meant more frequently. She was on stuff more when Parade rolled around, so just under 2 years later, perhaps. But yeah, she worked on "Pop Life" for sure. I tended to favor Wendy and Lisa's remix of that song, opposed to Sheila's.

ernestsewell said:

Yep..I've been going through the text during that time period and don't see anything specific so you're probably right.

Prince should play it at his next show.

Elle85n09 said:

Dang it I wish I could find my book. It's in a Rubbermaid container somewhere. I had actually photocopied that last part with the recording sessions, dates etc, and put them in a 3-ring binder, just for quick reference.

Folks have talked about putting all of the studio outtakes, etc in recorded order. I wanna do that too, I just need to find my book or 3-ring.

I'm not disagreeing with you, but he spent an entire session teaching the song to the band. Doesn't that point to a possibility that he didn't end up recording it by himself?

smokeverbs said:

If he's teaching it in a rehearsal, it would dictate that he did, in fact, record it himself, and are showing them the ways of the song at that point.

It's Prince on drums.

The Sunset Sound sessions 27 December 1983 - April 1984 were solo sessions
(the band weren't present). Wendy and Lisa were the only band members to
drop in for some of the recordings, plus other members of the Melvoin and
Colman families and also Jill Jones (in fact is was during these sessions
that Prince and Susannah started dating).

I think people forget that even at the height of the Revolution's time,
Prince would still record over 80% of the songs himself. Full Band recordings
were the exception rather than the rule.

BorisFishpaw said:

Thanks! Impressive drum work on his part.....

Taurus said:

It's really good. It reminds me of the drum break down in "God (Instrumental)". Kind of makes them brothers-in-song.

I totally agree with you on the "Another Lonely Christmas", "God (instum)" comparison. I think what could've made the Purple Rain tour an even better tour is if Prince would've showcased his "one man" band skills on that tour like getting on the drums and bass and showing his skills like he does on more recent tours. That would have been awesome, especially during that time period.
Aaron6ix

BorisFishpaw said:

Thank you Boris! My eyes were getting tired searching the text of my book.