I did just that. I freed Tony M. from having to enter my ear canal on some songs. I've long though of conducting my own little experiment with editing a few Prince tunes down. Yes, I know. It's not my job, but whatever.

I took a handful of songs and edited a few things here and there to make them flow a bit better.

"Temptation" - I put a quick fade on the end after the main song ends. You can actually hear Prince's guitar ending (something I never really noticed), and where he immediately added that stupid tag ending. After his last "...my body.." I put a fade over the next 2 or 3 measures. Works great. Song clocks at 5:02. I'll put the new times on the songs I list hereon.

Then I headed over to the Diamonds & Pearls album, and worked over a few songs there.

I edited Tony M. out of "Daddy Pop" (4:29), "Willing & Able" (4:33), "Push" (4:58), and "Live 4 Love" (6:22). A couple of the edits were tricky, but overall they were pretty easy to do. "Live 4 Love" was the tricky one, and "Willing & Able" took some coddling to get it right. "Push" is full of rap, but just to get rid of Tony's rap and go straight to Prince's felt better.

I then worked on a few songs from .

I reworked "My Name Is Prince" (5:16), and totally removed Tony's rap. Wasn't too hard, and it ends much sooner. I never liked that song because it was just too damn long, and not nearly interesting enough to be THAT long. Good song, but better w/o Tony.

"Sexy M.F." (4:40) got rid of Tony as well. Wasn't much on that one, but it's highly superior. The music swells and isn't interrupted w/ his nonsense. I think I also cut out some of the "sexy MF, shakin' that ass" chant. It goes from Levi's solo, right into another horn break, then the big ending, totally skipping Tony.

"Love 2 The 9's" (4:54) This one was tricky as well. I cut out Tony's interview of the female totally. It goes from Prince saying "hit it", to a horn part, then "would you hug me on a crowded street". The flow is SO SO SO much better on this one. LOVE IT.

"The Continental" (3:09) I just can't stand that weird ass ending on it. A measure before it switches to that ending, I worked in him saying "CONTINENTAL" from the beginning of the song (as to create a more solid ending). It ends with a snare hit and drops right into "Damn U" when played in order. It's much snappier at just over 3 minutes.

"The Flow" (1:54) Much shorter w/o Tony's nonsense in there, but it works. I always loved the song, but his machine gun rapping was just insane to me. It was muddled. You still hear Prince say, "Tony, kick that piece of shit", but the music just continues on. It's almost like an awesome extended instrumental ending after Prince's verse continuing with the "rock to the F L O W" chant throughout of course.

Ultimately I like these edits. We all hate Tony M., I think. I took the time to take his dumb ass out of the songs, and frankly the albums are a lot better for it. I couldn't take him out of things like "Gett Off" or his little parts earlier on in "Live 4 Love", etc. But his "moments" are totally deleted. As I went back and listened to some of the songs in order of the album, and let other unedited songs segue in and out, I was happier hearing them. D&P has some weak points obviously (like "Jughead" which is deleted 100% from my playlist), but the lack of Tony makes it a better album for me. I've always been a huge fan of , and even moreso now.

Wouldn't Diamonds & Pearls end up being a 30 minute album with Tony out of the picture?

Imago said:

Hahaha you'd think. I already cut out "Jughead", but he's really just on those songs in full force. He has little snips here and there, like "Push up on it", or "More fuck for your buck, you can bet on that". Those are more essential to the song. and you can't take those out. But goodness, it's nice to have that other shiz gone.

I dont know what to say.

Nvncible1 said:

Tony M. fan, are ya?

Prince is gonna get you for taking his dick out of those songs.

vainandy said:

hahahaha He's already come after me once, I'm ready for round 2.



[Edited 12/30/09 21:33pm]

YOU DONT EVEN KNOW!!! when I listen To Gangster Glam I just listen to the opening and soon as I hear Tony's voice I feel as if there is no need to listen to it anymore
[Edited 1/8/10 13:09pm]

ernestsewell said:

Ernest. While your at it can you go back to the TC Ellis and just make the whole darn thing instrumental and delete all of TC's vocals. If your able to do this then I'll be able to sleep happily Paisley Park Dreams..hahahahahahaha

You go Ernest!!

Tony M. can suck my cats NUTS!
[Edited 12/30/09 21:52pm]

dolorespark said:

TC's not on a lot, except the 2nd part of "New Power Generation", and....what else? I honestly don't remember.

I forgot to mention that earlier this year I cut out Larry Graham's "DO YOU LOVE GOD?" chant on "everyday is a winding road". Love it much more now.

ernestsewell said:

No I wasn't refering to D & P, but TC's solo paisley park cd!! Wake up Ernest!! Refill your coffee.

Only song I edited was "Hot Wit U" from Rave. That chick's rap is dog****

but... tony m is the wittiest pen the twin cities has ever seen...

dolorespark said:

Oh please.....can't you see my level of interest in that given my previous response? LOL

Man, I don't know where Prince finds these MFers.

EroticDreamer said:

Eve's rap...and which one? there are 2 versions...are you serious. Let me guess you'd have rather had Carmen do it.

You've done a good thing.

You really don't like the end of "Temptation"? I enjoy it, it's just... ridiculous.

Good job by you..I did some of those edits years ago and those songs are now listenable..also took out larry on songs..hell, I even edited Larry out on "The Christ" when they performed on that awards show, it went straight to Chaka.You're going to find that edit machine a godsend and will take out many things that you don't like in his songs...

NormaRae said:

Un2 version. Keep the ho's stupid speech completely out of the song.
[Edited 12/30/09 23:19pm]

EroticDreamer said:

at first I was going to comment and then I thought about it. Have a good day

You just ruined all those songs. Tony M is the best around. I love his machine gun rap in the flow. Just gimme the beat and something to flow on and before long, I'll have them bobbin their jugheads to this funky song! How can you listen to Willing & Able without Tony's solo rap? That's just wack.

Wow Dude, you can sell that seriously i'm reaching for my wallet now ready to enjoy ignoring that awful place in princes history. I was in the scene at the time and the group i managed hung out with him so unfortunately i had to look at him from time to time.

It was awful i had to suppress my feelings as a prince fan and treat him as a significant contact-when he screwed us over on the hoop dreams soundtrack and showed my buddies that he was an asshole i was secretly happy-"whew"dont have to look at that clown anymore lol.

dreamshaman32 said:

Damn

very good idea. i'm sure i would enjoy those albums more if
they were completely without any tony m rapping. i will try
doing some editing in a few weeks.

What software are you guys using to do this?

Don't care for many rap songs from that era but I have to respectfully disagree on Sexy MF, My name is Prince, the Flow and Willing and Able, love all of those, including with the rap.

Also, I love Call the Law and Johnny. Don't shoot me.

God bless you. I'd love a copy of 2 the 9's sans Tony...That song man...
Could'a been a contender....

Imago said:

For this project, I used MixMeister.

To all: Orgnote your email if...
[Edited 12/31/09 13:17pm]