The afore mentioned track came on through my WMP this morning.
I hadn't heard it for ages so it was fantastic listening to it again.
But directly after that Crimson and Clover came on,another song with an absolute fantstic guitar solo,and it struck me that these two guitar solos are very similiar.
Infact after a few more listens I have decided that they are almost identical and that Prince has done so on purpose.



Or maybe my man flu has affected my hearing and I'm the only person that hears it

Is it the version of "Just my imagination" from the Small Club 1988 boot you are referring to?

muirdo said:

You'll know you're better when you can hear the difference.

EmancipationLover said:

yes.

Nope can't hear it.

muirdo said:

not at all...

the solos are similar in that there's a lot of wailing that peaks into a mind bending climax. i prefer crimson and clover

That first bend and some licks are similar, but the rest is not.

101 said:

which part?

Prince mixing some glorious past live-moments into new music definitely is worth a day-dream, but in this case there is no way he did it intentionally. Those solos sound nothing alike, except that he also plays around with the third of the first harmony to slide down to the fifth of the second, but, to be fair, that is something every natural guitar player would do jamming with a song with those harmonies.

Dave1992 said:

and there it is, i like your confident reply dave1992

Dave1992 said:

PurpleJane said:

I could have also said something like "Just your imagination", but usually I'm not that harsh.

Dave1992 said:

Cool.
It'd be great if we could get a guitar player to confirm this.
Anyone?

Dave1992 said:

cant be having harshness on the princeorg!

muirdo said:

zaza said:

Dave1992 said:

There's four of us now, is that enough?

Dave1992 said:

I'm not sure

Absolutely agree.. I made a thread about it a while back.

http://prince.org/msg/7/295793

3121 said:

im not alone
and your thread poses the question so eloquently.

[Edited 1/8/10 2:51am]

sounds nice

muirdo said:

This man flu is approaching pandemic

langebleu said:

muirdo said:

Yes, I play the guitar, the bass and also the piano. I think to say that the compositions, let alone the guitar solo's sounds "nothing alike" is a bold statement. It's one i also disagree with, though. As i mentioned in my earlier thread, both of the compositions share numerous similarities on many levels. I respect the opinions of those who dont hear it.. but that doesn't mean the comparisons do not exist. I hear it.. muirdo hears it.. so it must exist.. if only to us.
[Edited 1/8/10 5:29am]

3121 said:

Of course we hear it, but I suppose you also know something about harmonics and composition when you play those instruments and that is why the comparison is completely irrelevant in this case. No professional guitarist would ever say that it was interntional to play those three notes in a similar way and then to take it further to the dominant the same cadenza over and over again (especially in Just My Imagination).


To make it short, there are hundreds of songs that use the same three notes in a certain cadenza or have a similar "sound" to it, because of measure-accents, arrangements etc., but it would be irrelevant to do so, because we only have 12 notes in our staves and because it is completely natural for a musician like Prince, who has played thousands of spontanious solos in his life, to produce something that resembles a past work. However, as I already pointed out, if you want to capture a certain emotion and want to solo to a climax, what Prince did is kind of the best and standard way to do it (in both Just My Imagination and Crimson And Clover), without belittling his brilliance, though!

muirdo said:

outstanding guitar solo and yes, it's similar to just my imagination.

It's always fun and nice to talk about similarities in melody, tone, sound, delivery, ... But be careful with calling something a "remake" or a deliberate nod to something. Music (especially pop music) is full of similarities, but with experience you'll have an ear for which are relevant and which aren't, because they just happen.

Don't stone me to death, because I come across as pseudo-wise or offensive, just trust me.

Dave1992 said:

There are certain points in here that couldnt really follow. dave. Im not sure if its perhaps a language/translation problem we are experiencing. For instance, here, in musical terms, a 'stave' denotes what music notation is written on. It doesnt determine a key or the amount of tones contained within it. In that regard, a stave could contain as many or as few notes as the music requires. I am aware that different countries use and share different terminology for music transcript. I do not mention this to be petty but i think it may perhaps illuminate where the difference in our understanding lies. also, it could be that i mis-interpret a point that you make simply through our respective languages.

To look at the music in such a technical way is perhaps what seperates what we are experiencing. Im am not looking at the composition as harmonic intervals between notes. To me that exercise is just mathmatics and total strips music of what its essential value.

I am able to do that as i can sight read music to grade 8 level. however, that isnt what excites or draws me to music and it certainly isnt how i draw comparison or appreciate music. I prefer to consider music by how it makes me feel upon hearing it. the rest is irrelevant to me. In that sense, the two compositions discussed in the thread share so much to my mind. Its more than the solo.. im not listening for a carbon copy or a repeated cadenza.. a note for note transcript or harmonic comparisons. They exist, i am sure. No, for me, Its tension and relief within the music. the control. the euphoria, the depression - the feeling. The two songs could be brothers. they share so, so much.

I fully appreciate all that you say. you clearly understand music theory. Trying to convince me that what i hear isnt there would be a pointless exercise. as i imagine it would be with you. Its all part of the subjective beauty of the individuals musical experience. I have very much enjoyed reading yours and others remarks and interpretations of the music as it is for you.
[Edited 1/8/10 6:22am]