Okay so Sheila E's video for the Saints had a cool Linn drum machine beat behind it that got me thinking about all of Prince's songs that also used it. What are your favorite Linn Drum machine songs?

Some of mine:

When Doves Cry (probably defined the Linn drum machine sound like no other song.)
Something In the Water (Does Not Compute)
The Beautiful Ones

She´s Always In My Hair
When Doves Cry
If I Was Your Girlfriend
Something In the Water
Sex Sooter (the beat, not the lyrics)
Ballad of Dorothy Parker (but was that even a Linn beat?)

KoolEaze said:

I think it was. Probably one of the last times he used it from that period because I thought of that song too as a Linn classic.

Something in the water
Annie Christian
777 9311

...

In no particular order:

When Doves Cry
777-9311
Sign O The Times
Erotic City
Pop Life
Darling Nikki
She's Always In My Hair 12"
Kiss
I Wish U Heaven
The Cross
Delirious
DMSR
Lady Cab Driver
Controversy
It
Annie Christian
Let's Pretend We're Married
Dirty Mind
Little Red Corvette
Paisley Park

squirrelgrease said:

I'd say that pretty much covers it - with the addition of Automatic, which one of my personal faves.

Anything that he used it on.

What about the live version of "Strange Relationship"at 1st ave in March '87.
When that totally kick-ass machine starts that song the beat is in a class of its fucking own!!!
Even now when I still hear it it makes me think "WOW!!!"

Computer Blue, Let's Work, Head

squirrelgrease said:

I'm fairly sure that Darling Nikki, The Cross, Controversy and Dirty Mind are not from the Linn Drum and are from a real kit. In fact, if you listen carefully you can actually hear that the drum track to Dirty Mind is out of time at various points.

Mine is, "What do you want me to do".

shorttrini said:

That´s a good song (albeit with not so strong lyrics) but don´t you think that he´s trying too hard to recreate that Doroty Parker vibe there?

Forever in my life

Feel U Up.
That's the song that made me want to buy a Linndrum. I've got a midified LM-2. I would love to get my hands on a LM-1 some day.
[Edited 1/28/10 10:13am]

KoolEaze said:

I think Prince actually sampled Dorothy Parker for that tune. What Do U Want Me 2 Do is my favorite cut from that album.

Computer Blue
the Beautiful Ones
All the Critics Love U in NY
Lady Cab Driver
Chili Sauce
the Belle of St Mark
America
the Ballad of Dorothy Parker
Space

Movie Star
Heaven
Traffic Jam

Here

KoolEaze said:

I don't know about that. I do know that it is one of the few songs, where you see such a vunerable side.

AngelsCry said:

Let's Work and Head are from a real kit, not the Linn.

AngelsCry said:

He didn't have a Linn when he wrote "Head". So it was either a live kit (which is probably the truth), or another drum machine.

"Let's Work" was recorded before "Private Joy". What does that mean? "Private Joy" was the first time Prince used the Linn drum machine on any song. "Let's Work" (not "Let's Rock, which was recorded earlier) was recorded in early August 1981. "Private Joy" was recorded August 16th, putting any song before that void of the Linn.

So only "Computer Blue" sticks in your response.

Im suprised nobody mentioned Black Sweat. That loud Linn is HAWT and reaks of sweat and thumping funk. That beat is one of his best. The hi hat stretched as if it's pulling the listener in and back out with a loud snare with no kickdrum backdrop.

i dont think anyone has mentioned lets go crazy

rimshot attack.


when it comes to favorites i have trouble narrowing it down because even on songs i dont like i still love the sound of a linn machine.

OldFriends4Sale said:

hell yeah!

Bree8016 said:

I need to add
Delirious
I Don't Want 2 Leave U (the Time)
1999

Turn It Up

What songs from Sheila E's albums have the Linn usage?

^kookoo is a good one

ernestsewell said:

the traffic jam (full song some fucking day )and sign o the times beats stick out especially though