Just listening to 1999 again... Which reminded me when I first heard "Little Red Corvette" back in the 80s, it instantly reminded me of "Mustang Sally" by Wilson Pickett, although there is no similarity in sound... But I can't help but think that "Mustang Sally" had to influence P for "Little Red Corvette." What songs do you think directly or indirectly inspired Prince's songs--musically and/or lyrically? (The obvious is James Brown...) But what songs in particular strike you as some type of influence especially on classic Prince songs? (Added disclaimer: I am not a professional musican or music critic so do not hound me accordingly... )

poetcorner61 said:

Just listening to 1999 again... Which reminded me when I first heard "Little Red Corvette" back in the 80s, it instantly reminded me of "Mustang Sally" by Wilson Pickett, although there is no similarity in sound... But I can't help but think that "Mustang Sally" had to influence P for "Little Red Corvette." What songs do you think directly or indirectly inspired Prince's songs--musically and/or lyrically? (The obvious is James Brown...) But what songs in particular strike you as some type of influence especially on classic Prince songs? (Added disclaimer: I am not a professional musican or music critic so do not hound me accordingly... )

Let's Pretend We're Married inspired Compassion! Ok, so you meant other people...here are a few:

Miriam Makeba's Quit It sounds so similar to Colonized Mind, that I say it walks the fine line of inspired....or almost a remake.

T Rex's Bang A Gong obviously inspired Cream, as it too walks the fine line of being a remake

3 Chains of Bohemian Rhapsody...uh...I mean 3 Chains O Gold...is well...It was kinda like Prince seeing that the Queen song had a second life as a hit, and he says.."I can do that too!" Not really a bad song, but not overly original.

James Brown is the obvious influence on Some great: Housequake

Some OK: Get on the Boat, Prettyman, Turn Me Loose, Feel Better, Feel Wonderful, Eat Pizza.

Some not so great: We Gets Up

Prince took the same Guitar part from U2's I Will Follow, for "Guitar," but the songs are different. It may be U2's classic first single, but I probably like Ol' Purple Guy's version better.

Prince obviously took elements of Hendrix (Voodoo Chile?) to record "Dreamer." Yeah, the opening guitar part is an exact match, but the rest of the song is more Witness 4 The Prosecution. I am saddend that my Hendrix knowledge is lacking to the point of where I am guessing that it is the part from VC.

With so many songs, Prince repeats himself, and maybe on purpose, or by accident copies others. Hell, I wrote a song in 1991 that had this nice little guitar part. Sting releases "Fields of Gold," and the Guitar parts are nearly Identical. Sting is Sting, and I admit his song is billions of times better than my song, but it is not like he took it from me. I am a nobody in the business, and it is not that complicated a part. If we could have a super computer look at 4 million songs, and look for similarities...there would be tons of matches...Since the Caveman took that old coke bottle and banged it against another one, there has been music. Ok, so cavemen likely did not have coke.

Lyrics to Little Red Corvette (won't post the video for obvious reasons):

I guess I should've known by the way U parked your car sideways
That it wouldn't last
See, U're the kinda person that believes in makin' out once
Love 'em and leave 'em fast
I guess I must be dumb cuz U had a pocket full of horses
Trojan and some of them used
But it was Saturday night, I guess that makes it all right
And U say - "What have I got 2 lose?"

And honey, I say Little Red Corvette
Baby, U're much 2 fast (Oh)
Little Red Corvette
U need a love that's gonna last

I guess I should've closed my eyes when U drove me 2 the place
Where your horses run free
Cuz I felt a little ill when I saw all the pictures
Of the jockeys that were there before me
Believe it or not, I started 2 worry
I wondered if I had enough class
But it was Saturday night, I guess that makes it all right
And U say - "Baby, have U got enough gas?"
Oh yeah!

Little Red Corvette
Baby, U're much 2 fast (Yes U are)
Little Red Corvette
U need 2 find a love that's gonna last (Oh, oh)

A body like yours oughta be in jail
Cuz it's on the verge of bein' obscene
Move over, baby, gimme the keys
I'm gonna try 2 tame your little red love machine

Little Red Corvette
Baby, U're much 2 fast
Little Red Corvette
Need 2 find a love that's gonna last, hey hey

Little Red Corvette
Honey, U got 2 slow down (Got 2 slow down)
Little Red Corvette
Cuz if U don't, U're gonna run your little red corvette right in the ground
(Little Red Corvette)
Right down 2 the ground (Honey, U got 2 slow down)
U, U, U got 2 slow down
(Little Red Corvette)
U're movin' much 2 fast, 2 fast
Need 2 find a love that's gonna last!

Girl, U got an ass like I never seen, ow!
And the ride...
I say the ride is so smooth, U must be a limousine

Ow!
Baby, U're much 2 fast
Little Red Corvette
U need a love, U need a love that's, uh, that's gonna last
(Little Red Corvette)
Babe, U got 2 slow down (U got 2 slow down)
Little Red Corvette
Cuz if U don't, cuz if U don't
U're gonna run your body right into the ground (Right into the ground)
Right into the ground (Right into the ground)
Right into the ground (Right into the ground)

Little red corvette...

Mustang Sally by Wilson Pickett:

stillwaiting said:

poetcorner61 said:

Just listening to 1999 again... Which reminded me when I first heard "Little Red Corvette" back in the 80s, it instantly reminded me of "Mustang Sally" by Wilson Pickett, although there is no similarity in sound... But I can't help but think that "Mustang Sally" had to influence P for "Little Red Corvette." What songs do you think directly or indirectly inspired Prince's songs--musically and/or lyrically? (The obvious is James Brown...) But what songs in particular strike you as some type of influence especially on classic Prince songs? (Added disclaimer: I am not a professional musican or music critic so do not hound me accordingly... )

Let's Pretend We're Married inspired Compassion! Ok, so you meant other people...here are a few:

Miriam Makeba's Quit It sounds so similar to Colonized Mind, that I say it walks the fine line of inspired....or almost a remake.

T Rex's Bang A Gong obviously inspired Cream, as it too walks the fine line of being a remake

3 Chains of Bohemian Rhapsody...uh...I mean 3 Chains O Gold...is well...It was kinda like Prince seeing that the Queen song had a second life as a hit, and he says.."I can do that too!" Not really a bad song, but not overly original.

James Brown is the obvious influence on Some great: Housequake

Some OK: Get on the Boat, Prettyman, Turn Me Loose, Feel Better, Feel Wonderful, Eat Pizza.

Some not so great: We Gets Up

Prince took the same Guitar part from U2's I Will Follow, for "Guitar," but the songs are different. It may be U2's classic first single, but I probably like Ol' Purple Guy's version better.

Prince obviously took elements of Hendrix (Voodoo Chile?) to record "Dreamer." Yeah, the opening guitar part is an exact match, but the rest of the song is more Witness 4 The Prosecution. I am saddend that my Hendrix knowledge is lacking to the point of where I am guessing that it is the part from VC.

With so many songs, Prince repeats himself, and maybe on purpose, or by accident copies others. Hell, I wrote a song in 1991 that had this nice little guitar part. Sting releases "Fields of Gold," and the Guitar parts are nearly Identical. Sting is Sting, and I admit his song is billions of times better than my song, but it is not like he took it from me. I am a nobody in the business, and it is not that complicated a part. If we could have a super computer look at 4 million songs, and look for similarities...there would be tons of matches...Since the Caveman took that old coke bottle and banged it against another one, there has been music. Ok, so cavemen likely did not have coke.

So true! (Although I bet cavemen had another form of natural high!) I'm not talking about direct imitation really...but songs that you think might have inspired some of P's best works... I always thought that MAYBE! Mustang Sally might have inspired P to write Little Red Corvette! What are the not so obvious influences that might be there?

I´m still not sure whether Prince copied THIS song (White Horse) when he wrote Erotic City, or whether it was the other way around ( White Horse came out BEFORE Erotic City but it is possible that they heard an early acetate of Erotic City since they were on the same label and I read on the org that WB released a rare Prince single with a Laid Back song as a b-side, they supposedly liked each other´s music).

I think "Genius of Love" by Tom Tom Club inspired "Wonderful Ass".

crazydoctor said:

I think "Genius of Love" by Tom Tom Club inspired "Wonderful Ass".

Yes, now that you mention it I can definitely hear the similarities, at least in structure.

KoolEaze said:

crazydoctor said:

I think "Genius of Love" by Tom Tom Club inspired "Wonderful Ass".

Yes, now that you mention it I can definitely hear the similarities, at least in structure.

yeah, those weird quirky sound effects/drum sounds... I find that very similar in both songs.

poetcorner61 said:

Just listening to 1999 again... Which reminded me when I first heard "Little Red Corvette" back in the 80s, it instantly reminded me of "Mustang Sally" by Wilson Pickett, although there is no similarity in sound... But I can't help but think that "Mustang Sally" had to influence P for "Little Red Corvette." What songs do you think directly or indirectly inspired Prince's songs--musically and/or lyrically? (The obvious is James Brown...) But what songs in particular strike you as some type of influence especially on classic Prince songs? (Added disclaimer: I am not a professional musican or music critic so do not hound me accordingly... )

I remember reading a very perceptive review of "Around the World in a Day", in which the reviewer traced back Prince's love of pop music.

The best parallel he drew was between "1999" and The Mommas and the Poppa's "Monday Monday". It was a spot-on analysis of how a melody and a hook was taken to new places by a talented artist.

And someone else already mentioned that "Bang a Gong" inspired "Cream". I think I'm going to figure out a way to meld the two songs for an acoustic performance this week.

stillwaiting said:

Prince took the same Guitar part from U2's I Will Follow, for "Guitar," but the songs are different. It may be U2's classic first single, but I probably like Ol' Purple Guy's version better.

Nigga please.

RodeoSchro said:

poetcorner61 said:

"Everybody Loves Me" is this generation's "Jughead"©2010

Huh??? Uh, Evry bdy loves me, may be a bit "Barney" and cheesball, but There is no Tony Manure on it to ruin the song. There is no "Mr Money Minder" speech at the end, which was so funny, considering Prince says Money doesn't matter...when charging 20 buks 4 a damb Face Down cassette was robbery.

[Edited 8/13/10 22:55pm]

I read somewhere that "Little Red Corvette" was possibly inpsired by "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" by the Police. It has a similar chord progression.