Just a question I've been thinking of lately. When did the hypnotic riff in the verses start? Who is responsible? To me, it kind of makes the song even more enjoyable than the studio version. It just gives it that extra uuuuumph.

not sure but i *think* it was at the xenophobia celebration. because i distinctly remember

hearing that long, long version of peach (where he talks about his father) and hearing the

keyboard/wind intro and then that riff throughout the song for the first time.

oh, and if anyone other than prince himself came up with that, it must have been renato,

since he's playing it and it does kind of sound like his style.

What keyboard riff ?

There has always been a keyboard riff in Peach, can't recall if it's in the album version but it's always been there when played live.

IstenSzek said:

not sure but i *think* it was at the xenophobia celebration. because i distinctly remember

hearing that long, long version of peach (where he talks about his father) and hearing the

keyboard/wind intro and then that riff throughout the song for the first time.

Much appreciated IstenSzek! I know it's been around a long time, just didn't know where it started.

fragglerock said:

What keyboard riff ?

There has always been a keyboard riff in Peach, can't recall if it's in the album version but it's always been there when played live.

I'm pretty sure every live version I've heard has the riff. The studio version released on the Hits/B-Sides doesn't though. Just the ah-ah-ah vocal loop.

that keyboard riff wasn't around for the act I or II shows, neither for the glam slam 94/95 ones.

IstenSzek said:

that keyboard riff wasn't around for the act I or II shows, neither for the glam slam 94/95 ones.

Excellent! Starting to track it down. I'm gonna start going through some boots this weekend to see if I can narrow it down further.

the place where i remember first hearing it, if we're talking about the same riff, is on the

xenophobia celebration, date 23rd of june 2002, the second show that day. setlist:

01. days of wild (15:21)

02. the jam (11:27)

03. dolphin (06:22)

04. sign o the times (05:36)

05. the work pt 1 (08:21)

06. paisley park (05:58)

07. peach (19:03 minutes !! )

i'll see if i can track down earlier versions of "peach" to listen if they have that riff that i'm

thinking about. but i don't think it predates renato since it sound absolutely like his style.

It's just the repetitive 3 chord melody played underneath the whole time. It's always been there in the live versions when a keyboardist is in his band (more often than not).

no, they are different. at least they sound very different. the early versions had a much more

dense, ongoing keyboard part. the 'new' one sounds more pop.

perhaps it's just since it's brought more up to the front. listening to a glam slam 94/95 version

back to back with one where renato plays keys will make that clear.

but since i have absolutely zero knowledge of chords and keys etc, they might very well be a

simple different outing of the exact same 3 chors melody that spinlight mentions.

IstenSzek said:

no, they are different. at least they sound very different. the early versions had a much more

dense, ongoing keyboard part. the 'new' one sounds more pop.

perhaps it's just since it's brought more up to the front. listening to a glam slam 94/95 version

back to back with one where renato plays keys will make that clear.

but since i have absolutely zero knowledge of chords and keys etc, they might very well be a

simple different outing of the exact same 3 chors melody that spinlight mentions.

Well, are you talking about the little keyboard blipping that you can hear at Montreux? That is new. The organ on the Montreux version is also different than the one I am referring to which is definitely how Morris played it earlier years.

Spinlight said:

IstenSzek said:

no, they are different. at least they sound very different. the early versions had a much more

dense, ongoing keyboard part. the 'new' one sounds more pop.

perhaps it's just since it's brought more up to the front. listening to a glam slam 94/95 version

back to back with one where renato plays keys will make that clear.

but since i have absolutely zero knowledge of chords and keys etc, they might very well be a

simple different outing of the exact same 3 chors melody that spinlight mentions.

Well, are you talking about the little keyboard blipping that you can hear at Montreux? That is new. The organ on the Montreux version is also different than the one I am referring to which is definitely how Morris played it earlier years.

yes, that's the one i had in mind, that "blipping". it sounds a bit hyper on the montreux

version though. but the whole version of peach from montreux sounds a bit hyper, lol.

but the original keyboard that lies a bit deeper in the mix is what i hadn't noticed yet in

the recent performances. now that you pointed it out and i'm listening to it i find it just

incredible that i've missed that until now.

now i'm gonna have to see when the first date was where he used both of them since he

used only the blipping during the premier at the 2002 celebration.

all this investigative work for a keyboard riff in a song from 18 years ago only prince,

only prince.

anyway, "peach" has always been a favorite of mine, whatever version, whatever show,

it always makes me feel good.

Spinlight said:

IstenSzek said:

no, they are different. at least they sound very different. the early versions had a much more

dense, ongoing keyboard part. the 'new' one sounds more pop.

perhaps it's just since it's brought more up to the front. listening to a glam slam 94/95 version

back to back with one where renato plays keys will make that clear.

but since i have absolutely zero knowledge of chords and keys etc, they might very well be a

simple different outing of the exact same 3 chors melody that spinlight mentions.

Well, are you talking about the little keyboard blipping that you can hear at Montreux? That is new. The organ on the Montreux version is also different than the one I am referring to which is definitely how Morris played it earlier years.

That's the exact riff I'm talking about. The blipping riff is so hypnotic to me. Brings out character in the song.

IstenSzek said:

Spinlight said:

Well, are you talking about the little keyboard blipping that you can hear at Montreux? That is new. The organ on the Montreux version is also different than the one I am referring to which is definitely how Morris played it earlier years.

yes, that's the one i had in mind, that "blipping". it sounds a bit hyper on the montreux

version though. but the whole version of peach from montreux sounds a bit hyper, lol.

but the original keyboard that lies a bit deeper in the mix is what i hadn't noticed yet in

the recent performances. now that you pointed it out and i'm listening to it i find it just

incredible that i've missed that until now.

now i'm gonna have to see when the first date was where he used both of them since he

used only the blipping during the premier at the 2002 celebration.

all this investigative work for a keyboard riff in a song from 18 years ago only prince,

only prince.

anyway, "peach" has always been a favorite of mine, whatever version, whatever show,

it always makes me feel good.

I appreciate the hard work! I was just curious, and knew this was the right place to ask it.

to IstenSzek for all the help.

onemorething said:

"It's time for the percolator", that one?

I'm not sure where that quote comes from. Probably some stellar version I've yet to hear yet

[Edited 2/10/11 19:56pm]

IstenSzek said:

the place where i remember first hearing it, if we're talking about the same riff, is on the

xenophobia celebration, date 23rd of june 2002, the second show that day. setlist:

01. days of wild (15:21)

02. the jam (11:27)

03. dolphin (06:22)

04. sign o the times (05:36)

05. the work pt 1 (08:21)

06. paisley park (05:58)

07. peach (19:03 minutes !! )

i'll see if i can track down earlier versions of "peach" to listen if they have that riff that i'm

thinking about. but i don't think it predates renato since it sound absolutely like his style.

what a great show that was. peach went on forever. you should have seen Moonbeam. i think he actually broke his neck dancing.

it ain't ova.

Well, I decided to just go straight to the source and asked Renato himself on his FB page. Here's what I got:

i knew it!!! i just wish prince would give renato more space on his studio albums.

especially on albums like Mplsound or 20Ten, i find it incomprehensible that he's

not had more room and time to shine. the man is phenomenal and i have yet to

hear a single solo of his on any live boot that i did not like. most of the time the

stuff he does in concert just completely knocks me off my feet.

IstenSzek said:

i knew it!!! i just wish prince would give renato more space on his studio albums.

especially on albums like Mplsound or 20Ten, i find it incomprehensible that he's

not had more room and time to shine. the man is phenomenal and i have yet to

hear a single solo of his on any live boot that i did not like. most of the time the

stuff he does in concert just completely knocks me off my feet.

Agreed IstenSzek! The man is a monster jazz musician!

Thanks again for your help on this. I greatly appreciate it!