So I'm sitting here listening to "Halls of Desire" by Tevin Campbell and of course the song is great because of Prince and Tevin has a great voice, but you can't help but hear Prince singing background vocals I was wondering besides Halls of Desire how many other songs has Prince sung back-up on?

[Edited 3/9/11 10:08am]

Ummm...every single one he wrote?

If you're going beyond the obvious (songs his proteges did or his own written material for others) then I'd go with these two standouts...

Ani Difranco - Providence

Kate Bush - Why Should I Love You?

I've always liked both of them.

Boyfriend is his own choir. He needs to go back to that. It's like he got lazy.

It's actually one of the things I dig about Prince.

When he's singing background, since I've listened to him so much the past 25+ years, I cannot help but hear him and know that it's him, but he does a great job of being back-up.

There are some, names escape me now, that cannot sing back-up because they're too accustomed to being center.

I like his background on "Love Bizarre". He's there, you know he's there, but it's still Sheila E's song.

[Edited 3/9/11 12:40pm]

"Waiting Room" by No Doubt. I love that song. I like to drive my fast car with that song bumpin loud.

This is one of my fav topics, on Prince's musicality.

From the simple to the sublime, his vocal layering is completely unparalleled. He takes harmonic and rhythmic chances that work so well, they're not chances at all... they're unique, they're huge. From uptempo R&B, Ballads, "Rock Operas", and nearly every other type of music Prince does, his vocal layering is truly amazing.

Back in D.C., I once played some P for some other musician friends of mine, and one couldn't believe he wasn't using a harmonizer...

I was like, "Listen to the different parts, and tell me what harmonizer could do that."

Case closed, when Federico Pena backed me up, and said, "Yeah. That's all him, tracked out".

~G

Giovanni777 said:

This is one of my fav topics, on Prince's musicality.

From the simple to the sublime, his vocal layering is completely unparalleled. He takes harmonic and rhythmic chances that work so well, they're not chances at all... they're unique, they're huge. From uptempo R&B, Ballads, "Rock Operas", and nearly every other type of music Prince does, his vocal layering is truly amazing.

Back in D.C., I once played some P for some other musician friends of mine, and one couldn't believe he wasn't using a harmonizer...

I was like, "Listen to the different parts, and tell me what harmonizer could do that."

Case closed, when Federico Pena backed me up, and said, "Yeah. That's all him, tracked out".

~G

I would love to listen to Prince with you, Giovanni! It was a person like you who got me into Prince...really into Prince - beyond just his pop hits. The vocal layering, harmonizing, and hell - all those nuances that once you notice, you can't help but recognize the amazing artist that he can be.

2freaky4church1 said:

Boyfriend is his own choir. He needs to go back to that. It's like he got lazy.

Forever In My Life.

What I love about that is that the backing vocals are singing the line before the lead vocal.

So simple but totally amazing IMO.

Ani Difranco - Providence

He makes that song sooooo amazing!

CallMeCarrie said:

Giovanni777 said:

This is one of my fav topics, on Prince's musicality.

From the simple to the sublime, his vocal layering is completely unparalleled. He takes harmonic and rhythmic chances that work so well, they're not chances at all... they're unique, they're huge. From uptempo R&B, Ballads, "Rock Operas", and nearly every other type of music Prince does, his vocal layering is truly amazing.

Back in D.C., I once played some P for some other musician friends of mine, and one couldn't believe he wasn't using a harmonizer...

I was like, "Listen to the different parts, and tell me what harmonizer could do that."

Case closed, when Federico Pena backed me up, and said, "Yeah. That's all him, tracked out".

~G

I would love to listen to Prince with you, Giovanni! It was a person like you who got me into Prince...really into Prince - beyond just his pop hits. The vocal layering, harmonizing, and hell - all those nuances that once you notice, you can't help but recognize the amazing artist that he can be.

Aw, thanks, Carrie. That's a real compliment, and maybe it can happen somehow. I'll tell you what... I'm a musician's musician... love to hear everything. I've always been that way. It's a huge part of why I appreciate Prince's music so much. He's a musician's musician, with a natural ear... and YEAH - the nuances in nearly every instrument and voice are profound. You have a great ear, Carrie... but you probably already know this.

Giovanni777 said:

This is one of my fav topics, on Prince's musicality.

From the simple to the sublime, his vocal layering is completely unparalleled. He takes harmonic and rhythmic chances that work so well, they're not chances at all... they're unique, they're huge. From uptempo R&B, Ballads, "Rock Operas", and nearly every other type of music Prince does, his vocal layering is truly amazing.

Back in D.C., I once played some P for some other musician friends of mine, and one couldn't believe he wasn't using a harmonizer...

I was like, "Listen to the different parts, and tell me what harmonizer could do that."

Case closed, when Federico Pena backed me up, and said, "Yeah. That's all him, tracked out".

~G

And that he did the best stuff in the days of putting tracks together with a razor blade and tape is insane.

I love Prince doing background. I like to see him just step back and does his thing on vocals, guitar, or piano, but let someone else shines. It says alot about his character. He suprisingly, though not suprisingly, is a great background vocalist. Not everyone can do it..

Genesia said:

Giovanni777 said:

This is one of my fav topics, on Prince's musicality.

From the simple to the sublime, his vocal layering is completely unparalleled. He takes harmonic and rhythmic chances that work so well, they're not chances at all... they're unique, they're huge. From uptempo R&B, Ballads, "Rock Operas", and nearly every other type of music Prince does, his vocal layering is truly amazing.

Back in D.C., I once played some P for some other musician friends of mine, and one couldn't believe he wasn't using a harmonizer...

I was like, "Listen to the different parts, and tell me what harmonizer could do that."

Case closed, when Federico Pena backed me up, and said, "Yeah. That's all him, tracked out".

~G

And that he did the best stuff in the days of putting tracks together with a razor blade and tape is insane.

Most definitely, but the great thing about the layered vocals, is he just overdubs over the previous tracks, and I've heard that he will sometimes not want to hear the previous tracks, while laying down a new one. These aren't revolutionary recording techniques, but the harmonies, rhythms, call and response, and melodic harmonies are truly unique.

I don't think he had to edit too much, but he may have chosen which vocal tracks to have in the mix, and which ones to mute, if any.

Giovanni777 said:

Genesia said:

And that he did the best stuff in the days of putting tracks together with a razor blade and tape is insane.

Most definitely, but the great thing about the layered vocals, is he just overdubs over the previous tracks, and I've heard that he will sometimes not want to hear the previous tracks, while laying down a new one. These aren't revolutionary recording techniques, but the harmonies, rhythms, call and response, and melodic harmonies are truly unique.

I don't think he had to edit too much, but he may have chosen which vocal tracks to have in the mix, and which ones to mute, if any.

Listen, I was a radio reporter back in the 80s - and I know what I had to go through just to run crowd noise under a flippin' voicer. I can't even imagine how li'l guy worked his magic.

Genesia said:

Giovanni777 said:

Most definitely, but the great thing about the layered vocals, is he just overdubs over the previous tracks, and I've heard that he will sometimes not want to hear the previous tracks, while laying down a new one. These aren't revolutionary recording techniques, but the harmonies, rhythms, call and response, and melodic harmonies are truly unique.

I don't think he had to edit too much, but he may have chosen which vocal tracks to have in the mix, and which ones to mute, if any.

Listen, I was a radio reporter back in the 80s - and I know what I had to go through just to run crowd noise under a flippin' voicer. I can't even imagine how li'l guy worked his magic.

Nice! My Dad was a radio announcer, but that was way back.

"P.S.": I've been watching your matching comments... dead on every time. Nice that you dug the Blues...

i dig his background vocals on the beautiful

TIME WAITS FOR NO-ONE

Giovanni777 said:

This is one of my fav topics, on Prince's musicality.

From the simple to the sublime, his vocal layering is completely unparalleled. He takes harmonic and rhythmic chances that work so well, they're not chances at all... they're unique, they're huge. From uptempo R&B, Ballads, "Rock Operas", and nearly every other type of music Prince does, his vocal layering is truly amazing.

Back in D.C., I once played some P for some other musician friends of mine, and one couldn't believe he wasn't using a harmonizer...

I was like, "Listen to the different parts, and tell me what harmonizer could do that."

Case closed, when Federico Pena backed me up, and said, "Yeah. That's all him, tracked out".

~G

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Giovanni777 said:

This is one of my fav topics, on Prince's musicality.

From the simple to the sublime, his vocal layering is completely unparalleled. He takes harmonic and rhythmic chances that work so well, they're not chances at all... they're unique, they're huge. From uptempo R&B, Ballads, "Rock Operas", and nearly every other type of music Prince does, his vocal layering is truly amazing.

Back in D.C., I once played some P for some other musician friends of mine, and one couldn't believe he wasn't using a harmonizer...

I was like, "Listen to the different parts, and tell me what harmonizer could do that."

Case closed, when Federico Pena backed me up, and said, "Yeah. That's all him, tracked out".

~G

x's 2

Nothinbutjoy said:

It's actually one of the things I dig about Prince.

When he's singing background, since I've listened to him so much the past 25+ years, I cannot help but hear him and know that it's him, but he does a great job of being back-up.

There are some, names escape me now, that cannot sing back-up because they're too accustomed to being center.

I like his background on "Love Bizarre". He's there, you know he's there, but it's still Sheila E's song.

[Edited 3/9/11 12:40pm]

I love that song and the fact that Prince is singing background makes it even more special

andykeen said:

Ani Difranco - Providence

He makes that song sooooo amazing!

I need to take a listen to this song

DaphneLovesPR1NCE said:

I love Prince doing background. I like to see him just step back and does his thing on vocals, guitar, or piano, but let someone else shines. It says alot about his character. He suprisingly, though not suprisingly, is a great background vocalist. Not everyone can do it..

Agreed

jonylawson said:

i dig his background vocals on the beautiful

TIME WAITS FOR NO-ONE

Damn isn't that the Jacksons?

nursev said:

DaphneLovesPR1NCE said:

I love Prince doing background. I like to see him just step back and does his thing on vocals, guitar, or piano, but let someone else shines. It says alot about his character. He suprisingly, though not suprisingly, is a great background vocalist. Not everyone can do it..

Agreed

Agreed x's 2

[Edited 3/9/11 19:30pm]

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

nursev said:

Agreed

Agreed x's 2

jonylawson said:

i dig his background vocals on the beautiful

TIME WAITS FOR NO-ONE

Fine example!

Prince's voice is in the background to "Yellow" by Sheila E. (1985)

I love this little song.

muirdo said:

Forever In My Life.

What I love about that is that the backing vocals are singing the line before the lead vocal.

So simple but totally amazing IMO.

I've made people listen to that song over and over again just for that reason.....this to me is a masterpiece in vocal abilty...this is a work of art.....Prince paints with his voice vocally when he does these types of layers.....This song is so unique and one of his best contibutions put out there.

There is a part in Elixer when he first comes in he goes from this deep throaty sound to his high sexy tone and it just gives me goose bumps all of the time....no one does this better than him.