Having just listened to Waterfall by W&L I'm starting to think that it's Wendy playing the lead guitar on Alexa de Paris. The tone is remarkably similar and some of the harmonic choices too. And isn't the rhythm guitar played on a Rickenbacker (sounds like that to me), Wendy's guitar of choice, suggesting that Wendy at least was part of the session.

Wendy did not take part in this recording. http://www.princevault.co...a_De_Paris

TheDigitalGardener said:

Wendy did not take part in this recording. http://www.princevault.co...a_De_Paris

I've checked with PrinceVault, but I'm not sure I trust the information on this particular issue. It all seems a bit sketchy: "While specific recording dates are not know, initial tracking took place in July 1985 at the Washington Avenue Warehouse. Clare Fischer arranged and recorded orchestration for the song at some point in late 1985 at Monterey Sound Studios, Glendale, CA, USA."

And why was AdP one of only two b-sides not included on the B-sides collection? (What was the other one btw?)

That lead guitar was definitely Prince.

[Edited 5/31/11 19:21pm]

paulludvig said:

TheDigitalGardener said:

Wendy did not take part in this recording. http://www.princevault.co...a_De_Paris

And why was AdP one of only two b-sides not included on the B-sides collection? (What was the other one btw?)

Love or $

It's definitely Prince on guitar. In the 1986 warmup at First Ave. Wendy played it while Prince was doing a costume change and she was awful, and I mean awful. She struggled really bad. Prince should have had Miko play it.

joyinrepetition said:

It's definitely Prince on guitar. In the 1986 warmup at First Ave. Wendy played it while Prince was doing a costume change and she was awful, and I mean awful. She struggled really bad. Prince should have had Miko play it.

Yes, I've listened to the show (thanks to 4DF!). I think she's pretty good for the first part of the song, the main melody, but I agree that she struggles with the second, more improvisational part. But at the same time I don't think the music is typical of Prince style of playing, more similar to Wendy's playing on Waterfall as I stated in my original post. I do however accept that I was wrong

I completely agree that Miko is a great player.

TheDigitalGardener said:

paulludvig said:

And why was AdP one of only two b-sides not included on the B-sides collection? (What was the other one btw?)

Love or $

Sex, Loveleft/Loveright, Get Off, Lubricated Lady, Horny Pony, Call the Law, and 2 Whom It May Concern would like a word with you

billymeade said:

TheDigitalGardener said:

Love or $

Sex, Loveleft/Loveright, Get Off, Lubricated Lady, Horny Pony, Call the Law, and 2 Whom It May Concern would like a word with you

A few of those are just glorified remixes, but I had the same thought.

^^ Sorry, I am going by this from the princevault page for ADP....

"The track was not included on the The B-Sides collection in 1993, one of only two b-sides not included from the 1978-1989 era."

^^The other track was Love Or $, I assumed this is what the OP was talking about.

paulludvig said:

Having just listened to Waterfall by W&L I'm starting to think that it's Wendy playing the lead guitar on Alexa de Paris. The tone is remarkably similar and some of the harmonic choices too. And isn't the rhythm guitar played on a Rickenbacker (sounds like that to me), Wendy's guitar of choice, suggesting that Wendy at least was part of the session.

If she did have a part in the solo/guitar playing it's not listed.

But remember, Prince used to go into all those studios and just jam with Wendy Lisa the Revolution for hours on end. and they not only added to the Prince sound but they even more so learned Prince sound

paulludvig said:

joyinrepetition said:

It's definitely Prince on guitar. In the 1986 warmup at First Ave. Wendy played it while Prince was doing a costume change and she was awful, and I mean awful. She struggled really bad. Prince should have had Miko play it.

Yes, I've listened to the show (thanks to 4DF!). I think she's pretty good for the first part of the song, the main melody, but I agree that she struggles with the second, more improvisational part. But at the same time I don't think the music is typical of Prince style of playing, more similar to Wendy's playing on Waterfall as I stated in my original post. I do however accept that I was wrong

I completely agree that Miko is a great player.

Doesn't mean Miko would have done any better.

An improvisional solo will always be hard to follow