First two bands had 2 different members Gayle and Andre.

Many if us heard audio of Rick James support concert.

After Gayle and Andre left it wasn't the same band.

Which band sounded better live.

I loved when Prince gone funk punk but

He sounded much better with his early band.

Dirty Minde era band is more loose because of

the punk influence but

band with Andre and Gayle sounds much tighter,more musician oriented and more fun.

check out Bobby's drumming on Rick James support concert,it's much different of what latter become.

Yeah , I too like the first band ('78-'80) better.

I don't think the musicians involved had that much influence on how the music sounded, it's more what Prince wanted them to do. Prince is known for using musicians that can adapt their sound to his and that was already true at the time (Bobby's jazz playing on the 1977 instrumentals is very surprising, for example). Dirty Mind sounded much more new-wave/punk-funk than the first 2 R&B oriented albums, and the band just adapted to this.

databank said:

I don't think the musicians involved had that much influence on how the music sounded, it's more what Prince wanted them to do. Prince is known for using musicians that can adapt their sound to his and that was already true at the time (Bobby's jazz playing on the 1977 instrumentals is very surprising, for example). Dirty Mind sounded much more new-wave/punk-funk than the first 2 R&B oriented albums, and the band just adapted to this.

That's what I loved about those early bands as well as the proteges bands, they were like extensions of Prince. They interpreted his music perfectly. They were still raw and open into the mid 1980's and were already 'established' musicians or singers like say Maceo Parker. So when Eddie M comes on the scene his sax playing 'sounds like Prince music' Even Sheila E was known with band to study Prince's music and learn to play that.

the core members that were there from For U - Dream Factory were Prince's sound.

Lisa Coleman probably had the most influence on Prince's sound, I believe she worked with him in studio the most.

thebanishedone said:

First two bands had 2 different members Gayle and Andre.

Many if us heard audio of Rick James support concert.

After Gayle and Andre left it wasn't the same band.

Which band sounded better live.

I loved when Prince gone funk punk but

He sounded much better with his early band.

Dirty Minde era band is more loose because of

the punk influence but

band with Andre and Gayle sounds much tighter,more musician oriented and more fun.

check out Bobby's drumming on Rick James support concert,it's much different of what latter become.

actually the Dirty Mind band was 1step different from the previous and following band via Andre & Lisa Coleman

For U - Prince:Bobby Z Dr Fink Dez Gayle Andre

Dirty Mind: Bobby Z Dr Fink Dez Lisa Andre

Controversy-1999 Bobby Z Dr Fink Dez Lisa BrownMark

Purple Rain-Parade: Bobby Z Dr Fink Wendy Lisa Brown Mark

databank said:

I don't think the musicians involved had that much influence on how the music sounded, it's more what Prince wanted them to do. Prince is known for using musicians that can adapt their sound to his and that was already true at the time (Bobby's jazz playing on the 1977 instrumentals is very surprising, for example). Dirty Mind sounded much more new-wave/punk-funk than the first 2 R&B oriented albums, and the band just adapted to this.

Right.