I love the Glamorous side of Erotic City, the concept, the music videos etc

I never have enough discussion on Prince & the Glamorous Life, Sheila E & Prince duets, GL songs performed by Prince & the Revolution, bandmembers & background ect. Indulge me purple people...

June 4. 1984
The Glamorous Life Sheila

1.The Belle Of St,Mark
2.Shortberry Strawcake
3.Noon Rendezvous
4.Oliver's House
5.Next Time Wipe The Lipstic
Off Your Collar
6.The Glamorous Life

7. 2 Sexy (b-side)

Sheila E opened 4 Prince & the Revolution during the Purple Rain tour and her band joined the Revolution on songs such as America I Would Die 4 U & Baby I'm a Star

If anyone has any other songs from shows they attended where Sheila performed with Prince or Prince with Sheila E please share

October 25. 1984
Sheila E. Concert
1.Shortberry Strawcake
2.The Belle Of St.Mark
3.Noon Rendezvous
4.Oliver's House
5.Erotic City
6.Next Time Wipe The Lipstick Off
Your Collar
7.The Glamorous Life
8.Too Sexy (Guest) Prince - Guitar

"The Belle of St. Mark" is a song written and recorded by singer/percussionist Sheila E. The Latin-tinged dance song was released in November 1984 in the Netherlands, and in February 1985 in the U.S. and elsewhere. It peaked at #34 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #68 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles Charts in 1985. It reached the top ten in the UK, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, and was an NME "Single of the Week".

The song's lyrics tell of an androgynous "frail but passionate creature," referred to as "he" throughout, but called the feminine "Belle". (Androgyny was a prevalent theme in the music of Sheila E.'s mentor, Prince, and common in pop music of the period), The song implies the Belle is French (viz. the lyrics, "His Paris hair, it blows in the warm Parisian air / That blows whenever his Paris hair is there") but St. Mark is commonly known as a location in Venice, Italy.

The Belle of St. Mark was a frail but a passionate creature
Ebony hair and eyes a deep blue-green
The Belle of St Mark wore clothes that belonged 2 his father
Even though he was only 17

CHORUS:
I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love with the Belle of St. Mark
It tears me apart whenever I hear him cry
I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love with the Belle of St. Mark
And if he doesn't love me I think I'll probably die

U can tell from expressions that he makes public
That he suffers from a badly broken heart
He smiles as he feeds the afternoon pigeons
But he cries as he walks the night streets of St. Mark

CHORUS

The Belle of St. Mark, he don't talk 2 strangers, he's so mysterious
His erotic persuasion provokes me like no other man
The fire I have 4 him is undoubtedly serious
I need 2 make him see that he needs love 2 forget
And if anyone can help him, I can
I can help, I can help U

His Paris hair, it blows in the warm Parisian air
That blows whenever his Paris hair is there
The woman that hurt him surely must have trouble sleeping
Cuz the Belle of St. Mark is a beauty extraordinaire

Oh, I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love with the Belle of St. Mark
It tears me apart whenever I hear him cry
I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love with the Belle of St. Mark
And if he doesn't love me I think I'll probably die

Ooh, I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love with the Belle of St. Mark
It tears me apart whenever I hear him cry
Ooh, I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love with the Belle of St. Mark
And if he doesn't love me I think I'll probably die
And if he doesn't love me I think I'll probably die
And if he don't... I'll die

Oh WOW I love Sheila such a lady, very beautiful and talented

U go girl!!!!

You know what song people never mention from that disc but is actually kinda cool? "Belle of St Mark".

Editing to add that I hadn't read beyond the first post yet, so I'm just now seeing that St Mark was mentioned.

[Edited 7/25/11 17:38pm]

There is not a bad track on this album.

Not my favourite Sheila album, but it's so good, I love Prince's work for Sheila. I wish the studio version of Noon Rendezvous was more like the live versions, and these days I prefer the version of the Glam. Life on the unreleased 'Fe' album (La Vida Glamarosa) - just because it's fresher to my ears.

[Edited 7/25/11 17:59pm]

who was actually in Sheila E's band during the PR era?

Was the Romance 1600 band the same as the GLife band?

I know Mico Weaver was a guitarist(live), wasn't Stef B a guitarist too? He co-wrote & played guitar on 2 Sexy

Eddie M was the sax man

Shortberry Strawcake – 4:46 (Sheila E., Jesse Johnson)

A steamy sexy instrumental

The Starr ★ Company

Prince & the Revolution @ 1st Ave 6.7.1984 Birthday Show

1.17days *
2.Our Destiny unrel
3.All Day All Night
4.Free
5.Noon Rendezvous
6.Erotic City *
7.When Doves City
8.Happy Birthday
9.Irresistible Bitch
10.Possessed

A totally different sound, the sparse linn/drum work of Bobby Z and electric guitar solo. Not better just different. Both versions have passionate feel. Lisa Colemans plush playing, the combined guitar cords of Wendy Lisa and the smooth bass of BrownMark. Love the club sounds in the background. This version sounds like the build of an ocean wave

hahaaaaa

This next song is dedicated to that little girl over there

Sheila E dame

1 2 3

NouveauDance said:

There is not a bad track on this album.

Not my favourite Sheila album, but it's so good, I love Prince's work for Sheila. I wish the studio version of Noon Rendezvous was more like the live versions, and these days I prefer the version of the Glam. Life on the unreleased 'Fe' album (La Vida Glamarosa) - just because it's fresher to my ears.

I love Sheila E(the album)

But I think GLife is her best cohesive album, it takes you somewhere

and it easily fit's in the 'vision of Erotic City'

OldFriends4Sale said:

who was actually in Sheila E's band during the PR era?

Sheila E - Vocals/whatever

Juan Escovedo - Percussion

Eddie Minnifield - Saxaphone

Karl Perazzo - Drums

Ken Grey - Keyboards

Susie Davis - Keyboards

Bejamin Rietveld - Bass

Miko Weaver - Guitar

Stephen Birnbaum - Guitar

This thread http://prince.org/msg/5/344398 is still quite useful

Prince & the Revolution with Sheila E & the Glamorous Life/Romance 1600 band

Glamorous Life World tour 84-85
17 JUL, 1984 ::::: Bremen, Germany – ARD Studios [TV] Musikladen: “The Glamorous Life” (lip-synced) (TV air date: Jul. '84)
19 JUL, 1984 ::::: Bussum, The Netherlands – Concordia studios [TV] Countdown: “The Belle Of St Mark” (lip-synced) (TV air date: Jul. '84)
26 JUL, 1984 ::::: Hollywood, CA, USA – Palace (Purple Rain premiere party (TV air date: Jul. 17 '84)
05 SEP, 1984 ::::: Cleveland, OH, USA – Agora
06 SEP, 1984 ::::: Columbus, OH , USA – Alrosa Villa
07 SEP, 1984 ::::: Chicago, IL, USA – Park West
08 SEP, 1984 ::::: Indianapolis, IN, USA – The Vogue Theatre
11 SEP, 1984 ::::: New Haven, CT, USA – Toads Place
13 SEP, 1984 ::::: New York, NY, USA – The Ritz
14 SEP, 1984 ::::: Boston, MA, USA – Paradise
16 SEP, 1984 ::::: Richmond, VA , USA – ???
17 SEP, 1984 ::::: Charlotte, SC , USA – P.B. Scotts Music Hall
18 SEP, 1984 ::::: Atlanta, GA, USA – Moonshadows Saloon
20 SEP, 1984 ::::: Houston, TX , USA – Numbers 2
23 SEP, 1984 ::::: San Francisco, CA, USA – Wolfgang’s (show 1)
23 SEP, 1984 ::::: San Francisco, CA, USA – Wolfgang’s (show 2)
25 SEP, 1984 ::::: Hollywood, CA, USA – Palace
04 OCT, 1984 ::::: Paris, France – Les Bains Douches
00? OCT, 1984 ::::: Stockholm, Sweden – Happy House [TV] Happy House (TV air date: ???)
05 OCT, 1984 ::::: Stockholm, Sweden – The Ritz
06 OCT, 1984 ::::: Den Bosch, The Netherlands – Maaspoort (TROS Formule 1 festival + Roberti Jacketti & The Scooters + Bronski Beat (TV air date:: Oct. 12 '84))
07? OCT, 1984 ::::: Hilversum, The Netherlands – Toppop Studios [TV] Toppop: “The Belle Of St Mark” & "Glamorous Life" (lip-synced) (TV air date: Oct. '84)
08 OCT, 1984 ::::: Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Paradiso
12 OCT, 1984 ::::: Newcastle, England – Tyne Tees Studio 5 [TV] The Tube: “Belle Of St. Mark” & “Glamorous Life” (TV air date: Oct 12, '84)
25 OCT, 1984 ::::: Minneapolis, MN, USA – First Avenue

June 4, 1984 the Glamorous Life w/Sheila E. drops
June 7, 1984 1st Avenue Birthday show with Prince & the Revolution
June 25, 1984 Purple Rain w/Prince & the Revolution drops
July 9th, 1984 Ice Cream Castles w/Morris Day & the Time drops

July 7.29.1984 Purple Rain movie premiere






July 26. 1984

Mann's Chinese Theater Hollywood
6925 Hollywood Blvd.
MTV"Live! Purple Rain Party Movie Premiere

performance by Sheila E.

1.) the Glamorous Life

After a performance by members of the Minneapolis Dance Theatre, Sheila E., Prince’s latest musical find— also rumored to be his new girlfriend—took the stage and performed, followed by Prince and The Revolution, who played three songs.

[Edited 7/28/11 8:05am]

His latest lady, Sheila E., has a hit album on her hands with a top ten single “The Glamorous Life.”

Sheila Escovedo is now known as Sheila E., but Prince met her years ago when he was working on his first album. She is the daughter of Peter Escovedo, a Latin-jazz percussionist who had worked with Carlos Santana, one of Prince’s earliest influences. Prince and Sheila have been writing songs together for years. Before she got her big break with Prince, she had toured as a back-up singer and percussionist for Lionel Richie, George Duke, and Marvin Gaye.

When Sheila recently played at the Ritz in New York City, Prince jumped on stage for an encore of “Erotic City,” which also features Sheila E. on the flip side of the single “Let’s Go Crazy.” He then launched into an audience sing-along on “When Doves Cry.”

Sheila won’t talk about her supposed relationship with Prince. She told Kurt Loder, “We’re just friends, but the public will assume what it wants.

“He’s a good person,” she added. “He’s changed somewhat; he’s really happy now.”

-1984 interview

OldFriends4Sale said:

Glamorous Life World tour 84-85
17 JUL, 1984 ::::: Bremen, Germany – ARD Studios [TV] Musikladen: “The Glamorous Life” (lip-synced) (TV air date: Jul. '84)
19 JUL, 1984 ::::: Bussum, The Netherlands – Concordia studios [TV] Countdown: “The Belle Of St Mark” (lip-synced) (TV air date: Jul. '84)
26 JUL, 1984 ::::: Hollywood, CA, USA – Palace (Purple Rain premiere party (TV air date: Jul. 17 '84)
05 SEP, 1984 ::::: Cleveland, OH, USA – Agora
06 SEP, 1984 ::::: Columbus, OH , USA – Alrosa Villa
07 SEP, 1984 ::::: Chicago, IL, USA – Park West
08 SEP, 1984 ::::: Indianapolis, IN, USA – The Vogue Theatre
11 SEP, 1984 ::::: New Haven, CT, USA – Toads Place
13 SEP, 1984 ::::: New York, NY, USA – The Ritz
14 SEP, 1984 ::::: Boston, MA, USA – Paradise
16 SEP, 1984 ::::: Richmond, VA , USA – ???
17 SEP, 1984 ::::: Charlotte, SC , USA – P.B. Scotts Music Hall
18 SEP, 1984 ::::: Atlanta, GA, USA – Moonshadows Saloon
20 SEP, 1984 ::::: Houston, TX , USA – Numbers 2
23 SEP, 1984 ::::: San Francisco, CA, USA – Wolfgang’s (show 1)
23 SEP, 1984 ::::: San Francisco, CA, USA – Wolfgang’s (show 2)
25 SEP, 1984 ::::: Hollywood, CA, USA – Palace
04 OCT, 1984 ::::: Paris, France – Les Bains Douches
00? OCT, 1984 ::::: Stockholm, Sweden – Happy House [TV] Happy House (TV air date: ???)
05 OCT, 1984 ::::: Stockholm, Sweden – The Ritz
06 OCT, 1984 ::::: Den Bosch, The Netherlands – Maaspoort (TROS Formule 1 festival + Roberti Jacketti & The Scooters + Bronski Beat (TV air date:: Oct. 12 '84))
07? OCT, 1984 ::::: Hilversum, The Netherlands – Toppop Studios [TV] Toppop: “The Belle Of St Mark” & "Glamorous Life" (lip-synced) (TV air date: Oct. '84)
08 OCT, 1984 ::::: Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Paradiso
12 OCT, 1984 ::::: Newcastle, England – Tyne Tees Studio 5 [TV] The Tube: “Belle Of St. Mark” & “Glamorous Life” (TV air date: Oct 12, '84)
25 OCT, 1984 ::::: Minneapolis, MN, USA – First Avenue

I had no idea she was out touring before the PR tour.

Yeah, I guess he wanted to get her 'feet' wet and get her gig together before the Purple Rain tour

OldFriends4Sale said:

Glamorous Life World tour 84-85

26 JUL, 1984 ::::: Hollywood, CA, USA – Palace (Purple Rain premiere party (TV air date: Jul. 17 '84)

I'm assuming this means to say Jul. 27 '84 because it can't have a TV air date before the actual show happens!

Anyone have any information on where the video was shot?

I always wondered who played the sax and bass in the Glamorous Life video. Were they stand ins or real players?

Sheila e. & Mico Weaver