Lets get an accurate list going, and I dont mean songs where he recorded the snare and used the Linn Drum to do the other work.

I'd also like to know which ones Sheila played on.

The entire For You album.

The first 3 or 4 songs of Parade

Lady Cab Driver
Tamborine
Irresistable Bitch

just to name a few...

Damn, seanski said it already (Tambourine). Oh well,
[This message was edited Tue Feb 18 16:11:06 PST 2003 by NovaAngel]

lady cab had a linn or machine of some kind as a basis for a limited live role. dpoesnt count therefore.

the Crystal Ball track (I think his best drumming on record)
& Tamborine

They're the first two that come to mind but heaps of others

The first Madhouse album,God(inst.),Another Lonely Christmas,I think he played on If A Girl Answers.

Can we just list the names of the songs and the albums, please.

XLBubba said:

Damn! Meow. Scratch, scratch.

Jem said:

Who is playing drums on Cybersingle?

XLBubba said:

John Blackwell. One of his first recordings with Prince I think.

toejam said:

I dont think that is true.

XLBubba said:

I'll help with this list. I LOVE Prince's drumming. He rarely plays acoustics now, but if you had Mike Bland and Blackwell, would you???

Here we go!!!

For You - Prince plays drums on all songs.

Prince - same

Dirty Mind - same

Controversy - Prince plays drums on 'Controversy', 'Sexuality', 'Do Me, Baby', 'Ronnie Talk To Russia', and 'Let's Work'. He is augmented by electronic triggers on several songs including 'Controversy', 'Sexuality' and others. Bobby Z. plays acoustic drums and triggers on 'Jack U Off'. The Linn drum machine is used on two songs, 'Private Joy' and 'Annie Christian'. He also plays drums on 'Let's Work''s b-side 'Gotta Stop Messin' About' augmented by triggered electronic effects.

1999 - Prince plays acoustic drums on 'International Lover' and acoustic snare on 'Lady Cab Driver'. He also plays the hell out of the drums on the B-side 'Irresistable Bitch'.

Purple Rain - Prince plays acoustic drums on 'Darling Nikki' augmented by Linn kick drums and clap program (note the straight 32nd note kick drum pattern on the coda). 'Take Me With U' also features acoustic drums as well however, it doesn't sound like Prince's playing to me. Other people have told that they definitely believe that it is Prince on drums, others say Sheila, while others (including me) say it's Bobby Z.. I Take your pick. think it's also Bobby triggering the Linn on the end of 'Let's Go Crazy'. Prince also plays drums on the b-side 'Another Lonely Christmas'.

Around the World In A Day - Prince's drumming is featured on 'Tamborine'. He plays various percussion on 'Condition of the Heart'. He also plays drums on the b-side 'Hello', snare drum on the long version of 'America' and I think I remember there being some live drums on 'Girl', some played normally and some reversed (backwards).

Parade - Prince plays drums on 'Christopher Tracy's Parade', 'New Position', 'I Wonder U', 'Under the Cherry Moon', and 'Girls and Boys.' Most believe that Sheila E. plays drums on 'Life Can Be So Nice', but I maintain that Prince is playing drums on this one. Either way, Sheila is not credited as drummer on 'Life' but is credited for playing the cowbell on it as well as drums on 'Venus De Milo'. Prince drums on the b-side ' or $' and I believe 'Alexa De Paris' while others believe (yet again) that this is Sheila. Again, she is not credited.

***Perhaps it is worth mentioning the similarities between Prince's and Sheila's drumming. Once they began to work together frequently, it became hard to tell who specifically drummed on what.***

Sign O' The Times - Prince plays on 'Starfish and Coffee' (some of the drum tracks are reversed), and 'Slow Love'. I believe that drums on 'The Cross' are Prince (Susan Rogers' comments in the book DMSR corroborate this), but I've heard some attribute the drums on it to Wendy Melvoin. It certianly is not one of Prince's better moments on drums, but the rawness of the performance is appropriate. 'Play in the Sunshine' contains a triggered drum track augmented by a programmed one, but some have asserted that the triggers were played by Bobby Z. I, for one, say it's Prince.

Black Album - Prince plays acousitc drums on 'Rock Hard in a Funky Place'. Although I can't be positive (for reasons stated above), I believe Sheila E. drummed on '2 Nigs'.

Lovesexy - Sheila E. is credited as drummer and percussionist on this album, and listening to the album, it's hard to dispute this. I'll go with the credits on this one and attribute acoustic drums on the album (' No', 'Anna Stesia', 'Dance On', snare on 'Positivity') to Sheila.

Batman - no acoustic drum performances

Graffiti Bridge - no acoustic drum performances by Prince (All sources point to John Melvoin as drummer on 'We Can Funk'. Morris Day is credited for 'NPG' and Sheila for the title track.)

From this point on Michael Bland takes over acoustic drum duties on Prince albums through 1996. It is believed by most that Kirk Johnson played drums on 'One of Us' and 'The Love We Make' from Emanciaption. Mike Bland handled acoustics on 'BBGW' and 'Saviour'.

Crystal Ball - Prince drums on the following: 'Crystal Ball', 'Dream Factory', 'Movie Star', 'Sexual Suicide', 'Last Heart' (triggers), and 'Make Yo Mama Happy'. Quite a feast for fans of Prince's drumming (like me!!)

The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale - I always thought that Prince played drums on 'OF4S'. However, Sheila E. is included in the list of players on the album, so perhaps she is the drummer on this track.

OK. I'm gonna take a break now (I think I deserve one). But I'll be back later with a list of songs that Prince has (possibly) drummed on for his outside projects (The Time, The Family, etc.)

Anyone spot anything here I left out, please post.

-SWANGsays'PHEW!!!'

XLBubba said:

Hans Buff told me that Mike Bland laid down drums on 'Baby Knows', 'Vavoom', and 'Cybersingle' in one day.

-SWANGcouldn'tresist

SWANG said:

Bobby Z is listed as a heaven sent helper. Didn't he drum on Bambi?

rockwilder said:

I may be in the minority here, but I think Morris Day played on 'If a Girl Answers'. I also think he played on 'The Stick', 'Wild & Loose', and 'The Walk'.

That's just me, though. Listen to 'Baconskin' and see if you come to the same conclusions.

-SWANGjustlovesthisthread!!!

chickengrease said:

It's possible. I've found no source that confirms it, but I'll listen again. Prince admitted that Andre sang on it, so maybe Bobby had his hands in it too!

-SWANGmakesanotherappearance

SWANG said:

Andre on "Why You Wanna Treat Me So bad"?&You Can Hear Him in other spots.Bobby Z. did a few things early on.

SWANG said:

if Morris played on "BaconSkin" then what about "Tricky"&Irrestiable Bitch"???the Skin Pattern has the Same Groove IMHO.

mistermaxxx said:

Prince indicated that Morris played on 'Baconskin'. In the liner notes for Crystal Ball. He also indicates that this groove inspired more like it including 'Irresistable Bitch'.

Prince probably drummed on 'Tricky' and DEFINITELY drummed on ' Irresistable Bitch'.

P.S. - What up, maxxx?!!!

-SWANGcan'tstayaway

SWANG said:

Good Hearing from you.Dug this Post&your other Ones as well.Peace

rockwilder said:

i thought GOD (inst) was a live studio joint by Revolution.
i thought it was Bobby Z on those drums.
same 4 Another Lonely Christmas

Who played drums on

"Power Fantastic"
and
"4 The Tears In Your Eyes" [both original and acoustic vs]?

Joshy84au said:

nope, that's all prince for sure. i can spot his drumming a mile off.

SWANG, what an awesome list! I love Prince's drumming, and I'm going to check these tracks out again.

But how are you SURE Prince drummed on Irresistible Bitch and Tricky? If Morris drummed on Clorene, why not the other two?

SWANG said:

That isvery possible.The sound IS very similar.Just what the HELL did Jellybean play?See,I REALLY need access to the vault and ALL recording information.

I feel very positive that Prince played on Irresistable and Tricky.I alos think he played on LastHeart or If U Break MY Heart 1 More Time