This year Prince has contributed to the studio recordings of Larry Graham, Andy Allo and Shelby Johnson. Judging from the quality of Prince's Prince's production (method of recording, musical technologies and result of the artists' voice and talent) could Prince resume producing or writing songs for other artists outside of his circle this late in his career. I was pleasantly surprised to hear Anthony Hamilton mentioned in the same sentence as P for the "North Carolina song.

Also, by producing for other artists he could introduce himself to a younger demographic of fans who are too young to remember his prime output but can connect with him via the artists' who were influenced by him.

No, because his approach is way too outdated.

No...his days as a great producer of other artists,has come and gone.The 80s was when he had the golden touch.I doubt that he could produce outstanding music for other artists these days.

Sure he could, but I don't think the sound he'd come up with would be similar to the sound most producers put out these days.

It would be much, much better but it wouldn't sell.

bashraka said:

This year Prince has contributed to the studio recordings of Larry Graham, Andy Allo and Shelby Johnson. Judging from the quality of Prince's Prince's production (method of recording, musical technologies and result of the artists' voice and talent) could Prince resume producing or writing songs for other artists outside of his circle this late in his career. I was pleasantly surprised to hear Anthony Hamilton mentioned in the same sentence as P for the "North Carolina song.

Also, by producing for other artists he could introduce himself to a younger demographic of fans who are too young to remember his prime output but can connect with him via the artists' who were influenced by him.

Huh???

What did Shelby release this year???

^ Re Shelby:

See this thread:

http://prince.org/msg/5/390567

q.. Could Prince become a viable producer for other artists again?

a.. I don't think so, Prince can't even produce a hit song for himself, unfortunately.

Prince is 2 caught up in his own world 4 that.

[Edited 12/7/12 6:49am]

prince would either produce your album for free if he'd consider you a close friend

or if he'd want to get into your pants.

barring that, he'd charge you 5 million to produce your album. it's not happening

I think he did a good job on Andy's album as an exec (on the songs we know of for sure, at least).

Dave1992 said:

I think he did a good job on Andy's album as an exec (on the songs we know of for sure, at least).

Agree.

Hes done a good job thuis year

thepope2the9s said:

Dave1992 said:

I think he did a good job on Andy's album as an exec (on the songs we know of for sure, at least).

Agree.

To me he sounds like more than an exec on that album, and the lyrics is very Princey to me. And this album is imo a very good one. If we give it some time, bit has the chance of selling better than most of his own last albums. It needs good promotion and good videos, as well as enough blogs, magazines and web pages reviewing it. It mos def has great potential. This is promising for the future of Prince.

No, when it comes to viable mainstream radio hits.

now a days the HITS on the radio is based on trends. carbon copies of what was the last hit.

This type of music does not challenge the artist nor the listener.

Prince is always doing something different than the rest. Todays popular radio is not

ready for anything different or truly artistic, with exception to Adele.

The only way ANY producer can be viable in todays market is if they make some fist pumping

anthem about "putting your glasses up", "filling your cup up" or "partying on the week end". With a single kick on all four beats.

Listen to any recent hits from Rhianna, LMAFO, "gagnam style", ne-yo, ect ect They all have the exact same pattern, drum programing and feel.

I think Prince wants no part of todays industry and rather handle things his own way.

which I commend him for.

[Edited 12/7/12 10:19am]

nyse said:

No, when it comes to viable mainstream radio hits.

now a days the HITS on the radio is based on trends. carbon copies of what was the last hit.

This type of music does not challenge the artist nor the listener.

Prince is always doing something different than the rest. Todays popular radio is not

ready for anything different or truly artistic, with exception to Adele.

The only way ANY producer can be viable in todays market is if they make some fist pumping

anthem about "putting your glasses up", "filling your cup up" or "partying on the week end". With a single kick on all four beats.

Listen to any recent hits from Rhianna, LMAFO, "gagnam style", ne-yo, ect ect They all have the exact same pattern, drum programing and feel.

I think Prince wants no part of todays industry and rather handle things his own way.

which I commend him for.

[Edited 12/7/12 10:19am]

In todays rnb/soul world we've got artists like Frank Ocean, James Blake and The Weeknd. All are 100 000 more challenging to the listener than the average new Prince song. Yet they make it BIG. How do we explain this? THey also are moving forward with their style. Frank OCean the ecclectic experimenting semi avant garde rnb pop act, and The Weeknd who is actually in many ways changing the whole sound of rnb to come with the sound that is influenced by UK underground electronic music such. James Blake is also introducing a minimalistic spacey soul/rnb dubstep thing that probably will influence many to come. These can. Why not Prince? Prince is getting older, and not as hungry as when he was young. But he is perfectly capable to create effortles new mature music that is just good. Not history changing, but just good music. Artists such as Bob Dylan and Tom Waits are still recording great music in many peoples opinion. But are they changing the game right now? Or are the just making good music? None of these oldies will be inventors again, but they might write great songs, although maybe a bit more traditional and "safe". Prince did an amazing job to me with Superconductor. It's not avant garde, nor is it changing the game. But one thing he still is capable of is to be a leader of modern funk perfectionism.

Replica said:

thepope2the9s said:

Agree.

To me he sounds like more than an exec on that album, and the lyrics is very Princey to me. And this album is imo a very good one. If we give it some time, bit has the chance of selling better than most of his own last albums. It needs good promotion and good videos, as well as enough blogs, magazines and web pages reviewing it. It mos def has great potential. This is promising for the future of Prince.

Replica said:

thepope2the9s said:

Agree.

To me he sounds like more than an exec on that album, and the lyrics is very Princey to me. And this album is imo a very good one. If we give it some time, bit has the chance of selling better than most of his own last albums. It needs good promotion and good videos, as well as enough blogs, magazines and web pages reviewing it. It mos def has great potential. This is promising for the future of Prince.

Mos definitely more than an exec ...Yellow Gold should be his...Im sure it was already recorded and he pulled it out and gave it to her. But as a whole..a really solid album. Glad to hear the horns throughout. Can tell he cared about this project and put in the time.

langebleu said:

^ Re Shelby:

See this thread:

http://prince.org/msg/5/390567

Cool

Thanks

Replica said:

nyse said:

No, when it comes to viable mainstream radio hits.

now a days the HITS on the radio is based on trends. carbon copies of what was the last hit.

This type of music does not challenge the artist nor the listener.

Prince is always doing something different than the rest. Todays popular radio is not

ready for anything different or truly artistic, with exception to Adele.

The only way ANY producer can be viable in todays market is if they make some fist pumping

anthem about "putting your glasses up", "filling your cup up" or "partying on the week end". With a single kick on all four beats.

Listen to any recent hits from Rhianna, LMAFO, "gagnam style", ne-yo, ect ect They all have the exact same pattern, drum programing and feel.

I think Prince wants no part of todays industry and rather handle things his own way.

which I commend him for.

[Edited 12/7/12 10:19am]

In todays rnb/soul world we've got artists like Frank Ocean, James Blake and The Weeknd. All are 100 000 more challenging to the listener than the average new Prince song. Yet they make it BIG. How do we explain this? THey also are moving forward with their style. Frank OCean the ecclectic experimenting semi avant garde rnb pop act, and The Weeknd who is actually in many ways changing the whole sound of rnb to come with the sound that is influenced by UK underground electronic music such. James Blake is also introducing a minimalistic spacey soul/rnb dubstep thing that probably will influence many to come. These can. Why not Prince? Prince is getting older, and not as hungry as when he was young. But he is perfectly capable to create effortles new mature music that is just good. Not history changing, but just good music. Artists such as Bob Dylan and Tom Waits are still recording great music in many peoples opinion. But are they changing the game right now? Or are the just making good music? None of these oldies will be inventors again, but they might write great songs, although maybe a bit more traditional and "safe". Prince did an amazing job to me with Superconductor. It's not avant garde, nor is it changing the game. But one thing he still is capable of is to be a leader of modern funk perfectionism.

The thing is to be a "viable" producer now you have to sound like everyone else, the mainstream right now, or what sells is so watered down and so overproduced and just identical its such a uneventful thing, there are some new ones out there, but because the mainstream is dominated by boring stuff and everything now has to sell or else, you rarely even hear good production anymore. Thing is people confuse "sounds" with a person producing an artist, slapping dance beats on Nelly Furtado to sound like Justin Timberlake to sell is NOT a producer, but thats what people think is production.

For the new cats like Bruno Mars and The Weekend, i respect the change, but there is nothing really there thats new, its just a change from the normal sound, i dont view them as "visionaries" by any means, maybe down the line it will get more interesting to see what they produce right now its just different than the norm but not new. As for older artists doing new music thats great, its true alot are, but there is no "place" or playing field for them to be heard, there is no radio with open minds, so someone older is never really gonna have that VOICE.

Prince basically gave-up being a songwriter/producers for other artists in 1994, most likely because he wasn't willing anymore to "sell" his songs and their masters to other labels. The next year, for zsome unexplained reasons, he also gave-up having his own label exept for his own records: he probably realized that there was no need for a new Paisley Park and that he didn't need to be behind other artists to be considered an important artist anymore, but who knows what really happened?

Is he trying to make a come-back of sorts as a producer? I don't think so. He fell in love with Andy's songwriting and decided to help her with her career. Shelby's solo project was long overdue: Prince is obviously in love with her voice so I didn't understand why she wouldn't record a solo project with him. And it's likely that R&RLA is there only to help give these 2 projects some visibility, by having the general public getting some interest in what Prince is doing lately.

Prince surely could get some success by recording some nu-soul oriented stuff, à la Amy Winehouse, but save recording music with the people in his inner-circle, I don't think he gives a shit about working with other people, or being a successful producer again.

Prince can barely produce for himself anymore . If his songs are handed off to other producers who are more up to par today, maybe it could work. But Prince is such a asshole, I'm sure the music wouldn't ever come out.

Tittypants said:

Prince can barely produce for himself anymore . If his songs are handed off to other producers who are more up to par today, maybe it could work. But Prince is such a asshole, I'm sure the music wouldn't ever come out.

I'd like to second this

IMO his production of AA's album holds your answer - excellent production.

80spfantwp said:

Tittypants said:

Prince can barely produce for himself anymore . If his songs are handed off to other producers who are more up to par today, maybe it could work. But Prince is such a asshole, I'm sure the music wouldn't ever come out.

Then he wouldn't be the producer. Many of you don't understand the creative process. No other type of artist is ridiculed for not collaborating or asked to forfeit the right to retain their own vision. Do we expect novelists, painters, or film directors for instance to stop creating on their own when they no longer live up to their own reputations? If you don't like the work you just don't buy it.

whodknee said:

Tittypants said:

Prince can barely produce for himself anymore . If his songs are handed off to other producers who are more up to par today, maybe it could work. But Prince is such a asshole, I'm sure the music wouldn't ever come out.

Then he wouldn't be the producer. Many of you don't understand the creative process. No other type of artist is ridiculed for not collaborating or asked to forfeit the right to retain their own vision. Do we expect novelists, painters, or film directors for instance to stop creating on their own when they no longer live up to their own reputations? If you don't like the work you just don't buy it.

Preach!

80spfantwp said:

IMO his production of AA's album holds your answer - excellent production.

ok,

do you really like that?

Boring music imo, judging on the lead single..

Production made significant leaps forward in the 90's, and Prince couldn't keep up. He's been a mostly bad producer ever since except for his more organic sounding works like TRC and Lotus. He keeps returning to outdated 80's sounds much of the time, and the result sounds cheap and nostalgic.

I cannot believe so many people think he cannot produce anything good anymore.

Andy Allo's latest CD is very well produced.

TRC (amazing), 3121 or LotusFlower are examples of great productions in the last 10 years.

His only real failures as a producer are his attempts to use the LinnDrum again. It does not sound right.

But I don't know many producers who can produce so many different genres of music.