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Thread started 03/09/13 8:39am

NuPwrSoul

The Story of Recording Ballad of Dorothy Parker - Susan Rogers Intvu Parts 2 & 3

He was a perfect example of an artist who didn’t need to rely on any special kind of tool, any special conditions, any special kind of situations; he didn’t believe in any voodoo or magic associated with the work. If you’ve got the goods you can show up at any studio with any console with any microphone – he didn’t care if he used his expensive microphone or his cheap one, he didn’t care – you can record under any circumstances if you’re the real deal and that’s how he was. He wasn’t going to let a little thing like no high end stop him from making music.

Part 2 of that Susan Rogers interview here.

Part 3 is here.

(EDIT: Sorry corrected link. Should work now.)

"That...magic, the start of something revolutionary-the Minneapolis Sound, we should cherish it and not punish prince for not being able to replicate it."-Dreamshaman32
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Reply #1 posted 03/09/13 8:44am

maja2405

^

confused

can't find the page, is it just me?

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Reply #2 posted 03/09/13 9:00am

LadyZsaZsa

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maja2405 said:

^


confused


can't find the page, is it just me?




No.

And, NPS, I love that quote.
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Reply #3 posted 03/09/13 9:12am

NuPwrSoul

Sorry--corrected link. Should work now.

"That...magic, the start of something revolutionary-the Minneapolis Sound, we should cherish it and not punish prince for not being able to replicate it."-Dreamshaman32
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Reply #4 posted 03/09/13 10:11am

Efan

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Love this. I could read her recollections of those recording sessions all day.

[Edited 3/9/13 10:12am]

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Reply #5 posted 03/09/13 11:06am

SynthiaRose

He was a perfect example of an artist who didn’t need to rely on any special kind of tool, any special conditions, any special kind of situations; he didn’t believe in any voodoo or magic associated with the work.

The interview was kinda all over the place for me, but interesting.

She says he doesn't believe in any "magic or voodoo" associated with the work....

BUT she had just finished telling the story of PRince conceiving Dorothy Parker while dreaming..(of course we know he came up with the opening to LRC while dreaming too...) Sounds like a little magic and more than just technical creation. I don't know why she threw that "magic" phrase in...it didn't fit what she was talking about (using special tools) and muddled her statement.

And one can argue he does like special conditions ... there are always stories about him setting up some bizarre recording environment... using beds, honey...

I just think the terms used in her description don't really convey what she was trying to say. I know she meant that he didn't need the technical atmosphere to be perfect ....

I thought there were several contrasting/contradictory segments of the interview due to strange word choice. (Like the very next part of the interview, she gave so many details about how he wants the studio set up that it shows he does like extensive "special conditions." I'm sure other engineers understood what she was saying, but as a layperson I thought her descriptions of his recording personality were confusing).

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Reply #6 posted 03/09/13 11:12am

NuPwrSoul

Part three here.

"That...magic, the start of something revolutionary-the Minneapolis Sound, we should cherish it and not punish prince for not being able to replicate it."-Dreamshaman32
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Reply #7 posted 03/09/13 11:20am

NuPwrSoul

Rogers on the strength of the Sign o' the Times tracks:

Most of these titles can be stripped down to just their melodies or just their rhythm tracks and they would be compelling and interesting.

I think for me also, that is increasingly how I hear music, Prince included. And when I hear his most recent work, I'm always searching for the melody, the the rhythm, and/or the lyrics. It's why a track like "Rock n Roll Love Affair" did not move me.

"That...magic, the start of something revolutionary-the Minneapolis Sound, we should cherish it and not punish prince for not being able to replicate it."-Dreamshaman32
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Reply #8 posted 03/09/13 1:11pm

RicoN

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I think if someone was going to do a prince bio-pic then teiiling it from Susan's POV would be pretty good

Hamburger, Hot Dog, Root Beer, Pussy
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Reply #9 posted 03/09/13 1:45pm

murph

This is dope...Thanks for sharing this...For real...

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Reply #10 posted 03/09/13 3:25pm

NuPwrSoul

Efan said:

Love this. I could read her recollections of those recording sessions all day.

[Edited 3/9/13 10:12am]

Same here! It's like watching a cook in the kicthen.

"That...magic, the start of something revolutionary-the Minneapolis Sound, we should cherish it and not punish prince for not being able to replicate it."-Dreamshaman32
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Reply #11 posted 03/09/13 5:48pm

prime

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Nice! I love to read inside stories. I don't need my man’s personal information, but I like reading about the day to day stuff in the studio...how songs came about... I wish they asked her if he is always dressed like "Prince".... on an off day when it's just the two of them in the studio is he sitting there in full costume.

Great interview....wish she would write a book.

to be honest....I wish there were more stories about Prince and what he is really like. The 21 Nights book was NOT a book of his day to day life....it was all controlled by Prince. I remember hearing the bodyguard from Purple Rain (Chuck?) talking about how they would go to KFC and eat chicken "he really loved their chicken".

Prime aka The Kid

"I need u to dance, I need u to strip
I need u to shake Ur lil' ass n hips
I need u to grind like Ur working for tips
And give me what I need while we listen to PRINCE"
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Reply #12 posted 03/09/13 5:59pm

LadyZsaZsa

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Prince asked her if she’d like to take a minute and warm up vocally, she replied that she was always warm vocally. For most singers this is a hollow boast, but it was true in her case. She has an excellent voice and did the vocal very quickly.


LoL...It seems like it was a compliment. Like he expected her to burst into a solfege. But not that she needed to. falloff
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Reply #13 posted 03/09/13 6:22pm

datdude

NuPwrSoul said:

Rogers on the strength of the Sign o' the Times tracks:

Most of these titles can be stripped down to just their melodies or just their rhythm tracks and they would be compelling and interesting.

I think for me also, that is increasingly how I hear music, Prince included. And when I hear his most recent work, I'm always searching for the melody, the the rhythm, and/or the lyrics. It's why a track like "Rock n Roll Love Affair" did not move me.

I understand your point, but I think its ironic that in a thread that originated about TBODP, a "stream of consiousness" type song, that RRLA would be blasted for its lack of the same. I think it's a different TYPE of stream of consciousness song. The lyrics are decent enough but it doesn't fit the "traditional" song structure in its arrangement. Its not a fave of mine either, but I think i get what he was going for on the song

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Reply #14 posted 03/09/13 10:37pm

Fonkyman

Cheers for posting. I read it all and now I'm blind. All I can see is white text on a black background everywhere I look. Interesting read though.

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Reply #15 posted 03/09/13 11:05pm

NuPwrSoul

datdude said:

NuPwrSoul said:

Rogers on the strength of the Sign o' the Times tracks:

I think for me also, that is increasingly how I hear music, Prince included. And when I hear his most recent work, I'm always searching for the melody, the the rhythm, and/or the lyrics. It's why a track like "Rock n Roll Love Affair" did not move me.

I understand your point, but I think its ironic that in a thread that originated about TBODP, a "stream of consiousness" type song, that RRLA would be blasted for its lack of the same. I think it's a different TYPE of stream of consciousness song. The lyrics are decent enough but it doesn't fit the "traditional" song structure in its arrangement. Its not a fave of mine either, but I think i get what he was going for on the song

I wasn't blasting it lol. Just her talking about reducing a song to its miminal elements... and how they can make or break a song... made sense to me. The chord structure and melody of RNR Love Affair is very weak. There is no hook. It's not interesting. No way in the vain that TBODP is. I'm not fixating on the lyrics so much as I am the basic musical elements.

"That...magic, the start of something revolutionary-the Minneapolis Sound, we should cherish it and not punish prince for not being able to replicate it."-Dreamshaman32
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Reply #16 posted 03/10/13 3:24am

Praxis

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Really positive read. If only the level of critique found here could be more prevalent here. Prince's art is vast, deep and to be approached with appreciation - as I sense SR does.
No justice, No peace
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Reply #17 posted 03/10/13 3:38am

pray4rain

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Thanks a lot for posting! Much appreciated smile

Really great to read background information on the recording sessions and techniques.

Is anyone familiar with similar interviews or articles on Prince's recording?

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Reply #18 posted 03/10/13 6:22pm

SchlomoThaHomo

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Damn it, Susan!! PLEEEEEEEEEASE WRITE A BOOK!!!!!!!!!! Now before it's too late!!!!!!

"That's when stars collide. When there's space for what u want, and ur heart is open wide."
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Reply #19 posted 03/10/13 7:13pm

popgodazipa

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" If you can imagine stripping down a lesser song to just its melody and lyrics and then learning its chord progression, you may find that it is pretty insubstantial without the arrangements and recording techniques that support it."

Can someone please elaborate on this quote from Susan...non musician.

1 over Jordan...the greatest since
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Reply #20 posted 03/10/13 9:19pm

NuPwrSoul

SchlomoThaHomo said:

Damn it, Susan!! PLEEEEEEEEEASE WRITE A BOOK!!!!!!!!!! Now before it's too late!!!!!!

okay?!? Her and Alan Leeds. Two books that are in desperate need of being written.

"That...magic, the start of something revolutionary-the Minneapolis Sound, we should cherish it and not punish prince for not being able to replicate it."-Dreamshaman32
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Reply #21 posted 03/10/13 10:52pm

datdude

NuPwrSoul said:

datdude said:

I understand your point, but I think its ironic that in a thread that originated about TBODP, a "stream of consiousness" type song, that RRLA would be blasted for its lack of the same. I think it's a different TYPE of stream of consciousness song. The lyrics are decent enough but it doesn't fit the "traditional" song structure in its arrangement. Its not a fave of mine either, but I think i get what he was going for on the song

I wasn't blasting it lol. Just her talking about reducing a song to its miminal elements... and how they can make or break a song... made sense to me. The chord structure and melody of RNR Love Affair is very weak. There is no hook. It's not interesting. No way in the vain that TBODP is. I'm not fixating on the lyrics so much as I am the basic musical elements.

TBODP doesn't have a hook either, just the refrain at the end of the song, and its arrangement is VERY sparse. I think RNR has a LOT more going on sonically, and musically but it doesn't help it as a song. TBODP is just more imaginative from a storytelling standpoint

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Reply #22 posted 03/11/13 9:01am

NuPwrSoul

datdude said:

NuPwrSoul said:

I wasn't blasting it lol. Just her talking about reducing a song to its miminal elements... and how they can make or break a song... made sense to me. The chord structure and melody of RNR Love Affair is very weak. There is no hook. It's not interesting. No way in the vain that TBODP is. I'm not fixating on the lyrics so much as I am the basic musical elements.

TBODP doesn't have a hook either, just the refrain at the end of the song, and its arrangement is VERY sparse. I think RNR has a LOT more going on sonically, and musically but it doesn't help it as a song. TBODP is just more imaginative from a storytelling standpoint

TBODP has a much more interesting melody and chord structure than RNR, imo.

"That...magic, the start of something revolutionary-the Minneapolis Sound, we should cherish it and not punish prince for not being able to replicate it."-Dreamshaman32
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Reply #23 posted 03/12/13 10:10am

OldFriends4Sal
e

NuPwrSoul said:

SchlomoThaHomo said:

Damn it, Susan!! PLEEEEEEEEEASE WRITE A BOOK!!!!!!!!!! Now before it's too late!!!!!!

okay?!? Her and Alan Leeds. Two books that are in desperate need of being written.

Definately and add Lisa Coleman,

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Reply #24 posted 03/14/13 12:09pm

dJJ

Nice read.

99% of my posts are ironic. Maybe this post sides with the other 1%.
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Reply #25 posted 03/15/13 5:55am

OldFriends4Sal
e

God 4 the rain,

Susan Rogers: energy

Thanks 2 all, may u live 2 see the Dawn.

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Reply #26 posted 03/15/13 8:03am

KCOOLMUZIQ

Eye love the studio prince...Its my dream 2 witness him there. But after reading Susan's story, Eye did kinda figure he would want 2 b totally alone in there...Eye mean how else could he create those everlasting "MasterPieces" without being alone? Susan is so lucky 2 witness & b apart of that. Eye would have liked 2 b a fly on the wall. prince is unmatched n the studio. Eye live 4 these stories.

But eye wonder how prince feels about her given away his studio secrets...hmmm

Thx Susan! biggrin

eye will ALWAYS think of prince like a "ACT OF GOD"! N another realm. eye mean of all people who might of been aliens or angels.if found out that prince wasn't of this earth, eye would not have been that surprised. R.I.P. prince
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Reply #27 posted 03/15/13 8:23am

Genesia

avatar

Efan said:

Love this. I could read her recollections of those recording sessions all day.

nod

We don’t mourn artists because we knew them. We mourn them because they helped us know ourselves.
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Reply #28 posted 03/15/13 8:34am

OldFriends4Sal
e

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Eye love the studio prince...Its my dream 2 witness him there. But after reading Susan's story, Eye did kinda figure he would want 2 b totally alone in there...Eye mean how else could he create those everlasting "MasterPieces" without being alone? Susan is so lucky 2 witness & b apart of that. Eye would have liked 2 b a fly on the wall. prince is unmatched n the studio. Eye live 4 these stories.

But eye wonder how prince feels about her given away his studio secrets...hmmm

Thx Susan! biggrin

I think even with what she talked about, there is still the ideal that "You Had 2 Be There" type of experience

For me the most interesting Prince/studio/recording/rehearsal stories are from the 1976-1989 years, not out of preference for the Music/Bands, but because those were still like the dark ages as far as recordings and studio equipment, technology is concerned. And those times were still very makeship and experimental it seems. It makes it more interesting. the 1970s and 1980s are my favorite timeline periods anyway.

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Reply #29 posted 03/15/13 9:04am

imago

Genesia said:

Efan said:

Love this. I could read her recollections of those recording sessions all day.

nod

co-nod

I LOVE the Sign 'o' The Times period in Prince's life.

It was so chalk full of interesting tunes. He was really spreading his wings back then.

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