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.)

^

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

maja2405 said:

Sorry--corrected link. Should work now.

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

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

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).

Part three here.

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

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

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.

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".

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

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.

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.

Thanks a lot for posting! Much appreciated

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

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

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

" 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.

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.

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

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.

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,

Nice read.

God 4 the rain,

Susan Rogers: energy

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

Eye love the studio ...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. is unmatched n the studio. Eye live 4 these stories.

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

Thx Susan!

Efan said:

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

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Eye love the studio ...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. is unmatched n the studio. Eye live 4 these stories.

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

Thx Susan!

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.

Genesia said:

Efan said:

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

co-

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.