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SoundOnSound Classic Tracks article: Kiss http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun13/articles/classic-tracks-0613.htm
Originally intended for another group, ‘Kiss’ was quickly reclaimed by Prince when he heard David Z’s arrangement. Despite record company scepticism, the track became his third number one single and rejuvenated his career.
Prince on stage, 1986.Photo: Photoshot/Shooting Star
Prince is very competitive and I think that’s a driving force,” says David Z. “The competition factor drives him on and on and on. He wants to be better than the next person and he often succeeds at achieving that. I remember when Madonna got a $60 million record deal. Everybody was in awe, and Prince was walking around, going, ‘$60 million? Shit! I’m gonna get a $90 million record deal!’ That’s the kind of competitive spirit he has. He’s got more energy than anybody. I’d get calls at two in the morning to come into the studio and work. He’s nonstop.”
From A To Z
David Z is, arguably, best known for his work with the multi-talented, Minneapolis-based artist, ranging from the live 1983 recording of his signature song ‘Purple Rain’ to the arrangement and engineering of the iconic ‘Kiss’ which, following its February 1986 release, peaked at number six in the UK and became Prince’s third American number one. Nevertheless, Z does have a far more extensive track record: engineering and playing guitar on Lipps Inc’s 1980 transatlantic disco smash ‘Funkytown’, producing and engineering the Fine Young Cannibals 1988 US chart topper ‘She Drives Me Crazy’, and earning production, engineering, instrumental and/or compositional credits for, among others, Sheila E, Jermaine Jackson, Jody Watley, The BoDeans, Buddy Guy, A-ha, Etta James, Joe Cocker, John Mayall and Jonny Lang.
Born David Rivkin in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Z played guitar in various local rock bands as a teenager and eventually landed a job there as a promotions man for A&M Records. Then, in 1968, after complaining to the company about the quality of records he was expected to push to radio stations, he was told by his LA boss, “If you think you can do better, pack your bags, get in your car and move out here.”
This is what Z did, and soon thereafter he was also signed to A&M as a songwriter. This and his skill as a guitarist came in handy during the next five years, which saw him play on records by the likes of Billy Preston, while earning a co-composer credit with Gram Parsons on his debut album GP for the track ‘How Much I’ve Lied’.
“It was like going to school,” Z says. “I didn’t really know all that much before leaving Minneapolis. However, I high-tailed it back there after Gram Parsons died. Those were the days of the hippie movement, drugs and free love, and I needed to return to some sense of normalcy.”
Sunset Sound’s Studio 2 was often the venue for Prince sessions and was also where the Mazarati version of ‘Kiss’ was recorded.
Photo: Hannes Bieger
In Minneapolis, as a means of surviving in the music business, David Z arranged with a local booking agent to cut band demos at ASI Studios, in order to secure the bands local club gigs.
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I'll just point out that the photo is obviously not from 1986 or that era in general.
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Of course not.
But I'm still interested to see the whole article. This is just the freely accessible part. | |
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