Prince hasn't often used horns on album tracks, let alone consistently throughout an album, but, from the occassional horn-arrangements on some of the albums...

...which album boasts the best use of horns (either consistently, or just on a couple of songs)?



While the horns in Billy Jack Bitch are probably the tightest and funkiest horns he has ever put on an album, just this one song doesn't suffice for me to put TGE.
Instead, I would like to nominate New Power Soul. Not only do horns reoccur quite often on that album, but the arrangements, lines and harmony changes in horns are simply mad. Some of them are completely T.O.P. inspired and absolutely tight.

If you listen to the whole album focusin on the horns more than the loud drum programming and synth effects, it actually adds a whole new dimension to it. NPS is not the plastic garbage that many on here seem to associate with it. And the horns add to its quality.


What do you think?



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[Edited 11/27/13 11:34am]

The album COME as well, a lot of horns, not the best but still...

Dave1992 said:

Prince hasn't often used horns on album tracks, let alone consistently throughout an album, but, from the occassional horn-arrangements on some of the albums...

...which album boasts the best use of horns (either consistently, or just on a couple of songs).



While the horns in Billy Jack Bitch are probably the tightest and funkiest horns he has ever put on an album, just this one song doesn't suffice for me to put TGE.
Instead, I would like to nominate New Power Soul. Not only do horns reoccur quite often on that album, but the arrangements, lines and harmony changes in horns are simply mad. Some of them are completely T.O.P. inspired and absolutely tight.

If you listen to the whole album focusin on the horns more than the loud drum programming and synth effects, it actually adds a whole new dimension to it. NPS is not the plastic garbage that many on here seem to associate with it. And the horns add to its quality.


What do you think?

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Excellent post and topic. I agree that the horns on 'New Power Soul' are incredibly well arranged, and there's some sick harmonies going on. Combine that with the haunting vocal harmonies from Prince and Marva King, and it's actually a rich, dense album.

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I'd also put the "symbol album" right next to 'New Power Soul' for horn usage.

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[Edited 11/21/13 7:08am]

I'd add two of the 00's: The Rainbow Children and, although not strictly a Prince album, Superconductor.

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I confess I've forgotten everything about New Power Soul. I may give it a spin again just to focus on the horns, but I fear a horrible 45 minutes session, or whatever it lasted, because the songcraft on the album seemed awkward to me back in the day...

I also agree I like New Power Soul too. The entire sound of it.

I actually wish Prince kept up with that more modern funk sound for a while rather than moving too far to jazz. Was a good place to be and he couldve made more out of it.

Come alos comes into mind. Come, Race, Dark, Let It Go, all those songs. Its a great album, I really dont understand why people dont like it. Probably because are more used to pop.

I love both Come and NPS - traditionally I've placed Come much higher artistically than NPS, but over the last few years I've listened to NPS more (probably because I'm in a much less dark place than the one where Come usually really speaks to me). NPS has a dark kinda vibe to it, too, but with joyness at the same time. I dunno. The production is definitely still kidna plastic, but overall I like it eons better than Rave. And the horns on both Come and NPS are divine.

But hey, I'm listening to Hot Summer right now, so take whatever I say with a whole shaker full of salt.

Come, probably. Symbol's pretty good too.

I don't think people should overlook the horn stuff on Parade, SOTT and Lovesexy either.

Javi said:

I'd add two of the 00's: The Rainbow Children and, although not strictly a Prince album, Superconductor.

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I confess I've forgotten everything about New Power Soul. I may give it a spin again just to focus on the horns, but I fear a horrible 45 minutes session, or whatever it lasted, because the songcraft on the album seemed awkward to me back in the day...

Yeah, Superconductor boasts some fantastic horn stuff too, especially People Pleaser, of course!



And yes, the songcraft on NPS definitely is awkward! But, to me, that's exactly what makes it so special. It's completely bonkers. Once you start warming up to the harmonies and melody lines of a part, he hits you with a completely new part and changes pitch so effortlessly. Just the title track alone is like a mad scientist's pop-funk!

The Vault would be one of my picks

COME.

Its true New Power Soul a bit eccentric or quirky, but everyone should be used to that right now, its Prince. (just look at the image of him on the cover, which is great.) Its a really sexy album once you listen to it though, almost every single track layed out oozes sexuality, mainly with its bassy lows and new funk style and arrangements.

Not to mention some of the lyrics and word play is good in it

"I got the butter for your muffin"

"This beat I got is specially designed, to make you lose your phone number to somebody fine"

"Youll get nothing but another night of vibration"

Subtile tones and harmony in his voice is also good. I think when things get a reputation of being odd or different people dont go with it, but it is a pretty good body of work.

Maybe this one?

http://www.youtube.com/wa...6sf8I#t=31

I'm voting for the album. Amazing horns on that one.

eyewishuheaven said:

COME.

Yes.. the Come title track is excellent, and I love those horns..

toejam said:

I'm voting for the album. Amazing horns on that one.

love the segue part so funny

Come was my first thought. i love the horns in the title track. toe jam kindly explained them all to me once upon a time.

No one's said it, yet. So, I will. It's the obvious choice, Parade. Cue, 'Mountains' or 'Girls & Boys' or the extended version of 'Anotherloverholenyohead'. I, generally, dislike horns, unless it's James Brown. However, I liked them on Parade.

Old Friends 4 Sale

1. The Rest of My Life"
2. "It's About That Walk"
3. "She Spoke 2 Me"
4. "5 Women"
5. "When the Lights Go Down"
6. "My Little Pill"
7. "There Is Lonely"
8. "Old Friends 4 Sale"
9. "Sarah"
10. "Extraordinary"

kenkamken said:

Old Friends 4 Sale

1. The Rest of My Life"
2. "It's About That Walk"
3. "She Spoke 2 Me"
4. "5 Women"
5. "When the Lights Go Down"
6. "My Little Pill"
7. "There Is Lonely"
8. "Old Friends 4 Sale"
9. "Sarah"
10. "Extraordinary"

That one is very high on my list too!

toejam said:

I'm voting for the album. Amazing horns on that one.

Goldnigga

And my bootleg of Act II in Paris, which has the NPG & NPG Horns with an instrumental opening set.

Pentacle said:

Goldnigga

And my bootleg of Act II in Paris, which has the NPG & NPG Horns with an instrumental opening set.

interesting. Can you share what songs were played on that instrumental opening set?

I'm really curious.

thnx

MrMoops said:

Pentacle said:

Goldnigga

And my bootleg of Act II in Paris, which has the NPG & NPG Horns with an instrumental opening set.

interesting. Can you share what songs were played on that instrumental opening set?

I'm really curious.

thnx

Songs like Deuce & A Quarter, Oilcan, Six. Check out princevault for further details.

williamb610 said:

No one's said it, yet. So, I will. It's the obvious choice, Parade. Cue, 'Mountains' or 'Girls & Boys' or the extended version of 'Anotherloverholenyohead'. I, generally, dislike horns, unless it's James Brown. However, I liked them on Parade.

I 2nd that. That various horns & wind instruments used on that album was just perfect. And it had it's own new Purple Music sound.

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Eric Leeds plays the horns

Trumpet by Atlanta Bliss
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Gene Cipriano, Don Ashworth, John Clarke, Dave Edwards, Gary Foster, Jim Kanter, John Lowe, Dick Mitchell, Jack Nimitz, Joe Soldo, Bob Tricarico - woodwinds

Ray Brown, Rich Cooper, Bob Findley, Larry Ford, Bob O'Donnell, Al Vizutti - trumpets

Garnett Brown, Charles Loper, Morris Repass, Bill Watrous - trombones

Marni Johnson, David Duke, Joe Myer, Brian O'Connor, Calvin Smith, Jim Thatcher - French horns

Tommy Johnson - tuba

.

Special thanks 2 Clare Fischer 4 making brighter the colors Black & White

Pentacle said:

MrMoops said:

interesting. Can you share what songs were played on that instrumental opening set?

I'm really curious.

thnx

Songs like Deuce & A Quarter, Oilcan, Six. Check out princevault for further details.

wow, I have no recolection of that. Especially playing any of the Madhouse stuff live.

Must've been something we threw together before that show. I do remember doing What is Hip, and Intermission, but I thought we only did those in a few aftershows.