lwr001 said:

What i dont get about this alan leeds thing Is he is a music manager and not a journalist blogger etc.. Artist stick.together in terms of their collective distrust of suits no matter who they may think they are. Why would he jepordize his rep and career for a petty statement like thT. The only other time i can recall a manager or ex manager publicly throwing this type of shade is the collins guy who managed aerosmith. Had real nasty shit to say about steven tyler,,,that mfer cant even get arrested in hollyood now

Dude is almost 70, he's made his money, and his reputation. He's allowed to express his opinion on Prince's performance.

[Edited 11/4/14 7:26am]

jaawwnn said:

lwr001 said:

What i dont get about this alan leeds thing Is he is a music manager and not a journalist blogger etc.. Artist stick.together in terms of their collective distrust of suits no matter who they may think they are. Why would he jepordize his rep and career for a petty statement like thT. The only other time i can recall a manager or ex manager publicly throwing this type of shade is the collins guy who managed aerosmith. Had real nasty shit to say about steven tyler,,,that mfer cant even get arrested in hollyood now

Dude is almost 70, he's made his money, and his reputation. He's allowed to express his opinion on Prince's performance.

[Edited 11/4/14 7:26am]

ok, so has Prince so im sure he gives nary a fuck what alan has to say..what reputation btw,, being road manager and writing liner notes..

lwr001 said:

jaawwnn said:

Dude is almost 70, he's made his money, and his reputation. He's allowed to express his opinion on Prince's performance.

[Edited 11/4/14 7:26am]

ok, so has Prince so im sure he gives nary a fuck what alan has to say..what reputation btw,, being road manager and writing liner notes..

No one is doubting prince's reputation. And if Alan Smith has no reputation then what is it exactly that he is jeopardizing?

jaawwnn said:

lwr001 said:

ok, so has Prince so im sure he gives nary a fuck what alan has to say..what reputation btw,, being road manager and writing liner notes..

No one is doubting prince's reputation. And if Alan Smith has no reputation then what is it exactly that he is jeopardizing?

reputation was your word not mine; i said career, you said he got his money and reputation

lwr001 said:

jaawwnn said:

No one is doubting prince's reputation. And if Alan Smith has no reputation then what is it exactly that he is jeopardizing?

reputation was your word not mine; i said career, you said he got his money and reputation

You said "rep and career". I dunno, maybe by rep you meant his klout score. Look, petty fighting aside, my point is that I don't think it's going to lead to him being blacklisted by anyone. He hasn't bad-mouthed prince here, he didn't call him a control-freak maniac as others have in the past, he just expressed his disappointment because he knows what prince is capable of. Perhaps he overstepped a little, as you said i'm sure Prince gives "nary a fuck" what he has to say, so what's the issue?

Brendan said:

I totally respect his right to say this, but I don't agree with any of it. There will likely be plenty of time for Prince to sit at a piano stool and blow us away with the subtlety of age. There's probably no rush. He'll likely still be doing this in his 80s, long after he's able to authentically burn his guitar. The easiest thing for any of us to do is get our unique blueprint mixed up in the pursuits of others

Agree 100%.

jaawwnn said:

lwr001 said:

reputation was your word not mine; i said career, you said he got his money and reputation

You said "rep and career". I dunno, maybe by rep you meant his klout score. Look, petty fighting aside, my point is that I don't think it's going to lead to him being blacklisted by anyone. He hasn't bad-mouthed prince here, he didn't call him a control-freak maniac as others have in the past, he just expressed his disappointment because he knows what prince is capable of. Perhaps he overstepped a little, as you said i'm sure Prince gives "nary a fuck" what he has to say, so what's the issue?

Fair enough, today Prince will sell out a venue in Toronto in an hour for at min one show possibly two and Alan will go back managing the food and drug intake of D'Angelo

I think that Alan Leeds is entitled to his opinion (while I don't agree with it) and has a right to communicate it, but there is one thing I don't get.

.

Something I have always appreciated when it came to his statements (let it be here or on other websites) was how accurate and well-structured they were. In this recent statement he made, I have difficulties to get the point. What exactly did he dislike about the SNL performance? It had something to do with the way Prince displayed the female musicians, apparently, and it had something to do with him doing a cover song, and it had something to do with too much show taking away the attention from the music - is this halfway correct? However, Leeds has mixed all these aspects somehow to a large salad of opinion(s) on the expense of clarity.

.

Then again, he probably did not intend his statement to be a press release or something like that...

EmancipationLover said:

I think that Alan Leeds is entitled to his opinion (while I don't agree with it) and has a right to communicate it, but there is one thing I don't get.

.

Something I have always appreciated when it came to his statements (let it be here or on other websites) was how accurate and well-structured they were. In this recent statement he made, I have difficulties to get the point. What exactly did he dislike about the SNL performance? It had something to do with the way Prince displayed the female musicians, apparently, and it had something to do with him doing a cover song, and it had something to do with too much show taking away the attention from the music - is this halfway correct? However, Leeds has mixed all these aspects somehow to a large salad of opinion(s) on the expense of clarity.

.

Then again, he probably did not intend his statement to be a press release or something like that...

yep,,prince should have let lianne stay center stage for the whole performance not just the song she sings on..lol

Actually rick james had released material before his solo motown days..

He was in a group called the Mynah Birds w/ Neil Young.. Signed to Motown Records

My point was simply that RICK Jumped on the Prince bandwagon like everybody else after Purple Rain...

novabrkr said:

Ego101 said:

Add Rick James to your list someone who was 'THE MAN' pre Prince.
[...]

I would, but Prince actually had his first record out before Rick James had his first record out! Come Get It! came out a few weeks after For You did.

Rick just became a star on his own right before Prince did and was more experienced as a songwriter and musician (he was already in his 30s). That can easily provide one the impression that Rick had been releasing records before Prince did, but that's not the case. Of course, once Prince did albums like 1999 and Purple Rain Rick started copying him too and sometimes the copying was so blatant that you'd just have to shake your head in disbelief (the intro to "New York Town" that's pretty much the same as on "Lady Cab Driver", the music video to "Glow" ripping off "Purple Rain", the sitar stuff on "The Flag", "Loosey's Rap" having more than just a passing resemblance to Prince's stuff from the SOTT days, etc.). He said he disliked Prince but it seemed like he wanted to be him at the same time.

Polo1026 said:

EmancipationLover said:

I think that Alan Leeds is entitled to his opinion (while I don't agree with it) and has a right to communicate it, but there is one thing I don't get.

.

Something I have always appreciated when it came to his statements (let it be here or on other websites) was how accurate and well-structured they were. In this recent statement he made, I have difficulties to get the point. What exactly did he dislike about the SNL performance? It had something to do with the way Prince displayed the female musicians, apparently, and it had something to do with him doing a cover song, and it had something to do with too much show taking away the attention from the music - is this halfway correct? However, Leeds has mixed all these aspects somehow to a large salad of opinion(s) on the expense of clarity.

.

Then again, he probably did not intend his statement to be a press release or something like that...

that's my problem with it too. I feel he has a point but somehow it comes off as an someone missing their ex and wants to cry.

Alan Leeds is just voicing his opinion...the same way that we all do,every day,on this site He's entitled to his opinion.What he said is actually rather tame compared to things that other ex-associates have said about Prince.

OldFriends4Sale said:

Alan Leeds comments on Prince's performance during Saturday Night Live.

(Alan Leeds was Prince's tour manager as well as James Brown & Chris Rock)

"Alan Leeds: Sometimes less is more.
Prince on SN...L - I fully realize I'm opening up a can of worms here, will probably regret saying this tomorrow, but I'm so disappointed by someone who has so much more to offer than mixed agendas that get in the way of his usually brilliant music.
I love his lifelong devotion to promoting women in rock but the appearance on SNL proved only that a girl band can play clichés, the talented Lianne La Havas can be under-utilized and Prince is no Alice Smith. In trivializing Smith's song has Prince embraced Alice's right to cover one of HIS songs? File this appearance under trying to do too much and ending up not doing much at all. Many, many years ago Prince asked me why he wasn't taken more seriously as a musician and I suggested he leave the bells and whistles home and tour in jeans and turtleneck, placing all the focus on the music. He sarcastically replied, "what? And look like you?". Back then he was probably right and I was naïve. BUT two decades later and two decades older, I would suggest the same thing. Leave the costumes and cartoon logos to the kids and give the music the mature respect it deserves. A shame..........a master lowering the bar is never fun to watch."

Where was Alan Leeds comment printed?

One big key to Alan's statement: will probably regret saying this tomorrow.

He probably already does. It was stupid, and one of the few times I've not agreed with him. In fact, it is the only time I thought he was out of his mind. He could mention Tony M and the Star Trek Next Generation uniforms them Game Boyz were sportin' if he needed to crack on Prince. The SNL performance was fine. Maybe not legendary, but it was damn good to my ears and eyes.

KlyphIsBackAgain said:

Because you don't play "musicians" music. You make slightly complex pop music.

I gotta agree with this (and I'm a person who still enjoys quite a bit of Prince's recent music)... His output of the last couple years has seemed less like a master musician breaking from modern cliches, and more like a musician proving that he can still hang..

To me, moments when Prince is being more of a "musician's musician" in modern times would be Rainbow Children, One Nite Alone..., several songs on Musicology.. But I like most of the new albums anyway. Seems like he's having fun, so whatever.

I have to lol about the "musicians" music comment. What, the Beatles were not making "musican's
music? The Stones? Who quantifies this?

I don't like a lot of Prince's newer music, but that statement is smarmy at best, and incredibly dumb at worst. If that was the case, nearly every recorded artist would fit the bill. Especially since most artsist as nowhere near as prolific as Prince.

My only issue with Alan's comments is the fact that he treats people like D'angelo & Questlove with respect (because they worship him) ..

but, funnily enough not his ex employer PRINCE

who is worshipped by D'angelo & Questlove more than they worship Alan!

[Edited 11/5/14 2:44am]

Superconductor said:

I've always found Alan Leeds' comments to be quite perceptive.

.

Me normally too - and this has nothing to do with them being positive or negative about Prince and his work. Any critical remarks Leeds ever made about Prince were normally very thoughtful and somewhat understandable, which does not mean that I necessarily think he was right.

.

And this is what irritates me now: his recent statement being so confuse and unfocused. It's just not up to his standards to voice his opinion in such an unstructured manner.

EmancipationLover said:

Superconductor said:

I've always found Alan Leeds' comments to be quite perceptive.

.

Me normally too - and this has nothing to do with them being positive or negative about Prince and his work. Any critical remarks Leeds ever made about Prince were normally very thoughtful and somewhat understandable, which does not mean that I necessarily think he was right.

.

And this is what irritates me now: his recent statement being so confuse and unfocused. It's just not up to his standards to voice his opinion in such an unstructured manner.

I found the comment quite clear. Basically, he thinks there was too much going on and no focus on the music.

And I guess he doesn't like 3EG and the silly glasses

rap said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

Alan Leeds comments on Prince's performance during Saturday Night Live.

(Alan Leeds was Prince's tour manager as well as James Brown & Chris Rock)

"Alan Leeds: Sometimes less is more.
Prince on SN...L - I fully realize I'm opening up a can of worms here, will probably regret saying this tomorrow, but I'm so disappointed by someone who has so much more to offer than mixed agendas that get in the way of his usually brilliant music.
I love his lifelong devotion to promoting women in rock but the appearance on SNL proved only that a girl band can play clichés, the talented Lianne La Havas can be under-utilized and Prince is no Alice Smith. In trivializing Smith's song has Prince embraced Alice's right to cover one of HIS songs? File this appearance under trying to do too much and ending up not doing much at all. Many, many years ago Prince asked me why he wasn't taken more seriously as a musician and I suggested he leave the bells and whistles home and tour in jeans and turtleneck, placing all the focus on the music. He sarcastically replied, "what? And look like you?". Back then he was probably right and I was naïve. BUT two decades later and two decades older, I would suggest the same thing. Leave the costumes and cartoon logos to the kids and give the music the mature respect it deserves. A shame..........a master lowering the bar is never fun to watch."

Where was Alan Leeds comment printed?

I got that off FB

Aerogram said:

Fauxie said:

Prince isn't sophisticated enough these days to get the nuance and subtlety of a song like Another Love, so his doesn't touch the original. Feel on the verses is ok, but his version is bells and whistles and no soul. Just rock it up and put a guitar solo on it (like One of Us). It's why the original trounces the cover because while the cover makes for a nice enough track it's just run of the mill. Could've been any song covered and done like that and he'd have done the same treatment and the same nice enough but unimaginative job with it. I agree with nearly all Alan Leeds said. I'd like to see him in his mature, badass, credible musician phase, not playing dressing up and trying to be a popstar. Alice Smith's last album was better than AOA, too, while I'm here. She's fantastic.

LOLs -- Prince isn't sophisticated enough after 40 years in the business as a songwriter? That's a patently patronizing statement that makes no sense. The only way it makes sense is that he's been the habitual target of so many bitter, funkier than thou fans that many really do think of him as a musical butler instead of the genius he is.

As for Alice Smith, she's great and it's nice that people are into her music but let's talk in 10 years and see if "Prince is no Alice Smith". As for Alan Leeds, if all he has to say is advise him to wear jeans and put down his performance in ridiculous terms, maybe he's the dude that needs advice cuz now he just sounds like your drunk uncle that is semi-retired and likes to relive his former professional glories by sending his unsollicited advice to his former boss.

'These days', no. You think experience accumulates and an artist just gets better and better in every way? Prince has made brilliant tracks like 'Ballad of Dorothy Parker' that are all about nuance and subtlety and songwriting, but I don't think he can do that anymore. If he can, he's not showing it at the moment. People peak and then they fall, they don't just keep rising and rising with experience. That was a bit naive and fammy of you. Genius, he was.

Fauxie said:

V10LETBLUES said:

I have to lol about the "musicians" music comment. What, the Beatles were not making "musican's
music? The Stones? Who quantifies this?

I don't like a lot of Prince's newer music, but that statement is smarmy at best, and incredibly dumb at worst. If that was the case, nearly every recorded artist would fit the bill. Especially since most artsist as nowhere near as prolific as Prince.

That's a very subjective matter. Still, Prince's new music still has some decent musical elements. AOA is a fine album, but it does suffer from a bit too much reliance on "Young people ear candy." The stupid Auto Tune, the stupid sound effects. It's like he's dumbing it down to pander to people 12-25, who only "Hear" music, and can't possibly "LISTEN." For a over 50 year old, he's still writing good songs, and still can write a great one. He never was good at telling the difference between good, bad, wonderful or awful songs. They are all good to him. He probably likes Jughead every bit as much as The Ballad of Dorothy Parker. He just has NO IDEA how to judge his own material. No other artist in their right mind would NEVER play Computer Blue, but continue to play Play That Funky Music...over and over and over...NOBODY. But Prince is crazy...batshit crazy....which is both why I love him, and why he is super annoying.

lwr001 said:

jaawwnn said:

You said "rep and career". I dunno, maybe by rep you meant his klout score. Look, petty fighting aside, my point is that I don't think it's going to lead to him being blacklisted by anyone. He hasn't bad-mouthed prince here, he didn't call him a control-freak maniac as others have in the past, he just expressed his disappointment because he knows what prince is capable of. Perhaps he overstepped a little, as you said i'm sure Prince gives "nary a fuck" what he has to say, so what's the issue?

Fair enough, today Prince will sell out a venue in Toronto in an hour for at min one show possibly two and Alan will go back managing the food and drug intake of D'Angelo

MJ007 said:

lwr001 said:

Fair enough, today Prince will sell out a venue in Toronto in an hour for at min one show possibly two and Alan will go back managing the food and drug intake of D'Angelo

Let me revise,, have a whole lot of poor souls standing in the rain for the possibilty of a concert.

stillwaiting said:

V10LETBLUES said:

I have to lol about the "musicians" music comment. What, the Beatles were not making "musican's
music? The Stones? Who quantifies this?

I don't like a lot of Prince's newer music, but that statement is smarmy at best, and incredibly dumb at worst. If that was the case, nearly every recorded artist would fit the bill. Especially since most artsist as nowhere near as prolific as Prince.

That's a very subjective matter. Still, Prince's new music still has some decent musical elements. AOA is a fine album, but it does suffer from a bit too much reliance on "Young people ear candy." The stupid Auto Tune, the stupid sound effects. It's like he's dumbing it down to pander to people 12-25, who only "Hear" music, and can't possibly "LISTEN." For a over 50 year old, he's still writing good songs, and still can write a great one. He never was good at telling the difference between good, bad, wonderful or awful songs. They are all good to him. He probably likes Jughead every bit as much as The Ballad of Dorothy Parker. He just has NO IDEA how to judge his own material. No other artist in their right mind would NEVER play Computer Blue, but continue to play Play That Funky Music...over and over and over...NOBODY. But Prince is crazy...batshit crazy....which is both why I love him, and why he is super annoying.

I agree with this. Especially the pandering but also, acepting who he is.

For Alan Leeds: