I am old enough to remember the early 80s and how everyone was ripping off Prince and the Minneapolis Sound. It was blatant and comical. These greasy little jheri curled R&B bands in cheap Merry Go Round suits would pop up on BET (back when it was actually black and played music videos) every couple of months with some flimsy ditty that sounded like so much lame pablum from 1999 or Purple Rain. My underground new wave buddies and I were so addicted to Prince that we actually hunt through the shopping mall record stores (remember those?) for the cassettes (remember those?) of these bands before they disappeared in a poof of purple smoke and returned to oblivion.

In retrospect, there were a few of these arbitrary singles that managed to kick up some dust and actually get some airplay for a hot minute. A number of them were actually fun. One that comes to mind is Dancing in the Sheets by Shalamar. I remember hearing the first time and thinking how did they think they could get away that keyboard riff that is dam near identical to the one in 1999 - which was already a huge crossover hit (back then that meant a black artist actually got a video played on MTV). I laughed out loud whe I saw their video and there was an actual Prince clone on guitar named Micki Free - even his name sounded like the title of a Prince song!

Where are the old heads out there with a deep knowledge of Prince history? Do you have old Prince rip-off song that you have fond memroies of?

Oh Sheila

Ready For The World

Dreamboy

Sexual Harrassment

also,look at Rick James' "Glow" video,and The System's "Pleasure Seekers" video

also,in 1985,there was a band called Exotic Storm.I've never heard their record,but I read a very negative review that said it was truly a Prince rip-off....

SoulAlive said:

also,in 1985,there was a band called Exotic Storm.I've never heard their record,but I read a very negative review that said it was truly a Prince rip-off....

https://www.youtube.com/w...lH5JJPtKM0

I submit for your consideration:

https://www.youtube.com/w...8I58EtRMNk

OMG - I forgot how funny this video can be

[Edited 1/15/15 21:13pm]

Averett said:

SoulAlive said:

also,in 1985,there was a band called Exotic Storm.I've never heard their record,but I read a very negative review that said it was truly a Prince rip-off....

https://www.youtube.com/w...lH5JJPtKM0

that song is terrible truly generic sounding garbage!

What about the Deele, they had a Prince like dude on their album cover. A lot of these groups played their own shit and had their own look until Prince came along, and then every group had its dudes with black eyeliner, quiffed Jheri Curls, technicolour zoot suits, columns, marbled backings, and jagged guitars. Truly Prince started an industry, I think Linn saw a 4000% increase in drum machine sales in 1985 alone and Maybelline ran out of Black magic and mysterious nights eye liner.

.

Fishnets and camisoles became the must have accesory and of course activator sales went through the roof. Probably the worst imitators were people like Rick James who's albums the Flag and Beautiful were clearly Prince based rip offs in sound and looks. Even George Michael could be accussed being like Prince for songs like "I want your sex" and TTD with "Sign your name" and "Wishing well" all those these were the best Prince rip offs, yet with enough original sauce of their own.

.

My choice - Ready for the World - Oh Sheila as that group probably had no reason to exist before Prince. Followed closely by a song by the Brakays which I have forgot (Midnight loving?) and Mr Operator by Midnight Star sounds Prince/New Edition like, but I lovedMidnight Star and "No Parking on the Dancefloor" alone gives them a pass.

.

Outside of the USA, I think System Addict by Fivestar is pretty bad Prince rip off and Rocket 2 U by the Jetts (Tongans in the USA), although that song is at least decent, so yeah Oh Sheila.

Averett said:

SoulAlive said:

also,in 1985,there was a band called Exotic Storm.I've never heard their record,but I read a very negative review that said it was truly a Prince rip-off....

https://www.youtube.com/w...lH5JJPtKM0

Funniest shit I have seen this year, androgynous Dez Dickerson lookalike dude with a Paisley Print guitar, a Brownmark wannabe x 2, a scary looking Morris Dude in a yellow curtain, some Sheila E and Susan Moonsie girls and that scary looking white guy in the St Paul/Bobby Z suit. I am sure Prince tried to sue these MOFOs. But the brutha with the hands on his crotch in the raspberry coloured leggings is priceless!!!

.

And the album dropped in May 1986. They were a bit behind the times, Prince had dropped that whole look around mid 1985.

[Edited 1/17/15 2:57am]

They have a few more, all dated 1986. They have a fairly good Mazarati/Jesse Johnson/Family/ The Time type sound as well.

.

This song here is better features some Time like banter - You better git with it (I still can not put these videos on these posts)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0ia3yHqOow

.

I've got to be your lover - Lead singer looks like Morris and MarkBrown combined.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvgBfml0n8k

.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdRxrpyJtpw

I'll save you from the world.

.

Its actually not that bad, the album was called "In the Beginning" and they were from Racine Wisconsin, but Tommy the lead singer heard Prince's 1999 and decided to move to Minneapolis and start his band which totally ripped its look and sound off Prince and his satellites.

[Edited 1/16/15 0:22am]

Their album has a song called "I'll Save You From The World",which includes this ridiculous lyric...

bombs will be dropping everywhere....they'd better not harm your silky hair

I guess that's their attempt to rewrite the song "1999"?

Here's a 1984 song by the Bar Kays....check out the obvious similarity to "DMSR"

"Dance,Party,Etc" by Bar Kays

Black and White from that pedophile MF.

[Edited 1/16/15 11:23am]

I can't believe nobody has mentioned uptown funk yet

Adorecream said:

Averett said:

https://www.youtube.com/w...lH5JJPtKM0

Funniest shit I have seen this year, androgynous Dez Dickerson lookalike dude with a Paisley Print guitar, a Brownmark wannabe x 2, a scary looking Morris Dude in a yellow curtain, some Sheila E and Susan Moonsie girls and that scary looking white guy in the St Paul/Bobby Z suit. I am sure Prince tried to sue these MOFOs. But the brutha with the hands on his crtch in the raspberry coloured leggings is priceless!!!

I'm still trying to figure out why the drummer appeared to be wearing Barbara Bush's pearls

SoulAlive said:

Here's a 1984 song by the Bar Kays....check out the obvious similarity to "DMSR"

"Dance,Party,Etc" by Bar Kays

Fucking hell that's a pretty blatant rip isn't it, it's like they're not even pretending to differentiate the song from DMSR at points. Also I had no idea that the Bar-Kays survived the troubles Stax Records had in the late 60s, so it's weird to know these old RnB dudes that I was vaguely aware of from the Stax singles collection were suddenly jumping on the Minneapolis bandwagon in the mid 80s

Ripoff or tribute?

..

Zapp - Itchin'

..

https://www.youtube.com/w...Cv-GTcJG7M

[Edited 1/16/15 3:56am]

"The Morning After".... Oops sorry, thought you meant monetarily.

Adorecream said:

Averett said:

https://www.youtube.com/w...lH5JJPtKM0

... and that scary looking white guy in the St Paul/Bobby Z suit.

He is kinda creepy isn't he?!?

JoshuaWho said:

I am old enough to remember the early 80s and how everyone was ripping off Prince and the Minneapolis Sound.

.

And yet this thread hasn't even got more than a dozen examples, most of them utterly obscure.

.

"Everyone" my ass.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMyvpqjrZUE

I actually dug Ebonee Webb back in the day, but this is a straight rip-off of Head.

RaspBerryGirlFriend said:

SoulAlive said:

Here's a 1984 song by the Bar Kays....check out the obvious similarity to "DMSR"

"Dance,Party,Etc" by Bar Kays

Fucking hell that's a pretty blatant rip isn't it, it's like they're not even pretending to differentiate the song from DMSR at points. Also I had no idea that the Bar-Kays survived the troubles Stax Records had in the late 60s, so it's weird to know these old RnB dudes that I was vaguely aware of from the Stax singles collection were suddenly jumping on the Minneapolis bandwagon in the mid 80s

.

The Bar-Kays get a pass just because of 'Holy Ghost'... especially the 12" extended version.

SoulAlive said:

Ready For The World

Dreamboy

Sexual Harrassment

also,look at Rick James' "Glow" video,and The System's "Pleasure Seekers" video

THe concept for Rick James' Glow video is a blantant rip off of Purple Rain. I laughed out loud during the opening sequence - it even looked like they tried to get the same backstage extras litering in the hallway outside the dressing room. Rick has a white guitar and a ruffled shirt - scandalous!

SoulAlive said:

also,in 1985,there was a band called Exotic Storm.I've never heard their record,but I read a very negative review that said it was truly a Prince rip-off....

I have this album and it is probably the worst Prince rip album ever made that I like to play for its cheesiness. The single "I Know You Got A Crush On Me" isnt half bad and the video is unintentionally hilarious.

Averett said:

I submit for your consideration:

https://www.youtube.com/w...8I58EtRMNk

OMG - I forgot how funny this video can be

[Edited 1/15/15 21:13pm]

Georgio is my favorite Prince clone. He was pretty and had some talent (just not enough and not as much as hee thought - he used to equate himself with Prince and Micheal Jackson, if I recall his interviews on BET correctly).

Adorecream said:

What about the Deele, they had a Prince like dude on their album cover. A lot of these groups played their own shit and had their own look until Prince came along, and then every group had its dudes with black eyeliner, quiffed Jheri Curls, technicolour zoot suits, columns, marbled backings, and jagged guitars. Truly Prince started an industry, I think Linn saw a 4000% increase in drum machine sales in 1985 alone and Maybelline ran out of Black magic and mysterious nights eye liner.

.

Fishnets and camisoles became the must have accesory and of course activator sales went through the roof. Probably the worst imitators were people like Rick James who's albums the Flag and Beautiful were clearly Prince based rip offs in sound and looks. Even George Michael could be accussed being like Prince for songs like "I want your sex" and TTD with "Sign your name" and "Wishing well" all those these were the best Prince rip offs, yet with enough original sauce of their own.

.

My choice - Ready for the World - Oh Sheila as that group probably had no reason to exist before Prince. Followed closely by a song by the Brakays which I have forgot (Midnight loving?) and Mr Operator by Midnight Star sounds Prince/New Edition like, but I lovedMidnight Star and "No Parking on the Dancefloor" alone gives them a pass.

.

Outside of the USA, I think System Addict by Fivestar is pretty bad Prince rip off and Rocket 2 U by the Jetts (Tongans in the USA), although that song is at least decent, so yeah Oh Sheila.

I would not call TTD a Prince rip off. THere was a way to be influenced while being original without being a rip off. If there wasnt, you could call Prince a James Brown/Sly Stone/Jimi Hendrix/Little Richard rip off...and we all know nothing could be further fromt he truth.

TTD was the one Prince contemporary in the 80s that could even dream of being close to him as far as musical talent, showmanship, and overall artistic ability was concerned.

Giovanni777 said:

RaspBerryGirlFriend said:

Fucking hell that's a pretty blatant rip isn't it, it's like they're not even pretending to differentiate the song from DMSR at points. Also I had no idea that the Bar-Kays survived the troubles Stax Records had in the late 60s, so it's weird to know these old RnB dudes that I was vaguely aware of from the Stax singles collection were suddenly jumping on the Minneapolis bandwagon in the mid 80s

.

The Bar-Kays get a pass just because of 'Holy Ghost'... especially the 12" extended version.

True - but go listen to their 80s material. THey ripped off everybody - Prince, Micheal Jackson, Rick James, Cameo. GO find a song called "Banging THe Walls" - it lifts the entire groove from Erotic City...so bad that I liked it since it was released.

JoshuaWho said:

Giovanni777 said:

.

The Bar-Kays get a pass just because of 'Holy Ghost'... especially the 12" extended version.

True - but go listen to their 80s material. THey ripped off everybody - Prince, Micheal Jackson, Rick James, Cameo. GO find a song called "Banging THe Walls" - it lifts the entire groove from Erotic City...so bad that I liked it since it was released.

.

Ha. Word, they were very similar to Cameo in the respect that they were an existing group with a place in history of the Funk, then "re-invented" themselves in the '80s. Well, at least they were both better at it than the older Rock acts were. There were so many Rock acts ripping Prince, that I can't even count them... Don Henley and Phil Collins come to mind.

JoshuaWho said:

Adorecream said:

What about the Deele, they had a Prince like dude on their album cover. A lot of these groups played their own shit and had their own look until Prince came along, and then every group had its dudes with black eyeliner, quiffed Jheri Curls, technicolour zoot suits, columns, marbled backings, and jagged guitars. Truly Prince started an industry, I think Linn saw a 4000% increase in drum machine sales in 1985 alone and Maybelline ran out of Black magic and mysterious nights eye liner.

.

Fishnets and camisoles became the must have accesory and of course activator sales went through the roof. Probably the worst imitators were people like Rick James who's albums the Flag and Beautiful were clearly Prince based rip offs in sound and looks. Even George Michael could be accussed being like Prince for songs like "I want your sex" and TTD with "Sign your name" and "Wishing well" all those these were the best Prince rip offs, yet with enough original sauce of their own.

.

My choice - Ready for the World - Oh Sheila as that group probably had no reason to exist before Prince. Followed closely by a song by the Brakays which I have forgot (Midnight loving?) and Mr Operator by Midnight Star sounds Prince/New Edition like, but I lovedMidnight Star and "No Parking on the Dancefloor" alone gives them a pass.

.

Outside of the USA, I think System Addict by Fivestar is pretty bad Prince rip off and Rocket 2 U by the Jetts (Tongans in the USA), although that song is at least decent, so yeah Oh Sheila.

I would not call TTD a Prince rip off. THere was a way to be influenced while being original without being a rip off. If there wasnt, you could call Prince a James Brown/Sly Stone/Jimi Hendrix/Little Richard rip off...and we all know nothing could be further fromt he truth.

TTD was the one Prince contemporary in the 80s that could even dream of being close to him as far as musical talent, showmanship, and overall artistic ability was concerned.

Yep.