The Starr ★ Company

2 night I'm livin' in a fantasy
My own little nasty world
2 night, don't U wanna come with me?

the Hookers

leather lingerie camisoles

Denise Matthews Brenda Bennett Susan Moonsie the Time

Jill Jones Dez Dickerson Terry Lewis Jesse Johnson
Jamie Shoop

Kiowa Trail Home Studio, Chanhassen, MN
Allen Beaulieu - photography

In general, the music made by Prince, The Time and Vanity 6 is a new sort of funk music - expansive, open to new rhythms and off-beat ideas. Best of all, it's a radical sound that's commercially successful, something adventurous music rarely achieves these days.By Ken Tucker Sunday, November 21, 1982

Nasty Girl
Bite the Beat
Make Up

Drive Me Wild

2 Much

Mink Kitty Cat
He's So Dull

I Need A Man

3 x 2 = 6

If A Girl Answers(Don't Hang Up)
Wet Dream

Moral Majority

"All eight of these dumb, dancy little synth tunes get me off when I let my guard down, and most of them are funny, hooky, and raunchy at the same time." ~The Village Voice, Robert Christgau

[img:$uid]http://i63.tinypic.com/dxzhqu.jpg[/img:$uid]

Prince Builds His Kingdom

As the mystery in Minneapolis grows wider, more and more wonder who's really doing what to earn those gold records which are accumulating among Prince's entourage.

He wears his sexuality just above the knees, where his uni-sex leg-warmers end and his fleshy thighs begin. His multi-racial politics dart in and out of darkens and light between religious doom-saying and party-hearty platitudes. Born with a dirty mind, he's learned the music au natural, with no guidance, no lessons, no waiting.

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.

Self described as "his mother's favorite freak," Prince has a grand chance at becoming a King. But to those who first plucked him from obscurity in north Minneapolis at age 17, he's a "very thorny rose," a five-foot-two Napoleon in drag. He's also super secret. And at 23 years, the handsome kid in his Frederics of Hollywood underwear and Humphery Bogart's (studded) trenchcoat is quickly becoming the most talked about, least understood mystery musicmaker on the block. Here in Minneapolis-St. Paul (America's Twin Cities located in the quiet, and often cold, north country), we simply call him "His Royal Badness," founding father of The Time, master designer behind Vanity 6. The man-child behind the curtain. Sometimes he plays unannounced with his band in our bars.

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Ironic as it is, that sad situation may prove to be the ideal environment for the one-man sex and music machine. Prince still makes his home here, out of one of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes, 20 minutes from the cities. His family, including his divorced father, who leads a musical life of his own, and one of his sisters, who sings in a local Black gospel choir is scattered across the Twin Cities. One of nine children, Prince Rogers Nelson can go about his business, recording in his private studio, the one located "somewhere in uptown." Or he can hang out at the First Avenue club where he has often tested out his latest jams on an unsuspecting dance crowd. Nobody bothers him much, even when he's in the cool company of his good pal Morris Day from The Time, or Vanity from Vanity 6. If he feels claustrophobic, he can commute to Los Angeles or New York. Being famous insures a smooth getaway.

.

.

.

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Enter Vanity 6, stage left. Vanity 6 is Prince's female alter ego, three pinup peculiar princesses in lingerie who peddle excessive street eroticism that borders on soft-core porn. On their debut record (another Warner Bros. product, by the way), the nasty girls work through a blue testament series of sex scenarios that covers the familiar turf of "Wet Dreams" and dull boyfriends. Unlike The Time, these daughters of controversy aren't from Minnesota's backwoods or alleys. Susan's from the Caribbean, Brenda's from Boston and the beautiful Vanity is a Canadian export from Toronto. How all three came to be Prince's V- girls is a case Kojak might consider.

The babes in lingerie share neither The Time's hit-hopping party funk or their home addresses. Instead, His Royal Badness has hung a more British brand of syntho-pop behind the album's best cuts, while snatching a JB lick for workouts like "Nasty Girls." In a live setting, The Time backs Vanity, with you know who looking over their shoulders. You see, it's family affair. And it's becoming so solidified that even Prince has begun dropping joke lines about Jamie Starr and his too wild and loose offspring. "Jamie Starr's a thief," he says on the new 1999 album. "The Time will fix your clock," and "Vanity 6 is so sweet" he mugs during "Dance,Music,Sex,Romance." So what if Prince is indeed the mystery man pulling the wool over our eyes? He's pitting people to work and giving the rest of the general population a proven formula for outrageousness in this year's unending depression. And so far, Prince's potent prescriptions have proven to be the most satisfying lethal doses of fun any listener on the rock or soul front lines, could ask for. Besides, his low profile, high octane output and pet projects give people here in the Twin Cities bars something to talk about all winter other than the cold. Did you think Prince wore those leg-warmers just for show?

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Nice! I love the background it fits the 1999 period

The Hookers/Vanity 6, home studio, late 1981 – early 1982
Moral Majority #1
Vagina – also the name offered to Denise Matthews when she joined The Hookers in January 1982

Home studio, early 1982
All The Critics Love U In New York (5:55)*
Do Yourself A Favour #2 (previously “If You See Me”) (8:41) (Pepé Willie)
Money Don’t Grow On Trees – possibly intended for The Hookers
No Call U #1 (3:02)

Vanity 6, Sunset Sound, 25 March – 9 April 1982 – album completed in May
Bite The Beat (3:13)* (Prince/Jesse Johnson)
He’s So Dull (2:32)* (Dez Dickerson) - produced, guitar & drums by Dez Dickerson
Too Much
Nasty Girl (5:16)*
Wet Dream #2 (4:11)*
Let’s Pretend We’re Married (7:20)* (30/3)
Wouldn’t You Love To Love Me? #4 (1/4)
Extra Loveable (7:06) (3/4)
If A Girl Answers (Don’t Hang Up) (5:35)* (Prince/Terry Lewis)
3 x 2 = 6 (5:22)* (5/4)
If It’ll Make U Happy (6/4)

Home studio, 1982
Boom, Boom, Can’t U Feel The Beat Of My Heart #1
Can’t Stop This Feeling I Got #1
Don’t Let Him Fool Ya #1
Fox Trap
Girl (7:36)*
Horny Toad (2:13)*
I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man #1
Lust U Always #1
Mink Kitty Cat #1 – intended for Vanity, tentative placing
My Baby Knows How To Love Me #1
New Position #1
Purple Music #1 (10:48)
Purple Music #2 (10:35) – extra guitar parts & vocal differences
Strange Relationship #1
Teacher, Teacher #1
U Should Be Mine (possibly instrumental) – offered to Eric Leeds in July 1989 for new Madhouse album
Yah, U Know #1
You’re My Love #1

Sunset Sound, 7-14 January 1983
Little Red Corvette (Dance Mix) (8:22)*
Drive Me Wild (Extended Version) (7:08)*

tongueinthecrease said:

When was this pic? [img:$uid]http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w418/tongueinthecrease/image_zpsvpy8z8mz.jpeg[/img:$uid]

from the back of the Vanity 6 album

photos from their WB album photoshoot

OldFriends4Sale said:

[img:$uid]http://i67.tinypic.com/2i8b05v.jpg[/img:$uid]

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

[img:$uid]http://i67.tinypic.com/2i8b05v.jpg[/img:$uid]

Great colors. They took a LOT of photos. I wonder are there many more we haven't seen from the Time.

Weren't these taken after a show?

[img:$uid]http://i67.tinypic.com/2wg56wx.jpg[/img:$uid]

Nasty Girl" was first recorded by Vanity 6 through Warner Bros. Records for their self-titled debut album Vanity 6. The track was released as the album's second single on October 1, 1982.

Nasty Girl

That's right, pleased 2 meet U
I still won't tell U my name
Don't U believe in mystery?
Don't U wanna play my game?
I'm lookin' 4 a man 2 love me
Like I never been loved before
I'm lookin' 4 a man that'll do it anywhere
Even on a limousine floor cuz..
CHORUS:
2 night I'm livin' in a fantasy
My own little nasty world
2 night, don't U wanna come with me?
Do U think I'm a nasty girl?
2 night I'm livin' in a fantasy
My own little nasty world
2 night, don't U wanna come with me?
Do U think I'm a nasty girl?

I guess I'm just use 2 sailors
I think they got water on the brain
I think they got more water upstairs
Than they got sugar on a candy cane
That's right, it's been a long time
Since I had a man that did it real good
If U ain't scared, take it out
I'll do it like a real live nasty girl should

CHORUS {x2}

Please, please {x2}
Nasty girl (Nasty girl)
Do U think I'm a nasty girl? {repeat 2 lines x4}
Oh (Do U think I'm a nasty girl?)
Oh (Nasty girl)
Nasty girl (Nasty girl)
Do U think I'm a nasty girl?
Oh

I don't like this groove
Try and give me something I can croon 2
Catch my drift?
That'll work

That's right, I can't control it
I need 7 inches or more
2 night, I can no longer hold it
Get it up, get it up, I can't wait anymore

Uh, it's time 2 jam
Dance nasty girls, dance
Everybody, uh, it's time 2 jam
Nasty girls, dance dance dance (Yeah)

Everybody, uh, it's time 2 jam
Nasty girls, dance dance dance
Uh, it's time 2 jam
Nasty girls, dance dance dance {repeat 2 lines x5}
(Are U gonna come?) {x4}
(Ooh ooh ooh)
Uh

Is that it?
Mm, wake me when U're done
I guess U'll be the only one having fun

© 1982 Girlsongs Music - ASCAP

Vanity - lead vocals Brenda Bennett - vocals Susan Moonsie - vocals Prince - all instruments (credited as The Time)

tongueinthecrease said:

What 3 fantasies were they trying to embody? Looks like they were trying to make Vanity the sex kitten type, Susan is the teen fantasy, and Brenda(?) is a rougher/biker chick. Idk how to resize, sorry.

Love that photo

Definately I think there is an outtake called Mink Kitty Cat so sex kitten definately fits Vanity,

I'll let Brenda answer too

"I think the 3 of us project an image that is slightly different...

Vanity is kinda nasty and vain; Susan is the sexy virgin;

and I'm a bit rougher."

work your body,make yourself sick

it tastes like caviar

the Vanity 6 album has some of the most outrageous lyrics! I always say that this album was ahead of its time.

if prince wanted to call her vagina originally how does the story work that i was reading about before that he met her backstage after an awards show and said he sees her as his female reflection or something and wanted to call her vanity? would he of just made that comment and called her vagina and then remembered his earlier comment another day and called her vanity from that?

Possessed: the Rise & Fall of Prince
Chapter Four: PAWNS

November 1981 - March 1982: Controversy tour of the United States

pg 49-50

Even as he struggled with the Time, Prince began planning another side project -an all-female group that would, again, perform his music and adopt a persona he created. Prior to the Controversy tour, three women were selected, rather, arbitrarily: girlfriend Susan Moonsie, wardrobe assistant Brenda Bennett (the wife of set designer Roy), and Jamie Shoop, an employee of Cavallo, Ruffalo & Fargnoli. Only Bennett had any singing experience. Prince planned to have the group, called the Hookers, wear lingerie onstage and sing sexually charged lyrics.

During the tour, plans shifted when Prince one evening at a club noticed an especially sexy woman; she was copper-skinned, sultry, and had an overall appearance very much like Prince's own. "It's been said that when they met, they both stopped in their tracks; looking at each other, it was like seeing themselves, but of the opposite sex," Alan Leeds. A scout was sent over to ask if she wanted to meet Prince, and she agreed.

The young woman, Denise Matthews, had show business aspirations and was thrilled when Prince said he wanted to construct a band around her. Prince was also wildly attracted to her, and they quickly became involved. Over the coming weeks, he explained to her the concept for the Hookers. She was taken aback, however, by the stage name he suggested for her: Vagina, albeit with the "I" pronounced as a long "E." She refused, but agreed to the name Vanity.

Work on the project began immediately after the Controversy tour. Since Prince wanted only three members, Jamie Shoop, who was more interested in learning the business of music than prancing about in her garters, bowed out, leaving a trio of Vanity, Moonsie, and Bennett. Prince dubbed the goup Vanity 6, a sly reference to the number of breasts in the ensemble.

The newly christened Vanity was neither and experienced nor talented singer, but she did have a charismatic stage presence. She also had a tough, sarcastic edge to her personality -seemingly just the trait required for the situation she found herself in.

In musical terms, Vanity 6, released in August 1982, finds Prince mining the same upbeat funk territory as on the Time. While hardly among his best works, the album does have some strong moments, such as the lubricious "Nasty Girl." The vocals are the projects weak point, as Vanity lacks the musical talent to pull off her role with much credibility Moonsie and Bennett handle lead chores as well on parts of the album, with neither showing much in the way of vocal chops.

But regardless of its deficiencies, Vanity 6, like The Time before it, demonstrated Prince's ability to turn side projects into commercial successes. The album reached No. 6 on the Black Chart and No. 45 on the Pop Chart, selling nearly 500,000 units during its initial run and achieving gold status in 1985. The group's titillating image generated media attention and helped pave the way for other female artists...

The album's cover credits were for the most part fictional. The so-called Starr Company (ostensibly an enterprise of the elusive Jamie Starr) and Vanity 6 split the credit for production and arrangment, while the songs themselves are credited to one or more members of the group, in collaboration with (on some songs) certain members of the Time. At the ASCAP copyright office, however, seven of the eight songs are registered as Prince compositions. (Dez Dickerson gets full credit for "She's So Dull," and Time members Terry Lewis and Jesse Johnson each get partial credit on a song.) Still, Prince's team parroted the party line that Vanity 6 was an independant group and that he had not been involved..

that passage says they met at a club but vanity says it was backstage at an awards show..?

Vanity...

tongueinthecrease said:

PurpleColossus said:

Vanity...To me, the most beautiful woman of all time

agreed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwR2E04vWU8

Dilan said:

that passage says they met at a club but vanity says it was backstage at an awards show..?

I believe it was an Awards show after party(that might have been at a club)

I believe this was the awards show night

1.25.1982 @ the American Music Awards

the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles

OldFriends4Sale said: