Hey there, all. I have been digging for this answer but I have not been able to locate it, but I figured the most knoweldgeable Prince fans on the web would know right away.

Is that really a sitar on The Cross (and is Wendy playing it, as the credits indicate?)

The sitar sound on the W&L version of "Strange Relationship" is actually a sample from the Fairlight. Is the part on The Cross as well? Do we know if he actually had a sitar in the studio?

The only other song that I can think of at the moment from the period w/ the same sound is "Crucial" although there may be others i'm forgetting.

Any help would be appreciated!!

The 'sitar' refrain throughout the song is quite possibly an attempt at imitating a sitar sound on the electric guitar. At it may well be Wendy playing. The song appears to be a studio semi-live recording. The Eastern-inspired, Beatles' 'Within You, Without You'-esque tabla and tambura later in the song are most certainly CMI Fairlight overdubs.

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The sampled sitar plucks are used to embellish 'Adore' (muddled among the organ and saxophone, or low in the mix matching the vocals on each verse, with some occasional flourishes), in a manner similar to their use in 'Crucial'.

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'Teacher, Teacher' (reworked 1985/1986) features more of the CMI sitar samples.

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'We Can Funk', in its original incarnation, and as carried through to GB, contains a sitar intro and breaks (or perhaps imitation ones played on the acoustic guitar), of indeterminate attribution.

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[Edited 4/11/17 21:55pm]

https://en.wikipedia.org/..._the_Times

NoVideo said:

TwiliteKid said:

NoVideo said:

Hey there, all. I have been digging for this answer but I have not been able to locate it, but I figured the most knoweldgeable Prince fans on the web would know right away.

Is that really a sitar on The Cross (and is Wendy playing it, as the credits indicate?)

The sitar sound on the W&L version of "Strange Relationship" is actually a sample from the Fairlight. Is the part on The Cross as well? Do we know if he actually had a sitar in the studio?

The only other song that I can think of at the moment from the period w/ the same sound is "Crucial" although there may be others i'm forgetting.

Any help would be appreciated!!

I have no idea if it's a real sitar or not, but Wendy isn't credited on "The Cross". As for "Strange Relationship", Lisa gets the sitar credit, not Wendy. [Edited 4/11/17 21:59pm]

.

It has that chorusy, choppy characteristic sound that became a partial signature of Wendy's, and the song seems (to me, at least) to have been recorded in only a few takes with vocal and miscellaneous other overdubs later added (thereby necessitating other performers), but I am only speculating on possibly uncredited contribution/participation. It may well be all P. It is, at a minimum consistent, with the general pseudo-60s-revival geist of the much of the DF material.

.

[Edited 4/11/17 22:36pm]

imprimis said:

The 'sitar' refrain throughout the song is quite possibly an attempt at imitating a sitar sound on the electric guitar. At it may well be Wendy playing. The song appears to be a studio semi-live recording. The Eastern-inspired, Beatles' 'Within You, Without You'-esque tabla and tambura later in the song are most certainly CMI Fairlight overdubs.

.

The sampled sitar plucks are used to embellish 'Adore' (muddled among the organ and saxophone, or low in the mix matching the vocals on each verse, with some occasional flourishes), in a manner similar to their use in 'Crucial'.

.

'Teacher, Teacher' (reworked 1985/1986) features more of the CMI sitar samples.

.

'We Can Funk', in its original incarnation, and as carried through to GB, contains a sitar intro and breaks (or perhaps imitation ones played on the acoustic guitar), of indeterminate attribution.

.

[Edited 4/11/17 21:55pm]

Thanks so much for the info!!

I had forgotten those sitar samples in "Adore".

I think you might be right re: the imitation on electric guitar. My understanding is that The Cross was a wholly solo recording, of course who knows... anything is possible.

If it is a real sitar then it would appear to be the only sitar sound from the period that isn't a Fairlight sample. I'm certain if they had brought in a real sitar there would be discussion about it somewhere, no?

But then again, at Sunset Sound I doubt it would be too difficult to get a sitar into the sessions if Prince had wanted.

So I guess the answer to my question is that it's never really been definitively answered? I've searched through old threads and discussions and I can't seem to find anything definitive.

Thanks all for the responses. If anyone else has any additional insight please share

imprimis said:

TwiliteKid said:

NoVideo said: I have no idea if it's a real sitar or not, but Wendy isn't credited on "The Cross". As for "Strange Relationship", Lisa gets the sitar credit, not Wendy. [Edited 4/11/17 21:59pm]

.

It has that chorusy, choppy characteristic sound that became a partial signature of Wendy's, and the song seems (to me, at least) to have been recorded in only a few takes with vocal and miscellaneous other overdubs later added (thereby necessitating other performers), but I am only speculating on possibly uncredited contribution/participation. It may well be all P. It is, at a minimum consistent, with the general pseudo-60s-revival geist of the much of the DF material.

.

[Edited 4/11/17 22:36pm]

good info! That answers my question about it being a pure solo recording. It was laid down well before he stopped working with W&L obviously so it's hard to say, anything is possible.

TwiliteKid said:

NoVideo said:

Hey there, all. I have been digging for this answer but I have not been able to locate it, but I figured the most knoweldgeable Prince fans on the web would know right away.

Is that really a sitar on The Cross (and is Wendy playing it, as the credits indicate?)

The sitar sound on the W&L version of "Strange Relationship" is actually a sample from the Fairlight. Is the part on The Cross as well? Do we know if he actually had a sitar in the studio?

The only other song that I can think of at the moment from the period w/ the same sound is "Crucial" although there may be others i'm forgetting.

Any help would be appreciated!!

I have no idea if it's a real sitar or not, but Wendy isn't credited on "The Cross". As for "Strange Relationship", Lisa gets the sitar credit, not Wendy. [Edited 4/11/17 21:59pm]

You are right of course. My head must have been in the clouds when I typed that

NoVideo said:

imprimis said:

.

It has that chorusy, choppy characteristic sound that became a partial signature of Wendy's, and the song seems (to me, at least) to have been recorded in only a few takes with vocal and miscellaneous other overdubs later added (thereby necessitating other performers), but I am only speculating on possibly uncredited contribution/participation. It may well be all P. It is, at a minimum consistent, with the general pseudo-60s-revival geist of the much of the DF material.

.

[Edited 4/11/17 22:36pm]

good info! That answers my question about it being a pure solo recording. It was laid down well before he stopped working with W&L obviously so it's hard to say, anything is possible.

According to Susan Rogers it was a solo recording.

laurarichardson said:

NoVideo said:

good info! That answers my question about it being a pure solo recording. It was laid down well before he stopped working with W&L obviously so it's hard to say, anything is possible.

According to Susan Rogers it was a solo recording.

And as correct as she can be, we also know Prince gave access to other musicians especially Lisa Coleman & Wendy to work/add to on the songs, whether they were in Europe, Minni or LA

I believe Susan Rogers said this was a 'Sunday Song'

OldFriends4Sale said:

laurarichardson said:

According to Susan Rogers it was a solo recording.

And as correct as she can be, we also know Prince gave access to other musicians especially Lisa Coleman & Wendy to work/add to on the songs, whether they were in Europe, Minni or LA

I believe Susan Rogers said this was a 'Sunday Song'

Now Susan is being questioned. Just Wow.