SoulAlive said:

yes,Sheila was trying to get those guys (Tony! Toni! Tone!) a record deal with Paisley Park Records but according to them "Prince kept frontin".Their debut album features a song "Born Not To Know" that contains the lyric: "things are gettin' crazy,I ain't wearin' Paisley",a line directed at Prince.

OldFriends4Sale said:

At having changed up her band members, I think that might have slowed down certain progression for her. Because I don't remember seeing/hearing much from her like I did with the Glamorous Life/Romance 1600 period. Plus she had Tony Toni Tone people in her band, and they were clearly not going to be there long. I believe they made a line about their issue with Prince when he took Sheila for his band in one of their songs something like 'I'm not going to be wearing Paisley...'

.

Huh! I did not know that about Tony! Toni! Tone! I love them!!

not much is either known or talked about during this period. the transition from romance to the 3rd album. like the whole, tony toni tone being in her band, etc. can anybody shed any more info on her late 86-early 87 performances/band?

tab32792 said:

not much is either known or talked about during this period. the transition from romance to the 3rd album. like the whole, tony toni tone being in her band, etc. can anybody shed any more info on her late 86-early 87 performances/band?

Yep that is what is going to happen in this thread.

I think by the end of 1986 Sheila E as a band was over

SoulAlive said:

paisleypark4 said:

Prince Vault

I was disappointed at the lack of promotion for this album.The first single "Hold Me" was getting alot of airplay on R&B stations,but there was no video! Sheila wasn't making any TV appearances.And then they chose "Koo Koo" as the second single.That song lacks a strong hook/chorus.The album was dead at that point I've always felt that,becoming Prince's drummer at that time may have seemed like a smart move for Sheila,but it really stalled her solo career.It took the momentum out of her solo career.

I missed the whole era as a kid and was surprised to see that she did a third album when I was rediscovering Prince at the time. The album is great, her best work. I understand her decision to play that SOTT and Lovesexy tour on drums instead though, doing what she really wanted to do. Too bad they didnt kick off one more album for the road. Sounds like it ALMOST came out.

paisleypark4 said:

SoulAlive said:

I was disappointed at the lack of promotion for this album.The first single "Hold Me" was getting alot of airplay on R&B stations,but there was no video! Sheila wasn't making any TV appearances.And then they chose "Koo Koo" as the second single.That song lacks a strong hook/chorus.The album was dead at that point I've always felt that,becoming Prince's drummer at that time may have seemed like a smart move for Sheila,but it really stalled her solo career.It took the momentum out of her solo career.

I missed the whole era as a kid and was surprised to see that she did a third album when I was rediscovering Prince at the time. The album is great, her best work. I understand her decision to play that SOTT and Lovesexy tour on drums instead though, doing what she really wanted to do. Too bad they didnt kick off one more album for the road. Sounds like it ALMOST came out.

This era switch/miss is similar to the Lovesexy-Batman for me. And all the behind scenes of what happened were never clear. I think we kinda put it together a few years ago.

Tuesday I surrendered beneath the willow tree
When I gave 2 U the key 2 my virginity
Wednesday I remembered your physical poetry
The passionate pretender, I'm a part of your history (Sing)

CHORUS:
Oh, oh, oh - Wednesday like a river (Sing)
Oh, oh, oh - Wednesday like a river
Wednesday's like a river, Thursday rivers are lakes
Friday finds me in the ocean, sometimes love is hard 2 take
Emotional evidence sometimes hard 2 face
The double-edged sword can be like arsenic and fine lace

CHORUS {x2}
(Everybody)

Bathing in the beauty, romantic interlude
Wondering 4 long, never did I play a lover or a fool
Wednesday like a river, Thursday rivers are lakes
Friday finds me in the ocean, sometimes love is hard 2 take

CHORUS {x2}
(Sing)

Oh, oh, oh - Wednesday like a river

Wednesday like a river (Wednesday, yeah)
Wednesday like a river

SoulAlive said:

"funny when our eyes met,the walls around me turned wet" the album is filled with lyrics like this....sexy and inviting!

love those lyrics

a really fun song, very energetic.
This is the song the should have done on the SOTT tour no matter what

TrivialPursuit said:

I'm a believer that sometimes within an album, there is an EP of 3 or 4 songs unto themselves that could stand alone.

Having said that, first I'll say Sheila E is, by far, her best album. The EP part of it is basically the first side minus the first song.

Wednesday Like a River

Hold Me

Faded Photographs

Koo Koo

I agree. SOTT is like that, for obvious reasons

But this album definately has 2 different sets

SoulAlive said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

SoulAlive said:

"funny when our eyes met,the walls around me turned wet" the album is filled with lyrics like this....sexy and inviting!

love those lyrics

a really fun song, very energetic.
This is the song the should have done on the SOTT tour no matter what

I would have chosen this song to be one of the singles,along with "Faded Photographs" and "The Pride and the Passion".

SoulAlive said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

love those lyrics

a really fun song, very energetic.
This is the song the should have done on the SOTT tour no matter what

I would have chosen this song to be one of the singles,along with "Faded Photographs" and "The Pride and the Passion".

Love on a Blue Train was a single in Japan

All of the songs had potential for sure

Romance 1600 wasn't a strong album, the era was hot

Glamorous Life was a strong album. Consistent and cohesively gave us a slice of the vision.

Sheila E is a strong album all around.

SoulAlive said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

love those lyrics

a really fun song, very energetic.
This is the song the should have done on the SOTT tour no matter what

I would have chosen this song to be one of the singles,along with "Faded Photographs" and "The Pride and the Passion".

There was not going to be any singles because she did not want to be a band leader.

laurarichardson said:

erik319 said:

laurarichardson said:

There was not going to be any singles because she did not want to be a band leader.

Apart from Hold Me, Koo Koo & Love on a Blue Train, obviously. And of course she certainly didn't want to be leader of the band when she left Prince's fold to pursue a non-paisley solo career with Sex Cymbal & the E Train albums. In fact, Sheila didn't want to be leader of the band so much so that when Prince offered her a song of the same name she refused to record it obstinately shouting 'No, how many times do I have to tell you, I just want to be a drummer'.

lol right, there were singles

She loved leading the band since 1984 and that is ok lol

I think the purple vapors had more to do with her wanting to back up Prince on the drums.
But in the long run it didn't go well. Especially since she did not enjoy the frontman interplay with Prince that she used to have, that Cat then enjoyed.

laurarichardson said:

SoulAlive said:

I would have chosen this song to be one of the singles,along with "Faded Photographs" and "The Pride and the Passion".

There was not going to be any singles because she did not want to be a band leader.

Stick with the thread. Let's work together instead of fight, to remember the times.
There were 3 singles released.

I've tried so many times 2 erase your memory from my mind
Yet, it doesn't ever last 4 long
I see your picture then I hear your voice
Our love must be stronger than before

Every time I see your eyes (Touch me)
Touch me (Hold me)
Every time I hear your voice (Touch me)
Hold me

Here I stand defenseless as I look into your eyes
There's nothing left 2 say or do
you fill my head with promises and all your pretty lies
Would it be so wrong 2 want you by my side?

Every time I see your eyes (Touch me)
Touch me (Hold me)
Every time I hear your voice (Touch me)
Touch me (Hold me)

I'm captured by my senses, lost in your reverie
Our love must be stronger than before

Every time I see your eyes (Touch me)
Oh, hold me, babe (Hold me)
Every time I hear your voice (Touch me)
Touch me (Hold me)

Every time I see your eyes (Touch me)
I want to hold you, baby (Hold me)
(Hold me, touch me, kiss me all over)
Every time I hear your voice (Touch me)
Hold me, kiss me all over (Hold me)

Every time I see your eyes (Touch me)
Kiss me, baby (Hold me)

(Sheila E., Constance Guzman and Eddie Mininfield)

Credits

Art Direction– Mary Ann Dibs
Co-producer– David Z.
Photography By– Jeff Katz (2)
Producer, Arranged By– Sheila E.

OldFriends4Sale said:

SoulAlive said:

I would have chosen this song to be one of the singles,along with "Faded Photographs" and "The Pride and the Passion".

Love on a Blue Train was a single in Japan

All of the songs had potential for sure

Romance 1600 wasn't a strong album, the era was hot

Glamorous Life was a strong album. Consistent and cohesively gave us a slice of the vision.

Sheila E is a strong album all around.

I agree,the Sheila E. album is a strong album.I wanted Sheila to go all the way with it....multiple singles and videos,excessive touring and promotion.THIS is the album that could have taken her career to new heights.

OldFriends4Sale said:

She loved leading the band since 1984 and that is ok lol

I think the purple vapors had more to do with her wanting to back up Prince on the drums.
But in the long run it didn't go well. Especially since she did not enjoy the frontman interplay with Prince that she used to have, that Cat then enjoyed.

Playing drums for Prince might have been cool for those two years (SOTT and Lovesexy),but it made it harder for Sheila to return back to her solo career.It killed her solo momentum.When she released Sex Cymbal in 1991,it flopped.The world had moved on.

SoulAlive said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

She loved leading the band since 1984 and that is ok lol

I think the purple vapors had more to do with her wanting to back up Prince on the drums.
But in the long run it didn't go well. Especially since she did not enjoy the frontman interplay with Prince that she used to have, that Cat then enjoyed.

Playing drums for Prince might have been cool for those two years (SOTT and Lovesexy),but it made it harder for Sheila to return back to her solo career.It killed her solo momentum.When she released Sex Cymbal in 1991,it flopped.The world had moved on.

Yeah she tried, I don't know if the songs were strong enough.
And 'the scene' was so different. She at least had the 'community' in 1984-1986.
Like I don't know how she would have done with the 4th album on Paisley Park

I loved seeing Sheila E. But being on the drums she kinda disappeared. The SOTT stage showed everyone easily. But the Lovesexy stage set up you basically saw Prince Cat Eric Miko Levi Atlanta Bliss mostly

"Hold Me" was a nice surprise.Nobody expected Sheila to come out with a slow song as a first single.Took alot of people by surprise.I think it was a smart move.She sounds fantastic on this song!

Eddie M's version featuring Sheila E

"The World Is High" (B-side of "Hold Me" single)

SoulAlive said:

"Hold Me" was a nice surprise.Nobody expected Sheila to come out with a slow song as a first single.Took alot of people by surprise.I think it was a smart move.She sounds fantastic on this song!

Yes!! I remember it like yesterday. The sound was different from what I would expect out of Prince's camp, but there were sounds like the piano that had that 'father's song' touch.

the push back then was 'this was ALL' Sheila e and Prince wasn't involved. So I though either she was no long in Paisley Park or the scene was just going to be broken down differently.

It was on the charts for a long time.

.

She did it live with Eddie M @ Lock 3 Akron, Ohio 2015

such a shame that she rarely performs "Hold Me" during her shows.Here's a rare performance....