Stevie Nicks has been very forthcoming about how she wrote "Stand Back" when hearing Little Red Corvette for the first time driving down PCH on her wedding night, pulling over, and writing the lyrics and then buying a tape recorder to record the song. And she later called Prince and played it for him and he said it was cool.

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Later when she was recording it, she called him up and he came to the studio (Sunset?) and he walked in, palyed the Oberheim synths (sometimes she said he did it with just 2 fingers), played for 20 mins or so, and walked out.

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She says even with 2 keyboard players in her band, they can't re-create what Prince did that night.

So.... I tried palying it and figured out the song...it's not that complex. But here's my question........

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What did Prince play exactly?

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When I listen, I hear only 3 keyboard parts:

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1. the synth bass playing basic root notes

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2. the synth brass doing the main riff throughout the verses and chroruses (I don't think it even changes between verse and chorus just gest louderin the mix during the choruses....maybe octave higher)

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3. During the Choruses, there's this "rocking" "radar like sound, badsically just playing one note repetitively just alternating a high and low octave of it. .

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I THink that's that whole song....except some guitar that comes in later. .

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So was Prince doing those 3 things on synth? And why can't 2 keyboard players do that? It's not that complicated......right?

It's less complicated if you dig on the Org. It was discussed in detail and I believe somewhere there is a video with audio of his parts.

https://twitter.com/anildash/status/927915694280323072

ludwig said:

https://twitter.com/anildash/status/927915694280323072

Thank you! I love hearing the isolated parts in that clip even the little "mistake" that's in there. .

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I just watdhed this live version and I think St Paul's brother is on keyboards on the right.

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It looks like he's jus playing ocatves on synth bass and the other keyboard guy is doing the main synth brass riff.

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No bass player and 2 guitars.

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So the song really is quite simple.

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not sure who's doing the "radar" like ocdtaves in the chorus though cuz on the record all 3 parts happen at the same time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=12&v=sg3SAI8h9p8

A snippet of info that absolutely refuses to die..even after Prince does.

I found the multitrack as a RAR file and downloaded but I don't have the password.

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Anyone have a link to the multritracks for Stand Back that isn't protected?

she's probably being complimentary, if she has pros they can do it. Many of prince's best synth parts were great but very simple. god bless her.

GaryMF said:

Stevie Nicks has been very forthcoming about how she wrote "Stand Back" when hearing Little Red Corvette for the first time driving down PCH on her wedding night, pulling over, and writing the lyrics and then buying a tape recorder to record the song. And she later called Prince and played it for him and he said it was cool.

.

.

Later when she was recording it, she called him up and he came to the studio (Sunset?) and he walked in, palyed the Oberheim synths (sometimes she said he did it with just 2 fingers), played for 20 mins or so, and walked out.

.

.

She says even with 2 keyboard players in her band, they can't re-create what Prince did that night.

So.... I tried palying it and figured out the song...it's not that complex. But here's my question........

.

.

What did Prince play exactly?

.

.

When I listen, I hear only 3 keyboard parts:

.

1. the synth bass playing basic root notes

.

.

2. the synth brass doing the main riff throughout the verses and chroruses (I don't think it even changes between verse and chorus just gest louderin the mix during the choruses....maybe octave higher)

.

.

3. During the Choruses, there's this "rocking" "radar like sound, badsically just playing one note repetitively just alternating a high and low octave of it. .

.

.

I THink that's that whole song....except some guitar that comes in later. .

.

So was Prince doing those 3 things on synth? And why can't 2 keyboard players do that? It's not that complicated......right?

Check out William Kurk on You Tube, Reverb, Synth Sounds series. He does a great episode on Stand Back...

KeithyT said:

Check out William Kurk on You Tube, Reverb, Synth Sounds series. He does a great episode on Stand Back...

yes I watched it, it was cool.

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he doesn't show the 'radar" like octave synth, just the main brass riff and the bass. (PS I don't think Prince used an arpeggiator!)

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try8ing to get the multi tracks tos ee what the main brass synth does.... i.e. if it keeps playing that riff under the chorus or if it simplifies at some point (it does at the outro vamp)

ludwig said:

It is as basic as can be, and another example of hyperbole on the part of one artist speaking about another. Good God, she needs brain surgery if she believes it takes 2 people to play that part, but there was a delusional guy on here who believed Take Me With U to be some sort of masterclass in chord progressions...

Musician9 said:

It is as basic as can be, and another example of hyperbole on the part of one artist speaking about another. Good God, she needs brain surgery if she believes it takes 2 people to play that part, but there was a delusional guy on here who believed Take Me With U to be some sort of masterclass in chord progressions...

I remember that actually

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But in a way it takes 3 people to play this...

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1. Bass synth

2. Main synth brass riff

3. the "radar" octave rocking on choruses.

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In theory one person could do 1 and 2, but in this live version one keyboard player is doing 1 instead of a bass player, and another is doing 2.

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I think the guy doing 2 switches to the radar part on chorus instead of playing the simplified chorus synth riff.

PS guy #2 is St. Paul Peterson's brother Ricky.

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