steakfinger said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

Prince's drumming was Wild & Loose Tricky and on the Line

And for me it is why his purple sound was unique

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So I don't know if Tambourine was done straight through or pieced together, but that is my favorite example of Prince's drumming. Now is Darling Nikki live drumming because that one would be my first. Same vibe as Tamborine.

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Everywhere(Rainbow Children)!!

Morris Day player drums on the Time records. Morris Day is also the drummer on Darling Nikki.

Come on... don't do that.

Yes Morris Day plays drums on a majority of Time songs.

"Darling Nikki is all Prince..." -Lisa Coleman

sulls said:

Drums on the God instrumental work well for that song

very distinct Prince style, similar to Another Lonely Christmas

During the 1999 and PR era, some people say Bobby was just playging cymbals while the Linn did the main beat.

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But how did they control all the stops and starts, like the "Everybody stop on the 1"? Did Bobby have a foot switch?

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On songs like Darling Nikki it sounds like someone was playing live (i.e. it wasn't all pattern based) so maybe they hooked up triggers to the Linn or he had a Simmons pad for the snare triggering the Linn??

GaryMF said:

During the 1999 and PR era, some people say Bobby was just playging cymbals while the Linn did the main beat.

.

.

But how did they control all the stops and starts, like the "Everybody stop on the 1"? Did Bobby have a foot switch?

.

.

On songs like Darling Nikki it sounds like someone was playing live (i.e. it wasn't all pattern based) so maybe they hooked up triggers to the Linn or he had a Simmons pad for the snare triggering the Linn??

Yeah people were being disrespectful. Most of those people never saw or heard Bobby's playing from 1978-1986.

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There are some songs with programming mixed with live drums

the use of linn went along with drumming.

Other songs had no programming.

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Bobby and Fink did do a really good interview about how they put together that stuff.

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There is a PR era aftershow @ the 7th St Entry that I need to hear where it was just Prince BrownMark and Bobby Z

OldFriends4Sale said:

GaryMF said:

During the 1999 and PR era, some people say Bobby was just playging cymbals while the Linn did the main beat.

.

.

But how did they control all the stops and starts, like the "Everybody stop on the 1"? Did Bobby have a foot switch?

.

.

On songs like Darling Nikki it sounds like someone was playing live (i.e. it wasn't all pattern based) so maybe they hooked up triggers to the Linn or he had a Simmons pad for the snare triggering the Linn??

Yeah people were being disrespectful. Most of those people never saw or heard Bobby's playing from 1978-1986.

.

There are some songs with programming mixed with live drums

the use of linn went along with drumming.

Other songs had no programming.

.

Bobby and Fink did do a really good interview about how they put together that stuff.

.

There is a PR era aftershow @ the 7th St Entry that I need to hear where it was just Prince BrownMark and Bobby Z

Does Bobby explain how he started and stopped the Linn? I always wondered about that.

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I think on SOTT and Lovesexy Sheila used to use triggers on the acoustic snare and used a footswitch to turn it on and off so sometimes the snares had Linn or other electronic sounds and other times it was just acoustic

GaryMF said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

Yeah people were being disrespectful. Most of those people never saw or heard Bobby's playing from 1978-1986.

.

There are some songs with programming mixed with live drums

the use of linn went along with drumming.

Other songs had no programming.

.

Bobby and Fink did do a really good interview about how they put together that stuff.

.

There is a PR era aftershow @ the 7th St Entry that I need to hear where it was just Prince BrownMark and Bobby Z

Does Bobby explain how he started and stopped the Linn? I always wondered about that.

.

.

I think on SOTT and Lovesexy Sheila used to use triggers on the acoustic snare and used a footswitch to turn it on and off so sometimes the snares had Linn or other electronic sounds and other times it was just acoustic

Yes, there is a really good interview with Dr Fink and Bobby Z were they go into detail. I'll try to locate it again and post it.

.

This stuff is why I give Bobby Z high props as 1 of Prince's drummers and a foundational bandmember, because he had to work out things with Prince no other drummers had to.

GaryMF said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

Yeah people were being disrespectful. Most of those people never saw or heard Bobby's playing from 1978-1986.

.

There are some songs with programming mixed with live drums

the use of linn went along with drumming.

Other songs had no programming.

.

Bobby and Fink did do a really good interview about how they put together that stuff.

.

There is a PR era aftershow @ the 7th St Entry that I need to hear where it was just Prince BrownMark and Bobby Z

Does Bobby explain how he started and stopped the Linn? I always wondered about that.

.

.

I think on SOTT and Lovesexy Sheila used to use triggers on the acoustic snare and used a footswitch to turn it on and off so sometimes the snares had Linn or other electronic sounds and other times it was just acoustic

Yes, I believe even Sheila E's band 1984-1986 did too

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On the SOTT/Lovesexy tours there was programming too, people assume because it is Sheila E that there wasn't but there was a lot, especially on the Lovesexy tour. And in those spaces where she was on percussion.

OldFriends4Sale said:

GaryMF said:

Does Bobby explain how he started and stopped the Linn? I always wondered about that.

.

.

I think on SOTT and Lovesexy Sheila used to use triggers on the acoustic snare and used a footswitch to turn it on and off so sometimes the snares had Linn or other electronic sounds and other times it was just acoustic

Yes, there is a really good interview with Dr Fink and Bobby Z were they go into detail. I'll try to locate it again and post it.

.

This stuff is why I give Bobby Z high props as 1 of Prince's drummers and a foundational bandmember, because he had to work out things with Prince no other drummers had to.

They talk about it in-depth on Questove's podcast. They are episode 4 i think. Not sure if that is what you were referring to.

OldFriends4Sale said:

GaryMF said:

Does Bobby explain how he started and stopped the Linn? I always wondered about that.

.

.

I think on SOTT and Lovesexy Sheila used to use triggers on the acoustic snare and used a footswitch to turn it on and off so sometimes the snares had Linn or other electronic sounds and other times it was just acoustic

Yes, I believe even Sheila E's band 1984-1986 did too

.

On the SOTT/Lovesexy tours there was programming too, people assume because it is Sheila E that there wasn't but there was a lot, especially on the Lovesexy tour. And in those spaces where she was on percussion.

YEs when she was on Timbales etc. it was a program.

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on FOrever in Myu life at the end Prince calls out something lke "Mark" and they turn off the beat. .

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But what from what I remember most of it is live drumming when Sheila is on the trap kit but with extra sounds on the snare sometimes.

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if you find the interivew yes please post it. thanks

my favourite drum track with Prince's live drumming is One, from the first Madhouse album. It just sounds so good, unlike most of his drumsounds. (to me)

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As far as being a "good" drummer, Prince had chops, but he doesn't keep time well, he often rushes a bit, quite unlike John Blackwell, for instance. It's funny that he does on drums what he accused Andre Cymone of on bass, to be "on" the beat, to push, as opposed to be behind, in the pocket.

OldFriends4Sale said:

The Parade album was all live drums, with some embellished electronic drumming.

That album is timeless

Even anotherlover? I though this was computer but i didnt 'dissect' it to claim it for sure.

TheFman said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

The Parade album was all live drums, with some embellished electronic drumming.

That album is timeless

Even anotherlover? I though this was computer but i didnt 'dissect' it to claim it for sure.

Yes

That one was a full band recording

live drums and linn

OldFriends4Sale said:

sulls said:

Drums on the God instrumental work well for that song

very distinct Prince style, similar to Another Lonely Christmas

Drums on 'God instrumental' by Sheila E.

Check Princevault and Duane's book.

TheFman said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

The Parade album was all live drums, with some embellished electronic drumming.

That album is timeless

Even anotherlover? I though this was computer but i didnt 'dissect' it to claim it for sure.

"Anotherloverholenyohead" is absolutely the Linn. There were YT videos where folks recreated the pattern on their own Linn drum machine and they're identical. It's pretty obvious when you hear it that it's the Linn ticking away.

"Kiss" could be a good mix of both, but ??? I'm sure someone will swoop in to correct that.

I got to thinking, is there a Prince album with all live drums? I suppose the first three are drums since the Linn didn't show up until Controversy. Then maybe not again until (just thinking off-hand) the album. Maybe D&P, but "Thunder" was a one-man production, so... not sure.

donnyenglish said:

Two Words: Junk Music

Prince drums on this non stop for over 1 hour and three minutes

There are many outstanding examples of P's drumming... All tracks on the Sound 80 sessions, many examples on the first two albums... One that no-one has mentioned yet: She's Always In My Hair.

TrivialPursuit said:

TheFman said:

Even anotherlover? I though this was computer but i didnt 'dissect' it to claim it for sure.

I got to thinking, is there a Prince album with all live drums? I suppose the first three are drums since the Linn didn't show up until Controversy. Then maybe not again until (just thinking off-hand) the album. Maybe D&P, but "Thunder" was a one-man production, so... not sure.

Yes, I think D&P and Love Symbol were mostly live drums, Thunder being the obvious exception that jumps to mind.

Also, Rainbow Children, Xpectation, Lotusflow3r, and Hit N Run Phase 2 were all (or almost all) live drums.

Though most of the drumming on those albums was not Prince, correct? It was Michael Bland, John Blackwell, or CC Dunham, right?

Oh, and there was quite a bit of live drumming on The Gold Experience.

lurker316 said:

TrivialPursuit said:

I got to thinking, is there a Prince album with all live drums? I suppose the first three are drums since the Linn didn't show up until Controversy. Then maybe not again until (just thinking off-hand) the album. Maybe D&P, but "Thunder" was a one-man production, so... not sure.

Yes, I think D&P and Love Symbol were mostly live drums, Thunder being the obvious exception that jumps to mind.

Also, Rainbow Children, Xpectation, Lotusflow3r, and Hit N Run Phase 2 were all (or almost all) live drums.

Though most of the drumming on those albums was not Prince, correct? It was Michael Bland, John Blackwell, or CC Dunham, right?

Oh, and there was quite a bit of live drumming on The Gold Experience.

That was a high point of his 90s material, which I love so much, that he used live drums. Isn't there a story about him setting the Linn or whatever outside the studio with a "For Sale" sign on it? Just because he was all about using a live band.

One of my favorite tidbits was when they were recording "The Morning Papers". They were banging away on it, and right near the end, there is a pause in the song (around 3:27 mark), then goes onto finish. Michael B. talks about how he was playing so hard, his headphones slid off the back of his head. That quick pause is him reaching back to put them back on, then come back in on the next down beat. Prince liked it and left it in the song. Just one of those happy accidents (like the high end being out of "Dorothy Parker" or the offset backing vocals on "Forever In My Life") that give a song new character.

I like his drummer as much as I love Linn marching along in a song.

TrivialPursuit said:

steakfinger said:

Morris Day player drums on the Time records. Morris Day is also the drummer on Darling Nikki.

You can be wrong. It's cool.

steakfinger said:

You can be wrong. It's cool.

I mean, everyone here and Lisa Coleman said the same about your statement. So... I'm going w/ Lisa on this one.

You also cited no source, as folks asked. (You know how Prince fans are - you're one of them. We want the proof, yo!)

MacDaddy said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

very distinct Prince style, similar to Another Lonely Christmas

Drums on 'God instrumental' by Sheila E.

Check Princevault and Duane's book.

And it sounds like Sheila, because she does a lot of quick fills, whereas Prince didn't always do that. Not saying he couldn't do them, but it wasn't always his leanings to do fills like Sheila would. (I think about Eric drumming for Kiss, and his fills and such were vastly different from Peter Criss & others.)

But what is the song bootleg we have where he says, "Play ni&&a!" at the beginning? Is that "Darling Nikki" or something else? Who was he talking to there? I may have my wires crossed here.

TrivialPursuit said:

MacDaddy said:

Drums on 'God instrumental' by Sheila E.

Check Princevault and Duane's book.

And it sounds like Sheila, because she does a lot of quick fills, whereas Prince didn't always do that. Not saying he couldn't do them, but it wasn't always his leanings to do fills like Sheila would. (I think about Eric drumming for Kiss, and his fills and such were vastly different from Peter Criss & others.)

But what is the song bootleg we have where he says, "Play nig&&!" at the beginning? Is that "Darling Nikki" or something else? Who was he talking to there? I may have my wires crossed here.

Yeah that is the unedited version of Darling Nikki, and he goes into that Morris voice at the end, 'your fired' etc. That song is all Prince though, that drumming is Prince's wild stuff. Lisa Coleman

Chicago Sound Opinions podcast 2011: Purple Rain 25th album disc:
Lisa Coleman @ 21:42min Darling Nikki was all him, U can kinda tell because it's got that fierce like rediculously crazy quality..

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“Darling Nikki” is a hell of a song to have as your first project. Did you press play and think to yourself, “What have I gotten myself into?”
Susan Rogers: [Laughs] You have to remember I was his new employee. So Prince had me put up the tape of “Darling Nikki.” I pushed up the faders and I remember thinking, “Holy shit!” “Darling Nikki” wasn’t even finished yet, but you could tell it was something special. I would hazard to guess he did it all by himself; he played everything.

.

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I always hear Tick Tick Bang Darling Nikki Tambourine and Junk Music in a flow becaus it's that Prince wild masturbatory drumming

TrivialPursuit said:

MacDaddy said:

Drums on 'God instrumental' by Sheila E.

Check Princevault and Duane's book.

And it sounds like Sheila, because she does a lot of quick fills, whereas Prince didn't always do that. Not saying he couldn't do them, but it wasn't always his leanings to do fills like Sheila would. (I think about Eric drumming for Kiss, and his fills and such were vastly different from Peter Criss & others.)

But what is the song bootleg we have where he says, "Play ni&&a!" at the beginning? Is that "Darling Nikki" or something else? Who was he talking to there? I may have my wires crossed here.

I thought that was the early mix/alt version of Love or $?

Speaking of which, who plays the drums on that track? Princevault says Bobby Z, but notes it's not certain.

lurker316 said:

TrivialPursuit said:

And it sounds like Sheila, because she does a lot of quick fills, whereas Prince didn't always do that. Not saying he couldn't do them, but it wasn't always his leanings to do fills like Sheila would. (I think about Eric drumming for Kiss, and his fills and such were vastly different from Peter Criss & others.)

But what is the song bootleg we have where he says, "Play ni&&a!" at the beginning? Is that "Darling Nikki" or something else? Who was he talking to there? I may have my wires crossed here.

I thought that was the early mix/alt version of Love or $?

Speaking of which, who plays the drums on that track? Princevault says Bobby Z, but notes it's not certain.

Ah yeah you are right that is Love or Money not Darling Nikki(unedited)

That song also had a video cut for it...

lurker316 said:

But what is the song bootleg we have where he says, "Play ni&&a!" at the beginning? Is that "Darling Nikki" or something else? Who was he talking to there? I may have my wires crossed here.

I thought that was the early mix/alt version of Love or $?

Speaking of which, who plays the drums on that track? Princevault says Bobby Z, but notes it's not certain.

YES! " or $" That's what I'm thinking of here.

I mean, would he call Bobby that as a joke? He might to Sheila. It sorta sounds like it'd be something Sheila was on. Even Bobby said she was around more and more playing (like on "Pop Life"). So I believe it's possible she was on that track.

TrivialPursuit said:

lurker316 said:

I thought that was the early mix/alt version of Love or $?

Speaking of which, who plays the drums on that track? Princevault says Bobby Z, but notes it's not certain.

YES! " or $" That's what I'm thinking of here.

I mean, would he call Bobby that as a joke? He might to Sheila. It sorta sounds like it'd be something Sheila was on. Even Bobby said she was around more and more playing (like on "Pop Life"). So I believe it's possible she was on that track.

But he said that term around them anyway. He wasn't really directing it at a particular band member.

I strongly believe it was either Bobby Z or Prince on drums.