Thread started 07/13/21 1:56pmDandroppedadim
e |
DRUMS: LINN or LIVE? 
[Edited 7/13/21 14:41pm] |
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Reply #1 posted 07/13/21 3:54pm
herb4 |
LIVE all the way down.
Micheal B, John Blackwell and Sheila brought a much needed organic an heavier bottom end to his sound, even if sometimes the songs weren't as good. Especially live I like the Linn drum stuff and adore Mad Scientist Prince where he just wrecks shit all by himself one overdub after the other but the synthetic sound of his drums with Bobby Z and the Revolution felt a little artificial to me and lacked punch.
I know Bobby was PLAYING. I'm just talking about the SOUND. And I like the sound of real drums in a band. |
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Reply #2 posted 07/13/21 4:33pm
TheKid94 |
I'll take John Blackwell on the drums with a funky linn hit every once in awhile.
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I will say, the linn drum is what really hooked me with Prince. I loved the almost limitless patterns he was able to produce and the subtle changes to them he made when he used it live. Many have used the Linn drum well, but Prince OWNS that sound. |
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Reply #3 posted 07/13/21 5:43pm
jfenster |
Wonder how different GB graffiti bridge would be with live drums on whole album |
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Reply #4 posted 07/13/21 7:47pm
Reply #5 posted 07/14/21 1:31am
dodger |
jfenster said:
Wonder how different GB graffiti bridge would be with live drums on whole album
I have this thought about Emancipation. Jam Of The Year is anything but, but it would be massively improved with Michael B on it. And the title track too. Those 2 especially, with those bold titles, deserved to have the Michael (& Sonny) treatment.
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The 3 songs (Betcha By Golly Wow, One Of Us and Saviour) they are on sound like chalk and cheese compared to a lot of the rest. |
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Reply #6 posted 07/14/21 3:00am
jazzz 
|
.
Prince’s LM-1 programming was groundbreaking and helped him define his signature “Minneapolis sound”.
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That said, I also very much like his “non-drummer” drumming approach such as on the Madhouse 8 album. Very funky!
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Sheila’s tight-but-light drumming during the Lovesexy period fitted the complex music really well. I never was a fan of the woodchopping of Michael B. It suited the macho imago that Prince tried to convey during the early 90’s though...
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[Edited 7/14/21 3:01am]
[Edited 7/14/21 3:03am]
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Reply #7 posted 07/14/21 5:19am
KeithyT 
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Just somewhere in the middle,
Not too good and not too bad. |
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Reply #8 posted 07/14/21 5:40am
OldFriends4Sal
e |
LINN drumming, mixed with live of course 1980-1988 definitive of Purple Music
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Reply #9 posted 07/14/21 8:39am
RJOrion
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Bland, Blackwell, or Lemon Cakes always beats LINN
[Edited 7/14/21 8:39am]
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Reply #10 posted 07/14/21 9:33am
thebanishedone 
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Prince was The Jimi Hendrix of Linn Drum.one of the biggest mistakes of his career was ditching the linn .He was the first alongside Kraftwerk to use drum machine in the live setting as well.on the other hand there ain't no Shhh without acoustic drums and ain't no When Doves Cry without linn. In the 80s Linn was 50/50 % creative partner in Prince's output. |
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Reply #11 posted 07/14/21 2:15pm
Dandroppedadim
e |
Very interesting answers to my question! and seems fairly split (?). To me there is something about the auteur studio wizard cranking out song after song at such high quality that draws me to his genius, yes the drums sounded good later on into the 90s and onward, and the drum machines took a real nose dive! Even when he tried to revive the Linn (1999/2000) they sounded pretty weak to my ears! I think he was getting back into a good drum machine sound with some of the latter day funk he was droppin'. |
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Reply #12 posted 07/14/21 3:00pm
funkaholic1972 
|
I think Prince music partially sounded so innovative in the 80's because of his use of the LM-1/Linndrum. His Linn beats were a great part of what sucked me in as a listener. I loved Prince's beat patterns and the sound of the Linn machines with all the effects Prince used to spice up his beats. So for me I have to say I prefer 'Linn-Prince'.
But I have loved a lot of his live drummers too. The only one that really bothered me was the blond girl from 3rd Eye Girl. Although she was really pleasant on the eye, she was not worthy enough to play with Prince IMO, she didn't have the groove and the skills needed for an artist of Prince's caliber. Whatever performance I watched of 3rd Eye Girl, she stood out as the weak link. At her best moments her drumming was 'alright', but most of the time it was just not tight and interesting enough. Not trying to be mean here, she comes across as a sweet and lovely person, just giving my honest opinion... RIP Prince: thank U 4 a funky Time... |
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Reply #13 posted 07/14/21 3:38pm
Reply #14 posted 07/14/21 5:26pm
jdcxc |
Loved his LINN genius, but the live drumming from Parade thru Lovesexy Tours were amazing (Madhouse included)...added new depth to his already revolutionary music. And Prince used John Blackwell for nice sounds and creative rebirth. |
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Reply #15 posted 07/14/21 9:54pm
thebanishedone
|
jdcxc said: Loved his LINN genius, but the live drumming from Parade thru Lovesexy Tours were amazing (Madhouse included)...added new depth to his already revolutionary music. And Prince used John Blackwell for nice sounds and creative rebirth. I love Blackwell but a former band member told me that Prince was cutting Blackwell paycheck all the time because of timing issues. |
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Reply #16 posted 07/16/21 1:43am
pernil |
I think his Linn (and other drum machines) use was unique and innovative - he really stood out! The acoustic drums in his music, either himself or Sheila E, Bobby Z, etc., is not very original. So I'm totally in favour of Linn-Prince! |
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Reply #17 posted 07/16/21 2:10am
coldcoffeeandc
ocacola 
|
funkaholic1972 said: I think Prince music partially sounded so innovative in the 80's because of his use of the LM-1/Linndrum. His Linn beats were a great part of what sucked me in as a listener. I loved Prince's beat patterns and the sound of the Linn machines with all the effects Prince used to spice up his beats. So for me I have to say I prefer 'Linn-Prince'.
But I have loved a lot of his live drummers too. The only one that really bothered me was the blond girl from 3rd Eye Girl. Although she was really pleasant on the eye, she was not worthy enough to play with Prince IMO, she didn't have the groove and the skills needed for an artist of Prince's caliber. Whatever performance I watched of 3rd Eye Girl, she stood out as the weak link. At her best moments her drumming was 'alright', but most of the time it was just not tight and interesting enough. Not trying to be mean here, she comes across as a sweet and lovely person, just giving my honest opinion... I felt like he was carefree with 3eg and so her carefree drumming suited him she always looked like she was having the best fun. I loved this era. [Edited 7/16/21 2:11am] |
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Reply #18 posted 07/16/21 2:50pm
funkaholic1972
|
thebanishedone said:
jdcxc said:
Loved his LINN genius, but the live drumming from Parade thru Lovesexy Tours were amazing (Madhouse included)...added new depth to his already revolutionary music. And Prince used John Blackwell for nice sounds and creative rebirth.
I love Blackwell but a former band member told me that Prince was cutting Blackwell paycheck all the time because of timing issues.
Yeah I was surprise to hear that, based on what I have seen/heard of Blackwell I never noticed it as far as I remember. I thought he was great to be honest. RIP Prince: thank U 4 a funky Time... |
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Reply #19 posted 07/16/21 4:00pm
ForceofNature |
Honestly I love the Linn stuff with the Revolution live, but always enjoyed the Linn sound as more of an in-studio sound design type of thing. I don't think that the super processed, Boss pedal-ified sounds like Prince got in a studio setting could really be executed live since the technology between the machine, and triggered pads are so different |
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Reply #20 posted 07/16/21 6:05pm
lurker316 
|
I love Prince's drum patterns in the '80s. They were so innovative and different than anything else you were on the radio. Very original and grabbed your attention.
Then I loved when he moved to live drums in the '90s. Freshened up his sound. Michael B was amazing.
When Prince returned to drum programming for Emancipation I hated it. Unlike his patterns of the '80s that were 5 years ahead of everyone else, his Emancipation drumming was 5 years behind the times. Those patterns were generic and out-dated.
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Reply #21 posted 07/18/21 1:34am
bwaaatch
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lurker316 said:
I love Prince's drum patterns in the '80s. They were so innovative and different than anything else you were on the radio. Very original and grabbed your attention.
Then I loved when he moved to live drums in the '90s. Freshened up his sound. Michael B was amazing.
When Prince returned to drum programming for Emancipation I hated it. Unlike his patterns of the '80s that were 5 years ahead of everyone else, his Emancipation drumming was 5 years behind the times. Those patterns were generic and out-dated.
Emancipation all programmed by the Kirk Johnson. I recall an interview at the time where Prince seemed to want to make the point that he COULD have programmed his t all himself, as he did on 1999, but that he almost couldn’t be bothered, so he delegated it. I suspect it was a genuine attempt to freshen up his sound but, like many others, I feel the drums are a big part of the problem with that record. |
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Reply #22 posted 07/18/21 5:47am
thebanishedone
|
bwaaatch said: lurker316 said:
I love Prince's drum patterns in the '80s. They were so innovative and different than anything else you were on the radio. Very original and grabbed your attention.
Then I loved when he moved to live drums in the '90s. Freshened up his sound. Michael B was amazing.
When Prince returned to drum programming for Emancipation I hated it. Unlike his patterns of the '80s that were 5 years ahead of everyone else, his Emancipation drumming was 5 years behind the times. Those patterns were generic and out-dated.
Emancipation all programmed by the Kirk Johnson. I recall an interview at the time where Prince seemed to want to make the point that he COULD have programmed his t all himself, as he did on 1999, but that he almost couldn’t be bothered, so he delegated it. I suspect it was a genuine attempt to freshen up his sound but, like many others, I feel the drums are a big part of the problem with that record. He was chasing that R Kelly money |
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Reply #23 posted 07/18/21 10:13am
nextedition 
|
OldFriends4Sale said:
LINN drumming, mixed with live of course 1980-1988 definitive of Purple Music
Yes this, i think the Linn drumming was a big part of why I became a fan.
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Reply #24 posted 07/19/21 3:04pm
herb4 |
funkaholic1972 said:
thebanishedone said:
jdcxc said: I love Blackwell but a former band member told me that Prince was cutting Blackwell paycheck all the time because of timing issues.
Yeah I was surprise to hear that, based on what I have seen/heard of Blackwell I never noticed it as far as I remember. I thought he was great to be honest.
I never noticed it either. Love me some John Blackwell
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Reply #25 posted 07/19/21 9:31pm
thebanishedone
|
herb4 said:
funkaholic1972 said:
thebanishedone said:
jdcxc said: I love Blackwell but a former band member told me that Prince was cutting Blackwell paycheck all the time because of timing issues.
Yeah I was surprise to hear that, based on what I have seen/heard of Blackwell I never noticed it as far as I remember. I thought he was great to be honest.
I never noticed it either. Love me some John Blackwell
check Shhh hong kong rocks whennJohn loses the beat and Prince says now John Now |
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Reply #26 posted 07/20/21 2:04pm
funkman88 
|
funkaholic1972 said:
I think Prince music partially sounded so innovative in the 80's because of his use of the LM-1/Linndrum. His Linn beats were a great part of what sucked me in as a listener. I loved Prince's beat patterns and the sound of the Linn machines with all the effects Prince used to spice up his beats. So for me I have to say I prefer 'Linn-Prince'.
But I have loved a lot of his live drummers too. The only one that really bothered me was the blond girl from 3rd Eye Girl. Although she was really pleasant on the eye, she was not worthy enough to play with Prince IMO, she didn't have the groove and the skills needed for an artist of Prince's caliber. Whatever performance I watched of 3rd Eye Girl, she stood out as the weak link. At her best moments her drumming was 'alright', but most of the time it was just not tight and interesting enough. Not trying to be mean here, she comes across as a sweet and lovely person, just giving my honest opinion...
its Prince he only hired her 2 sleep with her....most female musicians he worked with sucked but looked good so he used his talent 2 get them in bed and lied 2 them telling them they could sing/play |
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Reply #27 posted 07/20/21 3:22pm
herb4 |
funkman88 said:
funkaholic1972 said:
I think Prince music partially sounded so innovative in the 80's because of his use of the LM-1/Linndrum. His Linn beats were a great part of what sucked me in as a listener. I loved Prince's beat patterns and the sound of the Linn machines with all the effects Prince used to spice up his beats. So for me I have to say I prefer 'Linn-Prince'.
But I have loved a lot of his live drummers too. The only one that really bothered me was the blond girl from 3rd Eye Girl. Although she was really pleasant on the eye, she was not worthy enough to play with Prince IMO, she didn't have the groove and the skills needed for an artist of Prince's caliber. Whatever performance I watched of 3rd Eye Girl, she stood out as the weak link. At her best moments her drumming was 'alright', but most of the time it was just not tight and interesting enough. Not trying to be mean here, she comes across as a sweet and lovely person, just giving my honest opinion...
its Prince he only hired her 2 sleep with her....most female musicians he worked with sucked but looked good so he used his talent 2 get them in bed and lied 2 them telling them they could sing/play
As one does. |
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Reply #28 posted 07/21/21 8:36am
Cinny 
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Bobby Z strikes the balance, my favourite in concert. |
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Reply #29 posted 07/21/21 8:38am
Cinny
|
funkaholic1972 said:
The only one that really bothered me was the blond girl from 3rd Eye Girl. Although she was really pleasant on the eye, she was not worthy enough to play with Prince IMO, she didn't have the groove and the skills needed for an artist of Prince's caliber. Whatever performance I watched of 3rd Eye Girl, she stood out as the weak link. At her best moments her drumming was 'alright', but most of the time it was just not tight and interesting enough. Not trying to be mean here, she comes across as a sweet and lovely person, just giving my honest opinion...
co-sign. I swear her tempo kept changing like when I played drums for 7th grade orchestra. |
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