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Printablesmellypoo said: ian said: I totally agree... I feel the 1995 NPG was the best band he ever had.
And please, don't even try comparing it to the Purple Rain tour. Purple Rain was all ruffles, lace, laser-shows and mincing about. The Revolution can't touch the 95 NPG in terms of musicianship. What a crock of shit. It's an opinion - my own, and I'm entitled to it. Clearly I'm not the only one that digs 95 NPG 
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I'll say it was a golden age...he's due for another in 04/05 | |
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I kinda wish Prince had left 'The New Power Generation' as
being the band he had from '91-'95. It just seemed a bit weird when he carried on refering to whatever backing band he had at the time as 'The NPG' as well as the fans too. He should've come up with a new name (or no name) for the current band. It's a bit like if he'd continued to call the Sign O' The Times band 'The Revolution'. | |
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Im afraid Ive gotta disagree. The sound that Prince was creating around this era was probably my least favourite. It was overblown and too polished. I really like the Exodus album and the gold experience, but always felt that the songs would have benefited from having a raw, rough edge to them.
I think the band he has now is one of my favourites, and they are cetainly a more accomplished group (and there's no god awful rapping). In terms of showmanship, I dont think you can top the 87/88 band, but the group Prince has put together now brings the focus back to the music. No on stage thatrics to distract you, its focused on the talent of each band member, and as a music fan what more can you ask for? | |
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After hearing some of the bootlegs from around that era, one thing i can say is that Sonny T bass solo's (especially at aftershows) were often amazing. You do as I say | |
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Mashpostato...dont forget that the band also helped on material on THE VAULT cd:
The Rest of My Life It's About That Walk? 5 women When the lights go down Sarah to name a few! | |
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DavidEye said: I've said it many times and I'll say it again...
I agree with you.everything Prince is doing over the past few years He was doing then with that Band&they had No Limits.I liked the 94-95 Band for it's Rawness but to me they didn't add anything to Prince's Studio Output or Influence Him in any real way.whereas back in 87-88 Prince was Coasting but also bringing the Noise.NONE of Prince's bands can top the 1987/88 Lovesexy Band mistermaxxx | |
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smellypoo said: ian said: I totally agree... I feel the 1995 NPG was the best band he ever had.
And please, don't even try comparing it to the Purple Rain tour. Purple Rain was all ruffles, lace, laser-shows and mincing about. The Revolution can't touch the 95 NPG in terms of musicianship. What a crock of shit. Look! It's Nigel Swan! [This message was edited Mon Oct 20 15:34:31 PDT 2003 by daned] "You know, you're the classic example of the inverse ratio between the size of the mouth and the size of the brain" | |
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howcomeudontcallme said: After hearing some of the bootlegs from around that era, one thing i can say is that Sonny T bass solo's (especially at aftershows) were often amazing.
You sure that wasn't Prince on the bass? I was at one of the Paisley Park shows back then where Prince played the one-eyed bass quite a bit, and man it was great! I have to agree that I liked these guys together more than any other form of the NPG. They WERE the NPG to me. All other incarnations are something else...just not NPG. NCC2012... your local Trekkie. =/\=
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MinneapolisFunk said: It seems you never experienced a Purple rain concert...am I right??---Do some research and get back to me...thanks!---brian
Well, I ain't ready to co-sign but Freaker's got a point. A lot of P's better post-Lovesexy stuff has come from this period. Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016
Props will be withheld until the showing and proving has commenced. -- Aaron McGruder | |
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ian said: DavidEye said: I've said it many times and I'll say it again...
NONE of Prince's bands can top the 1987/88 Lovesexy Band Nah, the Lovesexy band looks like a cross between the Muppets band and the Starwars band 
Seriously though, I never noticed that band at all... they were more of a "backing group" to me, I rarely noticed their individual contributions the way I did when I saw 95 NPG tear it up live. 95 NPG was an edgier sound for Prince... I do miss it, it was the start of something very cool. With all due respect, ian, DavidEye is right. The "Sign O' The Times" concert movie and Lovesexy tour are Exhibits 1 and 2. Case closed. You also must consider P was in a different era with his "Counter-Revolution" band. If they coulda had a shot at some of that NPG material you'd change your mind quick-fast.  but i got love for ya.[This message was edited Mon Oct 20 17:35:27 PDT 2003 by namepeace] Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016
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Freaker said: Just to say that I think in terms of the band line up and the songs etc this was a golden age for the NPG. Some excellent concerts were done and so some really cool songs. The NPG Exodus and Gold Experience albums are a must have to any fam.
A cd of one of the glam slam concerts recorded in 1994 would really show what Prince is like live...AMAZING/UNCOMPARABLE. Interestingly, because of the naturalistic instruments, the songs of that period have not dated at all, this compares to more recent stripped down concerts which although good do not compare to the excitement or instruments of the earlier more youthful ones. Nowadays, the NPG line up seems a little bit 'older' shall i say (frighteningly so) and it reflects. Keep young and keep exciting is what I say...maybe its cuz im a youngey too 22! LOLId love to see or hear Morris Hayes (and Day for that matter), Sonny T, Michael Bland and Tommy Barbarella in the NPG again!!! Absolutely... the 95 NPG was the tightest ever... it was the only one of Prince's bands to really sound like a collaborative effort of creative individuals, instead of Prince calling all the shots. And they were SO good live playing Gold Experiene and Exodus material... my favourite Prince band by a long shot! | |
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ian said: Absolutely... the 95 NPG was the tightest ever... it was the only one of Prince's bands to really sound like a collaborative effort of creative individuals, instead of Prince calling all the shots. And they were SO good live playing Gold Experiene and Exodus material... my favourite Prince band by a long shot!
ian. ian. you're really going to say that the Revolution didn't sound like a collaborative effort of creative individuals, with Wendy and Lisa in the mix? WENDY AND LISA? If you had said the NPG and the Revolution were "the only Prince bands . . ." etc., I wouldn't have debated that. I don't think you can defend that . . . or can you? [This message was edited Mon Oct 20 21:11:48 PDT 2003 by namepeace] Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016
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jtgillia said: In comparison with all his other bands- while probably not the best band musically, these guys were fierce. They had such power, and it really complimented P's attitude at the time towards himself, his fame, and the music business. They made you take notice, and they were downright funkay...
Well put!!! They had allot of power!! I miss Michael B. | |
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I think what you all need to do is clearly distiguish between the live band and the studio band.
Live in concert - I thought the Revolution were very ordinary, they really seemed to be more studio musicians trying to do a concert, they couldn't improvise for shit, the countless boots put claim to that. yet 93-95 NPG were kick ass live and fairly ordinary in the studio. - the hundreds of boots of their shows prove this band were the best LIVE band he ever had , Lovesexy band were good live but still not very versatile, they rehearsed their shows to the minute and aftershow tracks to be played also, not a huge range of improvising to be seen, (but except for the 93-95 NPG band), the Lovesexy band did improvise better than any other band up until then. the 93-95 NPG would make up grooves on the spot and they were different every time they did it, unlike the Lovesexy band who had a pre arranged set of tunes they played with little variation ... so ..yeah. Hard to believe I've been on the org for over 25 years now! | |
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namepeace said: ian said: Absolutely... the 95 NPG was the tightest ever... it was the only one of Prince's bands to really sound like a collaborative effort of creative individuals, instead of Prince calling all the shots. And they were SO good live playing Gold Experiene and Exodus material... my favourite Prince band by a long shot!
ian. ian. you're really going to say that the Revolution didn't sound like a collaborative effort of creative individuals, with Wendy and Lisa in the mix? WENDY AND LISA? If you had said the NPG and the Revolution were "the only Prince bands . . ." etc., I wouldn't have debated that. I don't think you can defend that . . . or can you? [This message was edited Mon Oct 20 21:11:48 PDT 2003 by namepeace] Fuck Wendy and Lisa! They suck! Etc. Oh wait, are we gonna have the old Revolution vs NPG debate again? It's been at least a few days since we did that
The Revolution was a group of individuals who were chosen based on their skin colour, gender, and how "interesting and cool" they would look on-stage. NPG in 95 was a group of talented musicians. I know who I prefer! Bring it on! | |
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I agree the NPG were put together on merit of their ability, and there was a certain cosmetic motivation behind the appointment of some Revolution members, but to suggets the NPG were more talented is plain wrong. Prince was a damn sight more creative during his revolution period than he was during the creative void that was his mid-90's output.
The Revolution what they may have lacked in ability, made up for creatively. This is without question the most inspiring group of musicians prince has worked with in his career. All Revolution members were exposing Prince to new genre's of music, providing ad-hoc ideas during jams, actually writing peices of music for prince to develop. IMO if Prince had been able to keep the expanded Revolution line up of 1986 (Eric Leeds, Sheila E etc) together, they would have gone on to produce some amazingly good music. If the NPG did have a similar influence on Prince, then its safe to say the music prince was producing in 94/95 was paint by numbers music. Very little imagination or flair. If this can be attributed to the NPG at the time then they go even further down in my estimation. Personally the band prince has now I think is one of his best. Extremely talented musicians who bring their own character to the music. | |
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ian said: Fuck Wendy and Lisa! They suck! Etc. Oh wait, are we gonna have the old Revolution vs NPG debate again? It's been at least a few days since we did that
The Revolution was a group of individuals who were chosen based on their skin colour, gender, and how "interesting and cool" they would look on-stage. NPG in 95 was a group of talented musicians. I know who I prefer! Bring it on! I totally agree.The Revolution were extremely overrated,imo.Don't get me wrong,I liked them and the music from that period,but when Prince "fired" them in 1986,I wasn't the least bit disappointed or upset. | |
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ian said: Fuck Wendy and Lisa! They suck! Etc.
Oh wait, are we gonna have the old Revolution vs NPG debate again? It's been at least a few days since we did that
The Revolution was a group of individuals who were chosen based on their skin colour, gender, and how "interesting and cool" they would look on-stage. NPG in 95 was a group of talented musicians. I know who I prefer! Bring it on! Such language . . . 
anyway . . . If you think Dr. Fink, Brownmark, Dez D., Sheila E., Bobby Z, and Wendy and Lisa, Atlanta Bliss and Eric Leeds were chosen solely for the purpose race and gender, that's on you. Their musicianship speaks for itself. Now, let's compare the released stuff of the Revolution v. the 94-95 NPG. If you can say that the NPG actually produced better music and a more collaborative effort than the Rev did w/1999, Purple Rain, ATWIAD, Parade, and the Killer B's, then that's your opinion . . . I just consider it to be flat wrong. And do we want to address the potential unreleased stuff that was produced during the Revolution era v. the NPG era? P will be remembered most, both by the mainstream audience and the die-hards, for the music he produced during the Revolution era. Why? Because of the fresh sounds he created during that time. The NPG were fierce, to be sure. They produced a fuller, more soulful sound than the Rev. But the Rev could do what the NPG did. NPG could not do the Rev did. Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016
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No question the 94/95 band was the best. No musician had more influence on Prince than Sonny T. - NONE! Not even close and no musician in Prince's bands was more insync with Prince musically.
A recent article in City Pages on the First Avenue nightclub, has Jimmy Jam remarking that coming up everyone was in awe of one musician and that was Sonny. Prince studied and learned more from Sonny than any other musician, period. Then you add Michael B. and Tommmy, both outstanding musicians and perfect musical compliments to Prince, and thats all really need be said. You can argue about the records released at other periods with different bands, but that was totally up to Prince. Now live on stage, in terms of pure playing, timing, sound, ect., 94/95 was hands-down the best. That is why when they (Michael, Sonny, and Morris) got together on June 3rd for a late night jam session (see my post from two days ago on it), they all were back in the same form as the last time they played together which was almost eight years ago now. | |
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I don't think that the different line ups are comparable, because they are all a mirror of the musical direction/mood that P was into during the specific period.
However IMHO 1994/1995 saw the most powerful, funkiest shows that's he's ever done. Studiowise I just say "EXODUS". I really love the direction he's choosen since TRC, but that is a complete different story, you cannot compare it to the raw funk he did in 1994/95. DAYS OF WILD - his best song ever! | |
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Namepeace said :
ian said: Fuck Wendy and Lisa! They suck! Etc.
Oh wait, are we gonna have the old Revolution vs NPG debate again? It's been at least a few days since we did that The Revolution was a group of individuals who were chosen based on their skin colour, gender, and how "interesting and cool" they would look on-stage. NPG in 95 was a group of talented musicians. I know who I prefer! Bring it on! Such language . . . anyway . . . If you think Dr. Fink, Brownmark, Dez D., Sheila E., Bobby Z, and Wendy and Lisa, Atlanta Bliss and Eric Leeds were chosen solely for the purpose race and gender, that's on you. Their musicianship speaks for itself. Now, let's compare the released stuff of the Revolution v. the 94-95 NPG. If you can say that the NPG actually produced better music and a more collaborative effort than the Rev did w/1999, Purple Rain, ATWIAD, Parade, and the Killer B's, then that's your opinion . . . I just consider it to be flat wrong. And do we want to address the potential unreleased stuff that was produced during the Revolution era v. the NPG era? P will be remembered most, both by the mainstream audience and the die-hards, for the music he produced during the Revolution era. Why? Because of the fresh sounds he created during that time. The NPG were fierce, to be sure. They produced a fuller, more soulful sound than the Rev. But the Rev could do what the NPG did. NPG could not do the Rev did. totally agree with you... | |
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Sartoria said: You can argue about the records released at other periods with different bands, but that was totally up to Prince. Now live on stage, in terms of pure playing, timing, sound, ect., 94/95 was hands-down the best. I can argue, and Id argue that it wasnt totally up to Prince. Prince more than ever had people helping him out in the early years, musically with ideas and contributions . I would say its in the latter years hes become more independent on his own talents and inspiration. Its hard to gage which band was more talented in a technical sense, but if its about contributions, the Revolution win hands down. None of Princes 80's music would have sounded as it would with out the help and influence of the Revolution (with the exception perhaps of Dirty Mind and Controversy). As this is generally considered to be his best work, you can therefore support the theory that the Revolution was the best band Prince ever had. In terms of live playing I dont dig the revolutions sound, mainly due to the absence of horns. Even on the Parade tour however, I thought it sounded too rehearsed and not spontaneous enough. I agree the NPG were a much tighter musical unit, but their influence on Prince will have been restricted to technique mainly. In the studio and songwriting however, all members of the revolution inspired prince in a much bigger way. | |
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This is a pretty dumb thread. There's nothing that Tommy could play that Renato can't, nothing that Sonny can play that Rhonda can't, and JB is every bit the drummer that Mike is -- he just plays differently. Believe me, if Prince calls out "Endorphin Machine" or "Sshh" or "Days of Wild" in Sydney, they'll be dead on it.
I would also add that the best bassist he's ever had, in terms of just holding down a monster groove, is Larry Graham, who is responsible for every bassist who claims to play funk that came after him. [This message was edited Wed Oct 22 10:24:07 PDT 2003 by TedW] | |
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TedW said: This is a pretty dumb thread. There's nothing that Tommy could play that Renato can't, nothing that Sonny can play that Rhonda can't, and JB is every bit the drummer that Mike is -- he just plays differently. Believe me, if Prince calls out "Endorphin Machine" or "Sshh" or "Days of Wild" in Sydney, they'll be dead on it.
I would also add that the best bassist he's ever had, in terms of just holding down a monster groove, is Larry Graham, who is responsible for every bassist who claims to play funk that came after him. [This message was edited Wed Oct 22 10:24:07 PDT 2003 by TedW] What's a smart orger like you doing in a place like this? 
I could be wrong, but I don't think the point of the thread was to denigrate the current lineup. They're very good from what I can tell. John Blackwell probably remains the most praised bandmate on this site. Overall, I'd agree with you, even (begrudgingly) on Larry. He's one in a million. Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016
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TedW said: This is a pretty dumb thread. There's nothing that Tommy could play that Renato can't, nothing that Sonny can play that Rhonda can't, and JB is every bit the drummer that Mike is -- he just plays differently. Believe me, if Prince calls out "Endorphin Machine" or "Sshh" or "Days of Wild" in Sydney, they'll be dead on it.
I would also add that the best bassist he's ever had, in terms of just holding down a monster groove, is Larry Graham, who is responsible for every bassist who claims to play funk that came after him. [This message was edited Wed Oct 22 10:24:07 PDT 2003 by TedW] Co-sign! I loved Prince & The Revolution as well, however many on this site live in a bizzarre fantasy world where Wendy & Lisa are entirely responsible for everything and Prince just happened to be there. "...all you need ...is justa touch...of mojo hand....." | |
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MrTation said: TedW said: This is a pretty dumb thread. There's nothing that Tommy could play that Renato can't, nothing that Sonny can play that Rhonda can't, and JB is every bit the drummer that Mike is -- he just plays differently. Believe me, if Prince calls out "Endorphin Machine" or "Sshh" or "Days of Wild" in Sydney, they'll be dead on it.
I would also add that the best bassist he's ever had, in terms of just holding down a monster groove, is Larry Graham, who is responsible for every bassist who claims to play funk that came after him. [This message was edited Wed Oct 22 10:24:07 PDT 2003 by TedW] Co-sign! I loved Prince & The Revolution as well, however many on this site live in a bizzarre fantasy world where Wendy & Lisa are entirely responsible for everything and Prince just happened to be there. Well, there is a happy medium. One can acknowledge W & L's creative contributions to and influences on Prince's music, WITHOUT detracting from Prince's singular genius. There are a lot of bandmates that don't get discussed a lot for their influences on Prince's music. I liked what Levi, Miko and Sheila did w/P. [This message was edited Wed Oct 22 13:34:58 PDT 2003 by namepeace] Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016
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PRINCE IS PRINCE BECAUSE THE REVOLUTION YEAR...THE NEXT CAN'T B COMPARE!!
U CAN'T COMPARE ANYTHING TO 1999>PURPLE RAIN>ARTWIAD>PARADE>DREAMFACTORY>OR SIGNO THE TIMES!! It's maybe the past but the best past in PRINCE MUSICAL CAREER!!! THAT'S IT !! |
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love2thenines2003 said: PRINCE IS PRINCE BECAUSE THE REVOLUTION YEAR...THE NEXT CAN'T B COMPARE!!
U CAN'T COMPARE ANYTHING TO 1999>PURPLE RAIN>ARTWIAD>PARADE>DREAMFACTORY>OR SIGNO THE TIMES!! It's maybe the past but the best past in PRINCE MUSICAL CAREER!!! THAT'S IT !! this is considered yelling.. isnt it? [This message was edited Thu Oct 23 13:11:23 PDT 2003 by Sdldawn] | |
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