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!!!

It seems you never experienced a Purple rain concert...am I right??---Do some research and get back to me...thanks!---brian

MinneapolisFunk said:

Erm...if u read the title...it says NPG not Prince, the NPG werent around then!

i don't know if it was the best prince band, but it was the best npg line-up.
we're just lucky that tony and quirkee Jay ain't in there
but the revolution was probably his best band. he created such great music with them. ATWIAD and Parade are musical masterpieces.

err - i fink he means NPG not REVOLUTION - DOH!

Freaker said:

um, we know...

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Quit the sarcasm - I must have posted at the same time as the other smart arses here.

Dansa and Brain - what i think he's trying to say is that it was the best NPG lineup.
i mean with tony and his Gay Boyz gone, it got funky again

Thanx Bambi,you got it, i mean in terms of NPG not Revolution.
Handsclaps do u mind not being so rude and sarcastic.

I think this line-up was the last time Prince's backing band had any kind of concern in the matter of showmanship. Now the band seems to be given more of a straight-up focus on musicianship, and there's less of the choreography and staged craziness that used to characterize Revolution and Lovesexy band performances. I like the fact that Prince's backing band is more low-key in appearance these days, but I think it makes the first line-up of NPG stand out all the more for being the last gasp for that style of stage show.

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...

I agree, the '94 NPG really kicked ass in a way that
subsequent NPG line ups haven't. They were much
more 'in your face' and dynamic, and showed off a
louder, dirtier style of funk more rooted in the looped
and layered hip-hop grooves. The new NPG band suits
Prince's current direction in more Jazz influenced jams
and a lighter type of classic 70's funk.

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.

The NPG was the Best and Yes I agree with 94 and 95 being Prince's Best Concerts. Actually , I would say from 93-95. Absolutey Amazing!

The band only reflects Prince's interests. When he wanted to explore melodies and songwriting he moved from his funk/r&b lineup towards what became the Revolution. When he wanted to explore jazz he formed Madhouse. The Lovesexy band reflected his desire to return to the funkier material. When he formed the NPG he was turning to real instrumentation and musicianship rather than synths and drug programming.

The point is, that there are no "better" bands per se. They were employed for different purposes when Prince was at different points in his musical growth. It all depends on which songs you enjoy and which ones strike a chord. Personally, my mood determines which songs I want to listen to. Whether in its origin or its delivery the bands all contribute, but it's Prince with the vision to put it together and thus it bears his spirit. Thus if you like Prince you'll like something with each band.

I like the feel of the current line-up better. I also like the fact more that P is now the only guitarist.

I'd include 1993 as well

Michael B
Mr Hayes
Tommy B
Sonny T
Mayte


His best ever band IMO. They were tighter and funkier than any other lineup. I agree that his current band is better-suited to playing jazz - can u imagine renato trying to play Pheromone/Acknowledge Me/319?!?!?!?!?! I think not. The current band looks so much geekeier than the 93-95 NPG as well...

And then there was the divine Mayte - Nothing compares 2 her

Ian and Freaker are right. The '94/'95 band was his best lineup ever. Hectim, Prince was the only guitarist then too.

The timing and power Prince had with this band was unmistakable. You combine the facts that Michael and Sonny both possess perfect pitch and tremendous musical agility, then add Tommy, Prince was in a band of musician peers that actually challenged him. I wish that NPG would have been around longer because the musical direction Prince was going was a more raw rock/funk sound. I always wanted a whole album of new material with just Prince, Michael and Sonny.

Whooops.

Sartoria said:

Nope, both the current NPG lineup and the Lovesexy band were superior musically. Those bands could perform songs that the 94/95 lineup could not (much wider range of abilities/styles).

However, neither of those could funk quite like the 94/95 NPG makeup.

As for "flash", don't you think Blackwell with all his drumstick trickery would've been a great fit for that lineup?

Also, the 94/95 lineup was hurt by the backing vocal tracks.

I've said it many times and I'll say it again...


NONE of Prince's bands can top the 1987/88 Lovesexy Band

DavidEye said:

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.

AYE..AYE THAT lineup was the fuckin dogs bollocks..best.edgiest music he has ever put out.recognise(!)

i rate this band better than the current npg.

Michael B - just listen 2 tha drums on shh

Sonny T - The bass on undertaker. could any1 else do that 4 10 whole minutes. just 2 notes. i think not

Hayes - i liked it when p shaved his head in days of wild

Tommy - erm...nice hair skills!

but look @ all the songs they produced:

One Of Us
Saviour
Betcha By Golly Wow
Lovesign
Chaos And Disorder
Dig U Better Dead
Dinner With Dolores
Had U
Into The Light
I Like It There
I Rock, Therefore I Am
I Will
Right The Wrong
Same December
Zannalee
Come
Dark
Letitgo
Loose!
Orgasm
Papa
Pheromone
Race
Solo
Space
Big Fun
Cherry, Cherry
Count The Days
Get Wild
Good Life
New Power Soul
Return Of The Bump Squad
The Exodus Has Begun
319
Billy Jack Bitch
Dolphin
Endorphinmachine
Gold
I Hate U
Now
P. Control
Shhh
Shy
The Most Beautiful Girl In The World
We March
18 & Over
2morrow
Acknowledge Me
Calhoun Square
Days Of Wild
Da Bang
Get Loose
Hide The Bone
Interactive
Love Sign (Shock G's Silky Remix)
Poom Poom
Ripopgodazippa
So Dark
The Ride

damn right they funky!

ian said:

co sign.

The female computer voice crap and digital sound effects on TGE date it alot.

Tommy Barbarella was fantastic.

94 was perhaps the peak of my fanaticism towards Prince, but I seldom listen to stuff from 94-95 anymore.

Freaker said:

you know the dumbasses around here are usually the first to speak up when they don't understand, and they're all loud and wrong. disregard them.

and to answer your question, I do think that the 94-95 lineup of the NPG was the best ever.

ian said:

What a crock of shit.

Although I think The Gold Experience is a good (not great) album it sounded like 80's retro to me. It sounded somewhat dated upon its release. Come sounds less dated.