i read somewhere that jimmy jam and terry lewis said that prince is the best rhythm guitarist in the world. are they right?

He is surely one of the best, but it is hard to judge who is the ultimate one. If you look at Keziah Jones for instance. Now that's a killer. If you could get both of them on a stage ...

blackboab said:

I once read that Eric Clapton said this - and now, that is a compliment...

joecoco said:

Keziah Jones is awesome - didn't think anybody would remember him... What's he doing now??

Krid said:

Last year he released a new album "Black Orpheus" -> awesome. I saw him live in Luxemburg. No words to describe that night.

Nope, that's the man on the left!


P is incredible on rhythm, but as long as Phelps "Catfish" Collins is alive, Prince will never be the best. Catfish played on James Brown's Soul Power, Sex Machine and Superbad, Parliament's Flashlight and Bootsy's Stretchin'out in a Rubber band, among many others. Those are the funkiest rhythm parts ever.

I once saw Keziah Jones live, but I thought his playing was a little too flashy at times.

And don't forget Nile Rodgers from 'Chic'. He's one of the funkiest ever.

Listen to 'Lady Cab Driver' to find out.

Ummm YES

Best??Come on.He's a very good guitar player,but there are many out there that are equally as good.That's not including PHENOMENAL cats like Santana,Ernie Isley and Jimi.

hectim said:

co-sign.

Rhythm guitar playing is not limited to just one style of music.
Prince`s rhythm guitar playing is just wonderful
whenever he`s doing it, and we all know he mastered
many different styles of music.
Whether i think he`s the best or not, well you already
know the answer by now.

I am sure he is!!!

hectim said:

Co-funkin'-sign. Catfish kicks much ass.

NO, he's not.

A lot of people play guitar. A lot of music stars do a great job of it, just differently.

I've always been especially enamored with Jimi Hendrix's ability to mix rhythm playing and soloing in a way that complemented the melody without overshadowing it.

For consideration, I offer Castles Made of Sand, Little Wing, and Bold as Love. Keep in mind that Hendrix likely influenced a great many more guitar players than Prince has.

And, P's rhythm guitar playing is great (I love that little half-step dip he does during the dance routine of 1+1+1=3 on the Vegas DVD -- I still can't tell whether it was rehearsed or spontaneous. The look on his face suggests the latter), but the inspiration of it is a lot more obvious (be it Nile Rogers aforementioned work, or the James Brown & P-Funk dudes).

He waters his influences' seeds well, better than most. But, I don't think it's accurate to suggest he's the best anything, musicianship-wise.

BlaqueKnight said:

it's the org, don't rule that possibility out
as far a sthe rest of your post goes,

And yeah, Jimmy did say that, but I don't think he was being entirely serious

marcdeondotcom said:

another phat co-sign!!
but Prince is the second best ... during the times he's was jammin' with Dez.

BlaqueKnight said:

That album is out of print, right? Pity, I'd love to hear it.

no.

No.But definitely in the top ten. or top five maybe...

Hakim said:

Man, Santana and Ernie Isley are some of the most overrated guitarists ever... IMHO Prince kills them both on rhythm guitar...

Neversin.

Yeah NeverSin... I hear U. Santana plays like one rhythm only, and I dig it, BUT...

This will the last time I comment on the "who's the best___?" threads.

U can't compare players, 'cause everyone plays differently. With rhythm guitar, if you're tight in the pocket, you're a great rhythm player.

I love Roger Troutman's touch on funk guitar... and all other players mentioned.

I would say Prince is within the top three rhythm guitar players of ALL TIME.

I would also personally rank him this high in the lead guitar dept, because I LIKE HIS STYLE.

My point is: U like a musician 4 the way they play their music. U can't rate something this subjective. Prince is more precise, on-point, AND expressive than most guitar players out there, and he's one of the only ones who seems 2 get better with time.

When U listen 2 a singer, U R doing so because U like the sound of their voice, not because of how many octaves they can sing.

Get it?

G.
[This message was edited Thu Dec 11 8:13:38 PST 2003 by Giovanni777]

James Hetfield? Malcolm Young?

HuH?!

Giovanni777 said:

You can't POSSIBLY BELIEVE THIS STATEMENT, can you? I think you guys put WAY too much stake in Prince's abilities. Prince has NEVER been the FUNKIEST on any instrument, especially not guitar. When Prince was out in the 80s, he was "funk lite" by the typical music standards of funk listeners. Now, in retrospect, on a Prince fansite, he is a "funk god". Why am I not surprised?
[This message was edited Thu Dec 11 8:35:09 PST 2003 by BlaqueKnight]

Yeah?

Well let's take it 2 the stage, then.

"typical music standards of funk listeners" ??

What the Fuck is that supposed 2 mean?

My funk influences on guitar and Bass were before I knew who Prince was. I came from the Funk. Maybe you're just one of the mainstream, who has a problem giving credit 2 Prince when it's due.

U ever hear Jamaaladeen Tacuma on Bass?

G.

I rate Prince's rhythm licks in Superfunkycalifrigisexy, Controversy, Kiss and SOTT as first-rate funk, up there with the best. Also his rythm playing on the ONA tour was really tight and I love the way he seems to 'conduct' the entire band through his rhythm playing. The fact that others are/were even funkier doesn't take away from the fact that the man can JAM on that Hohner.

BlaqueKnight said:

Isley did a couple of cool solos, but yeah: I don't understand why people consider him one of the greatest either. Hazel and Hampton did lots of stuff like that, only much tighter. As for Santana: I don't really like his music, but the guy has a style that's completely his own and deserves credit for that.
You can't really rate Santana's rhythm playing, cause he rarely does any (just a couple of chords and then he goes into yet another solo...)
And Hendrix: he's the granddaddy of all of them. Respect.

Neversin said:

If you get "The Making of Electric Ladyland" Classic Albums DVD, listen to the rhythm guitar track from Crosstown Traffic.

Prince is a good rhythm player...but he's never gonna get that big fat relaxed power of Hendrix.

I also love it in the Wind Cries Mary...when the verse starts

After all the jacks...are in their boxes...

and then Jimi remembers a second later that he has to play some guitar over it and chips his chord in sooo late

Magnificent.