Releases...1987
Prince |
Associates |
| Prince - Sign O' The Times | |||
Producer:
Prince
Highest Pop Chart Position: |
Notes | ||
| All memories of the
commercial flop of the movie Under The Cherry Moon and lukewarm reception of the Parade
album were quickly forgotten with the release of the landmark Sign O' The Times
album. Originally intended as a triple album project, this release overflowed with a
collection of breathtaking top class quality songs that revealed an ever evolving
maturity and sophistication in his songwriting. The album was far better received in
Europe (where he concentrated his touring efforts) than in the USA (where his popularity
was diminishing) and helped propel him to high legendary status in the eyes of many
Europeans. Standout Tracks: Take your pick! Experience Rating: At this stage... seemingly invincible! (10/10) |
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| Single Releases: Sign O' The Times [UK chart position No.10 Mar 87], Housequake, Hot Thing, U Got The Look [UK chart position No.11 Aug 87], If I Was Your Girlfriend [UK chart position No.20 Jun 87], I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man [UK chart position No.29 Nov 87] | |||
| Morris Day - Daydreaming | |||
Producers: Morris Day, Judith Day, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis
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Notes | ||
| He's
back!! With his second solo set, continuing with much the same formula as his last
album albeit with less humour. His old friends from The Time, Jam & Lewis, ect. helped
out on a couple of tracks, one of which was 'Fishnet', that held on to some of the
elements which made The Time so much fun, sounding just like it did in the good ol' days.
Standout Tracks: Fishnet, Love Is A Game, Moonlite (Passionlite) Paisley Involvement: None Experience Rating: Party on. (7/10)
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| Single Releases: Daydreaming, Fishnet, Are You Ready | |||
| Sheila E - Sheila E | |||
Producers:
Sheila E, David Z, Prince
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Notes | ||
| Sheila's last album for
Paisley Park Records turns out to be her most accomplished album to date. With
almost half the tracks written/co-written by Prince (uncredited) and co-produced with
David Z, all songs were well crafted and produced and showed off Sheila's talents
as a singer/musician at her
very very best. An outstanding album packed with great songs. Standout Tracks: Hold Me, Faded Photographs, Koo Koo, Pride And The Passion, Boys Club, Love On A Blue Train Paisley Involvement: Medium/High Experience Rating: She's can't get any better than this!?!. (9/10)
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| Single Releases: Koo Koo, Hold Me, Love On A Blue Train (Japanese EP release only) | |||
| Jill Jones - Jill Jones | |||
Producers:
Prince, David Z, Jill Jones
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Notes | ||
| A remarkable album, from a
remarkable lady, with a remarkable voice. Backing singer Jill Jones steps out into
the limelight with her only, underrated stellar release from the 'golden age' period of
the Paisley Park label (a second Jill Jones paisley album sadly remains unreleased in the
vaults). All compositions were written by the Purple One (despite what the album
sleeve says) and most were very quirky, unique, inventive, but most
importantly enjoyable... especially Violet Blue which is a
masterpiece. Full orchestral backing courtesy of Clare Fischer and Eric Leeds's horn
completed the picture to a marvellous debut. Standout Tracks: G-Spot, Violet Blue, All Day All Night, For Love, Baby You're A Trip Paisley Involvement: High Experience Rating: A trip and a half (9/10)
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| Single Releases: Mia Bocca, G-Spot, For Love | |||
| Madhouse - 8 | ||
Producer: Madhouse
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Notes | |
| First of two albums in
the same year from Madhouse...a unique jazz-funk fusion outfit which was the product of a
collaboration between Prince and his leading horn player Eric Leeds. All the tracks
were given numbers as titles from 1-8 and the music is jazz 'Paisley style',
easily accessible, inventive and quirky at the same time, not your traditional kind of
everyday straight-forward type of jazz. It
was Prince taking on the genre and re-inventing it in his own distinctive style which
makes it all the more interesting and listenable to those not open to this
form of music. The fast numbers are funky, the slow numbers are
exquisite. A very enjoyable piece of music. Standout Tracks: All (track 8 is just takes you breath away... beautiful!) Paisley Involvement: High Experience Rating: Perfect music to play on a hot desert island with the cover girl (Maneca Lightner) or boy of your choice and her/his pooch!!! (9/10)
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| Single Releases: 6 | ||
| Madhouse - 16 | ||
Producer:
Madhouse
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Notes | |
| Musically different from
the first Madhouse album in that the tracks are more edgier, harder hitting, quirkier and
danceable, with lesser emphasis on the jazz and more on the funk.
Sheila E and Dr. Fink added drums and keys. There is also a
gangster theme running throughout with soundbite samples of The Godfather movies in-between
tracks. Another unique piece of crazy madhouse music. Standout Tracks: All Paisley Involvement: High Experience Rating: The definitive alternative jazz soundtrack to The Godfather (8/10)
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| Single Releases: 10, 13 | ||
| St Paul - St Paul | |||
Producers:
St. Paul, Ricky P., Monte Moir, Jeff Lorber
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Notes | ||
| Part of a large and respected
Minneapolis musical Peterson dynasty, St Paul Peterson had no shortage of talent to help him out on
his debut. After brief stints with The Time and The Family, St Paul left the Paisley camp
to pursue a career as a solo artist. His first album was a collection of finely
crafted slick pop/soul songs and funk tunes of which the track 'Intimacy' was a huge
R&B hit in the UK, all written/co-written and produced by himself, with brother Ricky
Peterson and others helping out on production. Standout Tracks: Can't Get Enough, Too Well, Intimacy Paisley Involvement: None Experience Rating: Talent runs in the family (8/10)
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| Single Releases: Rich Man, Intimacy | |||
| Taja Sevelle - Taja Sevelle | |||
Producer:
Bennett
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Notes | ||
| Former DJ on Minneapolis radio
station KMOJ Taja Sevelle (real name Nancy Richardson) first met Prince on the set
of Purple Rain as an extra. A unique voice (likened to Minni Ripperton), Taja quit
DJing for a singing career and signed up with Paisley Park Records. Her debut was a
collection of pop songs and ballads, her biggest and most memorable hit being 'Love Is
Contagious' reaching No.1 in the UK pop charts. Standout Tracks: Love Is Contagious, Wouldn't You Love To Love Me?, Fly For Your Painted Rainbow Paisley Involvement: Low Experience Rating: Her voice is contagious (7/10)
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| Single Releases: Love Is Contagious, Wouldn't You Love To Love Me?, Popular, Take Me For A Ride | |||
| Wendy & Lisa - Wendy & Lisa | |||
Producers:
Wendy, Lisa, Bobby Z
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Notes | ||
| The 'Girlbrothers' Wendy and Lisa
emerge from out of the shadows of The Revolution with an album of their own. Far
removed from the Paisley environment, their debut had its own style and displayed the
outstanding talents these girls have as musicians/songwriters. The album was a
collection of strong pop songs with jazzy elements thrown into a couple of tracks.
Wendy handled most of the vocals and her confident voice was a revelation, Lisa's vocals
on the other hand sounded flat and are only really suited to background. A strong
debut. Standout Tracks: All except "Light" Paisley Involvement: None Experience Rating: The girls done good (8/10)
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| Single Releases: Honeymoon Express, Sideshow [UK chart position No.49 Jan 88], Waterfall [UK chart position No.66 Aug 87 (Re-released Remix No.69 Nov 89)] | |||
| Jody Watley - Jody Watley | |||
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Producers: Andre Cymone, David Z., Bernard Edwards, Patrick Leonard
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Notes | ||
| For her first solo
outing after quitting Shalamar, Jody Watley chose Andre Cymone as her
primary producer, and considering her success, that seems like a wise
choice. The production skills that Cymone put to mediocre use on his own
albums sparkled on this debut. Perhaps he just needed a muse, but his
funk/pop/dance beats that dominate this album resulted in two of three
huge top ten hits, which assured Jody’s acquiring the Best New Artist
Grammy that year. Her smooth voice combined with his slick beats
guaranteed dance floors everywhere would be filled. Standout Tracks: Still a Thrill, Looking for a New Love, Don’t You Want Me, Most of All Paisley Involvement: None Experience Rating: Ms. Watley proved to be Still a Thrill without Shalamar. (8/10)
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| Single Releases: Looking For A New Love, Still A Thrill, Some Kind Of Lover, Don’t You Want Me, Most Of All | |||
