Releases...1990
Prince |
Associates Elisa Fiorillo - I Am St. Paul - Down To The Wire The Time - Pandemonium Wendy & Lisa - Eroica Databank Xtra The Day Zs - The Day Zs Kool Skool - Kool Skool |
| Prince - Graffiti Bridge | |||
Producer:
Prince
Highest Pop Chart Position: |
Notes |
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| After the Batman movie
soundtrack comes the Graffiti Bridge movie soundtrack, and like the former
this is very
much a very self contained Prince album than a soundtrack, featuring Prince written
contributions from Tevin Campbell, George Clinton, The Time and Mavis Staples.
The usual high standards expected from Prince are present. This
album also served a purpose indirectly as a kind of showcase for the Paisley Park roster of artists.
This display of musical talent couldn't alas save the movie from
being an absolute turkey. Standout Tracks: The Question Of U, Elephants And Flowers, Joy In Repetition, Tick Tick Bang, Thieves In The Temple, Still Would Stand All Time Experience Rating: Great music, shame about the movie (7/10) |
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| Single Releases: New Power Generation [UK chart position No.26 Nov 90], Round And Round, Thieves In The Temple [UK chart position No.7 Jul 90], Melody Cool, Shake! | |||
| Elisa Fiorillo - I Am | |||
Producers:
David Z, Levi Seacer Jr., Junior Vasquez, Prince, Oliver Lieber, Ian Prince, Darryl
Duncan
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Notes | ||
| Elisa Fiorillo (or her
management team) decided that in order to boost her profile in the pop arena and rank
alongside the likes of Paula Abdul, Janet Jackson or even Madonna, she'd
best hook up with some
of Minneapolis's finest. The result was "I Am". Partly recorded at Paisley
Park, it contained a familiar mix of leftover purple funk and ballads. A couple of gems to be
found here... "Ain't Right" delivers a strong message and would've made a
brilliant single release, but alas it wasn't enough to save her carreer... Standout Tracks: I Am, Ohh This I Need, Ain't Right Paisley Involvement: Medium Experience Rating: She was.... (7/10)
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| Single Releases I Am, On The Way Up, Ohh This I Need (Promo Only) | |||
| St. Paul - Down To The Wire | |||
Producers:
Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers, St. Paul, Oliver Leiber
|
Notes | ||
| St. Paul's 2nd album
leaned more towards pop than R&B. He moved to Atlantic Records from MCA and in
an effort to appeal to a wider teen market, hooked up with the top pop producers at the time,
Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers who co-wrote most of the songs with St. Paul on the
album. Most of the songs therefore ended up being very bubblegum and slickly produced,
bland and
non-threatening with the exception of 'Shooting Star' which is way out funky. Standout Tracks: Stranger To Love, Every Heart Needs A Home, Next Time You See My Girl, Only Reminds Me Of You, Shooting Star Paisley Involvement: None Experience Rating: Not as memorable as the first (7/10) |
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| Single Releases: Stranger To Love, Every Heart Needs A Home | |||
| The Time - Pandemonium | |||
Producers:
The Time
|
Notes | ||
| What time is it!?!..
Time for the return of the Magnificent Seven, which turned out to be one big party from
start to premature (but inevitable) finish (far too much talent to be contained in one
outfit). This time the jam was more of a group collaboration than another Jamie
Starr production. Arguably their funkiest album, the grooves hit hard only giving
way for the two smoldering ballads on the set.
Standout Tracks: Pandemonium,
Jerk Out, Blondie, Chocolate, Skillet, It's Your World, Sometimes I Get Lonely,
My Summertime Thang.....Almost every track dammit!!
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| Single Releases: Jerk Out, Chocolate | |||
| Wendy & Lisa - Eroica | |||
Producers:
Wendy & Lisa, Tony Berg
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Notes | ||
| Wendy & Lisa's 3rd album for
Virgin finds the talented girls shift direction for a more darkly reflective,
serious mood. Wendy's
vocals and the girls musicianship both coming along in leaps and bounds. Highly underrated
and the most musically complex of their three releases, a classic album from start to
finish. A limited edition of the album contained an extra CD of 4
instrumental piano pieces by Lisa. Standout Tracks: I like 'em all. Paisley Involvement: None Experience Rating: If Prince and Joni Mitchell ever got together and collaborated on an album... it may just sound like this one.... (9/10) |
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| Single Releases: Rainbow Lake [UK chart position No.70 Nov 90], Strung Out [UK chart position No.44 Jun 90], Don't Try To Tell Me | |||
| The Day Zs - The Day Zs | |||
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Producers:
Morris Day, Freeze, Benny
Medina
|
Notes | ||
| This all-female funk group,
fronted by former Mary Jane Girl ‘Cheri’ Wells, could best be
described as Morris Day’s attempt at creating his own Vanity 6 type
protégé girl band. Day
wrote and produced every song on the album, and the Minneapolis sound is
evident, though more in tune with Day’s solo work. Essentially a female
version of The Time, the Day Zs’ only album is a lightweight but fun and
funky ride, with Day guest appearing in typical "cool" persona on the track Green Acres. Standout Tracks: Sunny Dayz, Here I Am; Green Acres; G. Me, Certainly Paisley Involvement: None Experience Rating: The Time had come (and gone, unfortunately) for the Day Zs (7/10) |
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| Single Releases: Certainly | |||
| Kool Skool - Kool Skool | |||
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Producers:
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Notes | ||
| Two years after the release of
their debut, Jesse Johnson protégés dá Krash are given a 2nd chance and
undergo a major makeover and change of direction. Now re-named Kool
Skool... gone is the rock/funk image in favor of an r&b, new jack
swing look and sound. Out with the long geri curls and spiky hair -
in with the high top fades. New lead vocalist Dion Craig
replaces Robert Jordan who has left the band. This time round the
band has much more of an identity (albeit in a "new jack swing"
style - popular at the time but now sounds dated), instead of sounding
like Jesse Johnson clones. As with their previous album all songs are co-produced/written by Jesse. Much of which is too similar sounding, filler material with no light or shade. This set gave them limited success in the R&B world.. but it wasn't enough to save them from being dropped by the label. Standout Tracks: "Never Thought I'd Miss You" "You Can't By My Love" Paisley Involvement: None Experience Rating: Back of the class... (6/10)
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| Single Releases: Waste My Time, My Girl , You Can't By My Love | |||
