Releases...1991
Prince and The New
Power Generation |
Associates |
| Prince and The NPG - Diamonds And Pearls | |||
Producer: Prince
Highest Pop Chart
Position: |
Notes | ||
| After a run of
'soundtrack' albums Prince and the newly named New Power Generation was back into
commercial pop/funk music making mold. Diamonds & Pearls put him back on the top
spot sales wise in the States where the album hit No. 1, it didn't do too bad elsewhere
either. More of a band effort with significant contributions from Rosie Gaines and
rapper Tony M., the album contained a wide variety of musical styles we've come to expect
from the man. Standout Tracks: Diamonds And Pearls, Cream, Willing And Able, Gett Off, Money Don't Matter 2Nignt, Live 4 Love Experience Rating: Full of gems (8/10) |
|||
| Single Releases: Thunder [UK chart position No.28 Jun 92], Diamonds And Pearls [UK chart position No.25 Dec 91], Cream [UK chart position No.15 Sep 91], Gett Off [UK chart position No.4 Aug 91], Money Don't Matter 2Nignt [UK chart position No.19 Mar 92] | |||
| Ingrid Chavez - May 19 1992 | |||
Producers:
Prince, Ingrid Chavez, Michael Koppelman, Levi Seacer, Jr.
|
Notes | ||
| Out of all the albums
released on the Paisley Park label, this wins the award hands down for being the most interesting.
Basically this album is a collection of spoken poetry set against a funky/new-agey musical
background. Ingrid first made
her voice heard on the Lovesexy album - "rain is wet, sugar is sweet"
and later appeared in the Graffiti Bridge movie. The album, a bold experiment from
Paisley Park/Warner Bros. had a concept that worked, but was way ahead of it's time for
many to fully appreciate and understand it. Not an easy album to
digest straight off... but after a few
listens (and if you're musically open-minded) you'll become addicted. Something
cool and different. Standout Tracks: All... pure poetry! Paisley Involvement: High Experience Rating: A brilliantly daring, brave release (9/10)
|
|||
| Single Releases: Heaven Must Be Near, Elephant Box, Hippy Blood | |||
| Sheila E - Sex Cymbal | |||
Producers:
Sheila E, Peter Michael, JP Charles, David Gamson
|
Notes | ||
| Sheila E's 1st album
away from the Paisley camp having signed a new contract with the parent company Warners.
Turned out to be slightly disappointing, sounding more mainstream
pop/r&b ala Paula Abdul, losing that funky edge she had with her previous albums. Most
of the material on this album is OK but bland and forgettable.
The cover of the
classic 'Lady Marmalade' is an embarrassment. Standout Tracks: Sex Cymbal, What'cha Gonna Do, Mother Mary, Promise Me Love Paisley Involvement: None Experience Rating: Wha happened Sheila? (6/10) |
|||
| Single Releases: Sex Cymbal, Droppin' Like Flies | |||
| T.C.Ellis - True Confessions | |||
Producers: Levi Seacer Jr., Prince, George Clinton, TC Ellis
|
Notes | ||
| Paisley Park's misguided
and failed attempt to enter the rap market came (and went) in the form of TC Ellis. Brother of
Sue Ann Carwell (well known vocalist on the Minneapolis scene), TC constantly bugged Prince
to allow him to record his own album. Prince eventually relented and True
Confessions was the result. Sounding like he'd just graduated from the
Tone "Funky Cold Medina" Loc skool of bad raps, his rap style was pretty lame and monotonous. Prince
compositions, 'Bambi' and (the unreleased) 'Girl O' My Dreams' were ruined beyond recognition, only the
forceful 'Cold Thang' showed any kind of inspiration. 'Miss
Thang', is also worthy of individual mention as a standout track, it had
that little extra edge of funk typical of a Paisley release. If all
the tracks had been as well composed as these two, he might have had a
winner. The use of live instruments as opposed to sampled music was the only saving grace for this record. Otherwise, a waste of time and space. Standout Tracks: Cold Thang, Miss Thang Paisley Involvement: Medium Experience Rating: A classic example of how not to rap... Leave it to the pro's TC. (3/10) |
|||
| Single Releases: Miss Thang, Pussycat (Promo only) | |||
| Eric Leeds - Times Squared | |||
Producers:
Eric Leeds, Prince
|
Notes | ||
| Saxman extraordinaire Eric Leeds debut solo album for Paisley Park was to have been the 3rd Madhouse 24
release, instead only 'The Dophamine Rush' (an edited part of the longer 'The Dophamine Rush Suite')
was used from the abandoned Madhouse 24 sessions and Eric was given his chance to
shine. Times Squared turned out sounding more traditional jazzfunk-fusion
(with a touch of Latin courtesy of Sheila E) compared to previous
Madhouse albums, with Eric displaying his usual great skills as a brilliant horn/flute
player. A cool album to chill out to. Standout Tracks: Andorra, Overnight Every Night, Cape Horn, Easy Does It, Times Squared, Once Upon A Time Paisley Involvement: High Experience Rating: Top Class Paisley Jazz (8/10) |
|||
| Single Releases: | |||
| Martika - Martika's Kitchen | |||
Producers: Martika, Paisley Park, Christopher Max, Robert Clivilles, David Cole, Bob Rosa, Frankie Blue, Les Pierce, Joe Galdo
|
Notes | ||
| Talented young lady
Martika hooked up with Prince in 1991 who contributed four songs to her 2nd album that
spawned several hits, "Love... Thy Will Be Done" being the world-wide smash.
Bright and breezy pop/dance tunes aimed at the teen market made her the
'Britany
Spears' of her time, both having started of their careers on the US Mickey Mouse Club kids
TV show. Standout Tracks: Love.... Thy Will Be Done, Spirit, Mi Tierra Paisley Involvement: Low/Medium Experience Rating: Plenty cookin' in this kitchen (7/10)
|
|||
| Single Releases Martika's Kitchen, Spirit, Love.... Thy Will Be Done | |||
| Taja Sevelle - Fountains Free | |||
Producers: Ian Prince, Chico Bennett, Thom Bell, David Pack, Robert D. Palmer, Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager
|
Notes | ||
| A switch from Paisley
Park to the Reprise label for Taja's second album. Using the services of an army of
producers, the album is a mixture of beautifully constructed ballads (in particular 'The
Power Of Your Love (You And I)' co-written with two legendary
songwriters Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager) and formulaic pop/dance/r&b songs.
The slower numbers tend to work better with her unique high range vocals but nothing here
really matches 'Love Is Contagious'. Standout Tracks: I'm Givin' In, The Power Of Your Love (You And I), What A State Of Love, Forever In Love, Died Alive Paisley Involvement: None Experience Rating: Throwaway dance songs but the beautiful ballads shine... (6/10) |
|||
| Single Releases: Trouble Having You Near | |||
| Wendy & Lisa (Compilation) - Re-mix-in-a-carnation | ||
Producers:
|
Notes | |
| A selection of Wendy
& Lisa tunes given the remix treatment by top club DJ's. Standout Tracks: Waterfall Paisley Involvement: None Experience Rating: Generally interesting remixes... the original versions are much more preferable. (7/10) |
||
| Single Releases: | ||
| Jody Watley - Affairs Of The Heart | |||
|
Producers:
Andre Cymone, Jody Watley, Jon Nettlesbey, Terry Coffey, David Morales,
Michael J. Powell
|
Notes |
||
| In an apparent attempt to
stretch musically, Jody hired on a bunch of producers for her third album.
As a result, Andre Cymone fell into the background somewhat. While still
producing six of this album’s tracks, his production seems washed out,
probably due to the influences of the other producers. The album as a
whole is unremarkable, with too many bland ballads. Even the uptempo
numbers are bland, and Watley loses any of the funkiness she had on her
previous albums. Only Cymone’s "Strange Way" recalls past
glories… Standout Tracks: Strange Way, Dance To The Music, I Want You Paisley Involvement: None Experience Rating: A truly bland "Affair"… (6/10)
|
|||
| Single Releases: I Want You, I’m The One You Need | |||
