Lucky Drama - Prince Selection 1 by user6264031

Lucky Drama - Prince Selection 1 by user6264031

Dirty Mind by Prince - 32 year anniversary of release date

Today, the 8^th of October is the 32^nd anniversary of the release of 'Dirty Mind' by Prince. This was Prince's third studio album and was recorded between May and June of the same year. I was just six years old in 1980, but got my hands on a copy some eight years later. As a Prince fan and a former music junkie, Dirty Mind is one of my hot favourites. Sex, politics, war and partying are heavy themes on this eight track album.

Looking at the album cover, Prince in his open trench coat with only his underwear underneath and a loosely tied neckerchief, you know your in for a mighty ride: 

Dirty Mind the opening track, refers to lusting after a lover and wanting to lay her down “in my Daddy's car”, When You Were Mine, a heavy guitar track which Prince sings of his love for a former lover who cheated on him with his best friend. Do It All Night, a funky disco(ish) track about lust again, Gotta Broken Heart Again, a beautiful ballad of a lost love.  Uptown is the ultimate party anthem and a song I always play whenever I need a spiritual uplifting. Head is about an affair with a bride-to-be. Back in the 80's, I could only listen to this song if my grandparents were out of the house or via headphones. On Sister, Prince sings about incest and abuse, a real mind opener, graphic, yet guilt-ridden funkiness. The last track, Partyup, is anti-war funk, “fighting war is such a fucking bore”. Give up the fighting and lets all party...and have some damned good sex too.

Prince on Dirty Mind:

“When I first played the Dirty Mind album for him (my father), he said 'You're swearing on the record. Why do you have to do that?' And I said “Because I swear'. The point for me is that you can do anything you want. My goal is to excite and provoke on every level. I like danger. That's what's missing from pop music today.”

The boundaries Prince pushed 32 years ago, some of the biggest selling artists of current times wouldn't have the balls to do. Art of a living genius. If you don't have a copy, go visit Amazon and enjoy the ride.

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Guilty Pleasures-'Sister' by Prince

If I Was Your Girlfriend, Live Performance

Prince - If I Was Ur Girlfriend (Live Performance)

Back in the eighties, as a young Prince fan, I dreamed of going to one of his concerts but had to settle for concert videos to get the live experience. Sign O' The Times, the concert movie, 1987, Cineplex Odeon Films, gave me the ultimate pleasure of Prince's musical magic. 'If I Was Ur Girlfriend' is considered the ladies “favourite” amongst Prince fans and it surely got played out by me on my walkman back in the day. Once I watched the live performance, listening to the album version just isn't the same. That's part of Prince's magic.

Kitted out in a black playsuit, low-cut at the front and sides, his trademark heeled boots, loose curled afro, a feathered earring and a white fluffy jacket, Prince looks divine amongst the peach and black colour theme of the set and lighting. His dancing, winding his hips, toying with the jacket and those mesmerising eyes had me crying like a baby, wishing I was in the place of his backing singer/dancer Cat (Catherine Glover). The chemistry between them is electrifying throughout this movie but stands out more in the 'If I Was Ur Girlfriend' performance, especially when they go to the love bed, a big love hearted prop, surely one of the most memorable stage props of all time. I was insanely jealous as a child and slightly embarrassed as an adult. However, I never tire of watching this live performance. Thank God for youtube, as it saves the life of my video cassette. I can watch it as many times as I want. I don't hear the vocals so well now but the arrangement is still stuck in my head, after all these years.

In The Spotlight - Terrence Trent D'arby

The two biggest talent shows on UK TV (The Voice BBC1 and Britain's Got Talent) both featured contestants singing Terrence Trent D'arby's 80's smash hit Sign Your Name Across My Heart. I'm not fit to judge anybody but I think Tyler James (The Voice) did a better job. My TV was on maximum and I liked what (little) I heard. Of course, me singing along (badly) made my curious daughter want to know how I knew the song so well and who sung it originally.

Well... back to the 80's I travelled down memory lane. When Terrence released his debut single If You Let Me Stay in 1987 his 'prancing' around stage was a bit too much for me. Also with his one short, one tall male backing singers a lot of people were certain he was just another gimmick artist (Jermaine Stewart was one amongst a few) and there was a lot of curiosity about his sexuality, especially as he busted a braided bob. It was when he released the bluesy ballad Sign Your Name that I sat up and noticed. Terrence's raspy and refined vocals over that unforgettable beat had everybody singing along back then. I never bought the album Introducing The Hardline According To Terrence Trent D'arby (UK sales 5x platinum) but follow up singles Wishing Well and the funky rocky pop Dance Little Sister were big and lasting favourites of mine.

A FUNKTASTIC LIVE RECORDING OF TERRENCE PERFOMING DANCE LITTLE SISTER

Terrence's vocal saxophone in the bridge of Dance Little Sister “Do Do Do Doooo, Do Do Do, Do Do Do Do Du Du Do, Do Do Dooo” was the catchiest thing ever. Some critics compared him as a cross between James Brown and Prince and its clear to see influences were there, the dancing style of the former and the effeminate image of the latter. I regret not appreciating his art enough back then as its hard for me to recapture the magic but I hope music lovers who were around in the 80's do recognise his talent and the impact his music made on pop back then.

Terence Trent D'arby Pictures

After his 1993 album Symphony Or Damn which released the rocky She Kissed Me and the beautiful ballad Let Her Down Easy Terrence disappeared from the charts and as there wasn't the internet access we're fortunate to have now, it was hard to follow up on what he was doing. He officially changed his name to Sananda Maitreya in 2001 and still records music.

Sananda! I've had a blessed and funky weekend watching your videos on Youtube and sharing that magic with my kids. Unforgettable music I'm eternally grateful for, I salute you.

Check out Terrence Trent D'arby's hits on my mixpod in the side bar

© Donna Woolcock 2012

Wendy and Lisa 'Fruit At The Bottom'

“A real sweet cup, will keep him up

Till Morning Comes”

'Fruit At The Bottom' Wendy and Lisa 1989

'Fruit At The Bottom' is the second studio album released by Wendy and Lisa after their departure from The Revolution. I bought this album, in cassette form after becoming hooked on Prince's music the previous year as a young teen and highly rating Wendy and Lisa's contribution on recordings with Prince and The Revolution. There was (and still is) something inspiringly wonderful and entrancing, to me, when it came to female musicians. I think it boils down to the inner musician I aspired to be but sadly didn't get to fulfil. Back in the 80's, Wendy and Lisa, Sheila E and the Bangles brought 'Girl Power' to the forecourt of pop music whilst their other female contemporaries were satisfied showcasing their vocal and dancing abilities as opposed to performing music.
 Wendy and Lisa at Amazon

'Are You My Baby?' was the albums most popular release in the UK. Many critics and Prince fans said their music was a carbon of Prince's style which is insulting to their talent. Wendy and Lisa come from musical families and shared a lot of their creativity with Prince during The Revolution era without getting much credit for their art. Of course influences and similarities are going to be heard. I don't remember their music getting a lot of air play on the radio but the video for 'Are You My Baby' was often screened on cable tv, Cable Jukebox was the channel if I remember right. I was intrigued, their image was a world away from the clothes they sported in The Revolution and they were funky.

'Fruit At The Bottom' is a feelgood throwback to pop music of the late 80's opening the doors of the dance sounds of the early 90's. 'Lolly Lolly', 'Are You My Baby?' and 'Satisfaction' are all funky club tracks. Undertones of R&B Soul can be heard in ballads 'Tears Of Joy', 'Always In My Dreams' and the uplifting 'Someday I'. 'From Now On (we're one)' and the album title track 'Fruit At The Bottom' are what I call punchy pop with a hit of rock. The former has a stunning guitar solo by Wendy, the latter is an electrifying, drum thrashing composition that certainly never did my ears any favours, maxed out on my personal stereo whilst I air-drummed Carla's (Wendy and Lisa's drummer) sticks. Lisa's grand piano at the start of 'I Think It Was December' rattles listeners soul for the gospel influenced melody that's to come.

'Everyday' is the one song on 'Fruit At The Bottom', in my personal opinion, that screams Prince and that's not a diss to Wendy and Lisa, but a beautiful compliment. 'Everyday' doesn't imitate him but as a fan I could imagine him co-singing on the track and the vocal arrangement highlights how great Wendy and Lisa were with Prince, totally mesmerising. With so many great songs, it was no surprise, yet totally upsetting when the reel on my cassette bust after constant rewinding years later. I updated to the CD version via Amazon as my album collection wouldn't be truly mine without it. My daughters dig Wendy and Lisa too.

Check out Wendy and Lisa music and videos from Donnatella's Playlist on the mixpod in the side menu

Look out for more Wendy and Lisa reviews in future posts

“Boy Meets Girl and Girl Meets Boy

They Promise Each Other Eternal Joy

Thanking Heaven and God Above

For They Never Thought

That They Would Find Such A Love

Singing Lolly Lee Lolly Lee

Forever They're Together

Hearts And Souls Forever Free”

'Lolly Lolly' L Coleman and W Melvoin 1989 Virgin Records Ltd

Tune In My Head

Ok, the first song to get a shout out has been in my head all week.  'Love, Thy Will Be Done' is taken from American singer Martika's second album 'Martika's Kitchen' 1992.  A soulful pop tune produced by musical genius Prince takes me back to the days of my early adulthood.  Confused and doubtful of my future this was a comforting tune to listen too and I still listen to it occasionally to give me that warming feeling.  Martika was definately underated singer in the music industry, credited for being a teen pop artist (like Tiffany and Debbie Gibson of that era), not a remarkable vocalist.

Click here to listen to 'Love, Thy Will Be Done'

                                   "...The light that gives me power to keep up the fight..."