hofmann@AMSAA.ARPA (10/02/85)
From: Jim Hofmann <hofmann@AMSAA.ARPA> Some recent releases from Paisley Park/ Warner Bros. that I snagged off our janitor ********************************************************************** Sheila E/Romance 1600 The female version of Prince, passed over for the Purple Rain movie role for the less-talented but more voluptuous Appolonia, star of the small screen, proves she can incorporate the worst and best aspects of the emerging Paisley Park Popsound. I don't want to gripe too much about the worst aspects but if you listen to the beginning of Side two, you can get an idea of what I mean. "Toy Box" and "Yellow" are ridiculous excursions in the already charted area of the Prince-view on sex. Yawn. We've heard it before only better, Sheila baybeee! However, my favorite cut resides on this side so its either a lot of fast forwarding or one must wade through this gunk. "Merci for the Speed of a Mad Clown in Summer" is unmercifully short but sounds more like what *I* would like to hear from her and I kinda think that she as a percussionist would like to play. Heavily enthused percussapop with brother Jaun, late(?) of SANTANA providing much fun. Side one holds promise with the popdance "Sister Fate" and "A Love Bizarre" which features the Purple Poop, hisownbadself, trying out a variety of styles on bass and guitar as well as background moans. This is also (Love Bizarre) the only tune cowrote with Prince and could, on its own, take up a B-side of a 12" Mix track. Anyone know whats on the b-side of the Sister Fate 12"? Finally, the puzzling, "Dear Michaelangelo" in which the E writes a sexy note to a long-dead yet enigmatic artist - is Sheila really thinking of El Purple when she wrote this? Believe me, only the Paisley Park hairdresser knows sure. ************************************************************************* The Family 1st LP from a mysterious bunch who according to the latest Mahogony News are really fronted by Prince, who wormed out of WB contract loophole to foist some fey dance tunes on the masses. A tiny bit infectious but boring. Will the real prince stand up? ************************************************************************** Pop Life 12" Mix b/w Hello - Prince Besides being an incredible dance mix of what was formally a straight forward (need I say it?) pop tune, the B-side represents whathisface's last tune since Around the World ... (at least under his own moniker). It's a harmless, toned-down R&B tune turned into a trippy mix at the end. Won't raise any hackles with the PMRC. In fact, I'm suprised none of the girls mentioned Princes' anti-drug/alcohol attitude which is detailed in Pop Life. [For a real good excursion into a great dance mix by this fellow try the B-side of the Go Crazy 12" - Erotic City puts you square on your feet while the synth pops around like a tripped out ping-pong ball. Cool for cats!] -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Life ain't really funky, 'less its got that swing, dig it!" Jim Hofmann --- hofmann@amsaa.ARPA