Prince and the Revolution - 'When Doves Cry'

Prince and the Revolution - 'When Doves Cry'

Prince Repeat Prescriptions Shell Hunter

Repeat Prescriptions....The Top 100 Classic Albums Of All Time that you keep coming back to!

Like doing a university course as a mature student, I am returning to my musical education and filling in the gaps. I intend to revisit The 100 Best Albums Of All Time (see them all here) as recommended by Q Magazine back when the poll was last done in 2006. Some I will know and love, some I will have skimmed and some I will not even have given time of day. This will all change when I listen to every album in full as it was intended, from 100 to 1, and choose my favourite song from each.

Album Number 94: Prince - Purple Rain - 'When Doves Cry' (1984)

Finally an album from the 80s I thought to myself when I saw this was next! I don't know a prince song I didn't like but admittedly I haven actually listened to an album before. I knew that Purple Rain was highly acclaimed so expected to be blown away. I was a little bit more than disappointed I'm afraid to say. I only knew about 3 or 4 songs which I was surprised about and found the album quite dated even for an 80s mega fan like me! I even noted myself thinking 'Jeez, even for Prince this is a bit self indulgent at times'. He would throw in a random screechy solo every now and again. I thought the song Little Nikki was pretty bad. The trouble is, I feel terrible about feeling this way about the music God that is Prince. He truly is a talent and play most of the instruments, writes and is just an all round performer. I have discussed this album a few with people who are almost a decade older than me and the opinion was unanimous: "Oh what a great album!" But when did you actually listen to this album last people? Not recently I'll bet.

Anyway, the end result for me was: yes I did enjoy it, but only in parts. The parts I enjoyed were probably the singles he has previously released, coincidence or not? Not sure! Highlights being Lets Go Crazy, I Would Die 4 U and of course my favourite from Purple Rain, When Doves Cry. Sadly I can't listen to the title track Purple Rain without cringing as it was constantly ruined by being played as an "end of the night" song and lots of drunken people shouting the chorus into the air. Shame.

The part I like best from the classic When Doves Cry is the drumming. Not your traditional drum kit sound, but it sounds like the noises you can make when you're trying to make a racket at home; a couple of bins and a table or something. I realised I haven't a clue what the song was about so looked it up. The director of Purple Rain asked Prince to create a piece of music for a particular part in the film and this was one of two things he came up with. It's about parental struggles and an affair inspired by his own relationship with Vanity 6's, Susan Moonsie. It was Prince's first number 1 single so I can understand its success. Not bad for knocking something up! For a song that is supposed to be a dance track, it's quite stripped back and quiet. The song is pretty timeless asides from the last minute of the track where you have the signature 80s spoiler of the synthesiser solo. Oh dear. Bring on the radio edit for that one!

Nb. Prince seems to have not allowed videos on youtube so I only have a clip to give you the idea. You can find the whole video if you click on this link though! 

Shell Hunter says, worth another listen

sfw Pada 04:35 2 Komentar

TuneDr's Valentine Disasters!!

TuneDr's Valentine Disasters!!

Ali Campbell Belle and Sebastian Cover Nerd Hank Williams Pamela Starks Prince Tunedr Special Operations Valentine's

Over sized fluffy toy? Check. Tacky padded Valentines card? Check. Silk Y-fronts? Check. Two cans of Strongbow Cider? Check. Yep it's Valentines day and us romantics can't always get it right!! Here are some of our Valentines disasters...do you have any?

Har Mar Superstar...patron saint of love!

Flycasual:-
Prince - 'If I Was Your Girlfriend' (1987)

It's 1987, I'm 13 years old, it's Valentines night and it's all happening down at the roller disco. I fancy this girl, she's new in town and rumour has it she fancies me. She's supposedly 'experienced' too, so as not to look like an arse I ask one of the older 'cool' kids about kissing, do you really have to use tongues or is it optional? Prince had just released the incredible Sign 'O' the Times, the DJ plays the album, 'If I Was Your Girlfriend' blares through the speakers and we do circuits together hand in hand. She asks me to skate her home....it's on!

We kiss...on the lips, no nonsense but she deviates, she moves over to my cheek, then my neck, then my ear where to my horror she sticks her tongue in! "Euughh!" I squeal, "what are you doing?"
She exhales in disgust and pushes me away and walks indoors. "Wait, I did something wrong?" I think to myself.

I never see her again. My friend tells me she tried a 'Wet Willy' on me and apparently it's all the rage with the 'cool' kids! Story of my life.

Old Pa's Corner :-
Hank Williams - Your Cheatin' Heart


I thought I would play an little trick on Old Ma. I bought a nice soppy Valentines card and put some romantic words and finishing with 'can't wait to see you again??? I had a mate from work who lived near Gatwick to post it. We lived next to Heathrow, so the post code would not be local. Well if you do a job you gotta do it right. Old Grand Pa told me that! I was hoping she would be embarrassed and squirm, or even try and hide it. I could not wait for her reaction. How well she must know me, she said it was me right away.

"I knew it was you, because it is just the kind of stupid tricks you would play!"

It really blew Valentines day. All the old scores were brought out of the closet! Looking back, I wish I did not buy those bloody chocolates and flowers, I could have bought a CD for myself. Another lesson learned!

London Scouser:-

Belle And Sebastian - 'Don't Leave The Light On Baby' (2000)

I had a Valentine's Day a few years back that I'll never forget but for all the wrong reasons. I'd finished a shift at work and was driving home about 1 o'clock in the afternoon on the M25 and the traffic was gridlocked. Luckily for me (or so I thought at the time) I was coming off to join the M3 and my lane was driving normally. I saw a car ahead of me sticking his nose out to come into my lane but I went past him. I looked in my rear view mirror and saw he had come out behind me and when I looked forward I saw that the van in front of me had slammed his brakes on for some reason. I did the same and came to a stop just behind him, the car behind me also came to a stop... unfortunately not from using his brakes, but using my car instead. The impact forced my car into the back of the van and I had been in my first accident, less than 6 months after passing my test. I remember the sound and the shock but mostly I remember my car stereo coming out of its fittings a bit like a spring loaded toaster !!! I'd been listening to 'Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like A Peasant' at the time, I can't remember which track at the time but I chose this one because it seems an apt title. My poor wife, Shellhunter, had specially prepared and indoor picnic for us to celebrate this most joyous and romantic of card shop celebrations. I eventually got home about 7 o'clock. We had the picnic, but the occasion was a little bit like my airbag....deflated.

As a bonus, I've added a sneaky cover by B & S of an 80's favourite. They've slowed it down compared to 'The Primitives' original, but I kinda like their take on it

Shell Hunter:-
Pamela Starks and Ali Campbell - 'That Look In Your Eyes' (1995)

In secondary school, Valentine's Day was always exciting. The 6th formers used to sell  'Cupids' which were basically delivering love letters, presents and messages to all the students who had them bought by their secret admirers but during class time, in front of everyone. One year a friend of mine who was not one of the most popular of guys received his first ever one. The two 6th formers dressed in pink with cardboard bows and arrows said "Is John here? We have a love note from Sally for him." He went white with shock and a hush fell over the class. Who on earth was Sally and why would anyone want to send John a valentine could be heard murmured. He was beaming like a Cheshire cat! They went over and put the envelope in his hand. We all huddled around eagerly waiting to see what it was. He opened the envelope and out fell a very large sanitary towel. The whole class erupted when it said 'My name is Sally the sanitary towel and I love you John' written on it. A girlfriend of mine had played an evil prank on him which I doubt he has ever lived down. I'll never forget the look on his face.

We've got something for any occasion, check out more of TuneDr's Special Occasions here



sfw Pada 01:51 6 Komentar

THURSDAY I'M IN LOVE - Prince - 'Sign 'O' The Times'

THURSDAY I'M IN LOVE - Prince - 'Sign 'O' The Times'

Flycasual Prince Recollection Collection

Thursday I'm in Love...a chance for me to share some of my Diamonds and Pearls!!

Prince - 'Sign 'O' the Times' (1987)

My wife and I recently treated ourselves to a night away, a rare foray into the adult world (that sounds seedier than it actually is). What I meant is a night to spend some quality time together, a few drinks, a nice meal, a stroll and the prospect of a long lie, oh my god a long lie! Away from the daily demands of work and our toddler's routine 0530 wake up call.

Not Florence, Paris or Barcelona but lovely Windsor, Windsor is dear to our hearts as it's where we used to hang out as a couple and where we eventually got married (The Guildhall if you're asking, a couple of queens got married there so if it's good enough for David and Elton, it was good enough for us!). It's just a 20 minute drive from where we live now and a lot cheaper, especially when I treat my wife to a romantic night in the Travelodge. It was all good though, as instead of the usual view overlooking the bins we had a panoramic view of the area, parts of Windsor Castle, Eton College but more importantly Slough trading estate. Important for sentimental reasons as we lived in Slough for about 6 years, well I say Slough, I probably like to think of it more North Eton myself, as we could walk to Windsor in about 15 mins.

It was lovely, the sun was shining, the queen was in, we were retracing our old haunts and we stopped to have a boozy lunch by the river, perfect. Walking it off later, we came across a modern bronze statue of a soldier which was an Irish Guards memorial. Particularly sobering, especially after lunch, as I have never come across one like it, more used to ones from WW1 or WW2. I instantly thought of Prince's (apt considering our location) 'Sign 'O' the Times'. Whether you agree or not with the government's foreign policy in Iraq or Afghanistan, it's the brave men and women of the armed forces that do the dirty work for them. It's a solemn realisation that after 13 years we are still a nation at war, a fact which is often overlooked. A sign of the times I guess.

Hmmmm...U got the look??

I love Prince, particularly his earlier stuff and could prob dedicate an entire blog to his music but push come to shove my favourite is prob 'Sign 'O' the Times'. A wonderfully simple song with it's distinctive bassline and an incredibly powerful video, it is as relevant now as it was then. Replace the 80's fear of Aids and nuclear war, the Challenger disaster and hurricanes with Swine Flu, global terrorism, Columbia disaster and Katrina and you get the parallels.

Anyway you'll be pleased to know we had a fantastic time!

more tune royalty?? Check out more of my Thursday favourites....

sfw Pada 22:00 5 Komentar