Prince

by

Prince

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The disco synthesizer and its soul/funk beat of "I Wanna Be Your Lover" gave Prince his first Billboard's Top 20 single (it reached #11), and also topped the Black Charts, and no wonder. Lyrically and rhythmically it's tighter and punchier. The song has a line where he wants to be some overarching expression of love, where he sings, "I wanna be your brother/I wanna be your mother and sister, too." It's sexually charged in one part. This is the full 5:47 version and not the single edit, meaning there's an extended instrumental section. I wonder if there's a 12" mix of this available.

The other single, "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?" is another out-and-out synthesizer dance number, articulated with some rock guitar chords, kind of an expansion of what he did in "I'm Yours". I like this better than "I Wanna Be Your Lover". A rock guitar solo, more closer to Hendrix, is included. More shades of Purple Rain.

The upbeat stuff continues with "Sexy Dancer", which has simple lyrics, about the effects of what that sexy dancer has on him: "Sexy dancer, you got my body screaming" etc. One line is more explicit than the others. Some panting is included here, as well as monologue, something he would use in many of his future songs.

"When We're Dancing Close And Slow" is a contrast to the previous three floor-burners. It's closer to a nocturne, featuring a quiet acoustic guitar, piano, and drum.

"With You" is more a Lionel Richie-type radio ballad than "Close And Slow" is, as there's a constant synthesizer backing. It's more a romantic tune without the sex references in "Closer And Slow".

The rock-guitar tinged "Bambi", is surprising coming from someone who advocates sexual openness like him. The title character is a lesbian and he screams out the chorus: "Bambi, can't you understand?/Bambi, it's better with a man."

The piano-dominant ballad "Still Waiting" is the trials of a man waiting for that true love to come around. A similar sound would be used in "Gotta Broken Heart Again" on his next album.

The mid-paced third single, "I Feel For You" had its start here before Chaka Khan took it to the Top Ten in 1984. With the layer of moog-synthesizers, I definitely prefer this version.

A single edit of the 5:30 "It's Gonna Be Lonely" could've made this a good radio ballad. I like this lyric: "I'd be in a messed-up state of blue."

Like Prince, this was another one-man production, yet the fact that he thanks Bobby Z, Andre Cymone, Dez Dickerson, Gayle Chapman, and Matt Fink, who comprised his band, indicates that he may have had some kind of help from them. It's difficult to tell from the liner notes and credits. Prince has better songs, cohesive rhythms, and catchier tunes and outdoes his opening shot, For You.

This LP has what all outstanding Prince LP's have: tremendous range. Prince, at a very early age, demonstrates the ability to master different genres of the day, which few artists of that era (Stevie, Curtis, EWF) were able to pull off.

There are great cuts to please any Prince fan. Of course, there is "I Wanna Be Your Lover," the unique cut with the killer guitar hook. Then there's "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad," a nicely-paced guitar-pop ditty with a great solo. Move next to "Sexy Dancer," a synth-driven disco cut. Then of course, there is the original "I Feel For You," an uptempo, stripped-down piece which is just as enjoyable as the Chaka Khan version. As a matter of fact, the remaining cuts are very good too: the ballads "When We're Dancing Close and Slow" and "It's Gonna Be Lonely," the rockin' "Bambi," and "Still Waiting" (a hidden jewel that is SCREAMING for a country cover).

Hey, I have heard this album for years, and just writing this review, my already-high opinion of this LP has been raised. It's enjoyable from beginning to end, and as I see it, it served as a building block (artistically and commercially) for the rest of his career. Don't pass this one up.