Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Android | iHeartRadio | Stitcher | Blubrry | RSS

Well, folks, it’s our first-ever Jheri Curl June podcast–and before you ask, yes, we’re talking about Prince again. This time, though, we’re shedding light on a somewhat less-discussed side of his career: the series of (very) thinly-veiled side projects and ghost productions he released in the early-to-mid-1980s under various pseudonyms, most famously “Jamie Starr.” If you’re even an intermediate-level Prince fan, some of these records are essential listening; so settle in, turn up your headphones, and get ready to take a bite of our purple rock.

But first, a word of warning, as I’m afraid there’s a factual error in this one: I was speaking from memory in the section about Sheila E, and incorrectly stated that “Noon Rendezvous” began life as a Revolution outtake. It was actually co-written by Prince and Sheila for the Glamorous Life album; the Revolution just happened to cover it in concert. Oops! Anyway, I left that bit in because I still like the song, so just enjoy the music and try to ignore the fact that I’m blatantly lying to you. Finally, if you like this kind of content (with less inaccuracies), check out my new side hustle: dance / music / sex / romance, a chronological exploration of every (known) song in the Prince oeuvre, which I expect to be updating a couple times a week until it actually kills me.

00:00:00   “D.M.S.R.” by Prince (from 1999, 1982)

00:03:34   “Get It Up” by the Time (from The Time, 1981)

00:13:03   “Cloreen Baconskin” by Prince featuring Morris Day (1983 recording; available on Crystal Ball)

00:14:09   “Chocolate” by Prince (1983 recording; available through Illicit Means)

00:14:37   “Chocolate #2” by the Time (available on Pandemonium, 1990)

00:15:04   The “Jamie Starr Voice“

00:17:13   Rare Behind-the-Scenes Footage of the Formation of Vanity 6

00:17:48   “Nasty Girl” by Vanity 6 (from Vanity 6, 1982)

00:20:50   “Drive Me Wild” by Vanity 6 (from Vanity 6)

00:22:12   “If a Girl Answers (Don’t Hang Up)” by Vanity 6 (from Vanity 6)

00:27:58   “Noon Rendezvous” by Prince and the Revolution (Live at First Avenue, June 7, 1984)

00:29:54   “Noon Rendezvous” by Sheila E (from The Glamorous Life, 1984)

00:33:16   “Sex Shooter” by Vanity 6 (1983 recording; available through Illicit Means)

00:35:15   “Sex Shooter” by Apollonia 6 (from Apollonia 6, 1984)

00:36:15   Zach’s “side blog” on Prince: dance / music / sex / romance

00:40:55   “Fishnet” by Morris Day featuring Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (from Daydreaming, 1987)

00:44:15   “Desire” by the Family (from The Family, 1985)

00:45:27   “Nothing Compares 2 U” by the Family (from The Family)

00:47:15   “The Screams of Passion” by the Family (from The Family)

00:49:08   “The Screams of Passion” by Prince and the Revolution (1984 recording; available through Illicit Means)

00:53:39   “The Dance Electric” by Prince (1984 recording; available through Illicit Means)

00:55:05   “The Dance Electric” by André Cymone (from A.C., 1985)

01:00:58   “100 MPH” by Mazarati (from Mazarati, 1986)

01:03:16   “100 MPH” by Prince (1984 recording; available through Illicit Means)

01:04:57   “Kiss #1” by Prince (1985 recording; available through Illicit Means)

01:06:20   “Kiss #2” by Mazarati (1985 recording; available through Illicit Means)

01:08:50   “Kiss” by Prince and the Revolution “featuring” Mazarati (from Parade, 1986)

01:10:03   Two Mazarati Members’ Post-Prince Career: MC Skat Kat

01:10:10   “Intro (Baby, You’re a Trip)” by Jill Jones (from Jill Jones, 1987)

01:11:32   “Mia Bocca” by Jill Jones (from Jill Jones)

01:20:15   “Baby, You’re a Trip” by Prince (1982 recording; available through Illicit Means)