I think the story is that "Kiss" was originally a rough, acoustic demo Prince had written. He didn't think he was gonna record it himself, so he gave it to Mazarati. Then Mazarati and David Z worked it into a minimalist funk piece. When Prince heard this version of "Kiss", he realized it was so good he wanted to release it himself, so he took the song back from Mazarati, remixed the backing track they'd done and recorded his vocals and guitar on top of it. Mazarati got an arranging credit on Prince's version, but I've read some interview where David Z complains about not getting a production credit on the song, even though he feels he was responsible for turning the demo into the sort of stripped-down funk piece it became. Which I think is a fair enough point: the minimalist sound is what makes "Kiss" so great, as a composition it's not that remarkable.
― Tuomas, Monday, 18 January 2010 14:55 (fourteen years ago) link
I noticed the extensive credits for everything on "Parade" where Prince is credited for every singular thing he did, and somewhere in the middle the "Kiss" credits are swamped (but realistic)...
― Mark G, Monday, 18 January 2010 14:58 (fourteen years ago) link
Hmm, seems I misremembered the credit on Parade, it actually says "'Kiss' arranged by David Z, background voices by Mazarati". But I don't think it's "swamped" in the middle, it's the third credit after "Prince and the Revolution" and "Clare Fischer".
I think Prince's relationship with credits has always been kinda weird. On one hand, on many of his proteges' albums they're given credit for songs Prince actually wrote himself, and on The Revolution and The New Power Generation albums the band is always given credit for the full album, even though some of the songs on them were written and performed by Prince alone. But on the other hand, there are also several stories of Prince claiming sole credit for tunes other contributed to. The "Kiss" story is the best known of these, but I think Andre Cymone too has claimed that he never got full credit for his contributions to the music they did while he was part of Prince's band.
― Tuomas, Monday, 18 January 2010 15:14 (fourteen years ago) link
I had (have) the Cassette version.
― Mark G, Monday, 18 January 2010 15:15 (fourteen years ago) link
"the minimalist sound is what makes "Kiss" so great, as a composition it's not that remarkable."
also why it never sounds that great live.
best version i think ive heard is the lovesexy one. but even then something gets lost cos the song is all about the production.
― titchy (titchyschneiderMk2), Monday, 18 January 2010 17:36 (fourteen years ago) link
This poll needs more Andre Cymone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KER_tfyVehY
― Spinspin Sugah, Monday, 18 January 2010 19:25 (fourteen years ago) link
Jesse Johnson anyone?
― Bobbi Peru, Monday, 18 January 2010 20:59 (fourteen years ago) link
Jesse Johnson got Sly Stone to sing on a track during a time when nobody could get Sly to sing on anything
that has to count for something
― Lee Dorrian Gray (J0hn D.), Monday, 18 January 2010 21:24 (fourteen years ago) link
"Crazay"! Not a bad song.
― Hell is other people. In an ILE film forum. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 18 January 2010 21:45 (fourteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Tuesday, 19 January 2010 00:01 (fourteen years ago) link
is there a thread on the time? what is their best album?
― k3vin k., Saturday, 23 April 2016 00:43 (eight years ago) link
Paging EZ Snappin to thread who is by far the go to Time expert afaik
― Here, let me Danesplain that for you (jjjusten), Saturday, 23 April 2016 00:58 (eight years ago) link
Ice Cream Castles is the best one
― Οὖτις, Saturday, 23 April 2016 01:20 (eight years ago) link
Crazy talk. The first two are the best.
― Acid Hose (Capitaine Jay Vee), Saturday, 23 April 2016 01:35 (eight years ago) link
They both have that lean basement funk production that was part of all Prince's late '70s/early '80s productions. By comparison ICC is a bit more produced and a lot of the charm is gone.
― Acid Hose (Capitaine Jay Vee), Saturday, 23 April 2016 01:38 (eight years ago) link
Yeah i prefer the broadened sonic palette
― Οὖτις, Saturday, 23 April 2016 01:42 (eight years ago) link
I have been told that the answer is "what time is it?"
― Here, let me Danesplain that for you (jjjusten), Saturday, 23 April 2016 01:57 (eight years ago) link
no, that is the question.
― wizzz! (amateurist), Saturday, 23 April 2016 04:06 (eight years ago) link
Madhouse ROBBED in this poll. Both albums are great.
― Wimmels, Saturday, 23 April 2016 14:36 (eight years ago) link
Would have voted for The Time without hesitation!
― WHERE'S JIM!? (Turrican), Sunday, 24 April 2016 09:14 (eight years ago) link
oh wee oh wee oh
― thom yorke state of mind (voodoo chili), Sunday, 24 April 2016 12:42 (eight years ago) link
Mazerati was robbed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA4tiO6YpbA
― it's just locker room treason (Sanpaku), Wednesday, 21 June 2017 04:12 (six years ago) link