Prince's Fascinating Process: Legendary Recordings with David Leonard

This is how you do it if you’re old school and well trained, even if self trained, you have already assembled the entire song in your head from start to finish, leaving room for some experimentation in the recording in designated spots. There are artists who can do this but it’s rare. Old School!

He worked hard. And gifted.

I don't see why it is so mind-blowing to hear about musicians not using a click track. Stevie Wonder has amazing time. Have you heard the song superstition? No click track on that song and it is perfectly timed. Listen to anything from Steely Dan. No click tracks

I learned quite quickly, once I bought a 4-track in 1995, how off my timing really was playing drums.

⁠ One of his engineers said sometimes Prince recorded finger-drumming the kick, snare & hi hats on the linn drum machine with his left hand while simultaneously recording a keyboard bass track with his right hand.

And I’ve seen him play guitar chords left handed while playing a piano solo with the right hand.

Prince was fkd over be the Jewfish

He had excellent timing, obviously.

I saw him concert in Seattle. He was like the most engaged performer, just running up and down the X shaped stage to play those of us here, there, over there. He was a little preacher!

Prince has safely returned to Galvinax VII

He's like me....A HUMAN version of protoolls!!!🤗😎

David is likely referring specifically to the 1986 “Parade” album here.

While certainly not the first and only time Prince would have done such a thing, it’s certainly the most obvious example I’m aware of from his official releases.

I know for a fact that the drum parts for the first 4 tracks on that album Prince recorded straight thru in one take and built that suite of songs from that framework he laid down from memory:

1) Christopher Tracy’s Parade

2) New Position

3) I Wonder U

4) Under the Cherry Moon

It’s quite sumthin’ to listen to when you learn the context of how they were captured in one fell-swoop! 🕊️

Now I'm obviously not Prince, but I have that ability too, and I have ever since I was a kid. I can jump back into a song minutes later and be right on the money, and I used to set my microwave and make a game out of leaving the room and coming back 3 seconds before it was finished to see if I timed it right. I think it's a little like perfect pitch but less perfect, some people can just feel the time. It's been super helpful for polyrhythmic ensemble playing.

Prince was very talented, but, in my opinion, his records…ALL OF THEM, have a TERRIBLE drum sound. Sorry, fans.

People are missing something crucial from the story. It’s not that he played the drums without a click… it’s that he played them, then got to a break in the song and stopped playing for eight bars, and then started playing again. And it was all perfectly in time.

Hmmm...I played drums on multiple albums and only used a click track less than half the time. Granted, music with multiple synths or keyboards require click tracks but not so much with guitar based music. One blues guy I was recording for told me I was "meat and potatoes". That's a real compliment. Lol.

We think on a higher level,we feel on a higher level too.

What song could he be talking about with the drum brake in the middle? Probably an earlier album I think?

Solo artist called Melodk Eye does this exact same thing: records and plays everything, no click track just the entire arrangement in his head. Dude reminds me of Kevin Parker. @melodkeyelash

The first 3 tracks on the parade album he played the drums for all one after the other at one sitting

Stevie Winder had the same musical gifts. His producers have noted that he too our firm the drum track for “Superstition” first. No click tracks in the early 70’s, just his internal sense of timing and arrangement talent.

The tribute to George!! Best guitar solo I have ever seen.

These stories are gold and love this channel :) Prince was a once in a lifetime talent. Best live shows I've ever seen by a landslide.

2/1000 of a second is what that would be. .002. That’s insane

The is EASY….you just listen to the music in your head. Play along..

It's not that hard to go tacit for several bars and come back in. It's called "having good time."

Maestro of his day.

He did it becuse he dances. And not only dance, but his “vault mentality” meant that he would be recording and gigging nearly round the clock from gig to studio to gig to studio and back to back and out in easeless hours. So like a ballet technician can “mark” a variation in her head by looking at somone ekse do it, she literally has the tools to watch a variation having never done and if she is trained hard enough she can nail it onstage sometime with little rehearsal. If you have the tools and out in the focused eat breath, perform repeat then it is that hard.

An exercise most drummers, musicians do when they are 16.

The reason why Prince is so good is because he was the master of the four track tascam. No rocket science kids

And that is why I love digital today. Non destructive editing.

Pure genius!

1/16 of an inch is 1.57mm, easily achievable with a metric ruler
i kid

I share a Bday with Prince, which made me listen to more of his music than radio or TV gave us. His talent will never be duplicated or surpassed.

Amazing insight into one of the greatest minds to ever do it.

ANy drummer can keep time for an 8 bar stop, you just count in your head. Trying to make out like Prince was some kind of genius for a basic musical ability is weak!

AIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDS

He was listening in his head

You recorded a magical negro. You have been honored to be in his presence! Most people have never had the honor…

Oh wow so he will have made some great music then.!!! I'm not even sure about purple rain

If my math is correct: 30" per second = 1" per 33.3333 ms, so 1/8" would be 4.1666 ms. If the song were at 120BPM, that would be 2BPs = 0.00833 beats in 4.1666 ms. Amazing.

All of us musicians know guys who are scary good at one or two things. Prince was just so damn good at so many things. He was the total package with a cherry on top, special sauce, sprinkles, and several good luck charms.

I saw him in Ireland. It actually rained lightly during purple rain. Incredible.

Prince played a bottle of milk and it became "When Doves Cry." I love Prince, but c'mon guys.

He literally demanded us to hear him and his talent. Thats literally what happened.

As far as music is concerned, Prince was a genius. His real fans know this but it may take decades or longer for the average person to realise how incredible he really was. Prince is very fitting because he really is music royalty. He’s genuinely a king

Clicks drums drums clicks same thing 😅

I was too dumb and ignorant in my younger years. To really appreciate Prince. But seeing him on stage honoring George Harrison, and also learning the back story of him not being acknowledged as one of the best guitarist. Then I started going down the rabbit hole. A once in a lifetime generational musical genius.

Would have loved to have had the chance to see him at work in the studio, any studio.