Paisley Park Records

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Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota
Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota

Paisley Park Records was Prince's record label, associated with and funded in part by Warner Bros. Records. It was started in 1985, following the success of the film and album Purple Rain. The label shares its name with Prince's recording complex Paisley Park Studios and the song "Paisley Park" on his 1985 Around the World in a Day album.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

Artists who recorded for Paisley Park include The Time, Sheila E, The Family, Mavis Staples, George Clinton, Carmen Electra, Jill Jones, The Three O'Clock, Ingrid Chavez, Dale Bozzio, and Taja Sevelle.

While Prince had great chart success in the 1980s, the success did not transfer to other acts; the label never had any commercial successes except for Prince's releases. In 1994, amid Prince's feud with Warner Bros., Warner ended its distribution deal with Paisley Park, effectively closing the label. Prince later started NPG Records.

Paisley Park Records also released albums by Apollonia 6, Mazarati, Good Question, Madhouse, Eric Leeds, and the late Tony LeMans, whose debut album was produced by Scritti Pollitti. Also of note, the President of Operations for the label was Alan Leeds, brother of saxophonist Eric Leeds, who played sax in Sheila E's band, The Family and also toured with the NPG. Alan won a Grammy for writing the liner notes for a James Brown album, and at one point serving as Prince's former tour manager on several tours. Craig Rice also served as President shortly after Alan Leeds left.

Prince's management firm at the time, Cavallo, Ruffalo & Fargnoli, affectionately known as the "Spaghetti Bros." began signing artists to the label, at times even without Prince's knowledge or permission. That precipitated the beginning of the end to a successful partnership. Shortly after firing the management team, lawsuits ensued and it was discovered that the label was mismanaged from the outset, with Warner Bros. taking heavy losses due to exhorbitant advances paid to Prince & for the label. Warner Bros. also helped to pay for the Recording studio built in Chanhassen, a US$10 million world class recording facility that also was a soundstage. Warner executives insisted on a return on their investment, which resulted in several major artist recording their albums at Paisley Park Studios, at times even against Prince's wishes.

Paisley Park Records folded with Prince retaining the masters of all artists, artists advances that was kept by the company, and no support from the label. All releases are out of print, including releases by George Clinton, whose albums recorded on Prince's label are the only recordings of his that are currently out of print.

Contrary to belief there were catalog numbers for both the original pressing of The Black Album (25677) and for Camille, but they were canceled and abandoned and, therefore, it can be said that both of those albums (which showcase the Camille alter ego) and certainly the numerous unreleased music and full length films and video work that are known to have been created in Prince's state-of-the-art Paisley Park studios are among the rarest of the Prince catalog on the Paisley Park record label.

[edit] Discography

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Paisley Park
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