Written By Prince and Performed by Other Artists

Fearful that the infinitely prolific artist would produce more music that the market could handle, Warner Brothers forced Prince to limit himself to an album per year during his miraculous heyday. Inspired by a 1980 film called The Idolmaker, which told the story of a rock promoter Bob Marcucci who himself became famous for making Frankie Avalon a star, Prince had the idea to assemble a series of musical acts from within the Uptown Minneapolis music scene, and remake them in his own image.

Acts like The Time, Vanity 6, and The Family were fitted with the puppeteer’s strings and given finished songs and a set of strict instructions on how to play them. He dictated their style and conceptualized their live shows, casting his long shadow from his place above the stage. The following is a selection of songs mostly written by Prince and performed by his musical marionettes.

Track List

Morris Day and Prince – Tricky

Apollonia 6 – Sex Shooter

Ready For the World – O Sheila

Sheila E – The Glamorous Life

Sheila E – A Love Bizarre (Parts One and Two)

The Family – Screams of Passion (Extended)

Kiss

Mazarati – 100 MPH

Jill Jones – G-Spot (7 Inch Version

Andre Cymone – Dance Electric (Long Version)

Dez Dickerson – (I Want 2 B a) Modernaire

Vanity 6 – Drive Me Wild

Vanity 6 – Vibrator

Jill Jones – Baby, You’re a Trip

The Family – Nothing Compares 2 U

The Time – Gigolos Get Lonely Too