Difference between revisions of "Album: Romance 1600"

Revision as of 17:09, 19 March 2021

{{Album| |album name = Romance 1600 |album image = |date = 26 August 1985 |length = 36:13 |label = Paisley Park Records / Warner Bros. |studios = Master Sound Studios, Atlanta, GA, USA; Cheshire Sound Studios, Atlanta, GA, USA; Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA; Le Mobile Studios (truck) @ The Summit, Houston, TX, USA; 5th Floor Recording Studio, Cincinnati, OH, USA |previous year = 1985 |next year = 1985 |previous image = Image:Thefamily album.jpg |previous album = Album: The Family |next image = Image:Krushgroove album.jpg |next album = Album: Krush Groove |previous album link = The Family |next album link = Krush Groove |introduction = Romance 1600 (full title Sheila E. In Romance 1600) is the second album by Sheila E., following her debut album The Glamorous Life.

Credits on the album state that all tracks are produced, written and arranged by Sheila E. (other than A Love Bizarre, which gives Prince co-credit), but in fact seven of the eight tracks were produced, written, and arranged by Prince (with input and help from Sheila E.).

Only one track, Merci For The Speed Of A Mad Clown In Summer, contained no writing input from Prince, although he palys keyboards on it.

This album is the first Sheila E. album (and third album overall, after Prince and the Revolution’s Around The World In A Day and The Family self-titled album) to be released on Paisley Park Records.

Sessions and compiling

The album was recorded in three sets of sessions during days off from the Purple Rain Tour. Dear Michaelangelo, Bedtime Story, Toy Box, Sister Fate and A Love Bizarre were recorded in early January 1985. Romance 1600 and Yellow were recorded in early February 1985.

Fish Fries recorded in early January 1985, was likely also intended for the album, but not included in any known configuration.

Promotion

The album produced four singles, Sister Fate, Bedtime Story (both of which preceded the album) and A Love Bizarre, which appeared as tow seperate releases, one with a medley The Glamorous Life, “Sister Fate and A Love Bizarre as the a-side and [[parts 1 & 2 of A Love Bizarre as its b-side.

It reached number 50 on the Billboard Pop Album Chart and number 12 in the Billboard Soul LP’s chart. |tracklisting = The compact disc version is a reissue from the original LP.

1. Sister Fate (3:50)
2. Dear Michaelangelo (4:38)
3. A Love Bizarre (12:18) ¹
4. Toy Box (5:32)
5. Yellow (2:11)
6. Romance 1600 (3:56)
7. Merci For The Speed Of A Mad Clown In Summer (2:47) ²
8. Bedtime Story (3:45)

|credits = All tracks written by Prince (credited to Sheila E.), except where noted.
|* comment = ¹ Written by Prince and Sheila E.
² Written by Sheila E. (no songwriting input by Prince) |other format = LP |content = The vinyl long play format is the original issue.

• Side 1:

1. Sister Fate (3:50)
2. Dear Michaelangelo (4:38)
3. A Love Bizarre (12:18) ¹

• Side 2:

1. Toy Box (5:32)
2. Yellow (2:11)
3. Romance 1600 (3:56)
4. Merci For The Speed Of A Mad Clown In Summer (2:47) ²
5. Bedtime Story (3:45)

|musicians = Sheila E. - all lead vocals, bass, bongos, congas, drums, guitar, keyboards, percussion (official credits, although much of this was played uncredited by Prince)

• Prince - all instruments (uncredited), except where noted, backing vocals, bass guitar, guitar on A Love Bizarre, bass guitar, guitar on Toy Box, backing vocals on Dear Michaelangelo (uncredited) and Yellow, keyboards on Merci For The Speed Of A Mad Clown In Summer (uncredited)
• Eddie M. - saxophone on Sister Fate, Dear Michaelangelo, A Love Bizarre, Toy Box, Romance 1600, Merci For The Speed Of A Mad Clown In Summer and Bedtime Story, backing vocals on A Love Bizarre and Toy Box
• "John" - horns on Yellow
• "Steve" - horns on Yellow
• "Ron" - horns on Yellow
• "Dick" - horns on Yellow
• "Robert" - horns on Yellow
• "Tim" - horns on Yellow

The following artists got official credit, but their involvement is uncertain on all the tracks :

• Ken Grey - Organ on Sister Fate
• Susie Davis - backing vocals on Dear Michaelangelo and Romance 1600, keyboards on Merci For The Speed Of A Mad Clown In Summer (uncredited)
• Stephan Birnbaum - guitar on Dear Michaelangelo and Bedtime Story (credited but uncertain involvement on both songs), backing vocals on A Love Bizarre and Toy Box
• Michael Weaver - backing vocals on Toy Box
• Karl Perazzo - bongos on Romance 1600, drums on bongos on Merci For The Speed Of A Mad Clown In Summer (uncredited)
• Benny Rietveld - backing vocals on Romance 1600, bass guitar on Merci For The Speed Of A Mad Clown In Summer (uncredited)
• Juan Escovedo - percussion on A Love Bizarre and Bedtime Story

|production = Prince - producer, arranger (album) (credited to Sheila E.)

• David Tickle - engineer
• Peggy McCreary - engineer (as "Peggy Mac")
• Susan Rogers - engineer
• Bernie Grundman - mastering
• Sal - first assistant engineer
• Coke Johnson - first assistant engineer (as "Coke")
• Cavallo, Ruffalo & Fargnoli - management (credited for "directors")
• Karen - "second assistant director"
• Nikki - "second assistant director"
• Laura LiPuma - artwork
• Margo Chase - logo design
• Sheila E. - costume design
• Marie France - costume design
• Constance Guzman - "first assistant director"
• Gareth Green - hair, make-up
• James Hajdukiewicz - hair, make-up
• Philip Carreon - hair, make-up
• Jennifer Walton - wardrobe stylist
• Rebecca Blake - photography
• Stuart Watson - additional photography

|thanks = none. |singles =

Sister Fate b/w Sister Fate
Bedtime Story b/w Dear Michaelangelo
A Love Bizarre b/w A Love Bizarre
Special Medley Of “The Glamorous Life” / “Sister Fate” / “A Love Bizarre” b/w A Love Bizarre	60px

|see also = ! colspan="2" align="left" style="font-size:100%;color:#AB3E00"| See also

|- |colspan="2" |

Live Romance 1600 (Home Video)	Sheila E. (album)

|charts =

|releases =

|album promotion = Warner Bros instore poster for this record.
|trivia = |alternative = |references = The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince by Per Nilsen & jooZt Mattheij, with the UPTOWN Staff (Uptown, 2004)

• Prince and the Parade/Sign O’ The Times Era Studio Sessions: 1985-1986, Duane Tudahl (2021)

|categories = }}