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The Glamorous Life is the sixth and final track on Sheila E.’s first album The Glamorous Life, and, four weeks before the album’s release, The Glamorous Life was released as the album’s first single; it was, therefore, the first song to be credited to Sheila E.. The Glamorous Life was written by Prince, but credited to Sheila E..
In 1986, the Club Edit was included as the second track on The Glamorous Club Dance EP, a Japan-only EP of extended versions of Sheila E.’s singles.
On 19 June 2013, an instrumental rehearsal of The Glamorous Life was streamed live on 3rdEyeGirl LiveStream TV for 3 minutes.
Basic tracking took place on 27 December 1983 at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California (the day before Next Time Wipe The Lipstick Off Your Collar), and the song was originally tentatively intended for Apollonia 6, until Prince began to work with Sheila E. in February 1984, at which time he set the song aside for her. Sheila E. added her drums to the song on 8 February 1984, and with editing and mixing the song was then extended the next day to its 8:58 length, as released on The Glamorous Life album, to showcase her musical abilities.
Sheila E.’s vocals were then recorded in the last days of March 1984, also at Sunset Sound. The Glamorous Life is notable for featuring the first use of saxophone on a Prince-related track, played by Larry Williams.
The track also features the first released appearance of David Coleman (Lisa Coleman’s brother) on a Prince-related track, playing cello.
In 1991, Sheila E. re-recorded a 'salsa' version of The Glamorous Life without Prince, for a planned fifth album for Warner Bros. (following Sex Cymbal, her fourth solo album and the first album after she left Prince’s camp) called 'Fe'. This version, titled La Vida Glamarosa, and the album remain unreleased. Another salsa version of the track was recorded and released on her father Pete Escovedo’s 2021 album Rhythm Of The Night.
As a member of Ringo Starr’s supergroup All-Starr Band between 2001 and 2006, Sheila E. sang The Glamorous Life during the band’s concerts and tours. Three different live versions of the song performed by Ringo & His All-Starr Band with Sheila E. on lead vocals (in 2001, 2003 and 2006) were released on the band’s live albums and DVD’s.
In 2019, Prince’s own version was released as the tenth track on the posthumous album Originals.
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Recording Information
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Recording Sessions
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| Date
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Studio
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Additional info
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| 27 December 1983
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Sunset Sound - Studio 3,
Hollywood, CA, USA
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Tracking, Saxophone overdubs
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| 28 December 1983
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Sunset Sound,
Hollywood, CA, USA
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Vocal overdubs (Prince & Jill Jones)
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| 6 January 1984
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Sunset Sound,
Hollywood, CA, USA
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Cello overdub (David Coleman)
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| 8 February 1984
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Sunset Sound,
Hollywood, CA, USA
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Drum overdubs (Sheila E.), mix
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| 9 February 1984
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Sunset Sound,
Hollywood, CA, USA
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mix & edit
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| 29 or 30 March 1984 (estimate)
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Sunset Sound,
Hollywood, CA, USA
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Sheila E. percussion & vocals
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Recording Personnel
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Sheila E. version
Prince version (on Originals)
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Versions
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Released Versions
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| Title
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Length
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Released
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Version
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Additional info
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| The Glamorous Life
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8:58
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The Glamorous Life
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Studio
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| The Glamorous Life (Edit)
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3:41
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The Glamorous Life single
Strange Tales From The Rain promo
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Edit
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| The Glamorous Life (Part II)
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3:12
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The Glamorous Life single
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Edit
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Edit continuing from where The Glamorous Life (Edit) ended
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| The Glamorous Life (Club Edit)
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6:33
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The Glamorous Life single
The Glamorous Club Dance EP
The Glamorous Life reissue
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Edit
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Special Medley Of “The Glamorous Life” /
“Sister Fate” / “A Love Bizarre”
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2:31
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Special Medley Of “The Glamorous Life” / “Sister Fate” / “A Love Bizarre”
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Edit (in 7:08 medley)
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| Glamorous Life
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5:09
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Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band: King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Ringo & His New All-Starr Band live album
Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band: Extended Versions: The Encore Collection live album
Ringo Starr: Ringo Starr And Friends live album
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Live
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Live version by Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band with Sheila E. on lead vocals and percussion, recorded on 22 August 2001 at Rosemont Theatre, Rosemont, IL, USA
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| The Glamorous Life
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4:49
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Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band: Tour 2003 live album
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Live
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Live version by Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band with Sheila E. on lead vocals and percussion, recorded on 24 July 2003 at Casino Rama, Orillia, ON, Canada
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| The Glamorous Life
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4:49
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Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band: Live 2006 live album
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Live
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Live version by Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band with Sheila E. on lead vocals and percussion, recorded on 16 July 2006 at Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT, USA
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| The Glamorous Life
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4:12
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Originals
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Prince vocal version
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Released in 2019
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| Glamorous Life
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3:47
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Pete Escovedo: Rhythm Of The Night
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Studio
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Rearranged version recorded around 2021. Titled "Glamorous Life (feat. Sheila E)"
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Video Versions
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| Title
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Length
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Released
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Version
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Additional info
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| The Glamorous Life
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3:47
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Promotional release only
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Promo video
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See The Glamorous Life video for more details
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| The Glamorous Life
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3:47
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Promotional release only
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Promo video
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Slightly alternate version; see The Glamorous Life video for more details
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| The Glamorous Life
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13:25
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Sheila E.: Live Romance 1600 VHS/laserdisc
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Live
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8 March 1986, Warfield Theater, San Francisco, CA
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| Glamorous Life
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5:09
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Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band: King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Ringo & His New All-Starr Band DVD
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Live
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Live version by Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band with Sheila E. on lead vocals and percussion, recorded on 22 August 2001 at Rosemont Theatre, Rosemont, IL, USA
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| The Glamorous Life
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4:49
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Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band: Tour 2003 DVD
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Live
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Live version by Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band with Sheila E. on drums and lead vocals, recorded on 24 July 2003 at Casino Rama, Orillia, ON, Canada
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| Vanguard Jam
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12:18
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NPG Music Club WMV download
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Awards Show performance video
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19 March 2005, 36th NAACP Image Awards, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, California; part of medley containing D.M.S.R. / We’re A Winner / I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) / Satisfied / I Don’t Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (Open Up The Door, I’ll Get It Myself) / Housequake / The Jam / The Bird / The Glamorous Life / Santana Medley
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| The Glamorous Life
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4:49
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Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band: Live 2006 DVD
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Live
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Live version by Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band with Sheila E. on lead vocals and percussion, recorded on 16 July 2006 at Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT, USA
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| Glamorous Life
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?:??
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Sheila E.: Summer Tour 2012 (Raw And Real / Live In Lugano Switzerland) DVD
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Live
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5 July 2012, Lugano, Switzerland
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Broadcasts/streaming (only)
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| Title
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Length
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Released
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Version
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Additional info
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| I Feel For You
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T.B.C.
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Delayed performance TV broadcast
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Live
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2 March 2004, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, NBC Studios, Burbank, CA; includes clips of A Love Bizarre and The Glamorous Life
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| I Feel For You
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T.B.C.
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Delayed awards show performance TV broadcast
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Live
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15 March 2004 19th Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony, Waldorf Astoria, New York, NY; includes clips of A Love Bizarre and The Glamorous Life
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| The Glamorous Life / A Love Bizarre
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T.B.C.
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Delayed awards show performance TV broadcast
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Live
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1 June 2007, 9th annual ALMA Awards, Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, CA, USA; includes instrumental coda of A Love Bizarre
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| The Glamorous Life (instrumental)
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3:00
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3rdEyeTV Show # 1 live video stream
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Rehearsal
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19 June 2013, Paisley Park (Soundstage), Chanhassen, Minnesota; NPG only, without Prince
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| The Glamorous Life
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1:30
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3rdEyeGirl’s YouTube account
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Live
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31 August 2013, World Trade Center - Piscadera Bay (Sam Cooke), Willemstad, Curaçao
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Unreleased Versions
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| Title
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Version
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Additional Info
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| The Glamorous Life
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Studio
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Full version of original 1983 recording with Prince vocals
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