Apollonia 6 (album)
Encyclopedia
Apollonia 6 is the only studio album
released by R&B
vocal trio and Prince
-protégés Apollonia 6
.
The album was initially to be the second release by the Prince-formed group Vanity 6
, but when lead singer Vanity
departed Prince's camp, the musician hired Patricia Kotero
and named her "Apollonia", thus changing the group's name and album.
Apollonia 6, the album, primarily features the vocals of Kotero, with backing vocals by Wendy & Lisa
and Jill Jones
(although billed members were Susan Moonsie
and Brenda Bennett
). The album spawned only one hit, "Sex Shooter
", which was performed by the group in the film Purple Rain
.
As was the case with the Vanity 6 album
, the album is perhaps most notable for the songs that were not a part of the album. These included the Prince-penned songs "Manic Monday
" (later recorded by The Bangles
), and two songs originally intended for Vanity 6 (the group and the album): "17 Days
" (later used by Prince as the B-side
to "When Doves Cry
"), and "The Glamorous Life
" (recorded by Sheila E.
in 1984).
Although the album was released primarily on vinyl and audio cassette
(Warner Bros. 9 25108), a CD version of the album was released in Japan (W.B. WPCP-3701). The CD has become a highly sought-after collectible.
Apollonia 6 had a fair chart run, but is considered by some to be a viable part of the Minneapolis sound
.
1. All the songs on this album were actually written by Prince
, but the songwriting credits were given to the group's members.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
released by R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
vocal trio and Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
-protégés Apollonia 6
Apollonia 6
Apollonia 6 was a 1980s female singing trio created by Prince as a continuation/succession of a previous group, Vanity 6.-Formation and Purple Rain:...
.
The album was initially to be the second release by the Prince-formed group Vanity 6
Vanity 6
Vanity 6 was a female vocal trio assembled by Prince in the early 1980s.They released one studio album, which blended the sounds of pop, New Wave, dance music, R&B, and funk.-Formation:...
, but when lead singer Vanity
Vanity (performer)
Denise Katrina Matthews , better known as Vanity, but sometimes credited as Denise Matthews-Smith or D.D. Winters, is a Canadian-born former singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, and model from the 1980s until the early mid-90s...
departed Prince's camp, the musician hired Patricia Kotero
Apollonia Kotero
Apollonia Kotero, born Patricia Kotero on August 2, 1959, is an actress, singer, former model and talent manager. Kotero, born in Santa Monica, California, is of Mexican descent...
and named her "Apollonia", thus changing the group's name and album.
Apollonia 6, the album, primarily features the vocals of Kotero, with backing vocals by Wendy & Lisa
Wendy & Lisa
Wendy & Lisa are a music duo consisting of Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman. They began working with Prince in the early 1980s and were part of his band The Revolution, before branching out on their own and releasing their debut album in 1987...
and Jill Jones
Jill Jones
Jill Jones is an American singer and songwriter, who was a backing vocalist for Teena Marie and Prince in the 1980s.-Biography:...
(although billed members were Susan Moonsie
Susan Moonsie
Susan Moonsie is an American musician best known for her association with Prince and his girl-group Vanity 6.-Early life:Moonsie, the daughter of a conservative school teacher, hailed from Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was one of Prince's high school girlfriends.-Career:Moonsie became a member of...
and Brenda Bennett
Brenda Bennett
Brenda Bennett is an American singer from Boston, Massachusetts who married the musician Prince's set-designer Roy Bennett, and then became Prince's "wardrobe mistress." Brenda's maiden name is Brenda Mosher. She started off in a CBS Records band called Tombstone Blues Band...
). The album spawned only one hit, "Sex Shooter
Sex Shooter
"Sex Shooter" is a song written by Prince for his protégés, girl group Apollonia 6. It appeared on the band's only album, Apollonia 6 and was released as a single in 1984.The song was performed by Apollonia 6 in the film Purple Rain...
", which was performed by the group in the film Purple Rain
Purple Rain (film)
Purple Rain is a 1984 film directed by Albert Magnoli and written by Magnoli and William Blinn. Prince makes his film debut in this movie, which was developed to showcase his particular talents, hence, the film contains several extended concert sequences. The film grossed more than US$80 million at...
.
As was the case with the Vanity 6 album
Vanity 6 (album)
-Charts:-Cover versions:* Several artists have covered "Nasty Girl", including Inaya Day, Lene Alexandra, Beyoncé Knowles, and Nuttin' Nyce....
, the album is perhaps most notable for the songs that were not a part of the album. These included the Prince-penned songs "Manic Monday
Manic Monday
"Manic Monday" is a song by the American pop rock band The Bangles, and the first single released from their second studio album Different Light . It was written by Prince, using the pseudonym "Christopher". Originally intended for the group Apollonia 6 in 1984, he offered the song to The Bangles...
" (later recorded by The Bangles
The Bangles
The Bangles are an American all-female band that originated in the early 1980s, scoring several hit singles during the decade.-Formation and early years :...
), and two songs originally intended for Vanity 6 (the group and the album): "17 Days
17 Days (song)
"17 Days " is one of the most famous of musician Prince's B-sides...
" (later used by Prince as the B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
to "When Doves Cry
When Doves Cry
A hit cover version by R&B singer Ginuwine was produced by Timbaland in 1996 for Ginuwine's The Bachelor album, Ginuwine's cover uses actual dove sound effects as texture for its jungle music-inspired instrumental track.-Charts:-Other cover versions:...
"), and "The Glamorous Life
The Glamorous Life
"The Glamorous Life" is a song written by Prince in 1984 and first recorded by singer/percussionist Sheila E. The dance song has lyrics which reflect a cynicism for the decadence and materialism of the song's protagonist, referred to in the third person, who "wants to lead a glamorous life",...
" (recorded by Sheila E.
Sheila E.
Sheila Escovedo , known by her stage name Sheila E., is an American drummer and percussionist, perhaps best known for her work with Prince, George Duke and Ringo Starr.-Early life and Prince period:...
in 1984).
Although the album was released primarily on vinyl and audio cassette
Compact Cassette
The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
(Warner Bros. 9 25108), a CD version of the album was released in Japan (W.B. WPCP-3701). The CD has become a highly sought-after collectible.
Apollonia 6 had a fair chart run, but is considered by some to be a viable part of the Minneapolis sound
Minneapolis sound
The Minneapolis sound is a hybrid mixture of funk, rock, pop, R&B and New Wave that was pioneered by Prince in the late 1970s. Its popularity was given a boost throughout the 1980s, thanks to his musical adherents, including The Time, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Morris Day, Vanity 6, Apollonia 6, Ta...
.
Track listing
| # | Title | Credited writer(s)1 | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Happy Birthday, Mr. Christian" | Apollonia Kotero Apollonia Kotero Apollonia Kotero, born Patricia Kotero on August 2, 1959, is an actress, singer, former model and talent manager. Kotero, born in Santa Monica, California, is of Mexican descent... , The Revolution The Revolution (band) The Revolution was an American rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1979 by Prince. Although widely associated with rock music, the band's sound incorporated heavy metal, pop, funk, R&B and hard rock elements. Before their official break-up, The Revolution had released one studio album,... |
7:06 |
| 2. | "Sex Shooter Sex Shooter "Sex Shooter" is a song written by Prince for his protégés, girl group Apollonia 6. It appeared on the band's only album, Apollonia 6 and was released as a single in 1984.The song was performed by Apollonia 6 in the film Purple Rain... " |
Kotero | 3:39 |
| 3. | "Blue Limousine" | Kotero, Sheila E. Sheila E. Sheila Escovedo , known by her stage name Sheila E., is an American drummer and percussionist, perhaps best known for her work with Prince, George Duke and Ringo Starr.-Early life and Prince period:... |
6:19 |
| 4. | "A Million Miles (I Love You)" | Kotero, Lisa Coleman Lisa Coleman (musician) Lisa Coleman is an American Emmy® Award winning musician and composer. Coleman plays piano and keyboards. She was a member of Prince's backing band The Revolution from 1980-1986. She is currently one half of the musical duo Wendy & Lisa, formed with Wendy Melvoin in 1986.-Early life:Coleman's... |
5:51 |
| 5. | "Ooo She She Wa Wa" | Susan Moonsie Susan Moonsie Susan Moonsie is an American musician best known for her association with Prince and his girl-group Vanity 6.-Early life:Moonsie, the daughter of a conservative school teacher, hailed from Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was one of Prince's high school girlfriends.-Career:Moonsie became a member of... |
4:10 |
| 6. | "Some Kind of Lover" | Brenda Bennett Brenda Bennett Brenda Bennett is an American singer from Boston, Massachusetts who married the musician Prince's set-designer Roy Bennett, and then became Prince's "wardrobe mistress." Brenda's maiden name is Brenda Mosher. She started off in a CBS Records band called Tombstone Blues Band... |
4:48 |
| 7. | "In a Spanish Villa" | Kotero, Wendy Melvoin Wendy Melvoin Wendy Melvoin is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Prince as part of his backing band The Revolution, and for her collaboration with Lisa Coleman as one half of the duo Wendy & Lisa.... |
2:12 |
1. All the songs on this album were actually written by Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
, but the songwriting credits were given to the group's members.
Personnel
- Vocals: Apollonia Kotero, Susan Moonsie, Brenda Bennett
- Multi-Instruments: Prince & The RevolutionThe Revolution (band)The Revolution was an American rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1979 by Prince. Although widely associated with rock music, the band's sound incorporated heavy metal, pop, funk, R&B and hard rock elements. Before their official break-up, The Revolution had released one studio album,...
- Guitars: Wendy Melvoin
- Keyboards: Lisa Coleman
- Bass: Mark Brown
- Drums, Percussion: Sheila E.Sheila E.Sheila Escovedo , known by her stage name Sheila E., is an American drummer and percussionist, perhaps best known for her work with Prince, George Duke and Ringo Starr.-Early life and Prince period:...
- Additional Backing Vocals: Jill Jones
Production
- Produced by PrincePrince (musician)Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
(as The Starr ★ Company) - Recorded, Engineered & Mixed by Peggy McCreary & The Starr ★ Company
- Mastered by Bernie Grundman
Singles
| Year | Song | US Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US Dance | US R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 1984 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1984.-Janury-March:*January 21 – "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood reaches number one in the UK singles chart, despite being banned by the BBC; it spends a total of forty-two weeks in the Top 40.*January 27 – Michael Jackson's... |
"Sex Shooter Sex Shooter "Sex Shooter" is a song written by Prince for his protégés, girl group Apollonia 6. It appeared on the band's only album, Apollonia 6 and was released as a single in 1984.The song was performed by Apollonia 6 in the film Purple Rain... " |
85 | 7 | 7 |
| 1984 1984 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1984.-Janury-March:*January 21 – "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood reaches number one in the UK singles chart, despite being banned by the BBC; it spends a total of forty-two weeks in the Top 40.*January 27 – Michael Jackson's... |
"Blue Limousine" | - | - | 19 |