Madhouse (band)
Encyclopedia
Madhouse is a jazz-fusion band from Minneapolis that was created by Prince
. Two Madhouse albums (and a few singles) were officially released in 1987.
for his 1985 side-project, The Family
. In late 1985-early 1986, he recorded hours of instrumental music with Leeds and other musicians from his band, Sheila E.
and musicians from her own band, as well as members from Wendy & Lisa
's families. From these sessions, Prince compiled an album called The Flesh, supposed to be released by an eponymous pseudo-band, but the project was abandoned and its concept lightly modified to become Madhouse.
All instruments on "8", the first Madhouse album, were performed by Prince
except for the saxophone
and flute
parts which were performed by Eric Leeds
. The albums consists of instrumental jazz-fusion tracks. A remix of the track "Six" was released alongside with the b-side "Six & 1/2", composed by Leeds and featuring Atlanta Bliss
on trumpet.
"16", the second Madhouse album, featured contributions by Leeds on saxophone and flute, Sheila E.
on drums and Levi Seacer, Jr.
on bass guitar
(the three of them co-composed a few tracks besides playing on the album.) "Doctor" Matt Fink
(keyboards) and John Lewis (drums) are also credited in the album's booklet but their participation to the recording is more than uncertain (though both were part of the short-lived live-version of the band.) "16" features more aggressive and minimalist jazz funk tracks than its predecessor. Two singles were released, "Ten" and "Thirteen", with the title tracks remixed and two b-sides.
The title of each song onn each album is also its numerical designation on the record (e.g., the third song on the first album is titled, “Three”).
Cover art for both albums featured Maneca Lightner playing with a small dog, reminiscent of a 1940s pinup photograph. The videos from "16" were more 1940s gangster-themed. The cover of "16" features the subtitle "new directions in garage music", which is a homage to Miles Davis
' Directions in Music
series (in 2002-2003, Prince would dub a jazz album series of his own "New Directions In Music") The only vocals on either album consisted mainly of choice snippets of audio lifted from the first two Godfather
films and samples of Vanity
simulating an orgasm (from the Vanity 6
outtake "Vibrator", later used on Prince's own song "Orgasm" from Come
.) There is also a short unreleased movie, featuring Madhouse, named "Hard Life". Also from 1987.
In 1987, Madhouse served as an opening act for Prince's headlining tours, with each of the musicians heavily disguised in baggy cloaks and sunglasses, to be removed for the final set. Prince himself often guested with Madhouse, incognito.
At least two other Madhouse albums were later recorded and remain unreleased to this day, both of them being named "24".
The first one was recorded in 1988, mostly by Prince and Eric Leeds. Only one track eventually emerged, severely edited, on Leeds' 1991 solo-album Times Squared and only bootlegged copies of the whole album are available. This album was more "electronic" than the first two, with a lot of drum programming, samples and keyboards.
The second one was recorded in 1993 with a line-up consisting of Prince (keyboards), Leeds (saxophone), Levi Seacer, Jr. (guitar), Sonny T. (bass) and Michael B. (drums). Only two tracks were officially released, "17 (Penetration)" (as "17" on the 1-800-NEW-FUNK
1994 compilation) and on the cd-single "Standing At The Altar", the other one "Asswoop" (or "Asswhuppin' in a Trunk") in 2001, via Prince's website. There was also a confidential release on a promo cassette called the NPG Sampler Experience", which contains excerpts from three tracks from this album: "Asswoop", "Ethereal Seque", and "Parlour Games". The "NPG Sampler Experience" was handed out during the Gold Tour
in 1995. The whole album has been circulating on bootlegs too and it features more sophisticated arrangements than the first three albums.
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...
. Two Madhouse albums (and a few singles) were officially released in 1987.
History
Prince had considered the idea of an instrumental jazz-funk album ever since he recorded his first tracks with Eric LeedsEric Leeds
Eric Leeds is an American jazz and funk musician who plays the saxophone and other woodwind and brass instruments. He is best known for his work with Prince.- Biography :Leeds was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of a retailer...
for his 1985 side-project, The Family
The Family (band)
The Family is a band formed by Prince, and one of the first signed to his record label, Paisley Park Records. The band renamed themselves Fdeluxe in 2009.-History:...
. In late 1985-early 1986, he recorded hours of instrumental music with Leeds and other musicians from his band, 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:...
and musicians from her own band, as well as members from 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...
's families. From these sessions, Prince compiled an album called The Flesh, supposed to be released by an eponymous pseudo-band, but the project was abandoned and its concept lightly modified to become Madhouse.
All instruments on "8", the first Madhouse album, were performed 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...
except for the saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
and flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
parts which were performed by Eric Leeds
Eric Leeds
Eric Leeds is an American jazz and funk musician who plays the saxophone and other woodwind and brass instruments. He is best known for his work with Prince.- Biography :Leeds was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of a retailer...
. The albums consists of instrumental jazz-fusion tracks. A remix of the track "Six" was released alongside with the b-side "Six & 1/2", composed by Leeds and featuring Atlanta Bliss
Atlanta Bliss
Atlanta Bliss is the stage name of Matthew Blistan, an American jazz musician who specializes in the trumpet. He is most well known for his work with Prince from 1986–1989. He came to Prince's attention through his association with Eric Leeds. The duo had been in a jazz group prior to working...
on trumpet.
"16", the second Madhouse album, featured contributions by Leeds on saxophone and flute, 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:...
on drums and Levi Seacer, Jr.
Levi Seacer, Jr.
Levi Seacer, Jr. is an American musician. He was an early associate of Sheila E. when he was tapped by Prince to form a new touring band after the demise of The Revolution in 1986. Seacer became the band's bassist, as well as a backing vocalist. Later, he began collaborating with Prince as a...
on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(the three of them co-composed a few tracks besides playing on the album.) "Doctor" Matt Fink
Doctor Fink
Matthew Robert "Matt" Fink, better known by the stage name Doctor Fink, is an American keyboardist, record producer, and songwriter. He is most known as a member of The Revolution, the backing band for pop musician Prince. Fink won a Grammy Award...
(keyboards) and John Lewis (drums) are also credited in the album's booklet but their participation to the recording is more than uncertain (though both were part of the short-lived live-version of the band.) "16" features more aggressive and minimalist jazz funk tracks than its predecessor. Two singles were released, "Ten" and "Thirteen", with the title tracks remixed and two b-sides.
The title of each song onn each album is also its numerical designation on the record (e.g., the third song on the first album is titled, “Three”).
Cover art for both albums featured Maneca Lightner playing with a small dog, reminiscent of a 1940s pinup photograph. The videos from "16" were more 1940s gangster-themed. The cover of "16" features the subtitle "new directions in garage music", which is a homage to Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
' Directions in Music
Directions in Music
Directions in Music is a Canadian music television miniseries which aired on CBC Television in 1961.-Scheduling:This half-hour series was broadcast Sundays at 4:30 p.m...
series (in 2002-2003, Prince would dub a jazz album series of his own "New Directions In Music") The only vocals on either album consisted mainly of choice snippets of audio lifted from the first two Godfather
The Godfather
The Godfather is a 1972 American epic crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the 1969 novel by Mario Puzo. With a screenplay by Puzo, Coppola and an uncredited Robert Towne, the film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard...
films and samples of 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...
simulating an orgasm (from the 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:...
outtake "Vibrator", later used on Prince's own song "Orgasm" from Come
Come (album)
Come is the fifteenth studio album by Prince, released during his public dispute with his then-record company, Warner Bros.-Evolution of the album:...
.) There is also a short unreleased movie, featuring Madhouse, named "Hard Life". Also from 1987.
In 1987, Madhouse served as an opening act for Prince's headlining tours, with each of the musicians heavily disguised in baggy cloaks and sunglasses, to be removed for the final set. Prince himself often guested with Madhouse, incognito.
At least two other Madhouse albums were later recorded and remain unreleased to this day, both of them being named "24".
The first one was recorded in 1988, mostly by Prince and Eric Leeds. Only one track eventually emerged, severely edited, on Leeds' 1991 solo-album Times Squared and only bootlegged copies of the whole album are available. This album was more "electronic" than the first two, with a lot of drum programming, samples and keyboards.
The second one was recorded in 1993 with a line-up consisting of Prince (keyboards), Leeds (saxophone), Levi Seacer, Jr. (guitar), Sonny T. (bass) and Michael B. (drums). Only two tracks were officially released, "17 (Penetration)" (as "17" on the 1-800-NEW-FUNK
1-800-NEW-FUNK
1-800-NEW-FUNK is a compilation album by Prince's NPG Records meant to showcase artists signed to the label. It was released on July 20, 1994...
1994 compilation) and on the cd-single "Standing At The Altar", the other one "Asswoop" (or "Asswhuppin' in a Trunk") in 2001, via Prince's website. There was also a confidential release on a promo cassette called the NPG Sampler Experience", which contains excerpts from three tracks from this album: "Asswoop", "Ethereal Seque", and "Parlour Games". The "NPG Sampler Experience" was handed out during the Gold Tour
Gold Tour (Prince)
The Gold Tour was a world concert tour by Prince promoting The Gold Experience album. The concerts featured mainly songs from the album, but also started adding prior Prince fan favorites.-History:...
in 1995. The whole album has been circulating on bootlegs too and it features more sophisticated arrangements than the first three albums.
12"
- "Six" - "Six", "Six (End of the World Mix)", "6 and 1/2"
- "Ten" - "Ten (The Perfect Mix)", "Ten and 1/3"
- "Thirteen" - "Thirteen (The Paisley Park Mix)", "Thirteen and 1/4"