Sheila E.
The concept for this concept album seems to have been cornball dumbness. Sheila Escovedo, Prince's former lady-in-waiting, says that the theme of her semifunk album is post-Renaissance France. But her lyrics are full of references to cheerleaders, limousines and yellow pants ("maybe it was the way they hugged my ass"). But anachronism is the least of Sheila's problems. Her foolishness is more annoying; as in Dear Michelangelo: "Color the dreams in my head/I look at your paintings/And I'm with you in your bed. (Imagine what a surprise that would be to old Mike.) By far the best track—they're referred to as "scenes" in the ersatz-hip liner notes—is Merci for the Speed of a Mad Clown in Summer, not only because of its evocative title but because it's an instrumental. As a drummer and percussionist, Sheila is an exciting performer; as a singer, she sounds best if you can see how much underwear she's wearing. Only on the bluesy Bedtime Story does she stop posing and start singing, and even then she's burdened with her own words: "Sometimes far away I want to go/And start my life all over/But instead I'll stay/Maybe I'll find a four-leaf clover." Prince himself plays some mean bass on one tune and Eddie Minnifield provides an intriguing saxophone backup. Otherwise the LP's final score is Romance 1600, Music 0. (Paisley Park/WB)
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