Welcome to the 5th instalment of the #PrinceTwitterThread series.
June & July = JJ = Jill Jones
Our spotlight falls on on the @jilldjones debut album.
This is our first 🧵 on an album by 1 of the Purple Associates.
Over the next few weeks our guests will be:👇🏽
June & July = JJ = Jill Jones
Our spotlight falls on on the @jilldjones debut album.
This is our first 🧵 on an album by 1 of the Purple Associates.
Over the next few weeks our guests will be:👇🏽
In Part 1 of this introduction I’ll take a look at JJ’s background & all her work in the P Kingdom up to the point of her debut album.
Tomorrow, in Part 2, I’ll cover the debut album to present day.
Tomorrow, in Part 2, I’ll cover the debut album to present day.
Jill Jones (JJ) is:
1 of the cultured 1’s
1 of the intellectual 1’s
1 of the beautiful 1’s
A Prince (P) collaborator for 8 years between 1982 – 1990.
1 of the most prolific & longest serving musical partnerships of his early years.
P had a hard time of letting go of people.
1 of the cultured 1’s
1 of the intellectual 1’s
1 of the beautiful 1’s
A Prince (P) collaborator for 8 years between 1982 – 1990.
1 of the most prolific & longest serving musical partnerships of his early years.
P had a hard time of letting go of people.
JJ:
“I think he had a hard time letting go of people, once everybody started leaving. You know, Morris had left. Vanity left... Me & Jerome were the last two... sitting there... We were the ones who he clung really hard to & almost forced us to stay. Like, forced us.”
“I think he had a hard time letting go of people, once everybody started leaving. You know, Morris had left. Vanity left... Me & Jerome were the last two... sitting there... We were the ones who he clung really hard to & almost forced us to stay. Like, forced us.”
5th in line as one of P’s female protégés after Sue Anne Carwell, Vanity, Shelia E &
Apollonia (4th in terms of releases).
JJ released what many regard as:
“The Crown Jewel in the Paisley Park Records Back Catalogue” - @Neo_Manifesto
But how, when & where did it all begin.
Apollonia (4th in terms of releases).
JJ released what many regard as:
“The Crown Jewel in the Paisley Park Records Back Catalogue” - @Neo_Manifesto
But how, when & where did it all begin.
Jill was born in Lebanon, Ohio to an American Italian father & African American mother. She identifies as being African American & was raised on the JW faith.
Her biological father was a jazz drummer who she barely knew, having only spoken to him on a few occasions via 📞
Her biological father was a jazz drummer who she barely knew, having only spoken to him on a few occasions via 📞
Her mother Winnie Jones, was manager of Teena Marie (TM) - what a beauty she was too & you can see where JJ inherited her great looks!
Her step father was Fuller Gordy (older brother of Berry Gordy) who helped bankroll the start of the Tamla Motown label.
Her step father was Fuller Gordy (older brother of Berry Gordy) who helped bankroll the start of the Tamla Motown label.
Was JJ’s bi-racial background the inspiration for P to put out the rumour in early 80’s interviews that he had Italian heritage?
A rumour reinforced in the Purple Rain movie!
Was it his attempt to try to remain mysterious & to avoid being pigeon-holed as a black artist?
A rumour reinforced in the Purple Rain movie!
Was it his attempt to try to remain mysterious & to avoid being pigeon-holed as a black artist?
This is not the only inspiration P took from JJ as she also introduced him to the G Spot which I’m sure @IAmMissTLC will tell you all about in her forthcoming thread.
And he also took her clothes:
“he'd see something I was wearing, the next day he would be wearing it.”
And he also took her clothes:
“he'd see something I was wearing, the next day he would be wearing it.”
JJ started playing piano aged 7 & her initial musical inspirations were Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Jimi Hendrix, Carole King, Led Zeppelin & then eventually Motown.
Growing up, JJ was no stranger to musical royalty as she was surrounded by it in the Gordy household!
Growing up, JJ was no stranger to musical royalty as she was surrounded by it in the Gordy household!
She was often in the company of Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Smokey, Rick James, others on the Motown label & Neil Young!!!
Rick James once called her out to her Mother for skipping school as she would often turn up at his place in the mornings with her friends.
Rick James once called her out to her Mother for skipping school as she would often turn up at his place in the mornings with her friends.
She also went to the same school as @LennyKravitz who would follow her around as he had a crush on her.
Her first foray into a music studio was with Tata Vega - a soul & gospel artist on the Motown label in the the 70’s.
This woman’s voice was incredible ⬇️
Her first foray into a music studio was with Tata Vega - a soul & gospel artist on the Motown label in the the 70’s.
This woman’s voice was incredible ⬇️
Next, TM had a huge influence on her.
JJ’s mother was managing TM & she lived in the Jones household for a number of years.
TM took JJ to her first Led Zeppelin gig at The Forum (guessing in 77’) & was her 1st musical mentor & the older sister that she never had.
JJ’s mother was managing TM & she lived in the Jones household for a number of years.
TM took JJ to her first Led Zeppelin gig at The Forum (guessing in 77’) & was her 1st musical mentor & the older sister that she never had.
TM was also one of JJ’s earliest collaborators as they co-wrote two songs together.
A backing vocalist for the ‘Ivory Queen of Soul’ was no mean feat & must have honed her remarkable vocal style.
JJ sung background vocals on 4 important TM albums which are outlined below⬇️
A backing vocalist for the ‘Ivory Queen of Soul’ was no mean feat & must have honed her remarkable vocal style.
JJ sung background vocals on 4 important TM albums which are outlined below⬇️
Songs co-written with TM:
*Young Girl in Love
*The Ballad of Cradle Rob and Me
JJ background vocals on TM albums:
1980 - Lady T:
*Behind The Groove
*Lonely Desire
*Aladdin's Lamp
*You’re All The Boogie I Need
*Young girl in love
*Why did I fall I love with you
*Young Girl in Love
*The Ballad of Cradle Rob and Me
JJ background vocals on TM albums:
1980 - Lady T:
*Behind The Groove
*Lonely Desire
*Aladdin's Lamp
*You’re All The Boogie I Need
*Young girl in love
*Why did I fall I love with you
1980 - Irons in the Fire:
*Young love
*Chains
*You make love like springtime
1981 - It Must Be Magic:
*It must be magic
*365
*Square Biz
*Portuguese Love
1984 - Starchild.
*Young love
*Chains
*You make love like springtime
1981 - It Must Be Magic:
*It must be magic
*365
*Square Biz
*Portuguese Love
1984 - Starchild.
In addition she also sang background vocals on “My Baby Loves Me” by Jean Carn alongside Jean and Iris Gordy (Fuller Gordy’s daughter) on 1982’s “Trust Me.”
JJ also features on the album cover to Ozone’s “Li’l Suzy” album which was released in 1982.
JJ also features on the album cover to Ozone’s “Li’l Suzy” album which was released in 1982.
JJ first saw P during a Rick James Tour when she was TM’s backing vocalist & P was the support act for the earlier part of that tour.
Ticket sales dwindled on the Rick James tour & so they joined the Dirty Mind tour later that year on 4th December 1980 at Shea’s Buffalo, NY.
Ticket sales dwindled on the Rick James tour & so they joined the Dirty Mind tour later that year on 4th December 1980 at Shea’s Buffalo, NY.
On that latter tour, she first met P & mouthed off complaints about the stage which must’ve raised his curiosity & attracted him to her.
2 years later - college wasn’t her calling card & so JJ called P, asked him for a job & became his employee.
2 years later - college wasn’t her calling card & so JJ called P, asked him for a job & became his employee.
JJ meets P:
"He stirred my being, he unnerved me, he rattled me....I was walking up the stairs....he was coming down & we looked at each other 👁 2 👁 & kind of stopped.
He said, 'Hi.' I went, 'Hi. So what, the stage isn't big enough for all of us or something really shitty."
"He stirred my being, he unnerved me, he rattled me....I was walking up the stairs....he was coming down & we looked at each other 👁 2 👁 & kind of stopped.
He said, 'Hi.' I went, 'Hi. So what, the stage isn't big enough for all of us or something really shitty."
The very first song they did together was "Boom Boom" as P wanted to test her vocal capabilities.
She then started working on the 1999 album & a bunch of associate recordings in the studio.
She worked on so much material that even she can’t remember it all - it’s in the vault.
She then started working on the 1999 album & a bunch of associate recordings in the studio.
She worked on so much material that even she can’t remember it all - it’s in the vault.
In 82’ P started laying down tracks that would later be used 4 JJ’s debut.
But it wasn’t until May 83’ that a JJ album started taking shape when JJ relocated from L.A. to MPLS:
“I didn’t know if I was going to get an album to work on but I guess that was the premise....”
But it wasn’t until May 83’ that a JJ album started taking shape when JJ relocated from L.A. to MPLS:
“I didn’t know if I was going to get an album to work on but I guess that was the premise....”
B4 her eponymous release, JJ featured on numerous P productions & her voice held it all together:
“I had the same vocal range as him & I could also do the high notes that he couldn't reach, so he could call me for that too”
JJ appears on these Associate works - see below ⬇️
“I had the same vocal range as him & I could also do the high notes that he couldn't reach, so he could call me for that too”
JJ appears on these Associate works - see below ⬇️
Released Associates
Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life
Credited as JJ:
-The Belle of St. Mark
-Oliver’s House
Uncredited:
-The Glamorous Life
-Noon Rendezvous
-Next Time Wipe The Lipstick Off Your Collar
@SheilaEdrummer
Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life
Credited as JJ:
-The Belle of St. Mark
-Oliver’s House
Uncredited:
-The Glamorous Life
-Noon Rendezvous
-Next Time Wipe The Lipstick Off Your Collar
@SheilaEdrummer
The Time - Ice Cream Castle
Uncredited:
-My Drawers
-If The Kid Can’t Make You Come
-Jungle Love
Apollonia 6:
Credited as JJ:
-Oo She She Wa Wa
Uncredited:
-Happy Birthday
-Mr. Christian
-Blue Limousine
-A Million Miles (I Love You)
-Some Kind of Love
@theoriginal7ven
Uncredited:
-My Drawers
-If The Kid Can’t Make You Come
-Jungle Love
Apollonia 6:
Credited as JJ:
-Oo She She Wa Wa
Uncredited:
-Happy Birthday
-Mr. Christian
-Blue Limousine
-A Million Miles (I Love You)
-Some Kind of Love
@theoriginal7ven
Mazarati:
Credited as J.J.:
-100 MPH
-Strawberry Lover
-I Guess It’s All Over
Dez Dickerson - Modernaire
The Bangles - Manic Monday
Andre Cymone - The Dance Electric
@BrownmarkNation @andrecymone
Credited as J.J.:
-100 MPH
-Strawberry Lover
-I Guess It’s All Over
Dez Dickerson - Modernaire
The Bangles - Manic Monday
Andre Cymone - The Dance Electric
@BrownmarkNation @andrecymone
Unreleased Associates
Promise to Be True - considered for Vanity 6 & Dez Dickerson worked on it too & later offered to Bonnie Rait
Vibrator - unreleased Vanity 6
Sugar Walls - meant for JJ but given to Sheena Easton
& NUMEROUS unreleased vault songs.
soundcloud.com/videodrome-dis…
Promise to Be True - considered for Vanity 6 & Dez Dickerson worked on it too & later offered to Bonnie Rait
Vibrator - unreleased Vanity 6
Sugar Walls - meant for JJ but given to Sheena Easton
& NUMEROUS unreleased vault songs.
soundcloud.com/videodrome-dis…
1999
JJ sang on 1999, Automatic, Free & Lady Cab Driver.
She believes her vocals also appear uncredited on “Moonbeam Levels” - initially recorded in 1982, a day before Lady Cab Driver.
JJ was “THE” Lady Cab Driver.
JJ sang on 1999, Automatic, Free & Lady Cab Driver.
She believes her vocals also appear uncredited on “Moonbeam Levels” - initially recorded in 1982, a day before Lady Cab Driver.
JJ was “THE” Lady Cab Driver.
JJ on Lady Cab Driver:
“A lot of ‘Lady Cab Driver, I believe, you know, it was never said to me... but I drove him everywhere, through that time. He had just gotten his new BMW, it was here in L.A. and I drove it. I drove that freaking car all the time, and I drove him around.”
“A lot of ‘Lady Cab Driver, I believe, you know, it was never said to me... but I drove him everywhere, through that time. He had just gotten his new BMW, it was here in L.A. and I drove it. I drove that freaking car all the time, and I drove him around.”
JJ on steamy LCD:
"By the way, did you know that Prince & I were really fucking when we were recording Lady Cab Driver". Well, no, the truth is much less exciting than that. I was alone in the studio, recording myself at the console & Prince was in another room watching TV.”
"By the way, did you know that Prince & I were really fucking when we were recording Lady Cab Driver". Well, no, the truth is much less exciting than that. I was alone in the studio, recording myself at the console & Prince was in another room watching TV.”
JJ was the platinum blonde in the 1999 video - she stood with Lisa behind the keyboard giving a provocative girl on girl vibe dressed in lingerie, high heels & that captain’s hat.
She was in the Automatic video too & made promo appearances on shows like Solid Gold in 1983 ⬇️
She was in the Automatic video too & made promo appearances on shows like Solid Gold in 1983 ⬇️
She is credited as J.J. In the liner notes of 1999 & her take on the album was that it was about escapism & she was P’s outlet for that escapism at that time.
She also acknowledges that 1999 was the album that opened the doors to Purple Rain!
She also acknowledges that 1999 was the album that opened the doors to Purple Rain!
JJ then joined him on the 1999 tour & her first gig was on Nov 11 1982 - Tennessee.
On stage, JJ was out of sight on background vox but for the encores appeared front of stage to reprise her role from the 1999 video.
JJ also sang behind the curtain for Vanity 6 on that tour.
On stage, JJ was out of sight on background vox but for the encores appeared front of stage to reprise her role from the 1999 video.
JJ also sang behind the curtain for Vanity 6 on that tour.
In 83’ JJ was also present with P the night this happened & recalls that P had no idea James Brown was going to call him up on stage.
She added the crowd was pretty conservative & pro-MJ, guitar was out of tune & P kinda froze.
I’ve always thought P SLAyED it in this footage.
She added the crowd was pretty conservative & pro-MJ, guitar was out of tune & P kinda froze.
I’ve always thought P SLAyED it in this footage.
Purple Rain
JJ appears uncredited on:
-Take Me With U
-Baby I’m a Star
-17 Days
JJ is the moaning woman in the Purple Rain movie:
“He just seemed to have a tape of me crying & he’d put it in all these weird places like in the movie. That is totally me.”
JJ appears uncredited on:
-Take Me With U
-Baby I’m a Star
-17 Days
JJ is the moaning woman in the Purple Rain movie:
“He just seemed to have a tape of me crying & he’d put it in all these weird places like in the movie. That is totally me.”
In the Purple Rain liner notes, JJ gets a credit from P “Jill-love” & that was unique to her during this period of his career.
JJ was also present & backed up P’s decision to take out the Bass on “When Doves Cry.”
JJ was also present & backed up P’s decision to take out the Bass on “When Doves Cry.”
“To make a good song, you have to be in tune with what you feel & follow your instincts....people were telling him not to take it (the Bass) off, he was in doubt, & I told him to do it. I'm glad he remembered, & I want people to hear this song with all the tracks.”
Purple Rain 🎥🍿
JJ played a cameo portraying a waitress at First Avenue. She also had contributed a song, the unreleased “Wednesday.”
JJ claims there were 100 or 1000 test pressings of a PR double LP which included “Wednesday.”
But it was edited out of the movie & album.
JJ played a cameo portraying a waitress at First Avenue. She also had contributed a song, the unreleased “Wednesday.”
JJ claims there were 100 or 1000 test pressings of a PR double LP which included “Wednesday.”
But it was edited out of the movie & album.
JJ on Wednesday:
“Wednesday” was originally for “Purple Rain.” He had to change some words in the song because it’s about suicide. We shot a scene for the movie where I sing it. He apologised to me & explained that the scene had to be cut from the movie.”
“Wednesday” was originally for “Purple Rain.” He had to change some words in the song because it’s about suicide. We shot a scene for the movie where I sing it. He apologised to me & explained that the scene had to be cut from the movie.”
“Wednesday” wasn’t publicly heard until P&M 83’ which contained P’s private version.
On the PR Deluxe, JJ appeared on a no. of vault tracks:
*Love and Sex
*Possessed
*Wonderful Ass
*We Can Fuck
But JJ’s version of “Our Destiny” was excluded in place of Lisa’s vocal version.
On the PR Deluxe, JJ appeared on a no. of vault tracks:
*Love and Sex
*Possessed
*Wonderful Ass
*We Can Fuck
But JJ’s version of “Our Destiny” was excluded in place of Lisa’s vocal version.
Upon release of PR SDE, JJ took to Twitter ⬇️⬆️ to express her upset about not receiving any accreditation on the liner notes.
Handwritten P lyrics were produced proving JJ wrote lyrics for “Wonderful Ass.”
The rhyming words at the bottom were written by JJ.
Handwritten P lyrics were produced proving JJ wrote lyrics for “Wonderful Ass.”
The rhyming words at the bottom were written by JJ.
ATWIAD
JJ appears uncredited on Pop Life,” on the album & 12” version.
“Now this King he had a subject
named Electra who loved him
with a passion, uncontested”
Electra in “The Ladder” is JJ, originally her name in the proposed Roadhouse Garden play.
JJ appears uncredited on Pop Life,” on the album & 12” version.
“Now this King he had a subject
named Electra who loved him
with a passion, uncontested”
Electra in “The Ladder” is JJ, originally her name in the proposed Roadhouse Garden play.
JJ on Elektra:
“I was supposed to be Elektra...he wanted to name me Elektra. Even in 1982. Elektra Tuesday off of Elektra: Assassin..a Marvel comic, & I got the name Elektra. “Are we gonna use…? We can’t use a Marvel name.” So I was gonna be this woman, but I wouldn’t do it.”
“I was supposed to be Elektra...he wanted to name me Elektra. Even in 1982. Elektra Tuesday off of Elektra: Assassin..a Marvel comic, & I got the name Elektra. “Are we gonna use…? We can’t use a Marvel name.” So I was gonna be this woman, but I wouldn’t do it.”
Crying old woman on ATWIAD & on Pop Life is JJ:
“I asked him why am I old & he said because ‘I’m going 2 know U forever’...
I asked him why he always had me crying...& he said, ‘because I am gone, you are sad.’
I said where are you in this? He said, ‘I am up the ladder.”
“I asked him why am I old & he said because ‘I’m going 2 know U forever’...
I asked him why he always had me crying...& he said, ‘because I am gone, you are sad.’
I said where are you in this? He said, ‘I am up the ladder.”
And as we all know “She’s Always In My Hair” is about JJ.
I won’t say anymore on this as @TrickyKid2 will be soon dropping his 🧵on it.
JJ is also the beautiful friend on “Hello,” B-side (USA) to Pop Life:
“I was sittin’ pretty with a beautiful friend (“Oh darling”)”
I won’t say anymore on this as @TrickyKid2 will be soon dropping his 🧵on it.
JJ is also the beautiful friend on “Hello,” B-side (USA) to Pop Life:
“I was sittin’ pretty with a beautiful friend (“Oh darling”)”
Parade
JJ features on the dialogue on “Kiss” 12”.
She was around for the filming of UTCM & did a screen test but didn’t feature.
She was living in Paris at the time getting “cultured up” & hanging w/ Jean-Baptiste Mondino, Azzedine Alaïa & Karl Lagerfeld.
It changed her.
JJ features on the dialogue on “Kiss” 12”.
She was around for the filming of UTCM & did a screen test but didn’t feature.
She was living in Paris at the time getting “cultured up” & hanging w/ Jean-Baptiste Mondino, Azzedine Alaïa & Karl Lagerfeld.
It changed her.
SOTT
JJ is on “It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night.”
She also did “Good Love,” from the aborted Camille but which made it on to the Bright Lights, Big City (Soundtrack).
JJ is also on the unreleased “No Call U” &” if I Could Get Your Attention” & many, many more in the vault.
JJ is on “It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night.”
She also did “Good Love,” from the aborted Camille but which made it on to the Bright Lights, Big City (Soundtrack).
JJ is also on the unreleased “No Call U” &” if I Could Get Your Attention” & many, many more in the vault.
Hard Life 🎥🍿
Misdirected 🎥 by P on a camcorder - JJ plays the brilliant Gillian Stoneheart, a high society dame who bails 2 bums to chef at her fancy party.
I love this short & have always thought it was 🤣🤣 & it has a kitschy element to it like Jarmusch’s Down By Law!
Misdirected 🎥 by P on a camcorder - JJ plays the brilliant Gillian Stoneheart, a high society dame who bails 2 bums to chef at her fancy party.
I love this short & have always thought it was 🤣🤣 & it has a kitschy element to it like Jarmusch’s Down By Law!
Hard Life also features:
Wally Safford - Puff
Greg Brooks - Danny
Harriet Fink (Matt Fink in drag) - the annoyed white lady
Eric Leeds - Policeman
Mico Weaver - Nicolas the Minder
Cat Glover - ABBA Johns draws
And Music by Madhouse!
Wally Safford - Puff
Greg Brooks - Danny
Harriet Fink (Matt Fink in drag) - the annoyed white lady
Eric Leeds - Policeman
Mico Weaver - Nicolas the Minder
Cat Glover - ABBA Johns draws
And Music by Madhouse!
Graffiti Bridge 🎥🍿
Originally JJ was meant to play the part of “Elektra.”
However, the script was changed when Kim Basinger left the project & her role was drastically reduced & she adopted a much smaller role as “Jill” - The Kid’s GF.
Originally JJ was meant to play the part of “Elektra.”
However, the script was changed when Kim Basinger left the project & her role was drastically reduced & she adopted a much smaller role as “Jill” - The Kid’s GF.
Unlike in Purple Rain where her performance of “Wednesday” was cut, this time she did perform to a song.
But unbelievably she was reduced to lip syncing to “Love Machine” - a Time track with Elisa Fiorillo sharing the vocal duties with Morris Day!
But unbelievably she was reduced to lip syncing to “Love Machine” - a Time track with Elisa Fiorillo sharing the vocal duties with Morris Day!
So this brings us to the end of JJ’s involvement in the Purple dynasty in terms of releases & associated works that she has featured on that we know about.
One day JJ’s history will have to be revised as there’s lots of music that we don’t know about still in the vault.
One day JJ’s history will have to be revised as there’s lots of music that we don’t know about still in the vault.
JJ stayed true to herself & that’s what makes her presence so riveting, appealing & unique in the P camp.
Dave Hill - Pop Life (P book):
“Jill Jones is the female Prince protege who sounded most like herself. Arguably Prince’s most complete & engaging female counterpart.”
Dave Hill - Pop Life (P book):
“Jill Jones is the female Prince protege who sounded most like herself. Arguably Prince’s most complete & engaging female counterpart.”
Finally if you were wondering which P tracks JJ really rated during the 80’s, here is her Top 5.
In her Top 5 it is worth noting that the only track she is featured on is 17 Days.
In Part 2 tomorrow, there will be a little bit more about her No.1 P track.
In her Top 5 it is worth noting that the only track she is featured on is 17 Days.
In Part 2 tomorrow, there will be a little bit more about her No.1 P track.
That’s it for Part I.
Tomorrow, in Part II, I’ll present an overview of the debut album & also cover what happened to JJ after she left Paisley Park.
Thanks for taking the time to read this & we hope you continue to support the rest of the upcoming threads.
Tomorrow, in Part II, I’ll present an overview of the debut album & also cover what happened to JJ after she left Paisley Park.
Thanks for taking the time to read this & we hope you continue to support the rest of the upcoming threads.
Oh, BTW, we have now set up a separate PrinceTwitterThread page called Prince Thread.
Please give us a follow here:
@PrinceThread
Please give us a follow here:
@PrinceThread
@jilldjones @RhondaNicole_ @RichardCole_NOW @Art0fficialAge @MMLunlimited @IAmMissTLC @AishaStaggers @TrickyKid2 @arrthurr @EdgarKruize @deejayumb
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