The Glamorous Life, the complete Sheila E.

Prince & Sheila E., The Ritz – New York – 09/13/1984

Introduction

Of all the Prince satellite acts Sheila E. is probably the best-known and most successful. She was also part of several (Prince) bands and frequently guested at numerous Prince shows.

Sheila Escovedo

Sheila Escovedo was born on December 12, 1957, in Oakland, California. Music was burned into her DNA, the entire family was drenched in it. Her father is Pete Escovedo, a world renowned percussion player. Uncle Javier Escovedo founded the punk band The Zeros, Mario Escovedo was front man for The Dragons, Coke Escovedo played in Santana and formed Azteca with Sheila’s father. Both of Sheila’s brothers also play percussion.

Pete & Sheila Escovedo albums

It’s no surprise to learn that Sheila started playing percussion at the age of 3, she makes her stage debut at the age of 5. In 1976 Sheila could be heard on vinyl for the first time, on Alphonso Johnson’s Yesterday’s Dream. In 1977 she released the album Solo Two with her father, a year later followed by Happy Together, both produced by drum great Billy Cobham. Next, she was enlisted in George Duke’s band and played on a number of his albums. In 1980 she played on Herbie Hancock’s Monster album. When she was around 25, Sheila had already played with some of the biggest names in music, like George Duke, Lionel Richie, Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson (Sheila plays the glass bottles on Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough), Con Funk Shun and Al Jarreau.

Sheila E. – Prince For You poster in the background – 1978

Prince

In 1978 the name of a new artist from Minneapolis started floating around in music circles. He was named Prince and he was the youngest musician ever with a deal that also enabled him to produce his own music. To top it off, he also seemed to be doing everything himself, singing, playing all instruments, recording and the production obviously. Sheila had heard of him. Following a concert with Al Jarreau Sheila was backstage, Prince was there as well on a night off from recording his debut album For You. Sheila:

I had heard about Prince, but I didn’t know if the Prince at the concert was the same guy. He was standing against a wall and we just sort of made eye contact.

© Uptown magazine, #20

One year later they officially met and spoke briefly. Sheila was shocked to find out Prince knew who she was and was following her career. They stayed in touch over the following years. In reply to Prince’s invitation, Sheila reports at the famous Sunset Sound studio in Los Angeles on March 25, 1984.

Prince said, “Come in to the studio. I want you to do something.”
I said ,”OK.” I thought I was going to play.
He said, “Sing.”
I said, “What?”
And he said, “I just want you to sing this song.”
So I went in and sang it. That was it.

© Uptown magazine, #20

Prince – Erotic City lyrics

The song was Erotic City, which would turn into one of the many fantastic B-sides in 1984. Erotic City is one of Prince’s most famous non-album tracks and was a major club hit in 1984. It contained the infamous verse “We could fuck until the dawn, makin’ love ’til cherry’s gone”, lyrics that Sheila reportedly didn’t articulate for the full 100% while recording. Later on in her career she stated she was ashamed of the lyrics. After the recording session Prince proposed an idea.

Prince asked, “Why don’t you do your own album?”
And I said, “Nah.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t want to.”
“Don’t you think you have been playing behind other people long enough?”
“But I Like it.
“”I’m telling you that you need to be out on your own. You can sin, you can play.”
I never wanted to sing until Prince asked me to. Lionel Ritchie had asked me to sing Endless Love on tour. I said, “You’re crazy, I’m not going to do it.” I get kind of scared when I hear my voice. When Prince asked me, though, I just had a feeling that he knew what he was talking about.

© Uptown magazine, #20

At the time Prince had his hands full with finalizing work on Purple Rain related activities, but he had a number of songs lying around, he was convinced would fit Sheila perfectly. Recording for the Purple Rain album had come to an end after the inclusion of When Doves Cry early March 1984. The albums for The Time (Ice Cream Castle) and Apollonia 6 (Apollonia 6) were almost done, so why not add another project?

On March 28, 1984, just three days after the Erotic City recordings with Sheila, Prince had compiled a list of songs, all recorded at an earlier stage, which would ultimately make up Sheila E.’s first album. Sheila listened to the recordings carefully, so she knew where to enhance the songs with percussion and to prepare for her vocal parts (guide vocals were provided by Prince). From that day on forward, the Sheila Escovedo name was put on hold, Sheila E. was born.

In March 1984, I began recording vocals on some songs that Prince and I had chosen for my album. As always, we worked together very well, so it was easy to meet in the middle. The next few days were a mix of writing, recording, singing, playing and staying up all night.

Sheila E. biography, 2014

Sheila E. – The Glamorous Life

Album: The Glamorous Life

Early April 1984 the album was done and Prince presented it to his management. Within a few weeks everything had been put into place, including a record deal with Warner Bros.. On May 2, 1984, the artist Sheila E. was presented to the world. That day marked the release of the single The Glamorous Life. The debut single made the top 10 on the Billboard charts.

A month later, on June 4, 1984, the debut album by Sheila E., The Glamorous Life, was released. The album ended up in the top 10 of the “black” charts in the US and on the 28th position of the Billboard album charts. Not bad for a debut.

Songs

All songs written by Prince, unless stated otherwise.

The Belle Of St. Mark (Prince, Jesse Johnson)
Shortberry Strawcake
Noon Rendezvous (Prince, Sheila E.)
Oliver’s House
Next Time Wipe The Lipstick Off Your Collar
The Glamorous Life

On the album cover the songs are credited to Sheila E., Shortberry Strawcake to Sheila E. and Jesse Johnson, Next Time Wipe The Lipstick Off Your Collar to Sheila E. and Brenda Bennett.

Sheila E. – The Glamorous Life – Back cover

Musicians

Sheila E. – vocals, percussion
Prince – all instruments, unless stated otherwise, vocals on Shortberry Strawcake, background vocals on The Glamorous Life
David Coleman – cello on Oliver’s House, The Glamorous Life
Novi Novog – violin on Next Time Wipe The Lipstick Off Your Collar
Nick DeCaro – accordion on Next Time Wipe The Lipstick Off Your Collar
Larry Williams – saxophone on The Glamorous Life
Jill Jones (J.J.) – background vocals on The Belle Of St. Mark, Oliver’s House
Brenda Bennett – background vocals on Next Time Wipe The Lipstick Off Your Collar

Prince’s presence isn’t mentioned. The album’s production is credited to Sheila E. and The Starr Company, but was in fact done by Prince.

Review

The Glamorous Life is one of the best satellite act albums ever. The short time spent on recording and production is far removed from the way the album comes across. It’s an extremely good album, that has no weak moment at all. The production is clear, Sheila E.’s vocals go well with the music, that possesses a high level of uniqueness, in no large part due to the percussive influence Sheila E. brings to the record.

In the year that Prince would explode on his own terms, he had also released a classic pop, funk, latin record. Even if Sheila E. did her utmost to downplay, or even deny, Prince’s involvement, it was glaringly obvious who really was behind it all. Justified or not, because of it, Sheila E. was placed in the same category as Vanity and Apollonia, something she genuinely hated.

I’m a musician but not many people know that. I was a musician long before I ever met Prince. People wrongly assume I’ve gotten where I have because of Prince. They think “he made me,” just like he’s made other female artists. I don’t deny that Prince has helped me, but I’m much more my own creation. That’s a big difference between me and those other women he has worked with.

© Uptown magazine, #20

Sheila E. – Live support act Purple Rain tour 1985

After The Glamorous Life

Following the release of the album a live band was put together, because Sheila E. was scheduled to be the support act for the monumental Purple Rain tour. Sheila went in search for musicians and found some highly capable ones, including saxophone player Eddie M, whom Sheila would continue to work with over many years to come, her brother Juan and guitar player Miko Weaver, who would quickly work his way up to satellite act The Family followed by a stint in Prince’s own band The Revolution.

On July 26, 1984, Sheila E. and band made their live debut at the premiere of the Purple Rain movie. Before the start of the Purple Rain tour the band went on a short solo tour in the US and Europe. The performances showed a well-rehearsed band and played with full conviction and finesse (also see Sheila E. live in Holland 1984).

Sheila E.’s opening set during the Purple Rain tour was a sight to behold. For a starting band, they were highly professional, tight and at times overwhelming. As the tour went on, Sheila and some of her band members were frequent guests at the headline performance of Prince And The Revolution.

On the night of January 28 and 29, 1985, immediately after the American Music Awards, many artists convened to record a single to raise money for hunger relief in Ethiopia. Prince was asked to participate, but he declined. Sheila E. was asked as well. In the 2024 documentary on the We Are The World single by USA For Africa, Sheila stated she felt used. Everyone that came up to her asked whether Prince would come, and if not, if she was able to call and persuade him to come over and sing.

Sheila E – In Romance 1600

Album: Romance 1600

While still on the Purple Rain tour, recordings for the second Sheila E. commenced. From January to the end of the tour in April 1985 the album was readied for release.

On August 26, 1985, the second Sheila E. album, Romance 1600, was released. The album was preceded by the single Sister Fate, which wasn’t successful. After the release of the A Love Bizarre single, which did turn into a success, album sales went up.