Romance 1600

Romance 1600 is the second album from singer/drummer/percussionist Sheila E.. The only track that Prince co-wrote and co-produced with Sheila is "A Love Bizarre", which became a major hit and finds the two of them performing a vocal duet. Prince's influence is strong throughout the album.^[1]

This album was Sheila E.'s second album, and was highly anticipated. During her hiatus between albums, she had garnered a lot of exposure via the media, including appearing in Krush Groove, in which she performed "A Love Bizarre" and "Holly Rock". She had also performed to a wide audience as an act on Prince & the Revolution's Purple Rain Tour.

Fans were in for a shock when the video for "Sister Fate" (the album's lead single) introduced a new image of the performer—a somewhat female-Prince influenced protégée. Sister Fate's B-side featured the cryptic protest tune "Save The Children". However, the album itself featured many tracks that were personal and help to support the embodiment of the thematic faux-French episodic adventure that the lead single's video and the album art helped to set up for the listening audience. This concept/theme album had become a staple within Prince's camp at the time. Although the album received mixed reviews it did produce the enormous hit single and duet with Prince "A Love Bizarre". While not a critical or overall commercial success, this album is well regarded amongst Prince fans

[edit] Track listing

All tracks composed by Sheila E; except where indicated

"Sister Fate" - 3:50
"Dear Michaelangelo" - 4:38
"A Love Bizarre"* - 12:18 (Prince/Sheila E.)
"Toy Box" - 5:32
"Yellow" - 2:11
"Romance 1600" - 3:56
"Merci For The Speed Of A Mad Clown In Summer" - 2:47
"Bedtime Story" - 3:45

[edit] Credits

Sheila E. - Lead Vocals, Percussion, Drums, Strings, Guitar (Bass), Keyboards, Arranger, Producer, Writer
Juan Escovedo - Percussion (track 3, 8)
Eddie M. - Background Vocals (tracks 3, 4); Saxophone (tracks 1-4; 6-8)
Ken Grey - Organ (track 1)
Stef Burns - Guitar (tracks 2, 8)
Karl Perazzo - Bongos (track 6)
Prince - Guitar, Bass (track 3,4); Vocals, Arranger, Producer, Writer (3); Vocals (track 5)
Micheal Weaver - Background Vocals (track 4)
Stef Birnbaum - Background Vocals (tracks 3, 4)
Sue Davis - Background Vocals (tracks 2, 3, 6)
Benny Rietveld - Background Vocals (track 6)