Mazarati Player's Ball

[@therealsoulproduct]

The general misconception is that Mazarati was one of many side projects masterminded by the late Purple One. It was actually conceived though by Prince's former bassist, Brown Mark.

[@branstarone]

Correct!

[@mjolden]

(Trying to recollect the story to the best of my ability) Brown Mark, for lack of better words, had sort of a handshake deal with Prince; he was preparing to leave The Revolution following the Purple Rain album and tour because he had already signed to Motown. They go into detail in the Once Upon a Time in Minneapolis videos, and there's some old interview audio of Brown Mark discussing the situation (which is where I heard it from), even going into how Prince originally wrote "Kiss" for Mazerati.

[@woodybostic1128]

So true, Would have love to see more of his work, because I think these cats were the best over several genres of music..

[@alvinnelson7539]

Agreed

[@drummer3341]

@@mjolden Thats true. I tried to get mark to stay with Prince through one more contract then go out on his own. But he didnt want too.I was thinking about what was going to happen with the band. and myself. That music Motown had for Mazarati was crap. not good at all not there style. Than they brought other artist in to sing lead. Just messy Theres a lot more to this but ill stop.

[@maryd5217]

Oh my goodness lol I remember this song reminds me when I was in high school in the 80s those were the good days

[@nufforme]

What! Played the album white

[@AlexanderNevermind888]

I remember buying this cassette on release day. It was damn good. This song, 100 MPH, Lonely Girl on Bourbon Street. Some really nice tunes. They need to digitally remaster and resell that first Mazarati album. These guys had their own look and was a pretty good band.

[@bobbi67]

🖤🌻

[@h.m.7218]

Suzy also is good and funny.

[@AlexanderNevermind888]

@@h.m.7218 Agreed. Suzy is definitely fire. The whole album was good. I thought Stroke was the weakest song on the album, but once I listened to it musically, I fell in love with it. Those guys were definitely funky. We badly need a re-master.

[@jerviejervie2204]

@@h.m.7218 Yes Suzy is funny but I hear a tinge of sadness in there

[@chuckst98]

I still have the cassette to this album!!! ....I know for some of you you're wondering what a cassette is!!!! Hahahaha

[@IanS1018]

I have the vinyl record to this album!

[@combatgirl38]

Actually, at age 45 finding this stuff on KZbin is still an afterthought. I have Strawberry Lover on tape in a mix and was looking for Andre Cymone!

[@gsmooth116]

Talk about old school videos .I found the cd ..at a garage sale..for $2..classic

[@gsmooth116]

go on ebay..found that cd..for my collection..also check out amazon..

[@djc-smooththehouselord1643]

I still.have the vinyl back home!! Hahaha

[@motinalisa]

Who knew jumping jacks were a dance move? Loved Mazarati!

[@mzkittym.5450]

They were slept on. Some of the best guitar players 😎🎶🎸

[@staceysmith8869]

Mz Kitty M. Girl PREACH! THEY WERE DEFINITELY SLEPT ON!!!

[@agent9973]

@@staceysmith8869 Be on the look out for them they are doing big big rehearsal NOW....as I type this.

[@staceysmith8869]

Agent 99 7... don't even play with my emotions...are you serious right now????

[@tonyzackery]

Love love love Mazarati!

[@curtisjohnson1547]

Prince!!!

[@rickmiles1969]

Very underrated group with the Minneapolis sound. Cannot find anything on them anywhere, except for that lone cassette I still have from 1987

[@branstarone]

I still have the LP

[@new_guys]

I wish I still had mine!!!!!

[@SytheCameron]

This Quality Is UNREAL! Thank u For Uploading This Rare Video. Met Screamer When He Came To A Couple of Our Shows Here In Vegas...Super Nice Guy. As a Sidebar MAZARATI Originally Recorded Jerk Out Made Famous By The Time. Some Of The Lyrics Was Changed But Still Just as Funky.

[@charleswilson4042]

Cool

[@giulioboobzilla]

Sythe Cameron UNREAL? I think da quality on my vinyl is betta.

[@iceblingice]

@@giulioboobzilla Lol I think he was talking about the video clarity👍

[@giulioboobzilla]

iceblingice ah okay 👌

[@SytheCameron]

@@giulioboobzilla I'm All Late To The Party Lol Yeah The Video Clarity!!! But Its All GOOD!!! :)

[@roclee8138]

This song has got real bop to it. I honestly haven't been able to get the melody out of my mind since I first heard it a few days ago.

[@inspectorbudget]

Go listen to the extended version 😀

[@new_guys]

Man these guys were hot in the 80's you can tell prince worked with them!!! If you love or like prince you can't help but love them!!!!

[@RonRock1967]

Everytime that I see Christine Sullivan( Markie Post) in a purple jacket, with a white stylish blouse. It reminds me of Prince and Shelia E. And then I started thinking about Player's Ball by Mazarati.

[@IlliniPicker]

There is no group EVER like this group - straight up NASTY funk I can't get enough of this....

[@jessesinclair4491]

personally i think this group bares striking similarities to The Time (as well as share the same ghost writer for numerous tracks) however there was a slight uniqueness overall to them.

[@KR-vk2wx]

I can! They’re CORNY!! 🙄

[@Einnor084]

@@KR-vk2wx U must b a yungsta. Like 2 hear bout drankin Hennesey & smokin indo? GIT DAT AZZ ON DUH POLE BEEYATCH!!! Dat better?

[@AntwhaleNearfar]

Ron Beck No. This is terrible. Looks and sounds like a parody of the “Minneapolis Sound” era you might’ve seen on The Chappelle Show. Awful.

[@Einnor084]

@@AntwhaleNearfar LOL!!!

[@nazs.4268]

Charlie Murphy said that the dude who looked the most like a chick got all the girls back then................LOL.

[@duqswan06]

I think was talking about Micky Free from Shalamar. Micky Free, Lenny Kravitz& Tony Lemands was suppose in another group called The Coco Boys but Shalamar's manager refused to let Micky out of his contract. But Mazarati would have been their competition in another Prince movie (which turned into Graffiti Bridge I think)

[@Mr-Keyes]

He was absolutely correct, the androgynous look was in. I knew girls in high school who tried to convince me to wear eye liner ! Shit was crazy back then.

[@christopherwilliams5912]

I believe that 100%!

[@everready59]

That's still true.

[@nazs.4268]

@@Mr-Keyes 😂😂😂

[@rufscooby1]

still dont know why they didnt keep going..that first album nailed it! they were funky and hard.

[@Moneytane1976]

There was a 2nd album in 1989, that had a new jack sound on Motown - it flopped.

[@ERICF66]

@@Moneytane1976I didn’t know that. I’d like to hear it! I’m sure it’s online somewhere. 🔊🔊👍🏽

[@withthemostcake]

I wish I never saw this. I can’t stop listening! 👂🏽 “put on your lace...”

[@dorailcrayton3676]

Man???....that HOP KICK dance they keep doing to the rhythm is SO FUCKIN' KEWL!!!😂😂😂

[@thepromiseman7745]

The longer version hit harder I got the whole album and the 12 inch extended version

[@bronzemen34]

OMG - I love this JAM - this GUY had the chops and the band to match the TIME and the Revolution......Proteges who knew how to rock the floor - Jesse always blew me away ...that electricity - vocally and musically though Prince was on another level lol......still MAZARATI were awesome

[@inspectorbudget]

They are a Brownmark creation.

[@MichaelJohnson-ip6xr]

80's sound for sure...I remember this song on Video Soul with Donnie Simpson.

[@plugged1]

You gotta love the eighties! I saw them live once in Chicago at Grant Park in Chicago. I was a kid at the time and my cousin who brought me was a fine lady in her 20's lol!

[@MoonlightDawnMoolightDawn]

LOVE IT!! Criminally underrated band and album!!

[@holychronic]

80's baby!! generation X ! Cocaine's a helluva drug !

[@winstonwolfe5733]

Ask Rick James, bitch !

[@michaeltoddgeorgia7950]

😆 I'm RICK JAMES BITCHHHHH 😆

[@ALionInTheWinter]

I keep thinking about Charlie Murphy, "The Blouses" LMBO.

[@catboyzee]

For real tho, but still funky as hell...KML!!!

[@acaldwe1174]

Charlie didn't never lie when it came to this. Androgynous. Lol! But dug the groove which is why I remember therm.

[@acaldwe1174]

@@catboyzee They played basketball after the video. Lol

[@catboyzee]

LMBO!!! @@acaldwe1174

[@acaldwe1174]

@@catboyzee And waffles were on the menu this time. 😆

[@scottmalone1908]

I saw them with Prince and the Revolution at his Parade Tour in 86 , they opened his Show, wow what memories this video brought back me. They were a hot band in their time

[@albarron2]

That bass line intro!

[@aprilnorton1815]

Al Barron Good music

[@aprilnorton1815]

Listen to that funky music the guitar is bad as hell sounds good

[@slowyne1on1]

Actually Brown Mark the bass Guitarist wrote a lot of their songs

[@chambersstevens3135]

And produced them all!!!

[@sallycasey3060]

It was a group effort mark did not write alone believe that

[@RAM-jv5fv]

Brown Mark only brought them to Prince , prince liked them and did the rest!

[@dorailcrayton3676]

@Tory Shaye no bro brownmark is the leader n founder of the group...he wrote most of the songs...😇

[@Yvette-mp6wy]

woody bostic But Prince produced them...he said they were one of his many projects.

[@AlexanderNevermind888]

This song was one of the epitome songs that demonstrated the Minneapolis sound. Mazarati was slept on and deserved a lot bigger piece of the spotlight.

[@dazeja]

Brings back good memories, but now that I’m old, I can see why people thought all of the 80s bands looked like a group of discarded pirates.

[@kennycrockett8202]

Got this cut from Mazarati, first album on cd with remixes, also have the unreleased Mazarati 2 with remixes, both on cd, was hard to find,

[@chromokosis1]

kenneth Crockett post them!!!!!!

[@huerocub23]

I want em. Lol

[@ronanderson8490]

Not a pillow in their house that didn't get drenched in that Jheri Curl activator juice.

[@lorddrac_dontaskmetodance]

When you're not sure if to boogie or glam rock...

[@acaldwe1174]

Almost forgot this one. Prince fingerprints....

[@edennard1]

Not on this.. Brown Mark wrote this

[@curtisjohnson1547]

Never!!!

[@slowyne1on1]

Actually Brown Mark the bass player for prince

[@thepromiseman7745]

Nah Prince ain't on this ... sorry

[@c.i.8317]

Actually this one is Mazerati's and Brown Mark's imprint. Prince produced 100 Miles an Hour which was their first single released from this album . They also Produced Kiss but gave it to Prince and he kept their background vocals and added the guitar Solo in the bridge. So these boys had their dunk waaaaay before Prince.

[@IvanLendl87]

Another band (along with The Three O’Clock, Taja Seville, Jill Jones) that got ignored/lost/not properly handled on Prince’s Paisley Park label. Prince always complained mightily about record companies screwing him over but he did a pretty thorough job of that himself to many an act on Paisley Park.

[@liviafernandes5]

Geez, this is so damn good! Why the hell have I never heard this before? I can smell Prince all over it.

[@strauqq1]

I saw a Massaratti on the road the other day. I looked inside to see if they were in it...

[@16davelle]

RIP to guitarist Craig Powell, talk about a hell of a musician with some sharp guitar licks this dude had it.

[@treasureempressdreamz]

When I saw their clothes, I immediately thought of Moors. They wore beautiful jewelry, clothes that had beautiful patterns and prints. Even the capes.

[@claystevenson1821]

Bet you on to something in regards to the influence of their clothes.

[@pinkgorilla-2921]

that synth is divine

[@dorailcrayton3676]

GOD YES!!!✌

[@jayskywalker5049]

YESSSSSSSSSSS

[@Supermanstunna]

Shit should have been in purple rain movie

[@itsmanew5994]

Their entire album is pretty damn cinematic tbh

[@kirkindog]

As much as I love the remastering & release of Prince’s music from his vault, I wd be EQUALLY excited, if not more, if they could/would/some how re-release Mazarati’s debut album...😎

[@AnonymousEnt01]

You a little late ⏰. Both albums & the unreleased demos album were all released on limited edition a few years ago. I ought to know - cause I have all 3 of them on cd. And YES I had to fight tooth 🦷 n nail to get my copies.

[@timothyapwisch7652]

Great news! It's all re-released NOW!

[@kirkindog]

@@timothyapwisch7652 , can you tell me where? I’d be most interested, thanks.

[@michaelfox6861]

Saw Mazarati live at Valley Fair in Minnesota.. They were fantastic! Great band very underated. Band was started by Brown Mark who was in Prince's band. His bass brings nasty and tasty sound that fits perfectly with the sound. Great album is well.

[@DayTransformation]

Hey I was there too!

[@dorailcrayton3676]

Ya know that HOP-KICK step dance they are doing???....that looks KEWL😂😂😂....It goes with the rhythm of the song PERFECTLY🙃

[@wrldonwill]

Prince saved all his super weird shit for these kats... This and 100 MPH give me slight chills.

[@curtistinemiller4646]

This was the sh iui t in the late 80s .I had all of these on Vinyl...

[@DARK_AMBIGUOUS]

Thank you so much for uploading the rainbow swing set video, I remember watching that as a kid when I was like 4 or 5 and I was obsessed with rainbow swing sets. I remember they had one at the mall I lived by and they had free books that you could take that showed all of the pictures of the rainbow swing sets and it had the DVD with that video on it, I remember looking at the book soooo much and watching the DVD soooooo many times. I was poor growing up and I thought that the houses in the background of the video were so big and fancy and stuff and I wished so much that I lived there and had a rainbow swing set

[@DARK_AMBIGUOUS]

Also I commented here because KZbin wouldn’t let me comment on the rainbow swing set video

[@akeemshakur]

These kats were killin it. Too funky.

[@regcart]

LOVE the video version of this!!

[@ethansolomon4577]

The Minneapolis sound, I use to love this song back in the day it bring back old memories. 👍🏽

[@KymelieLeonard-wb6bw]

Yess lawddd! 80s! Minneapolis scene! Players Ball! The JAM

[@jondishmonmusicandstuff2753]

OMG....I totally forgot about this song. We used to dance our asses off to this song in the bars. hahahaha

[@shawnrobinson6783]

All prince? no actually Brown Mark done some production on this album as well.

[@inspectorbudget]

He did most of it.

[@markcrisp7315]

I remember seeing this band in the 80s @ The Top of the Rock in GR , Mi I was blown away with the performance & energy one of Prince Rogers Nelson’s band 🤔☮️

[@marktenhoopen6010]

Dude!No way!I was there too.Did you make it to the record signing at Believe in Music?

[@kennycrockett8202]

Saw this MPLS funk and metal band in 1986

[@iSpyCars]

i wish i had this on cd

[@joldschool64]

you can download it and put it on cd

[@funkolog]

:-D

[@BigDee0903]

iSpyCars .....Google "KZbin converter" it will convert KZbin videos into mp3 and then u can download it to your devices or burn onto a CD disc.

[@kemcorpvirtualenterprises3776]

...You are a GOD for this PRISTINE upload🤷🏼‍♂️😂✊🏼👏🏼👏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼💐💐💐

[@Blues4Winter]

I grew up on this stuff and it all looks like a Dave Chappell skit to me now.

[@combatgirl38]

Hahahaaa! My older sister was all about this stuff. And I thank her every day of my life for opening me to this at such an early stage, but goddamnit-I had that exact thought back then-I just didn't have the words for it. Then again I fucking HATED the 70's and how ugly they were, and being born in '72 I guess that makes me acutely sensitive. But really. how much dumber are these costumes than the gross brown and orange fat ties and 100% polyester suits people wore then? At least velvet and ruffles are Fancy. ( We have a guy here in Mpls called Fancy Ray-Google him. This is what that looks like aged. He's awesome, though! NO shit talking about that awesome cat, it's just reality about time aging.) People keep bringing up Gay. I'll take straight guys looking gay over poly-fied macho dickbags any day for sure!!

[@holliday69]

I miss this band

[@Donna777]

Isn't that the "witch tower" in south Minneapolis??

[@combatgirl38]

Indeed! It's one of the last undeveloped neighborhoods here. Phillips, I believe. Just houses, apartments, schools and parks.

[@qwikfist8]

Wish dude cud find tha original Stroke video LIVE an post it! Looked like they performing @ 5th Avenue or possibly whereva this video was made along with a 💡 show poppin✌

[@dorailcrayton3676]

That was on KZbin a LONG TIME ago...i remember it well...they grooved before they started singing the song✌

[@qwikfist8]

@@dorailcrayton3676 Yeah That's It ! They had tha dry ice going dimmed lights w/their backs turned 2tha crowd doing a live medley. Man that was straight killa 💣✌ Aey u find it post 4me 👍

[@mrmaxxx94]

This album was in the can back in 84, mark brown, Terry Casey and prince are the main ones on here and David z. The long version of this is tight

[@sblove99]

What if RATT was an funk band 😂😂😂

[@eddiebelljr6201]

DJ Abaka that one guitar player could be the lead of Ratt's brother/sister!!!!

[@sblove99]

Eddie Bell Jr 😂😂😂

[@calvingilmore9967]

DJ Abaka yep

[@catboyzee]

For real tho.

[@mariaellicott7004]

Very true.

[@trufunkg2249]

Great song love it!

[@NilesKelly]

I Remember Seeing This Band In The 90's @ The Top Of The R&B In GR, Mi I Was Blown away With The Performance & Energy One Of Mary Jane Blige's Band.

[@cliphound80]

Mazarati!! A criminally underrated Minneapolis Sound group.Prince was all over this like every group he formed !!!😎🎸🎹🎶🎶🎶 💜💜💜

[@Shawntraci]

My high school years had some great sounds!!!

[@divvamonroe1]

RIP, CRAIG SCREAMER POWELL...❤

[@Donna777]

Black Poison ;) But this music is better!

[@morbidlust999]

Donna it’s like glam funk lol

[@JustK009]

Donna 🎯

[@starrcompany3275]

Keep listening Donna ty so much for your comment!

[@b.rodclark7349]

I never knew there was a video to the song as much as I loved watching videos in '86 and the mix is slightly different than the album version

[@donaldnix4207]

Bro this so fire 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 luv this even today 2021 MAZARETTII LUV THIS GROUP BACK IN THE DAY

[@83allstar]

Takes me way back

[@geezystoic6180]

This still bang 2018🔥

[@JustK009]

Geezy Stoic Still bang in 2020🍻

[@NilesKelly]

Saw Mazarati Live At Valley Fair In Minnesota..They Were Fantastic! Great Band Very Underated. Band Was Started By Brown Mark Who Was In Mary J. Blige's Band. Her Bass Brings Nasty And Tasty Sound That Fits Perfectly With The Sound. Great Album Is Well.

[@Jorlivia]

RIP Craig “Screamer” Powell 💜💜💜

[@larryscott5027]

RWG Craig 💜💜

[@dorailcrayton3676]

Also i have to admit that their KEYBOARD RIFF was the greatest intro to an 80s funk song ive heard in my life!!!✌😎

[@blakethegirl]

That hair bounce and that cardio 😫

[@darylwoodard1054]

Hate to admit this, but this may be a better jam than 100MPH.

[@inspectorbudget]

I concur.

[@rwwdzzm5608]

I don’t know 🤷🏾‍♂️ 100 is 💯

[@darylwoodard1054]

@@rwwdzzm5608 It is, but still.

[@christophertracy2807]

One of the best investments I ever made was buying the official CD release of their debut album.

[@nibirumyself1]

Everything from Mazarati has never left my rotation. Bad Boys of Paisley 🙏🏼

[@dethbolt000]

The look was a bit extreme for me even considering the era, but I rocked this cassette so much that I had to buy it twice!!!

[@yvettethurston5617]

Wow ! I loved this song in high school, good old 80’s

[@CodyCole80]

"I bet you think the way I look I'm gay." Ya think? 😂😂😂

[@tedhawkins5841]

Codycole80 Gay? Not at all it was a style then..I E David Bowie kiss their whole band wore make up and dressed funky also Aerosmith queen,guns&roses oh i could go on for days..now u mean tell me those dudes wasnt fucking groupies either? He even said it in this song dont be afraid i just dress this way.If your not into music u wont understand the demographic's of it!

[@kennethrobinson6738]

Codycole80 Yep that line was funny as heck.

[@atomicdawg100]

Ted Hawkins I see your added Queen to that list... Freddie Mercury, dude died of aids, pretty sure he didnt contract it from a blood transfusion, or shootin up..

[@Concordee77]

HAR HAR HAHAHAHA!!!

[@kiddfromla]

atomicdawg100 you can get aids lots of ways 😂

[@RandyStiles-kk1ey]

Still awesome 2024

[@shimmerveli9535]

best quality thank you

[@corneliusthorn9498]

This is all prince what an awesome group

[@inspectorbudget]

Prince & Brownmark.

[@energyasylum997]

@00:48 “Ladies and gentlemen,...please give a warm round of applause, for Jackson Heights very oooooown......Mister Randy Watson!!! ..SEXUAL CHOCOLATE!!” Lol. The lead singer dude reminds me of Eddie Murphy in Coming to America! Lol. Juss’ messin’ . But,.. REST IN PEACE PRINCE🙏🏾

[@phatgirl2121]

Haaaahaaa

[@abrahamjackson6019]

The bad boys of Paisley Park.

[@ceeaki22ndcentury]

And a quick listen to their second album will make you realize just how good this album was.

[@nicholascrump3386]

And that 2nd album is expensively in demand for some reason

[@jayskywalker5049]

THIS IS PAISLEY PARKS FUNKIEST GROUP PERIOD!!!!!THANKS BROWN MARK AKA THE SHADOW 👤

[@andrewholt7741]

A band like this could kick ass in 2020.

[@inspectorbudget]

? They don't appreciate bands nowadays.

[@lindamorado9828]

The witches tower right by the s.e projects The lead guitarist's of Mazarati Bryan Rankin looks just like Kim and Shelia.I loved that band.

[@druwydown9302]

Almost forgot about this one: I mean, to me, what you got here on stage is quasi-Prince, Wendy and Lisa, Vanity, Vanity Six, Morris Day, Jesse Johnson...who else, perhaps, in Prince's mighty music empire back then am I still missing?

[@tonyzackery]

Loved these cats!!!

[@charlesbrazell2136]

I remember the slow jam from this album(can't remember the name of the tune now)-it's been decades since I had that lp(no longer have it)-tried to find it online and it don't exist now, from what I remember; maybe they'll eventually release it on cd-hopefully-and at an affordable cost. 11-30-21.

[@rayiron-ace-1497]

A flash in the pan , hot for a minute Mazerati , and the Family .then everyone said what happen ! 💥

[@NilesKelly]

I Saw Them With Mary J. Blige And The Various Artists At Her Parade Tour In 96, They Opened Her Show, Wow What Memories This Video Brought Back Me. Thay Were A Hot Band In Their Time.

[@MrFilmoreJr]

Funkier than the wicked witch!

[@djalexia]

Mikyyyyy I miss our time in L.A. At the infamous ROXY Club! What A Jam the entire album is the BOMB!

[@roughneckjihad1003]

This was my jam still have the 12”

[@NilesKelly]

Gotta Tell Ya: Watching This For The First Time In A While Reminds Me Of Charlie Murphy's Hollywood Story About Playing Basketball With Mary J. Blige; Back When Androgyny Was Still In It's Infancy. Hilarious And Funky. Game: Blouses. LOL! Respect And RIP To Craig 'Screamer' Powell (Buff Guy Playing The White Gibson Explorer Guitar).

[@oggunshango8373]

They had some of the coolest curls

[@jamesdavis3559]

Prince is gone but his creativity lives on. All the acts that he produced over the years. Big respect

[@LeslieisintheImajica]

They were so great, I remember it well. However, I was pretty sure that he had slipped on Jheri Curl juice when they transitioned to him falling on that bed.