It’s been slow for music this week… so I decided to do something a little different and do a little throwback piece. If some of you are Prince fans, you may be familiar with his then-edgy group, Vanity 6. Vanity 6 was formed during the “1999″ era of Prince’s career. Originally called “The Hookers,” Vanity 6 released their first and only album, “Nasty Girl” in 1983 with their manager, Jamie Starr, who, later, fans found out was really Prince. Although credited in their album as being written and produced by the group’s members, Vanity, Susan Moonsie and Brenda Bennett, fans found out that the music and whole group’s concept was really the brain child of Prince. Vanity was never known for her voice, but her stage presence and abbrassive personality. And it was clear to Prince’s peers that he was keeping her around for her looks and his attraction for her.
Vanity 6 – Nasty Girl (full) – download
Vanity 6 – If A Girl Answers (Don’t Hang Up) – download
Vanity was expelled from the group during the filming of Purple Rain for her concaine addiction and for her constant lateness and disorderly conduct during the filming process. and was replaced by the actress Apollonia Kotero, and the group was redubbed Apollonia 6. Vanity went on to have a mediocre solo and acting career, while still being addicted to cocaine.
Vanity, whose real name is Denise Matthews, is now a born-again Christian, after commenting her life to God on her death bed. Apollonia 6 released their one and only single, “Sex Shooter” in 1984, with the release of Purple Rain. Vanity, now Denise Matthews again, now has her own ministry and no longer even recognizes her former celebrity.
She was a beautiful woman and still is. Her body was on point. One of the best in the music industry. Thats my favorite song “Nasty Girl” Damn that body! PRINCE WAS OFF THE CHAIN WITH THE NAMES! FIRST IT WAS VAGINA THEN IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE…BUT SHE DECIDED ON VANITY. WHERE ARE THE OTHER GIRLS? Everybody called them the devil. I think she was on drugs pretty bad. She almost went blind.
I was ten/eleven when Vanity came out. My parents were pretty cool about me listening to them on the radio, they were on quite alot. Plus My Auntie (then about 22/23) was a Prince Fanatic! This reminds me to tighten up my Prince collection. I loved the Under the Cherry moon Sountrack. I am loving the Throwback Thursdays!! Can’t wait to see who’s next.
Nasty girl was my shit, I got her book Blame It On Vanity it was very good.
just caught “Vanity 6″ on a re run of Soul Train 2 wks ago doing ‘Nasty Girl’ & “He’s So Dull”. Prince originally wanted to call them “Vagina 6″ & Warner Bros. refused saying that it would bury them with no chance of radio play.
Vanity’s best work as an actress was with Clarence Williams III in the ’86 thriller “52 PickUP” very underrated action film with Roy Scheider & Ann -Margret, check on it.
Her big Motown follow up post Prince uber flop “Pretty Mess” is one of the dumbest laugh out loud songs of the 80′s .
last interview I read in Rolling Stone with her, she only wanted to discuss her Christianity & quote Bible verses & she said she has removed “that Vanity person & wants nothing to do with her.”
Like Rick James said “Cocaine is a Hellauva of Drug”
Vanity 6 was one of the great girl groups , PussyCat Dolls dont even come close.
thanx for this great throwback post, keep it up , young folks need to be schooled.
Ive been in love with this groups since I was 5, thx for posting these,can never find anything on them
Vanity is a preacher now.
Hey number #54 , your info is incorrect babydoll. My boss is a network exec and states that Vanity was not “stolen” from Rick James. You are thinking of Corvette, the hotness from the Mary Jane girls who sued or tried to sue Paul Abdul back in the day because she said she was singing most of Paula’s tracks not Paula, the record company then paid her off to shut her up and nobody’s heard from her since. Now back to the hotness that is Vanity, she was brought to Prince by the darker skinned pretty young lady in the group, Susan, who was already a “close” aquaintance to Prince, read inbetween the lines on that one. And Vanity was NEVER was fired from Purple Rain, she NEVER set foot on set, she and Prince were having personal issues, and she moved on to Motley Crue’s Nikki 6 who was famous back then and a druggie as well whom while together they did hardcore drugs which almost cost her her life. Vanity 2nd of all, she didn’t want to take her top off for the partial nude scene, I have no idea why considering the revealing outfits she wore on stage, 3rd of all, she decieded to shoot THE LAST DRAGON and work on a solo album instead. Her having a drug problem was kept hush hush in the industry, just like the fact that Appolina was a happily MARRIED woman when she did Purple Rain. The studio wanted people to think she and Prince were an item, even in interviews today she’ll tell you they never were, it was all PR.
Vanity 6 are the orginal “Nasty Girls”! The album is still in heavy rotation. Those girls were getting they sexy on ha. I love Vanity 6′s version of “Sex Shooter” more than Apollonia’s version.
Theres a track called “Vibrator” by Vanity 6,which I was told that is unreleased. Great song, but I heard that Prince made her masterbate on the song. Sounds like she really is lol.
#127- That’s the way I heard it, too!! Vanity and Nikki 6 were also engaged at one time. And yes, Susan, the other Black girl in the group was Prince’s high school sweetheart. The white chick, Brenda, was married to Prince’s set designer at the time. She also was Prince’s wardrobe mistress. Guess she picked out and managed his clothes.
Old skool to the fullest, my don’t the dresses look familiar nowadays? lol
vexxed said-This was popular because people could really dance to it. Unlike music today.
I luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuv The Last Dragon. That’s my movie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vge51QY1tkM
Just found this clip of MJ, Prince and James Brown
Just watched Purple Rain last night.
Lovin the trip down memory lane. I was only 9 but loved Prince and Vanity 6. Didnt understand what they were talking about though LOL
Brian please post regular old school joints, like this timeless one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0HHHdug0Ek
Damn I luv youtube. Prince was hilarious in this interview
^^^ That was hilarious!!!
I love this group!
I found out about em thru my fat mom, Janet Buttimer, because get this, she says she got knocked up, pregs with me here in Dallas, while listening to some song of Apollonia6 about making “A Mess on my Dress”–
Not sure if that’s the name or not, but she swears that it’s the song she “did it” by – and out I came 9 months later. Unfortunately. My life sux!
Now if she’d only remember the guy’s name that she did it with…jeez…she has no clue…for REAL!
Laterz~!
Thought everyone might be interested in knowing about ThrowBackSongs.com. It’s guaranteed to bring back some fond memories of yesterday. Close to 800 songs with artist such as New Edition (Candy Girl, Cool It Now, etc.), Isley Brothers (For the Love of You, etc.), Timex Social Club (Thinking About You), EU (Taste of Your Love) and many many others.
Check it out at:
http://www.throwbacksongs.com
I’m hooked on this site like a morning cup of coffee.
Peace,
Emerzion
Just a little correction to #60…Vanity 6 as a group was originally supposed to be named “The Hookers”. Before both Prince & Vanity settled on the stage name “Vanity” he wanted her to be named “Vagina”. The “6″ is derived from the group’s breast count LOL! 2X3=6 …Vanity 6 was born.
Tonight i’m livin’ in a fantasy. My own little nasty world. Tonight don’t you wanna come with me? Do you think i’m a nasty girl?
I may be 15 but that’s my SONG. I have the Soul Train performance on my phone and the video, and the song. I love Vanity. She’s sooo pretty. Still is.
That song is actually on my Myspace page..
She’s Rev. Denise Matthews now. Brenda[blonde] is on tour with some band. Ken something. I don’t know about Susan.
I guess i’m just use to sailors. I think they got water on the brain. I think they got more water upstairs then they got sugar on the candy cane.
“If a girl answers don’t hang up just talk about her!”
Has anyone checked out these songs on ThrowBackSongs.com -http://www.throwbacksongs.com