The Shelia E. Review

Get the reviewer's take on Sheila E.'s top music hits.

The Grooves of Romance 1600 - The 12-minute duet "Love Bizarre," written and produced by Sheila E. and Prince, captures a pure funky groove, which helped it become a major hit with radio listeners. Fans, listeners and funksters alike pushed the jammin' record to become a No. 11 hit.

1 / 10

The Grooves of Romance 1600 - The 12-minute duet "Love Bizarre," written and produced by Sheila E. and Prince, captures a pure funky groove, which helped it become a major hit with radio listeners. Fans, listeners and funksters alike pushed the jammin' record to become a No. 11 hit.

Photo By Photo: Warner Bros

'Without Love, It Ain't Much' - Sheila E. makes "The Glamorous Life" look easy! The layered influences of jazz and Latin music allow the percussionist to show off her dynamic skills. This track is Sheila E. and Prince's love child, which eventually earned her a Grammy Award nomination, the No. 7 spot on the U.S. pop chart and the No. 1 spot on the U.S. dance charts.

2 / 10

'Without Love, It Ain't Much' - Sheila E. makes "The Glamorous Life" look easy! The layered influences of jazz and Latin music allow the percussionist to show off her dynamic skills. This track is Sheila E. and Prince's love child, which eventually earned her a Grammy Award nomination, the No. 7 spot on the U.S. pop chart and the No. 1 spot on the U.S. dance charts.

Photo By Photo: Warner Bros

Going 'Koo Koo' for You - Crazy, kooky and lots of fun! "Koo Koo" is simply a good time. One of her singles from her self-titled album, it makes you want to get up and dance along. The Paula Abdul-esque track is vibrant and perfect for the '80s. (Photo: Paisley Park)

3 / 10

Going 'Koo Koo' for You - Crazy, kooky and lots of fun! "Koo Koo" is simply a good time. One of her singles from her self-titled album, it makes you want to get up and dance along. The Paula Abdul-esque track is vibrant and perfect for the '80s. (Photo: Paisley Park)

'Sex Cymbal' - Moving to the beat of her drum, or cymbal in this case, Sheila E. pushes the barriers of dance-pop songs with her sultry and sassy lead single "Sex Cymbal," from her 1991 album of the same name. Her sound is similar to that of Janet Jackson and the rhythm really begins to get you moving! (Photo: Warner Bros)

4 / 10

'Sex Cymbal' - Moving to the beat of her drum, or cymbal in this case, Sheila E. pushes the barriers of dance-pop songs with her sultry and sassy lead single "Sex Cymbal," from her 1991 album of the same name. Her sound is similar to that of Janet Jackson and the rhythm really begins to get you moving! (Photo: Warner Bros)

Photo By Photo: Warner Bros

Stairway to Heaven - In 2001, the pop vet followed up Writes of Passage with the LP Heaven.  (Photo: Concord Vista Records)

5 / 10

Heaven on Earth - There's a little place in heaven with Sheila E. & the E-Train's name on it. The album is jazzy and relaxing, exactly what you would expect of heaven. (Photo: Concord Vista Records)

ADVERTISEMENT
'The Belle of St. Mark' - This was another Sheila E. and Prince collab. It seemed to be themed around androgyny, which Prince was commonly known for. In 1985, "The Belle of St. Mark" peaked at No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 68 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles Charts, but overseas it earned many more accolades when it reached a top ten spot in the Netherlands and New Zealand and a top twenty position in the UK and Ireland. (Photo: Warner Bros)

6 / 10

'The Belle of St. Mark' - This was another Sheila E. and Prince collab. It seemed to be themed around androgyny, which Prince was commonly known for. In 1985, "The Belle of St. Mark" peaked at No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 68 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles Charts, but overseas it earned many more accolades when it reached a top ten spot in the Netherlands and New Zealand and a top twenty position in the UK and Ireland. (Photo: Warner Bros)

Photo By Photo: Warner Bros

The Beat of Romance - Sheila E. solidifies her place as a pop superstar when she releases her 1985 LP Romance 1600. The LP hits gold status with the help of the lead single "Love Bizarre," written by Sheila and Prince.  (Photo: Paisley Park/Warner Bros)

7 / 10

Put Me to Sleep - There's a beautiful simplicity to "Bedtime Story" that leads you into a dreamy wonderland. It truly livesup to its name.(Photo: Paisley Park, Warner Bros)

The Right Passage - After almost a decade hiatus from recording, Sheila keeps the music train running when she unleashes her fifth solo disc Writes of Passage in 2000. (Photo: Concord Records)

8 / 10

What's More 'Perfect'? - Sheila E. digs deep into her Latin jazz roots and leads us on a journey on "N Perfect Time," from her album Writes of Passage. As a listener, you become truly in tune with her soulful vocals on this album and in awe of how the spirit of jazz is second nature to her.  (Photo: Concord Records)

The Honest 'Truth' - Sheila comes to a revelation on "Truth," also from Writes of Passage, that leads her into the next generation of music. (Photo: David McNew/Getty Images)

9 / 10

The Honest 'Truth' - Sheila comes to a revelation on "Truth," also from Writes of Passage, that leads her into the next generation of music. (Photo: David McNew/Getty Images)

'Hold' It Down! - Sheila E.'s "Hold Me" is an excellent single from her self-titled album. The ballad was an R&B hit that peaked at No. 3 on the U.S. R&B charts. Part two of the song is the non-album track "The World Is High."

10 / 10

'Hold' It Down! - Sheila E.'s "Hold Me" is an excellent single from her self-titled album. The ballad was an R&B hit that peaked at No. 3 on the U.S. R&B charts. Part two of the song is the non-album track "The World Is High."

Photo By Photo: Paisley Park