Dear Record Niters:
In the very unlikely—well, nearly impossible—event that you are stumped, or don’t like Prince or Dylan, here is my Minneapolis Primer (thanks to Travis for his suggestions).

Minneapolis Music Primer
Minneapolis shall be used as shorthand for artists from Minnesota,  or music produced in and around Minneapolis.  Most Minnesota musicians, whether from Minneapolis, Saint Paul, or Duluth, began their careers playing at venues in Minneapolis.  So, even Low counts.  The primer below will not cover anything from before 1970, so I’m leaving out Bobby Zimmerman, the Andrews Sisters, and lots of other great folk, jazz, and pop.  An overview, however, can be found at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Minnesota


I have arbitrarily divided bands/musicians into three categories (that probably don’t make sense)  listing only the best known representatives of that genre.

I. R&B and the Prince Universe
Prince (and all other manifestations; the Revolution; NPG, etc)
Morris Day
the Time
Vanity 6
Wendy and Lisa
Anybody else produced by Prince, or who recorded Prince’s music (you know, like Sinead O’Conner, or the Goo Goo Dolls, but don’t bring the Goo Goo Dolls, because then it becomes Buffalo Music, which I’m sure Kelly or Jason is saving for another Record Nite)
Lipps Inc and any other stuff by Steve Greenberg.

More recent:
Har Mar Superstar
Brother Ali

II. Post-Punk, Hardcore, and New Wave
Suicide Commandos
Man Sized Action
The Replacements
Husker Du
Loud Fast Rules / Soul Asylum
The Suburbs
Trip Shakespeare
Run Westy Run
Yanni (I’m serious)
Information Society

III. Country Rock, Pop, and more recent Rock
Jayhawks
Golden Smog
Semisonic
The Hold Steady

And Additions by Travis:
Babes in Toyland
Walt Mink
The Jets
Eyedea
Slug/Atmosphere
Tapes n Tapes
The Honeydogs
Cloud Cult

MAJOR STUDIOS
Paisley Park (Prince’s Studio): used by Prince, Madonna, REM, Boy George, and let’s not forget Paula Abdul .

Pachyderm (Cannon Falls, MN, just south of MPLS): Tons of people recorded here - Nirvana, PJ Harvey, etc.  For an incomplete list of bands/albums, see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachyderm_Studio

PRODUCERS
Jimmy Jam and Terri Lewis:
Members of The Time, but more importantly, producers of Janet Jackson, and virtually every second rate r&b artist you can think of — oh, and also Human League. For a complete discography, see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_produced_by_Jimmy_Jam_%26_Terry_Lewis


SONGS ABOUT:
Too many to list, of course, but there is Tom Waits (Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis,” Blue Valentine; and “9th & Hennepin” (Rain Dogs);  Lucinda Williams “Minneapolis” (World Without Tears); and that Soundgarden song where Chris Cornell sings, “I’m looking California, I’m feeling Minnesooooota.”  {Travis thinks it’s outshine, but I’m not going to look it up;  also Travis notes “Escapade” - Janet Jackson.”  But almost any JJ, especially early stuff, would count.