To celebrate his 26th birthday Prince played a concert at First Avenue that can easily be deemed as one of the best of his career.4DaFunk have recently have cleaned up the hiss effecting the sound quality of this audience recording that is in circulation and I have to say it's made me appreciate the show even more. It's really worth hunting down. I personally think it's the most intense Prince show I've heard.

Apart from the strength and energy of the show it includes 'Our Destiny' and 'Roadhouse Garden' although they aren't the highlights. A beautiful rendition of 'Neon Rendezvous' and an intense guitar driven 'Erotic City' are simply stunning. But then, the whole show itself is.

Was anyone there on this momentous occasion? Anyone have any pics of the show?

Blasting Our destiny and Roadhouse right now

these tunes never really impressed me in the past-but now-to be able to hear em' properly-ish is wonderful

a great gig to be sure

ps-disc 2.....?

i didn't bother getting it yet as i have alot of PR rehersals

i have all purple rush series-so do i need disc 2?

This is my favorite live show out of all Prince's career, the music was tight & RAW, it was energetic fun and improvision was right on. I love this show

Erotic City Our Destiny Roadhouse Garden Free Something In the Water Neon Rendezvous(dedicated to Sheila E.) & Possessed are my favorites...that's just about the whole show though...

This is one of the few shows that I still haven´t heard yet. Never bought the bootleg due to its very shitty sound but will have to get this new version now.

Is it really better than that other First Avenue concert?The one from Aug.3, 1983 where he debuted the Purple Rain songs?

KoolEaze said:

shame on you .... GET IT ASAP .... it's free, don't pay for it !!

xenophobia2002 said:

free ?? free where ?

KoolEaze said:

In my opinion yes. Although the Aug 3rd '83 gig was also awesome. This show is even more energetic however.

The most intense concert ever for me was October 26,1996 at Paisley Park. Merely 3 days after the death of his son. 2 shows in one night.

This version of Erotic City is smoking hot.

Poplife88 said:

I have a blue "Grateful Dead," Bear...do U have one Poplife88?

Tame said:

Mine is purple

fingertips said:

You can't ask here.

For SOME reason this show poppped in my head tonight... not knowing its anniversary, but more so on the train of...Epic/Well respected Prince aftershows!!! This RANKS up there... and I was THINKING with the catalog TODAY, vs the Catalog of music Prince had then.... Prince could REALLY do something if he Really took a HARD look at his catalog of music.. released and/or not released... THE SHOW he could do on ANY given night...with no safety net below him and was thinking...WHAT show HAS that uninhabited setlist.. To THINK of dozens and dozens if not HUNDREDS of Prince song we KNOW of....that he could do in a ONE OFF concert..... and thats what makes taht 1st ave performance what it is!!! He at that time had a MASSIVE collection of material.. NOT what he has today..but he knew to DIG deep and play some unreleased and obsure stuff... he's missing that of late.. Imagine him doing something of such today.. EVEN doing one of those shows..like the August 83 performance when he recorded Purple Rain album basicially... He could do it again.. just DIG DEEP!!!! The problem these days is that he DOES have sucha massive colletion..but can u imagine a show of COMPLETE Rareaties and Unreleased matterial??

83' is a classic before the P.R. movie sountrack show. One of the best.

84' b-day is pure energetic dripping funk pre-P.R. concert tour material that was off the wall.

2 different shows but definitely 2 of his best.

Missing these energetic shows of days gone by.

I was given the b-day show on tape from a collector/friend back in '91. I think mine might be a different source. It has alittle more bass to it.

I played this thing all the time. Great show.
[Edited 12/23/09 20:14pm]

thank you .. very cool

polkadotbliss said:

Me too as the rehearsal for the birthday gig is of a pretty decent quality on 'Neon Rendezvous' and 'Purple Rush' anyway. I may try it out and let you know if it's worth it.

I love this show-just great! When the crowd sings happy b-day to Prince

nurseV said:

You get the impression that the crowd were a little too quiet that night however. Prince seems a little unhappy about having to work up the crowd at the beginning of 'When Doves Cry' in particular.

polkadotbliss said:

Probably not, i'm not a completist at all, soundboards or great sounding audience recordings is my bag. I just kept the gig. Very nice it is too.

polkadotbliss said:

Sure, this is another upgrade, like most free labels offer upgrades.

IMO, his most "intense" concert was the August '83 show.

i need to find this.

purplewisdom said:

[Edited 12/30/09 6:57am]