This is what the club looks like nowadays:

[img:$uid]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/5/7566717_bb7b095742.jpg?v=0[/img:$uid]

Anyway...

This was the first live boot I ever owned. Classic from front to back. The loose, improvisational feel of the entire show is really what I think cinches it. It feels so effortless and makeshift, but unbelievably tight and calculated. As if weeks and weeks of planning began and ended just seconds before each note was played. I love how you can hear the band whispering to each other during the show, like when Sheila asks Miko before "People Without" what song Prince was about to start. (At least, it sounds to me like she says, "Mike, Miko, what is this?")

I remember when I first got it and didn't really get that it was an aftershow from LoveSexy. The music was so different, the arrangements were so bare, compared to the LS show. "Just My Imagination" is still my favorite live Prince solo hands down. And Boni's voice is infinitely enjoyable. I never get tired of it.

Lovesexy is one of my favorite eras though... I must be biased.

My thoughts exactly. This cd sealed a bond I knew I had with his music, but up until hearing Small Club didn't really know what he was capable of. People Without blew my mind. I used to go for longs walks with my headphones on and just trip to this song, Just My Imagination, and the entire recording. To this day, I've never heard any album - live or otherwise - that comes close to it.

Anyone know why Small Club has such crisp sound, and nothing else since, Prince or otherwise, sounds as clear? It's the perfect recording, and it happened in 1988 with analog equipment.

Food for thought:

Prince most likely has video of this show. I just hope he backed up all those VHS tapes to digital at some point.

XNY said:

Anyway...

This was the first live boot I ever owned. Classic from front to back. The loose, improvisational feel of the entire show is really what I think cinches it. It feels so effortless and makeshift, but unbelievably tight and calculated. As if weeks and weeks of planning began and ended just seconds before each note was played. I love how you can hear the band whispering to each other during the show, like when Sheila asks Miko before "People Without" what song Prince was about to start. (At least, it sounds to me like she says, "Mike, Miko, what is this?")

I remember when I first got it and didn't really get that it was an aftershow from LoveSexy. The music was so different, the arrangements were so bare, compared to the LS show. "Just My Imagination" is still my favorite live Prince solo hands down. And Boni's voice is infinitely enjoyable. I never get tired of it.

Lovesexy is one of my favorite eras though... I must be biased.

My thoughts exactly. This cd sealed a bond I knew I had with his music, but up until hearing Small Club didn't really know what he was capable of. People Without blew my mind. I used to go for longs walks with my headphones on and just trip to this song, Just My Imagination, and the entire recording. To this day, I've never heard any album - live or otherwise - that comes close to it.

Anyone know why Small Club has such crisp sound, and nothing else since, Prince or otherwise, sounds as clear? It's the perfect recording, and it happened in 1988 with analog equipment.

There are a couple of Sabotage Lovesexy soundboards which sound amazing in terms of quality.

Osaka and Nagoya (Sendai not quite there imo).

While not as super clear as Small Club, for 1988-89, they are very impressive recordings.

NightGod said:

Food for thought:

Prince most likely has video of this show. I just hope he backed up all those VHS tapes to digital at some point.

Word of the video footage of Small Club first circulated, to my knowledge, on AMP anout 15 years ago. It does exist but as far as I know, nobody knows who (other than Prince and possibly staff at Trojan Horse) has a copy or even a trail leading to it.

802 said:

It's not his greatest bootleg, Still Would Stand All Time isn't very good in my opinion

^ Ok, cool 802, but different opinions then,

I have never liked the plastic sterile sound on the studio/ GB-album version,

I love the live version on Small Club a lot better.......

"Who's singing Will - it's Would"........... what a great moment, to hear Prince being irritated over his backsinger... priceless.

I find this live version.... well, beautiful.

Just imo.

soulyacolia said:

thedance said:

I own the Small Club on vinyl 2LP:

[img:$uid]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/ecnirp2004/Prince/SmallClubvinyl-1.jpg[/img:$uid]

- or maybe 3LP I can't remember...

I would love to have Small Club on vinyl

^ I'm not selling my copy, it's really precious to me........

good luck elsewhere in finding this.

Vinyl is cool, a little too bad the sound isn't all great on boot vinyls from back then.

But this Small Club have almost perfect sound, well to my ears anyway.

I wish you luck, finding the vinyl.. Soulyacolia....

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

xlr8r said:

...and no Revolution/W&L involvement either

For You (1978) - Lovesexy (1988) = A steady diet of delicious, juicy t-bone steak with all the trimmings for 10 years!

Steady as hell! Shit, there were times when I was too stuffed and couldn't eat another bite! But it was so damn good, I gorged away anyway until even the damn plate was gone!!

Nowadays, I don't even want homeboy in the my damn kitchen. Just let me go to the deep freezer and heat up a dish he made when he really remembered how to throw it down! No bullshit horse meat for this stomach.

wickyb said:

xlr8r said:

...and no Revolution/W&L involvement either

And no Eric Leeds that night too.

Yeah this is not the best Small Club show, the best one started out with Just My Imagination with that beautiful guitar solo 8.31.1988

And Eric Leeds was at this show

"Say hello 2 the Blue Angel"

...Mr Madhouse Eric Leeds...

Whilst this is an excellent recording, I prefer most of the USA Lovesexy aftershows. They are just more FUN then this....

thedance said:

I own the Small Club on vinyl 2LP:

[img:$uid]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/ecnirp2004/Prince/SmallClubvinyl-1.jpg[/img:$uid]

- or maybe 3LP I can't remember...

I got the vinyl as well...

peterv said:

thedance said:

I own the Small Club on vinyl 2LP:

[img:$uid]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/ecnirp2004/Prince/SmallClubvinyl-1.jpg[/img:$uid]

- or maybe 3LP I can't remember...

I got the vinyl as well...

I have it as well...along with JMI, one of my fav vinyls

pacey68 said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

I love that song, but like he started doing with Rosie till now is having that Big voice via Tayler D. on this song, she messed it up and was off key, then it went into some church jam

It should have stayed quiet and simple

"Who's the fool singing WILL? It's WOULD... Time would stand still, yes it would"

the lady is Taylor Dayne(spelling)

OldFriends4Sale said:

pacey68 said:

"Who's the fool singing WILL? It's WOULD... Time would stand still, yes it would"

the lady is Taylor Dayne(spelling)

I could've sworn it was Sheila singing "Will...". But not sure. The great thing is, this recording is crystal clear and whomever it is, it just sticks out.

TheDigitalGardener said:

XNY said:

My thoughts exactly. This cd sealed a bond I knew I had with his music, but up until hearing Small Club didn't really know what he was capable of. People Without blew my mind. I used to go for longs walks with my headphones on and just trip to this song, Just My Imagination, and the entire recording. To this day, I've never heard any album - live or otherwise - that comes close to it.

Anyone know why Small Club has such crisp sound, and nothing else since, Prince or otherwise, sounds as clear? It's the perfect recording, and it happened in 1988 with analog equipment.

There are a couple of Sabotage Lovesexy soundboards which sound amazing in terms of quality.

Osaka and Nagoya (Sendai not quite there imo).

While not as super clear as Small Club, for 1988-89, they are very impressive recordings.

Thanks for the heads up. I have Sendai, but not the others.

XNY said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

the lady is Taylor Dayne(spelling)

I could've sworn it was Sheila singing "Will...". But not sure. The great thing is, this recording is crystal clear and whomever it is, it just sticks out.

Well, it wasn't Taylor Dane. She wasn't at the small club show. Not on stage, anyway. It was either Boni or Cat who was mis-singing. Their voices are pretty similar, though.

Spinlight said:

XNY said:

I could've sworn it was Sheila singing "Will...". But not sure. The great thing is, this recording is crystal clear and whomever it is, it just sticks out.

Well, it wasn't Taylor Dane. She wasn't at the small club show. Not on stage, anyway. It was either Boni or Cat who was mis-singing. Their voices are pretty similar, though.

Why would anyone think it was Taylor Dane, no offense Spinlight...was she even at the show?

I've never heard her mentioned as part of anything Prince did.

I have the double (italian?) picture disc.

the "instrumental jam" was something that could echoe on for a couple of hours after hearing it.

nostalgia...

XNY said:

Spinlight said:

Well, it wasn't Taylor Dane. She wasn't at the small club show. Not on stage, anyway. It was either Boni or Cat who was mis-singing. Their voices are pretty similar, though.

Why would anyone think it was Taylor Dane, no offense Spinlight...was she even at the show?

I've never heard her mentioned as part of anything Prince did.

There are a few Small Club shows

the one I have I heard Prince call out Taylor Dane's name and it sure does sound like her too

I'll listen again. The one I'm talking about is the 'best Small Club show' and Eric Leeds was at this one. It starts out with Just My Imagination

How can these 2 tracks, be on this 1988 album, when they were written after?

Still Would Stand All Time was on 1990 album Gaffiti Bridge.

Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic was on 2001 Rave album?

Sam 8)

sambluedolphin said:

How can these 2 tracks, be on this 1988 album, when they were written after?

Still Would Stand All Time was on 1990 album Gaffiti Bridge.

Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic was on 2001 Rave album?

Sam 8)

Both tracks date from 1988.

Not all tracks that appear on any given album mean that they were written or recorded in the year that the album came out.

TheDigitalGardener said:

sambluedolphin said:

How can these 2 tracks, be on this 1988 album, when they were written after?

Still Would Stand All Time was on 1990 album Gaffiti Bridge.

Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic was on 2001 Rave album?

Sam 8)

Both tracks date from 1988.

Not all tracks that appear on any given album mean that they were written or recorded in the year that the album came out.

Thanks so much, never knew dat. U certainly know ur stuff.

Sam 8)

sambluedolphin said:

TheDigitalGardener said:

Both tracks date from 1988.

Not all tracks that appear on any given album mean that they were written or recorded in the year that the album came out.

Thanks so much, never knew dat. U certainly know ur stuff.

Sam 8)

LOL, not any more than any other Prince fan of 20 odd years.

This is a good site for any info you might need http://www.princevault.co.../Main_Page