I have to admit, I was never a big fan of this song... until I heard this version. This re-arranged version is the BEST (IMHO) version of this song he's ever recorded. Between the looooooong guitar solo, Brownmark's bass work, and Bobby Z's playing (it sounds like he's playing the pads for the Linn, it's not a straight drum machine track).

I love how he asks the audience "can I play for a little bit?" ... and then calls out "Jessie" (I guess poking fun at The Time?)

Great version. Anyone agree?

I don't like tha album track at all but this live arangement is one of my favourites, absolutely amazing.

this is what prince sounds like with a real band playing a song that does not suck

there is also a studio outtake of the song that is IMO better than the album version.

I love this version, the song sounds very dark and menacing, especially when that keyboard hits at 3:50-ish, and the guitar really starts wailing.

Its nice...but I liked the menacing drum track better...this live version is good to have though but I dont pull it out to listen to this one vs the other

wow, okay after some digging' (the first couple of links didn't work), i couldn't wait to hop in my truck and blast the album version (a song I've only come to appreciate recently), but SITW as a BALLAD?! Didn't do it for me! Great musicianship though! Slowed down doesn't = darker, the original by far for me

OnlyNDaUsa said:

there is also a studio outtake of the song that is IMO better than the album version.

That version is not really an outtake, it was actually recorded a year after the album version.

I absolutely love this song and how he has come up with various versions over the decades....but this live version is my favorite one. It´s also amazing how different it sounds from the rehearsal version that they recorded around the same time. Same goes for Prince´s version of Noon Rendezvous. Both songs sound different during the rehearsal and during the live show, and of course totally different on vinyl/album.

This version stopped me in my tracks when I first heard it. I wasn't expecting such a beautiful, radically different version. When he starts screaming "Tell me baby, why the hell---" towards the end I get chills. So much raw emotion and talent.

Could you imagine if he posted something like this on youtube?

KoolEaze said:

OnlyNDaUsa said:

there is also a studio outtake of the song that is IMO better than the album version.

That version is not really an outtake, it was actually recorded a year after the album version.

Hmm!

Didnt know that! Thanks.

I always wondered why he opted to release a version totally different to the one that he would constantly rehearse and play live soon afterwards.

This whole b-day show is fantastic and one of my favorites.

From the menacing beginning of Erotic City until irristiable bitch to possessed is unbelievable!

[Edited 1/9/13 17:47pm]

SANSKER7 said:

This whole b-day show is fantastic and one of my favorites.

From the menacing beginning of Erotic City until irristiable bitch to possessed is unbelievable!

[Edited 1/9/13 17:47pm]

I feel the same way.

KoolEaze said:

OnlyNDaUsa said:

there is also a studio outtake of the song that is IMO better than the album version.

That version is not really an outtake, it was actually recorded a year after the album version.

is this version similar in tempo/arrangement or similar to the ballady version cited here? need to know if its worth diggin' for, i prefer the album version!

datdude said:

KoolEaze said:

That version is not really an outtake, it was actually recorded a year after the album version.

is this version similar in tempo/arrangement or similar to the ballady version cited here? need to know if its worth diggin' for, i prefer the album version!

No, it is closer to the album version but with slightly shorter lyrics and some extra piano and deeper bass. As far as I know, it was recorded a year or so after the album version but most fans assume it is an outtake but it isn´t. I first heard it on the Studio Nights bootleg (not to be confused with the City Lights bootleg).

Then there´s a rehearsal version that is very similar to the birthday show version. You can find it on the Neon Rendezvous bootleg along with Erotic City, When Doves Cry, Gotta Shake This Feeling (adlibbed version of Purple Rain, with differnent, adlibbed lyrics that include lines from Another Lonely Christmas), Noon Rendezvous and Irrisistible Bitch. Note that the name of the bootleg is Neon Rendezvous, whereas the rehearsed song is of course Noon Rendezvous.

Then there are the various live renditions he did during the aftershows of the ONA tour....a more upbeat, lighthearted and interesting version of Something in the Water that I first heard during at the Paisley Park Celebration in 2002.

Later he´d also do an acoustic rendition of this song during the Musicology tour ( I think in Washington but I´m not sure), and again during the 2010/2012 shows, mostly either acoustic or accompanied by his female keyboard player.

As you can see, I really like this song a lot and have been following its various incarnations very closely over the years.

The version from those early 80s rehearsals and shows is by far my favorite. Apart from the Neon Rendezvous audio bootleg version, there is also at least one more version in circulation which is part of a black and white warehouse rehearsal video, shot in the Eden Prairie warehouse. It is very similar to the Neon Rendezvous version.

It's Prince music heaven

TrevorAyer said:

this is what prince sounds like with a real band playing a song that does not suck

I totally agree here; I dont want to start a discussion here but really a top class band contributes to an artist artistically. In another thread there was a comment about "Prince not being a band" (relating to why Prince changes bands often not like Stones, U2 etc) but IMO it is often overlooked the influence a band can have on song writing. The Revolution was not the best band in terms of talent (Renato is probably a better key board player, John is a better drummer, and we can likely name a more talented bass player than Brown Mark), but the combination as totally AWESOME, and brought the song to a next level live

umfufu1 said:

TrevorAyer said:

this is what prince sounds like with a real band playing a song that does not suck

I totally agree here; I dont want to start a discussion here but really a top class band contributes to an artist artistically. In another thread there was a comment about "Prince not being a band" (relating to why Prince changes bands often not like Stones, U2 etc) but IMO it is often overlooked the influence a band can have on song writing. The Revolution was not the best band in terms of talent (Renato is probably a better key board player, John is a better drummer, and we can likely name a more talented bass player than Brown Mark), but the combination as totally AWESOME, and brought the song to a next level live

yes and people often think ability to play drums fast or play a lot of notes fast makes you a musician .. there are many many musicians who play only a note or two or only play a few chords that are far better musicians than those that technically can do whatever they do .. creativity is the essence of music .. not ability .. most of the best music was made with limitations .. think of prince with his 8 track .. or the beatles working with 4 tracks .. or chuck berry and little richard essentially writing huge hits with 3 chord 12 bar blues structures ... all of this came from limitations not excessive ability .. look at drummers who play with a basic 4 piece kit compared to those who have 20 or 30 drums .. all the greats ,, ringo kieth moon mitch mitchell did more with 4 drums than most do with a 30 piece kit .. in the same respect .. lisa in particualar is highly underated .. she is likely a far superior musician than even prince is .. wendy was very capable as were many other members of the revolution over the years .. many of whom came up with the songs .. or great bass lines or great keyboard parts etc ... music does not come from a place of technical accuracy it comes from a place of truth and honest expression .. this is why young bands and musicians often have a special spark that is lacking later when they hire a different band or are technically a better singer later in life and that sort of thing .. it is the mistakes or the raw simplicity that often make for great music .. not the technical prowess .. the revolution in its many configurations was the best thing that happened to prince .. it resulted in dirty mind thru sign .. his clear peak .. since then we have gotten 'for you' part 20 over and over ..