erik319 said:

databank said:

^Actually this is so INSULTING to artists! You don't sell million of copies = you don't exist, your hard work is worthless, you're shit! Shame on you people, SHAME!

Shit the bed, sorry for not having an opinion that totally matches yours. Next time, I'll remember that the all powerful databank's opinion is the only one allowed.

3 posts in after not posting here properly in years & I suddenly remember why I left. I'll leave you guys to it, have fun

erik319 said:

databank said:

^Actually this is so INSULTING to artists! You don't sell million of copies = you don't exist, your hard work is worthless, you're shit! Shame on you people, SHAME!

Shit the bed, sorry for not having an opinion that totally matches yours. Next time, I'll remember that the all powerful databank's opinion is the only one allowed. 3 posts in after not posting here properly in years & I suddenly remember why I left. I'll leave you guys to it, have fun

Almost every day on this forum I read people disrespecting hard working artists and conveying this myth that there are only 2 categories of artists: multimillionaire superstars and failures, with nothing in tbetween. I don't know what your professional field is but I'm sure u'd get a little emotional if people would shit on it on a daily basis, particularly if it was a field where so many honest, hardworking people have to struggle hard in order to survive and make a living.

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I'll second TheDance, I remember you as well and hope u stay onboard

databank said:

Militant said:

I think it might well be the most impressive, yes. I remember being absolutely blown away the first time I heard it, and as a songwriter myself, it's one of those rare songs that profoundly changed my perception of my craft.

Same here, back in 98 it brought me to write a text while listening to it repeatedly and that text alone, inspired by CB alongside a very experimental performance I'd just seen, brought my whole writing process into a whole new direction that eventually brought me where I'm now, I mean when it comes to songs/poems everything I do now still is the consequence of the shift this one poem provoked back then. Funny how one song, just one song, have impacted the both of us so deeply in terms of creative process. The same way a very few movies and novels have deeply impacted my work as a fiction writers, Crystal Ball has impacted my work as a poet as no other text did

So in that sense, yeah, it may be the most impressive indeed ^^

Wow, that is awesome that the same piece of music can have similar effects on both of us. It's a rare song that can do that.

thedance said:

Back then the bootleggers named the song "Export Lover"..

The crystall ball was to predict fluctuating exchange rates.

SuperSoulFighter said:

Militant said:

databank said:

Same here, back in 98 it brought me to write a text while listening to it repeatedly and that text alone, inspired by CB alongside a very experimental performance I'd just seen, brought my whole writing process into a whole new direction that eventually brought me where I'm now, I mean when it comes to songs/poems everything I do now still is the consequence of the shift this one poem provoked back then. Funny how one song, just one song, have impacted the both of us so deeply in terms of creative process. The same way a very few movies and novels have deeply impacted my work as a fiction writers, Crystal Ball has impacted my work as a poet as no other text did

So in that sense, yeah, it may be the most impressive indeed ^^

Wow, that is awesome that the same piece of music can have similar effects on both of us. It's a rare song that can do that.

If we're talking about Prince's suite-like recordings, I think I'm more impressed with and would rather listen to 3 Chains O' Gold. It might be ridiculous on many levels but it pays more attention to melody than Crystal Ball, which is pretty repetitive. Also, tracks 1-4 on Parade were recorded as one song, which would get my vote if it counts.

SchlomoThaHomo said:

If we're talking about Prince's suite-like recordings, I think I'm more impressed with and would rather listen to 3 Chains O' Gold. It might be ridiculous on many levels but it pays more attention to melody than Crystal Ball, which is pretty repetitive. Also, tracks 1-4 on Parade were recorded as one song, which would get my vote if it counts.

yeah that must have been cool to watch. I do think it was mostly the drum tracks but still cool. I do rememebr wondering about how they all go from one to the next...

SchlomoThaHomo said:

If we're talking about Prince's suite-like recordings, I think I'm more impressed with and would rather listen to 3 Chains O' Gold. It might be ridiculous on many levels but it pays more attention to melody than Crystal Ball, which is pretty repetitive. Also, tracks 1-4 on Parade were recorded as one song, which would get my vote if it counts.

3 Chains is just too much for me, also it bites the Queen sound too obviously. It is impressive in its' arrangement for sure though.

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ONlyNDaUsa is right about tracks 1-4 on Parade, it was the drum track that got recorded in one go. Good choice though, it is very impressive and utterly cool of Prince to be able to do that (hearing all those songs in his head and just go about and lay down these drum parts)!

funkaholic1972 said:

SchlomoThaHomo said:

If we're talking about Prince's suite-like recordings, I think I'm more impressed with and would rather listen to 3 Chains O' Gold. It might be ridiculous on many levels but it pays more attention to melody than Crystal Ball, which is pretty repetitive. Also, tracks 1-4 on Parade were recorded as one song, which would get my vote if it counts.

3 Chains is just too much for me, also it bites the Queen sound too obviously. It is impressive in its' arrangement for sure though.

-

ONlyNDaUsa is right about tracks 1-4 on Parade, it was the drum track that got recorded in one go. Good choice though, it is very impressive and utterly cool of Prince to be able to do that (hearing all those songs in his head and just go about and lay down these drum parts)!

I thought it was drums and basic tracks, no?

I don't think it's his most impressive song ever, but then again I don't know which song of his I think is.

It is a very impressive song to me, although I was a bit disappointed at how much hype I felt was built up to it's official 'box set' release, or maybe all the hype was my own expectations. I thought about 1/2 of songs from the 3 cd set was most impressive, while the remaining songs had great moments but failed to deliver as a whole, which is why they probably never had a proper release at their original inception.

Love the song though, I wish he would've refined it a little more, but then again, he released it, he must be pretty confident with it. I think it would be cool in concert. Bring this song back & reload it.

SchlomoThaHomo said:

funkaholic1972 said:

3 Chains is just too much for me, also it bites the Queen sound too obviously. It is impressive in its' arrangement for sure though.

-

ONlyNDaUsa is right about tracks 1-4 on Parade, it was the drum track that got recorded in one go. Good choice though, it is very impressive and utterly cool of Prince to be able to do that (hearing all those songs in his head and just go about and lay down these drum parts)!

I thought it was drums and basic tracks, no?

I am not sure what all was part of the orginal run. We know that Christopher Tracy's Parade was reworked from Little Girl Wendy's Parade. But Prince vault suggests says:

Initial tracking of the track (as Wendy's Parade) took place on 17 April, 1985 at Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA, with Prince recording the drum track in sequence of Wendy's Parade, New Position, I Wonder U and Under The Cherry Moon, all in one take. He then layered other instruments over all four tracks

http://www.princevault.co...27s_Parade

[Edited 8/9/14 10:29am]

nosajd said:

I don't think it's his most impressive song ever, but then again I don't know which song of his I think is.

It is a very impressive song to me, although I was a bit disappointed at how much hype I felt was built up to it's official 'box set' release, or maybe all the hype was my own expectations. I thought about 1/2 of songs from the 3 cd set was most impressive, while the remaining songs had great moments but failed to deliver as a whole, which is why they probably never had a proper release at their original inception.

Love the song though, I wish he would've refined it a little more, but then again, he released it, he must be pretty confident with it. I think it would be cool in concert. Bring this song back & reload it.

yeah we all know "The Break Down" is!

this song is a fucking masterpiece, it sent chills up my back when I first heard it for being so damn creepy and his voice so cold and unloving. That train whistle too...

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Try slowing the tempo down to get rid of the Camille-esque effect. The instruments get darker and slower and his voice becomes even growlier looool it's quite a piece of work!

And where is KCoolMuziq when putting up his/her "masterpiece" banner would actually be justified???

Yes I agree, for me it's his most atmospheric, layered, dark and experimental track. In my top 3 - it ticks everybox for me and still to this day sends chills down my spine and aside from the Parade tracks it was the best combination of the Prince/Clare Fischer combinations.

There are about 3-4 versions of this track 'out-there' and I think it is criminal that he edited the released version - and in my opinion the best part of the track! - a breakdown in the track where Clare Fischer then builds up into a musical climax.

Well worth searching out if u can.

As well as all of that, the lyrics and of course the ever beautiful Susannah Melvoin on vocals!!

eroica29 said:

Yes I agree, for me it's his most atmospheric, layered, dark and experimental track. In my top 3 - it ticks everybox for me and still to this day sends chills down my spine and aside from the Parade tracks it was the best combination of the Prince/Clare Fischer combinations.

There are about 3-4 versions of this track 'out-there' and I think it is criminal that he edited the released version - and in my opinion the best part of the track! - a breakdown in the track where Clare Fischer then builds up into a musical climax.

Well worth searching out if u can.

As well as all of that, the lyrics and of course the ever beautiful Susannah Melvoin on vocals!!

Which part do you mean? There are several breakdowns in the track. Do you men the "sisters and brothers in the purple underground" part?

I remember that those vinyl bootlegs where song titles were often mislabled,lol

thedance said:

Back then the bootleggers named the song "Export Lover"..

Warner were against the 3LP release... so they said to Prince hey little irish elf leprechaun... cut it down to two records or else we are not supporting it... Prince followed the advice.... SOTT turned out to be a masterpiece that blew CB out of the water... I am glad Warner pushed him and chainsawed off his high heels over this.

Kobe said:

Warner were against the 3LP release... so they said to Prince hey little irish elf leprechaun... cut it down to two records or else we are not supporting it... Prince followed the advice.... SOTT turned out to be a masterpiece that blew CB out of the water... I am glad Warner pushed him and chainsawed off his high heels over this.

I respectfully disagree, IDK whether CB would have been received as well as SOTT but it's a vastly superior album in my book (and vastly superior to a masterpiece... I weight my words, it's a MEGAmasterpiece to me). Eric Leeds also share this idea, he said that in his opinion the versatility and the quality of CB would have blown the world away. But it's only a matter of opinions and we'll never know... I just hope we get to get at least a digital copy of CB as intended with crystal clear quality whenever SOTT gets the remaster treatment. It could be offered as a bonus downloadable album with a code for those who buy SOTT.

V10LETBLUES said:

I love the song, but I don't know if I'd consider it the most impressive. To me impressive is something that upon listening to you're "whoa.. that shit is the BOMB who/what is that??". There are quite a few songs in Prince's catalog that did that to me but Crystal Ball was something I had a really listen to a few times to appreciate.

As bombs explode around us

And hate advances on the right

The only thing that matters, babe

Is the love that we make 2night

.

Thise 4 lines alone have 2 be among the most beautiful lyrics ever written by

databank said:

As bombs explode around us

And hate advances on the right

The only thing that matters, babe

Is the love that we make 2night

.

Thise 4 lines alone have 2 be among the most beautiful lyrics ever written by

Agreed!!!

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This song has it all: the funk, the beats, great apocalyptic lyrics, sex, religion, wailing guitar solo, Clare Fischer orchestra, Camille vocals, fitting (non-disturbing) sound effects, lots of unexpected changes in the arrangement!

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I say Crystal Ball is his ultimate non-pop "masterpiece"!

Sounds great, hope I get to hear and buy it one day. I'm one of the general public who wasn't following Prince's music at the time.

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But jeeezz, thinking that the general public wouldn't have 'got it' is the kind of attitude that keeps a lot of great music out of circulation and keeps commercial radio full of vacuous garbage. Very sad.

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The 'our little secret' attitude I can relate to, its nice to rewarded for loyalty and patience with the rarer gems, which feel more personal because they're less well known.

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nonamesleft said:

Sounds great, hope I get to hear and buy it one day.

why don't you just buy it then???????????????????

Crystal Ball is for sale on eBay and discogs.com too....

That isn't very hard to buy...

http://www.discogs.com/ma...&ev=mb

[Edited 8/11/14 16:50pm]

[Edited 8/11/14 16:51pm]

I can understand why people love it, particularly musicians, put technical brilliance doesn't make a classic.

I like it, but I think its taken on mythical status without merit.

Prince could clearly have put this on SOTT, but preferred 'Its gonna be a beautiful night'. That says something.

Its a little too busy. Too many sound effects for my liking, and its the only Prince song where the random slam together of Prince and Clare Fisher is obvious. More than any other track, you can tell Prince is wedging unrelated orchestra left overs into a project.

What I do love is the randomness of ideas. Its almost three seperate songs thrown together.