Now that's a song that deserves to be blasted at 11.

That dum-dum-dum-dum, so simple, and you're stuck on the sidewalk waiting with Brenda, verse after verse. Maybe they recorded the lead vocal at this precise hour, and she's just reading the hour on the studio's clock, now that's food for books.

One of his most cinematic. Oooh, the funky drama!

Don't we have to also thank Sheila E. for this mini-masterpiece?

ThePanther said:

One thing that went wrong with A6 is that awful album cover. It already looked dated in 1984, and time has not been kind to it since....

I disagree. I love the album cover! It's bold, colourful and looks really strong. Brenda, Susan & Apollonia look hot. I love the glamour and style of it.

jungleluv said:

ThePanther said:

One thing that went wrong with A6 is that awful album cover. It already looked dated in 1984, and time has not been kind to it since....

I disagree. I love the album cover! It's bold, colourful and looks really strong. Brenda, Susan & Apollonia look hot. I love the glamour and style of it.

I did not like the cover at all. Still don't

this could have been such a better cover. Maybe if those 'buildings?' behind them were there but a real city skyline

OldFriends4Sale said:

jungleluv said:

I disagree. I love the album cover! It's bold, colourful and looks really strong. Brenda, Susan & Apollonia look hot. I love the glamour and style of it.

I did not like the cover at all. Still don't

this could have been such a better cover. Maybe if those 'buildings?' behind them were there but a real city skyline

The second picture

Guitarhero said:

The second picture

It definitely should have been the LP's back cover.

Is there anything in the songs that explain the cover? that backdrop?

It is amazing how much the album changed over time. Early on, it was loaded with huge potential, but Prince started removing some of the tracks, and it messed up the flow of the original design. Blue Limo was recorded in mid-April to replace Take Me With U and Happy Birthday Mr. Christian was recorded at the beginning of August 84 to replace Manic Monday.

I love this album, and think most of it is very underrated. There are several really fun songs on it. Not a huge fan of the skits, but there are still several really fun songs that deserve to be heard.

OldFriends4Sale said:

(17) EXT. CLUB -- NIGHT

COMMOTION! The CROWD has become
unwieldly -- TRAFFIC is snarled all
around. HORNS are BLARING. COPS try
desperately to ward off the inevitable
grid lock.

Vanity runs against the light, moves to
the head of the queue to the
accompaniment of JEERS and CATCALLS.
She doesn't budge an inch, KNOCKS
rapidly on the glass door, catching the
attention of CHICK, a burly, 6'5", 285
pound bouncer with a white beard and
long flowing hair. An ex-Marine,
Chick's function is obvious. He cracks
the door--


CHICK
What?

VANITY
I have an appointment with the
manager.

CHICK
No you don't -- he doesn't see
anybody.

Suddenly a FIGHT breaks out at the
INSIDE MONEY WINDOW. Chick spins
instantly, SLAMS the door -- but Vanity
jams her boot into the narrow space.
The door crashes against her instep, she
winces in pain --but Chick doesn't
notice. He's already upon the
OFFENDERS, heaving them against the
wall.

Vanity streaks inside, blazes up the
stairway, ducks behind a GROUP of
GIRLS...

CHICK turns instantly -- the door is
closed -- VANITY, gone. His eyes dart
up the stairway -- nothing. He shrugs,
drags the Two Guys off.

(18) INT. CLUB -- UPPER BAR AREA -- NIGHT

VANITY watches as he moves away. She
jumps up, lunges onto the dance floor,
CRASHES into a waitress, JILL, whose
tray SMASHES to the floor--

JILL
What are you retarded or
something?! Why don't you look
where you're going?

She's 18 years old, blonde and pretty in
a cute, innocent way. A Daisy Mae-type
whose emotions form so quickly, she has
trouble sorting them out. Right now
she's mad as hell -- she thinks--


VANITY
Sorry ... where's the office?

Jill squats, picks up the broken glasses-
-

JILL
Do you think you can just come
in here and take over?

VANITY
I said I'm sorry -- what do
you want me to do? Where's
the office?

Jill points -- Vanity hurries away --

JILL
(triumphantly)
No one's in!

Vanity stops dead in her tracks, does a
slow burn. She walks back to Jill--

VANITY
Okay, so you got me back,
fine. Listen, I'm from out of
town. I have to see the
manager, it's important. I'm
a real good singer and dancer.
I know he could use me.

JILL
Do you have any experience?

Vanity simmers, enunciates every word--

VANITY
Yeah...definitely.

JILL
Follow me.

And she turns on her heels, makes her
way through the club, moving into the
vicinity of the stage. Vanity follows
her reluctantly, casts a look to the
band. She spots Prince for the first
time -- stops instantly...

Dr. Everything'll Be Alright will make everything go wrong
Pills and thrills and daffodils will kill
Hang tough children

He's coming!
He's coming!
Coming!

Take me away!

His effect on her is instantaneous.
Passion surges through her like a tidal
wave. His hair, face, eyes -- it all
conspires to make her weak. It's like
meeting someone for the first time, but
seeing so much of yourself in them, that
their lips, eyes, mouth -- you're
certain you have touched, and the desire
to be with them becomes so strong that
the very act of touching will release
you in a way you never thought
possible...

Prince brines "Let's Get Crazy" to a
rousing, blistering end. Suddenly the
stage is plunged into darkness. The
CROWD goes WILD!

...Vanity snaps out of it. Jill is
tugging at her arm, a puzzled look on
her face--

JILL
Here, fill this out -- I'll
have him call you.

VANITY
I don't have a phone. When
will he be back?

JILL
Well...you can try tomorrow.

VANITY
You can count on it.

Vanity hands the card back to her --
Jill reads the name, address -- looks up
puzzled--

JILL
Vanity??

Sudden APPLAUSE and CRIES. Vanity and
Jill turn directly into the path of
Prince, descending the Steps of the
stage. Vanity gasps, LOCKS eyes with
him. Jill seems to jump out of her skin
-- it's obvious she has a crush on him
something awful--

JILL
Hi ya, Prince -- God I liked
that song, it's real fun.

She fidgets uncontrollably, Vanity's
card buring a hole into her hand.
Prince glances at the card, then stares
at Vanity, the ripeness of her look
paralyzing. He tears his eyes away,
puts on his sunglesses, looks toward the
stage.

18A) INT. CLUB -- NEAR STAGE -- NIGHT

MORRIS and The Time rip into a funk tune
called "Jungle Love." Their stranglehold
on the audience is instantaneous.
Morris struts across the stage like a
panther, playing to the audience with a
relish. His eyes fastened on Prince --
his pride umistakable.

I - I've been watching U
I think I wanna know ya (know ya)
Said I, I'm a little dangerous
Girl, I'd love 2 show ya (show ya)

My jungle love, yeah
I think I wanna know ya (know ya)
Jungle love
Girl, I'd love 2 show ya (show ya)

PRINCE watches Morris a moment, then
eyes Vanity again. The heat between
them is apparent. Vanity's heart is
pounding, she's not sure what to do.
She keeps her eyes on Morris, hoping
that a Solution will present itself.

VANITY
I really liked your song
too...

But he's gone. Her eyes scan the room
frantically -- catches a glimpse of him
leaving. She takes a sudden step, then
stops, paralyzed with indecision. Jill
regards her coldly.

JILL gazes at Vanity, fidgets intensely,
suspicious and resentful of her. She
glances up and notices Morris, look.
She seizes upon an idea, forces a
friendly smile, taps Vanity on the
shoulder--

JILL
Hey ...

She points to the stage. Vanity looks
at Morris, and he goes crazy,
entertaining her with his own special
blend of showmanship. The CROWD loves
it! Vanity is held a moment, but her
thouchts are elsewhere. She finally
comes to a decision, pulls away, cuts
through the club.

(18B) INT. FOYER AND STAIRWAY -- NIGHT

as she runs down the stairs, cuts behind
Chick, BURSTS out the door.


(19) EXT. CLUB -- NIGHT

FRANTIC! The STREETS are thick with
TRAFFIC. She scans them wildly --
nothing. Suddenly Prince, astride his
motorcycle, BLAZES past her from the
opposite direction. She starts running,
shouts--

VANITY
Hey wait!

But Prince is too far away, the traffic
too coneested for him to hear. He whips
down the street, disappears around the
corner.

Vanity continues running, then slows,
dejection overcoming her in waves. She
looks around -- KIDS are staring at her,
passing jokes. Embarrassed, She moves
to the front door but Chick is there,
his eyes upon her cold, impassionate.

Exhausted and slighlty tearlul, she cuts
across the street, heads back to her
apartment.

Prince & the Revolution @ the NVMCU 3.22.1985

1.Let's Go Crazy
2.Delirious
3.1999
4.Little Red Corvette
5.Take Me With U
6.Yankee Doodle
7.Do Me Baby
8.Irresistable Bitch
9.Possessed
10.Still Waiting
11.Temptation
12.Let's Pretend We're Married
13.International Lover
14.God
15.Computer Blue
16.Darling Nikki
17.The Beautiful Ones
18.When Doves Cry
19.I Would Die 4 U
20.Baby I'm A Star
21.Purple Rain

Come on, kiss the gun

Come on, kiss the gun, guaranteed 4 fun

Come on, kiss the gun

Come on, kiss the gun, guaranteed 4 fun

Come on, kiss the gun

Come on, kiss the gun, guaranteed 4 fun

Come on, kiss the gun

Come on, kiss the gun, guaranteed 4 fun

Sex Shooter
The original Vanity 6 version of this song has the same basic lyrics that appears on Apollonia 6, but it includes Prince singing "Come on, kiss the gun, guaranteed 4 fun," as well as some miscellaneous background vocals. The song ends with a scream from Prince, as if he were an unwilling victim of Vanity's firearm. The instrumentation is unpolished and clean sound of the final Apollonia 6 version. It was intended for Vanity 6's second album.

Sex Shooter

I need U 2 get me off
I'm your bomb, baby, ready 2 explode
I need U 2 get me off
Be your slave, do anything I'm told

CHORUS:
I'm a sex shooter
I'm shootin' love in your direction
I'm a sex shooter
Come and play with my affection
Come on, kiss the gun

I need U 2 pull my trigger, baby
I can't do it alone
I need U 2 be my main thing
Plaything, pillar of stone

CHORUS

Come on, kiss the gun
Guaranteed 4 fun

Sex shooter
I'm shootin' love in your direction
I'm a sex shooter
Come and play with my affection

Listen..
No girl's body can compete with mine
No girl's rap can top my lines
No girl's kiss can ring your chimes
Come on boy, let's make some time

I'm a sex shooter
Shootin' love in your direction
Oh yeah, oh I'm a sex shooter
Come and play with my affection
Come on, kiss the gun

Come on, kiss the gun, guaranteed 4 fun {x4}
Sex shooter {x4}
Blow me away

Come on, kiss the gun

No girl's body can compete with mine
No girl's rap can top my lines
No girl's kiss can ring your chimes
Come on boy, let's make some time

Come on, kiss the gun

Sex shooter
Shootin' love in your direction
I'm a sex shooter
Come and play with my affection

All the nasty people sing it
Sex shooter
Shootin' love in your direction
I can't hear U
Sex shooter
Come and play with my affection

All the nasty people sing it!
Sex shooter
Shootin' love in your direction
Everybody (Yeah)
Sex shooter
Come and play with my affection

Fellas, take it home, uh

Brenda? (Uh huh?)
I want U 2 count 2 8 (8)
As soon as I get undressed, clap your hands, OK? (OK)

Susan? (Uh huh?)
I want U 2 count 2 8 (8)
As soon as I get undressed, U clap your hands, OK? (OK)

New York? (Uh huh?)
I want U 2 count 2 8 (8)
As soon as I get undressed, y'all clap your hands, OK? (OK)

New York? (Uh huh?)
I want U 2 count 2 8 (8)
As soon as I get undressed, y'all clap your hands, OK? (OK)

(1) 1
(2) 2
(3) 3
(4) 4
(5) Sex shooter
(6) Sex shooter
(7) Sex shooter
(8) Clap your hands, let's go!

Following the 1999 tour, Prince had started recording songs, including "Promise To Be True," "Vibrator," and "Sex Shooter," for an intended second Vanity 6 album. There were also numerous songs left over from sessions for their first album to choose from, including "I Need A Man," "Jealous Girl," "Moral Majority," "Pizza," and "Too Much." Prince had also recorded "No Call U" (known as "U Call Me" amongst fans) and "Extra Lovable" with Vanity singing lead. However, after participating in acting and singing sessions in preparation for Purple Rain, Vanity suddenly quit and left Prince's camp.

Although her romantic falling-out with Prince has often been attributed as the main reason for her sudden departure, more important was the fact that she was asking for more money than the producers were willing to pay her. She was fielding other offers, including a role in Martin Scorsese's planned The Last Temptation Of Christ, and she felt her role in Purple Rain was worth more than the producers seemed to think it was. "The movie was Prince's dream. He was bringing in everybody for very little money. You've got to pay people. You've got to be fair," said Vanity. "They wouldn't pay me enough money to go through with the crap I would have to go through. I don't do things like this free of charge. I didn't want to be stuck in the snow at 6 in the morning in some camper with no place to change clothes. Who needs that?"

Vanity 6 becomes Apollonia 6

The film was too far along in development to be substantially re-written. The problem was finding a substitute to fill the void left by Vanity's departure. After auditioning some 700 women in New York and Los Angeles, a 22-year-old model named Patricia Kotero was chosen for the female lead role. (---) She got the part and Prince suggested the name Apollonia, after a character in The Godfather. And so, Apollonia 6 rose from the ashes of the defunct Vanity 6.

"Sex Shooter" was the starting point of the Apollonia 6 album. Having previously cut the song with Vanity on lead vocals, Prince re-recorded the song with Apollonia in his home studio on a day off from filming Purple Rain. Work on the album continued after shooting in Minneapolis had been completed. Prince re-located to Los Angeles for recording sessions at Sunset Sound and to shoot some complimentary footage for the film.

Some of the first songs Prince recorded for the album in late December 1983 and early 1984 included "The Glamorous Life," "In A Spanish Villa," "Next Time Wipe The Lipstick Off Your Collar," "Oliver's House," and a song called "Blue Love." He also revamped the Vanity 6 outtake "Moral Majority" and recorded "17 Days" for possible use by Apollonia 6, to be sung by Brenda, the group's smoker (hence the lyric, "All I've got is two cigarettes and this broken heart of mine"). Work on their album continued throughout January and February 1984 alongside sessions for The Time's Ice Cream Castle and other recordings.

The first configuration of the album had the following track listing: "Take Me With U" / "Sex Shooter" / "Manic Monday" / "A Million Miles (I Love You)" / "Ooo She She Wa Wa" / "Some Kind Of Lover" / "In A Spanish Villa." By this time, in late February 1984, Prince had decided to withhold some of the songs he had initially intended for the group, instead planning them for an album with Sheila E. He also decided to keep "17 Days" for a single B-side ("When Doves Cry"). "The Glamorous Life" was written by Prince about Apollonia. "He used to make all these stupid jokes, 'You're the kind of chick who would wear a mink coat in the summertime.' To this day I don't have my own mink coat! When Sheila came into the scene, Prince took away the song from us and gave it to her. At that point it was like, 'Man, this is just not fair.' Since I was a newcomer, I kinda bit my tongue, but Susan and Brenda really let him have it."

Prince's duet with Apollonia, "Take Me With U," was planned as the album's lead-off single, and with "Manic Monday" and "Sex Shooter" as two other strong pop tunes and potential hits, the album was shaping up to become one of Prince's most commercial, pop-oriented side projects thus far. A month later, however, Prince changed his mind and reclaimed "Take Me With U" to use it on his Purple Rain album instead. It was the last track added to Purple Rain, and "Computer Blue," which had already been shortened a number of times, had to be edited one last time to accommodate for the song. Towards the end of the Sunset Sound sessions, Prince recorded "Blue Limousine" for Apollonia 6 as a replacement for "Take Me With U."

Back in Minneapolis after this nearly four-month long stay in Los Angeles, Prince cut "Happy Birthday, Mr. Christian" at the Eden Prairie (Flying Cloud Drive) warehouse he was using for rehearsals and recording sessions up until the Purple Rain tour. "Manic Monday" was still included on a Warner Bros. pre-release cassette tape of the Apollonia 6 album, but Prince pulled the song at last minute, replacing it with "Happy Birthday, Mr. Christian." He later gave "Manic Monday" to The Bangles, who scored a huge international hit with their own version of the song in 1986.

Lacking conviction

After Sheila E.'s The Glamorous Life and The Time's Ice Cream Castle, Apollonia 6 became the third Starr Company production in 1984 when it was released on October 1st. Though Prince's name doesn't appear anywhere on the record, it was clearly another sample of his undercover work, as he wrote, played and produced most of it. The songs on the album are attributed to Sheila E., members of Apollonia 6, and The Revolution. In reality, Prince was responsible for all of the songs, but he gave Lisa Coleman a co-writing credit on "A Million Miles (I Love You)," while Brenda Bennett received a co-credit on "Some Kind Of Lover."
(---)

Apollonia 6 fade away

In view of how many first-rate songs Prince decided not to use on the Apollonia 6 album, including "Take Me With U," "Manic Monday," "The Glamorous Life," and "17 Days," it is obvious that Prince lost interest in the project somewhere along the line, instead turning his attention to Sheila E. and his next side project, The Family. Vanity was clearly a crucial inspiring force behind Prince's concept of a raunchy, sexy girl trio. For Apollonia, it was much more a case of playing a role, and she made it quite clear that her career goals did not necessarily include a future as one part of Apollonia 6. She never committed herself to anything beyond the Purple Rain film and an album with Apollonia 6. Consequently, the project lacked conviction and it is fairly evident that Prince's heart was not in the project.

There was talk of making videos for all the tracks on the album, and Apollonia claimed at the time, "Warners requested - no demanded - that we make a video for every song on the album." Apart from a video for "Sex Shooter," which was released as a single (also available in an extended version on maxi-single), nothing happened to the grandiose plans. With no second single, the project slowly faded away, perhaps not missed by too many.

With hindsight, Apollonia said in 1989, "Purple Rain was a success and Apollonia was a device for that concept, but there's no way that any woman could attain respectability travelling around the world in her undergarments."

24) INT. REHEARSAL HALL -- DAY

MUSIC throbs throuch the crammed,
rundown REHEARSAL HALL. Hardwood
floors, a wall of mirrors, and a bank of
windows provides the setting. SUNLIGHT
streams through tattered yellow shades.


The Time is set up on one side providing
the music for "Sex Shooter" a saucy
number with an irresistible beat.

Morris, with Jerome by his side, stands
in the middle of the floor, SHOUTS
instructions to...

...BRENDA and SUSAN, gamely trying some
intricate dance steps. Brenda is 21
years old, blond, sexy, with an alluring
new-wave look. Susan is 16 years old,
with dark, lustrous hair and a sexy baby-
doll quality. Right now they're tired as
hell, and a little angry--

MORRIS
One, two, three, kick! One,
two, three, kick! Four,
five...Oh, Lord. Cut! Cut!

The MUSIC stops, the girls come to a
halt -- Morris regards them evenly--

MORRIS
You ladies don't seem to
realize how valuable my time
is. You're going to make my
boys look bad.

BRENDA
Why don't you let us come up
with our own steps?

Morris glares at her--

MORRIS
We tried that...
(sweetly)
... remember?

The Girls fidget--

MORRIS
Now you're in the best
possible position you can be
in, so what' s the matter --
your shoes on too tight or
something?
(claps his hands)
Let's have some action, let's
have some asses wiggling, I
want some perfection. Whawhak!

The MUSIC starts up -- the Girls start
dancing. Morris looks woefully to
Jerome---

MORRIS
I think I'm going to need a
drink, a strong drink.
(a beat)
Let's get the hell out of
here.

OldFriends4Sale said:

Apollonia 6 fade away

In view of how many first-rate songs Prince decided not to use on the Apollonia 6 album, including "Take Me With U," "Manic Monday," "The Glamorous Life," and "17 Days," it is obvious that Prince lost interest in the project somewhere along the line, instead turning his attention to Sheila E. and his next side project, The Family. Vanity was clearly a crucial inspiring force behind Prince's concept of a raunchy, sexy girl trio. For Apollonia, it was much more a case of playing a role, and she made it quite clear that her career goals did not necessarily include a future as one part of Apollonia 6. She never committed herself to anything beyond the Purple Rain film and an album with Apollonia 6. Consequently, the project lacked conviction and it is fairly evident that Prince's heart was not in the project.

There was talk of making videos for all the tracks on the album, and Apollonia claimed at the time, "Warners requested - no demanded - that we make a video for every song on the album." Apart from a video for "Sex Shooter," which was released as a single (also available in an extended version on maxi-single), nothing happened to the grandiose plans. With no second single, the project slowly faded away, perhaps not missed by too many.

With hindsight, Apollonia said in 1989, "Purple Rain was a success and Apollonia was a device for that concept, but there's no way that any woman could attain respectability travelling around the world in her undergarments."

I remember in late 1984 when the album was released,I was shocked at the lack of promotion."Sex Shooter" made some noise and it had a video,but after that,it seems like Prince and Warners let the project fade away very quickly."Blue Limousine" had 'Top 10 hit' written all over it.I can't believe that Warners didn't aggressively promote that song!

"Take Me With U" would have sounded really out of the place on the A6 album! I also don't think that "Manic Monday" was suitable for A6.Brenda has said that she doesn't even like the song ("it's too pop",she said).It's a good thing that Prince didn't release this configuration,which is flawed.

OldFriends4Sale said:

The first configuration of the Apollonia 6 album had the following track listing: "Take Me With U" / "Sex Shooter" / "Manic Monday" / "A Million Miles (I Love You)" / "Ooo She She Wa Wa" / "Some Kind Of Lover" / "In A Spanish Villa."

OldFriends4Sale, you are as nuts as Prince.

Great job.

We're going to end up with the full PR script on this thread!

SoulAlive said:

"Take Me With U" would have sounded really out of the place on the A6 album! I also don't think that "Manic Monday" was suitable for A6.Brenda has said that she doesn't even like the song ("it's too pop",she said).It's a good thing that Prince didn't release this configuration,which is flawed.

OldFriends4Sale said:

The first configuration of the Apollonia 6 album had the following track listing: "Take Me With U" / "Sex Shooter" / "Manic Monday" / "A Million Miles (I Love You)" / "Ooo She She Wa Wa" / "Some Kind Of Lover" / "In A Spanish Villa."

Yeah, there are some great songs on the album it just has no cohesive flow, great music, but Apollonia was not in it. Not to sound repetitive, but if Vanity was the 2nd album it would have been hot. And she would have owned Manic Monday. Vanity would have put something on it that made it work. And it would have been another hit closely attributed to Prince's camp.

bonatoc said:

OldFriends4Sale, you are as nuts as Prince.

Great job.

We're going to end up with the full PR script on this thread!

LOL
I think since the Time and Apollonia 6 really had no full 1984-85 era, that their focused parts in the movie will make up for it.

Thanks

God it just reminds me what fab women he has had in his life , lucky devil.

OldFriends4Sale said:

There was talk of making videos for all the tracks on the album, and Apollonia claimed at the time, "Warners requested - no demanded - that we make a video for every song on the album." Apart from a video for "Sex Shooter," which was released as a single (also available in an extended version on maxi-single), nothing happened to the grandiose plans.

Does anyone remember the Apollonia 6 workprint footage that leaked some years back? I haven't watched it in a long time but I remember the long form video featured quite a few songs from the album.

Was the name of the film "Happy Birthday Mr. Christian"?

A Million Miles (I Love You) is the fourth track on Apollonia 6's first and only album Apollonia 6. It was written by Prince and Lisa Coleman, but credited to Apollonia 6 (words) and Lisa Coleman (music).

Initial tracking took place on 20 January 1984 at Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA (the day after Some Kind Of Lover and a week before Take Me With U).

-PrinceVault

how could i illustrate my love 4 u?
what would u do if u were in my shoes?
would u climb the highest mountain?
would u sail across the sea?
if i were a million miles away, would u visit me?
how could i illustrate how much i really care?
how could u do if u were here, my dear, and i was there?
would u eat a poison apple?
would u be burned at the stake?
if i were a million miles away, would u visit me?

i love u a million miles, i love u
i love u a million miles, i love u

if u love me, would u eat a poison apple?
how much would u take?
and would u be burned at the stake?
where’s the dawn?
darkness is death
don’t die, live 4ever
say u love him

how could i demonstrate the way u make me feel?
if i walked through fire, would u say my love was real?
u got me crazy, i’d do most anything
if u got in trouble, i’d sell my diamond ring
that’s how much i love u, baby, a million miles

i love u a million miles, i love u
i love u a million miles, i love u
i love u a million miles, i love u
i love u a million miles, i love u

(somebody, somebody clap your hands) {x4}
somebody, somebody

a million miles
a million miles

27) EXT. STORE WINDOW AND MALL SHOPS -- DOWNTOWN --
AFTERNOON

The SIDEWALKS are alive with bustling
SHOPPERS. Vanity walks aimlessly past
store windows, staring longingly at the
expensive items.

BRIDAL SHOP
as she stops suddenly and stares
transfixed. A YOUNG WOMAN, startingly
similiar to her in looks and coloring,
tries on a beautiful bridal gown as a
SEAMSTRESS adjusts the hem. The entire
scene is warm and endearing. Vanity is
struck by lt's beauty and seems to sigh.
The Young Woman looks up suddenly,
catches Vanity's gaze, and gives her an
affectionate smile. Vanity smiles back
avidly, then--

PRINCE (0. S .)
Give me that.

She looks up startled--

PRINCE
There ... on your boot.

She looks down -- it's the expensive
gold chain. She hesitates, then hands
it to him. He drops it into his pocket,
walks away--

VANITY
Hey, wait!

She runs after him--

VANITY
Give it back to me

He continues to walk briskly -- she
starts pulling on his coat--

PRINCE
You can have it back later.

VANITY
I want it back now, okay?

PRINCE
Who gave it to you?



VANITY
A person

PRINCE
Female or male?

VANITY
Huh ...

PRINCE
You're lying. I can tell just
by your reaction that you're
lying.

He moves away briskly -- Vanity stands
her ground, amused--

PRINCE
So you gave it to me -- it's
not yours anymore.

He stops short -- something has caught
his eye. She's curious, comes up behind
him, then--

VANITY
You see something you like?

He puts on his sunglasses. A GUITAR
stands prominently in the window.

PRINCE
Let's go for a ride.

He flips her the gold chain' -- turns
hastily. She weighs it in her hand,
studies the guitar--

VANITY
It's pretty.

blacknote said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

There was talk of making videos for all the tracks on the album, and Apollonia claimed at the time, "Warners requested - no demanded - that we make a video for every song on the album." Apart from a video for "Sex Shooter," which was released as a single (also available in an extended version on maxi-single), nothing happened to the grandiose plans.

Does anyone remember the Apollonia 6 workprint footage that leaked some years back? I haven't watched it in a long time but I remember the long form video featured quite a few songs from the album.

Was the name of the film "Happy Birthday Mr. Christian"?

yeah,it leaked awhile back.As I recall,it featured videos for "Happy Birthday,Mr.Christian","Sex Shooter" (different than the offical video that was released in 1984),"Blue Limousine" and "Ooh She She Wa Wa".

I think those two songs ("Blue Limousine" and "Happy Birthday,Mr.Christian") are better than the songs they replaced.I just don't think that "Manic Monday" was suitable for this project and by giving it to the Bangles,it became a much bigger hit than it would have been for Apollonia 6.

madhouseman said:

It is amazing how much the album changed over time. Early on, it was loaded with huge potential, but Prince started removing some of the tracks, and it messed up the flow of the original design. Blue Limo was recorded in mid-April to replace Take Me With U and Happy Birthday Mr. Christian was recorded at the beginning of August 84 to replace Manic Monday.

Now when I look back at all this, I just want to go......"god, the 80's"

ICE CREAM CASTLES & BLUE LIMOUSINES

By the time shooting for the movie resumed, Prince was done with his album, which would become the soundtrack to the film, and The Time had finished theirs, Ice Cream Castle, which included both of their musical contributions to the picture. Due to the delays caused by the personnel shift from Vanity to Apollonia and the increasing demands for Brenda, Susan and especially Apollonia to be on the movie set, work on the Apollonia 6 album proceeded on a catch-as-catch-can basis until the movie wrapped.

Purple Rain premiered June 25, 1984 with a gala opening night celebration at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Apollonia 6 was featured on stage in the film performing “Sex Shooter” which would become the first single from their upcoming album and Brenda had a speaking part.

Prince’s soundtrack album was released the same day and The Time’s album the following week. All three releases performed spectacularly. The movie became one of the biggest box office hits of the year reaching #11 in Variety and grossing almost $70,000,000.00 during its initial run. (Prince would take home an Oscar the following year when his score won the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score.) The soundtrack album went to #1 in Billboard on both the Top 200 Albums and R&B Albums charts, spawned four Top Ten singles and was eventually certified 13 times Platinum (13,000,000 copies). Ice Cream Castle became The Time’s best-selling album and produced three hit singles including “Jungle Love” and “The Bird” from the picture.

As the movie and the two albums raced up the charts over the course of the summer of 1984, work resumed on the Apollonia 6 album and it was completed in July. Released on October 1, the album went to #24 on the R&B Albums and #62 on the Top 200 Albums charts and was certified Platinum. “Sex Shooter,” the first single, was a major hit reaching #7 on both the Dance and R&B album charts and climbed to #85 on the Hot 100. Brenda once again made major contributions to the album. She composed “Some Kind Of Lover” and shares co-writing credits with the group on “Sex Shooter,” “Blue Limousine” with Sheila E and “A Million Miles (I Love You)” with Lisa Coleman. She is the lead vocalist on three of the album’s seven tracks: “Blue Limousine,” “A Million Miles” and “Some Kind Of Lover.”

Brenda was also involved in the recording of several other tracks during the period when the second Vanity 6 album morphed into the Apollonia 6 album. At least three of the outtakes have surfaced in various forms. The most famous is “Manic Monday” which was written by Prince and given to Apollonia 6 for their album. Prince played all the instruments, Apollonia sang the lead vocal, and Brenda sang an answer vocal. The track did not make the final cut of the album. Two years later, Prince gave the track to The Bangles. They simply removed Apollonia’s vocal and replaced it with Susanna’s, keeping Prince’s entire backing track and Brenda’s vocal. The record went to #2 in 1986 – it is Brenda who sings the famous “oh-oo-woh” vocal hook on the chorus. Another track was “The Glamourous Life” which also did not make the album and was given to Sheila E who had played on the original recording. It became the title track to her first solo album which was also released in June of 1984 at the same time as the movie, the soundtrack and Ice Cream Castle. The song was a Top 10 smash across the board. The third song was another Prince composition, “17 Days,” which never got past the piano/vocal demo stage at the time. This song might not have been part of the album project and may have been intended for a possible Brenda Bennett solo album.

“During the active years I spent working with Prince, he had spoken to me a couple of times about doing a solo album with me. He thought my performances with Vanity 6 and Apollonia 6 were good, but he also realized that the music I was doing at the time wasn’t really me or the best for my type of voice. He has a good instinct about things like that and asked if I would be interested in doing a solo project with him outside of Apollonia 6. I thanked him and wholeheartedly agreed. But with the success of the Purple Rain film and then the tour, Prince’s path turned in a different direction.” Prince wound up making a full recording of “17 Days” on his own and released it as the non-album B-side to “When Doves Cry,” the lead single from the soundtrack.

By the fall of 1984, everything that had been released since June had proven to be massive hits and it was time to hit the road. The entire crew (minus The Time who had begun to fall apart even while Ice Cream Castle was still on the charts) embarked on a five month tour featuring Prince with his new backing band, The Revolution, and Sheila E as the opening act. The tour proved to be a sellout and is considered one of the most successful tours in history up until that time. Apollonia 6 simultaneously began a round of promotional appearances to support their album. Their schedule sometimes allowed for them to meet up with the Prince tour and they would appear during the encores.

Once the dust cleared in the Spring of 1985, it became clear that things within the Prince organization would be changing. Prince threw himself into the production of a second movie which would become Under The Cherry Moon. The Time broke up and would not reunite for six years. And things were changing within Brenda’s group as well. Although they did not plan to disband, the two other women made it clear that they would be pursuing other interests in the future. Susan, who had not fully participated in the recording of the Apollonia 6 album, announced that she planned to go back to school. Apollonia wished to return to acting and took a role on the hit nighttime soap opera Falcon Crest. But before heading their separate ways, the group took on two more projects which everyone felt might keep up interest in the group and generate more album sales during their time off.

“One of them was a “mini-movie” version or long-form video of the album where there was a story line and parts were acted out to coincide with four of our songs off the album. The project was dubbed “Mr. Christian’s Birthday.” As long and hard as the hours were on this project, I really enjoyed doing it. I could see a lot of potential in this being a good tool for promotion. One of the biggest highlights of this project for me was working with Ricky Nelson. He played Mr. Christian. It was about a month later that he died in a plane crash. Unfortunately, Prince never liked the “Mr. Christian” project and it never got any further than the first edits. Such a waste of time and money…but, somehow, somewhere along the line, someone got their hands on it and parts of it will show up on YouTube now and then. The other project we did was a semi-nude photo session using live doves. There were a dozen or more cages of all these white doves that were set free once we got on the set and began to start posing. The photo session was to produce a poster. I never saw the finished product, but I do know it got out there finally.”