The long-awaited Purple Rain Deluxe is out now.

You can listen on Spotify here. You can purchase it on Amazon, in your local record store, or via the official website at www.officialprincemusic.com


This thread is for discussing the second disc, which contains previously unreleased material from the vault.

Tracklist:

1. The Dance Electric
2. Love And Sex
3. Computer Blue (“Hallway Speech” version)
4. Electric Intercourse (Studio Version)
5. Our Destiny / Roadhouse Garden
6. Possessed
7. Wonderful Ass
8. Velvet Kitty Cat
9. Katrina’s Paper Dolls
10. We Can Fuck
11. Father’s Song

Havent listened to it all yet but Computer Blue....WOW just WOW

My full review can be found here - but for me the highlights are "Computer Blue" Hallway Speech, We Can Fuck and Possessed

Disc 2 is worth the price alone . Just love it Love and Sex ( Come on baby hurt me! )

nextedition said:

This disc rocks. I love Love&sex. His crazy voice We can fuck is a masterpiece. Its better than all the versions i heard till now. I love every song on the disc.

Quick question, simple and plain, and I hope Madhouseman or someone else can shed some light on this:

Could it be that research got the wrong dates for:

- The Dance Electric (August 83 on booklet vs. August 84 on Princevault)

- Possessed (August 83 on booklet vs. March 1984 on Princevault, and I'll add to that that the circulating "1983" version doesn't sound like a band recording at all. So could it be that one is an earlier, 1999-era solo Prince recording, while the rehearsal bit dubbed "Possessive" would be the 1983 band recording, while the "1984" studio cut could in fact have been recorded by P at around the same time?

- Wonderful Ass (September 1984 on booklet vs. early 1986 on Princevault): there are several other versions of WA in circulation, most likely earlier versions from 83, but the "1986" version, if it exists, could be something else entirely (this one seems a bit barebone for a Parade era rework) and that one could indeed be a 1984 rework.

.

I'm wondering because it seems plain incredible that high rank professional people from WB, being given the task to assemble an album with vault material could make such gross mistakes, while all the necessary information is there for anyone to find online. If that is so, WB seriously needs to reconsider who they put on the payroll: hell, they can give me the job, there wouldn't be fuck-ups like that if I was in charge of such a project!

.

Besides, it's happened before that later research contradicts ealier research: a very typical example (still uncorrected on Princevault as I type), is when Madhouseman revealed that his research shows that 1999, Little Red Corvette and Mia Bocca had not, as believed until that point, been recorded on the same day.

.

Si I'd be inclined to believe that WB got it right and that Nilsen/Uptown got it wrong, despite the seriousness of their work. However, if Madhouseman or any reliable source such as Susan R or a bandmember was to say the opposite, then I think the estate/WB would be better off hiring some of the devoted fans in this community to oversee future archive releases.

.

Thoughts?

Romeoblu said:

The vibe I get from this disc is more like the vibe I get from 1999 than Purple Rain. I've listened to it 5 times now and it's really starting to hit home how good all of this is. Katrina's Paper Dolls has been the real grower.

Agreed! Perhaps it's because these songs have been recorded mostly solo by Prince while PR fetures versions of songs based on live band recordings?

paulludvig said:

Romeoblu said:

The vibe I get from this disc is more like the vibe I get from 1999 than Purple Rain. I've listened to it 5 times now and it's really starting to hit home how good all of this is. Katrina's Paper Dolls has been the real grower.

Agreed! Perhaps it's because these songs have been recorded mostly solo by Prince while PR fetures versions of songs based on live band recordings?

Only 4 songs on PR are live band recordings IIRC. TMWU, TBO, CB, DN and WDC are more or less just Prince.

emesem said:

Have to spend more time with this but I have to say I'm a bit disappointed. Electric Int and Possessed are much much better live. They should have included those versions here. The 88? Version of We can Funk with the Camile voice is way better than this one. All that said. It's great to finally see some stuff out.

Disagree about Electric Int and Possessed. The studio versions are more interesting. The live version of Electric I goes into standard rock ballad territory and Possessed live becomes a conventional James Brown-ish workout.

Not sure I've heard a Camille version of WCF?

paulludvig said:

We Can Fuck. Wow!!!

farnorth said:

We Can Fuck. Wow!!!

Listening to it for the first time whilst typing this....wow, wow....GODAMN.......GENIUS......Blown my mind and only 5mins in so far........excuse me...

OK, finally listened from start to end to "From The Vault & Unreleased".

I could have paid double the price of the Expanded released for this CD alone and still I would be happy like a children.

Come on.... it is the Disneyland of the P 1983/1984 outtakes!
So many titles known for years and listened to in bad sound quality now collected as a jewels parade.

"The Dance Electric" is wonderful, and I'm happy it is the Prince solo version since the Revolution version was already available in great quality.

"Love & Sex" is the unknown song I was interested more in, and even if musically it doesn't stand in the same category of other outtakes it is still a nice little jam. Somewhat unfocused, but still enjoyable.

We all knew "Computer Blue (Hallway Speech)" so nothing to said apart that I'm grateful to have it finally in this sound quality.

"Electric Intercourse" is another gem, I absolutely prefer this studio version to the live version.

"Our Destiny/Roadhouse Garden": as all I can detect that here the sound quality is not on the others standard, but I'm still proud of the inclusion of them, better to have them that not.

Musically I think they are lacking something (particularly RG, after comparison with the live version) but still a nice addition to the P canon.

"Possessed": to be clear I like it. Much. Very much. Nice to have it.
But I have to be honest and say that I would have preferred the inclusion of the 1983 version instead of this.

I find this version a little too "urgent" and mechanic, and also somewhat repetitive.
I like when P stretch a single song to long lenght (I already talked of TDE and CB) but here I find that the 7:40 minutes are not musically sustained by the necessary ideas.
An edit to 4/5 minutes could be more functional to the track's efficacy.
But I imagine here I'm in a minority to think so.

"Wonderful Ass": one of my ever favourite P outtakes finally in official quality.
Nothing to add. Gorgeous.

"Velvet Kitty Cat": probably the less interesting track of the CD. Obviously a demo.

Grateful for its inclusion for historical reason, but I can't say I will return many time to it.

"Katrina's Paper Dolls": better than VKC but still uneventful when placed in a CD containing "holy grails". I will give it more listen to absorb it, maybe it will grown on me.

"We Can Fuck".
I never hoped to be able to listen to this version. Wow.
Near perfection. It avoid all defects that married the GB version (overproduction) and the "insane" instrumentation and vocal works give it the hint of a masterpiece.
The real surprise of the set.

"Father's Song": again, gorgeous.

An excursion in an unusual musical land for P standards, very evocative.
One of the time in which a song long desired stand up to what I was waiting for, differently but magically the same.

i think if 'dance electric' had been released contemporaneously with the original album, my life might've been a completely different thing.

Romeoblu said:

Disc two is awesome. I kinda wish it were released separately from the main album and given a title. It's too good to be known as disc 2. From now on I'll know it as The Dance Electric album.

100% agreement. Disc 2 should have been called something else like "HitnRun: 1984". It's worthy of it's own release.

The whole project is flawed for sure. The Erotic City garble fuck-up is pretty astonishing, and deserving of the ire. But this disc of tracks has made my year, despite being less than perfect. I'm choosing to look at the set as a new bootleg, rather than the definitive Purple Rain remaster that it's being sold as.

My faves are everyone's faves, I guess, but Possessed is just killing me right now. I never really cared about the track before, in any of its incarnations. I didn't hate it, it just wasn't so interesting to me. But this is version is the shit. You can really hear that he was still in his fresh-off-When Doves Cry-no bass-minimalist phase. What a sound he had going!

Anyone else hear what sounds like record static in the opening of Wonderful Ass? Was it sourced from vinyl?

We can F**K is a wow from me. That section from 7.15

Happy with this overall, it's like any other Prince album in as much as there's tracks I like and a couple I don't.

Only listened a couple of a times as the inconsiderate people at work keep disturbing me

In track order :

1. The Dance Electric.
Don't like it. Well, it's ok, but my god does it go on and on. After 3:30 I think I've heard it all. And when I think it should be starting to fade out there's still another 6 minutes left.

2. Love And Sex

Like this one, haven't fully digested it yet but liked it on first listen. Love the vocal delivery here.

3. Computer Blue (“Hallway Speech” version)

At least this one is long and interesting, unlike The Dance Electric, this is nearly a minute longer but feels like half the length. I hadn't listened to it much before because I didn't have a great copy and don't like listening to bootlegs that aren't great quality. Nothing to grumble about here, it's Computer Blue but more of it. Well, except for the last minute of it, what the hell is that all about?!

4. Electric Intercourse (Studio Version)

I was never overly attached to the live version, so this version wasn't as jarring to me as it was to some. Absolutely love this studio version, the vocals are amazing and it's a track only Prince could have done. An absolute classic.

5. Our Destiny / Roadhouse Garden
Meh. Never been one for the tracks where Prince isn't singing, so Our Destiny doesn't do much for me and Roadhouse is nothing special, feels unfinished.

6. Possessed

Mixed bag this one. Always loved this live and like the arrangements on the boots I have, even though I haven't played them much for the same reasons as not having listened to the extended CB very often. But I really don't like this arrangement of the track. The vocals are fine but the music isn't my thing, really not liking it at the moment. It may grow on me but I can't see it. Second worst one on the set for me. At least Dance Electric has a good groove for the few minutes before I need to hit skip.

7. Wonderful Ass

Always loved this and now it's here in amazing quality, exceeding the fine Box of Chocolates version. Very happy with this. Only problem is that I've heard it way too often but hey, that's my problem.

8. Velvet Kitty Cat

Love it. Whimsical and fun. Is he singing about an actual cat? I can't decide.

9. Katrina’s Paper Dolls

Love this one too. Got that fun feel to it like Velvet Kitty Kat but the subject matter seems more serious here, in contrast to the fun feel of the music.

10. We Can Fuck

Oh yes, awesome. Liked all the versions I've heard of this one in its We Can Funk incarnations. Ten minutes and not a boring moment, another stand out on this set.

11. Father’s Song
Ermmm, errrr. Depressing and down. Not my thing. I appreciate the playing but if I'm driving and this comes on I think I'd want to crash. Don't get it. Actuallly, I don't think I've made it to the end of this yet, gonna do that now, just in case... Nope, can't do it. Gave up at 4:40. I paid for the first two preview releases so that I could hear them early but I waited and didn't pay for this one. Would have been 99p but I am so glad I didn't pay for it, I'd rather drop and lose a quid on my way home from work!

SchlomoThaHomo said:

Anyone else hear what sounds like record static in the opening of Wonderful Ass? Was it sourced from vinyl?

No idea, I simply put it down to the 'master' that WB have isn't a true master at all and are cuts that Prince handed over to WB at some point.

databank said:

- Wonderful Ass (September 1984 on booklet vs. early 1986 on Princevault): there are several other versions of WA in circulation, most likely earlier versions from 83, but the "1986" version, if it exists, could be something else entirely (this one seems a bit barebone for a Parade era rework) and that one could indeed be a 1984 rework.

I strongly think that what we believed was an 1986 updated version is simply the 1984 version taken off the vault by P. in 1986 for possible use on an album project (probably "Dream Factory"), in the same way the 1986 version of JIR was used on GB in 1989.

AlexNevermind28 said:

Upon a quick first listen, I am very disappointed with Possessed. After listening to the bootleg version for years, this version lacks all of the passion and desperation of the lyrics being more like a jam than an actual song. In the actual 83 version, you can hear his obsession kind of take over as the song goes on. This new version has none of that. Maybe if I just think of it as a totally different song I will like it better...I am not sure though.

Me too. I prefer the '83 version.

The error at 3:33 on Computer Blue Hallway Speech is unforgiveable imo. They should sort it out and give a free download of the track without the fuck up in it to everyone who bought this CD.

Amateurs.

Disc 2 is a lot of fun. I've been through twice now, and some really nice stuff. Our Destiny/Roadhouse Garden, Wonderfull Ass (I've owned a very muddled version for decades, so it's nice to hear it clearly), Velvet Kitty Cat, Katrina's Paper Dolls, Love and Sex are some of my favorites. I like the version of Possessed. But, I was hoping the version of Electric Intercourse would be the full song of the version of which I've had about a 2:00 portion for years. The version here isn't as good, IMO, but it's growing on me.

Disc 2 is the reason I bought the Deluxe version. Overall, the PR reissue isn't otherwordly; could have been much more. But, it's all bonus at this point, and I'm enjoying the hell out of it.

[Edited 6/23/17 7:25am]

what a treat! A real mixed bag here BUT hearing all those classic purple synths, guitar & drums has made my musical year. It could of course have been much better..can you imagine the good stuff yet to come from this period?!

The opening alone of Dance Electric is stunning. Enjoy!

It may be the lustre of the new, but We Can Fuck is vying for a position among my top 10 Prince tracks at the moment – I just love it. The drumming is so tight, restrained and “in the pocket”. I like all of the versions of “We Can Funk” that I've heard, but this is in a different league. The original lyrics restore an authenticity and urgency to the track for me. I can only think that Prince felt that it was lyrically “too much” - I can see no other reason for shelving it and I'm confident that it would have gained classic status had it been released at the time. One can only imagine how Mary “Tipper” Gore would have reacted if she had caught her 11 year old daughter listening to this!

The biggest surprise for me is how much I like Possessed. I've always been ambivalent about that track, neither loving or hating it, but this version strikes me as more musically interesting, with that heavy use of phaser, dark harp line and breathy falsetto vocals. To counter a point made above, if anything it sounds darker and more obsessive than other versions to me (“Someone's in my body, someone's in my body...”).

The only disappointments for me are Velvet Kitty Cat and Katrina's Paper Dolls. We knew what to expect from the former and I suspect that it was only included because of it's brevity (to allow for the longer tracks). I was hoping that KPD would be a darker and more atmospheric track – it sounds like the kind of light, bouncy 80s pop that you'd expect to hear on a Vanity or Apollonia album.

It's a personal taste thing, but I've never been a huge fan of The Dance Electric for some reason – but again, I don't hate it. I love the rest. It's great to have a pristine version of Wonderful Ass. It's a strong CD, but I'm not sure that an individual release would be better. Maybe more people will get to hear it as part of this set (Prince's most famous album, and hardly prohibitively expensive).

[Edited 6/23/17 8:01am]