Hi all -- I've been waiting for a week to post this (as a newbie to the site one has to wait) but just in case you didn't all know Dez Dickerson's "Modernaire" from Purple Rain has at last been released for consumption! It's a vinyl only release in the UK but I for one am terribly excited . . . here's a link:

http://www.juno.co.uk/ppp...701-01.htm

Are there any unreleased tracks left from Purple Rain?

Peace
Blaksoulfire

Cool!

You can also get it directly from Dez, on CD. And, his MySpace site says you can download it:

http://www.myspace.com/dezdickerson

Thanks for the info!

wow - only 25 years later! However, I still do want to hear the entire song as it is a underground classic track from Purple Rain

RodeoSchro said:

I found a copy of Modernaire almost 2 maybe 3 years ago... and its taken from cd.

The mixes are all pretty crappy. I'm guess the source for this is no different than that of the release on Dez's 2CD set?

Still a nice little (semi-official?) item for those who never picked up the Retrospective set a few years back



[Edited 9/22/08 2:48am]

did Prince write this song?

garganta said:

I can't recall the extent of his involvement, but Prince was involved in the track (as confirmed by Dez himself).

Official release, Dez approved it !!

xenophobia2002 said:

I'd like to know the source for the track. Wasn't the source for the Retrospective release an audio cassette or something, not the master?

NouveauDance said:

That's what Dez said. Because they couldn't find the master. I was like "Damn..how do you lose the master?".

Ugh. This vinyl release is just a straight pirate. The other mixes have nothing to do with the original. Poor Dez. I doubt he even knows this is out there. What a shame.

SoulAlive said:

Copped it. Thanks.

Warner's should have released this the summer of 84. This single would have been a HUGE hit for them and Dez.

garganta said:

He co-wrote it (it's also his title), played on it and produced it. It's definately a Jamie Starr Production.

blackguitaristz said:

I agree.I can't believe that they didn't see the hit potential in this song....or was it Prince who cancelled the release?

The source is the same as the Retrospective set (thought as much).

Back of the record says "mastered from an analogue recording of the original master".

Also credits are:

Written by Dez Dickerson
Lead vocals by Dez Dickerson; guitars, synthesizers and backing vocals by Prince
Produced and recorded at the Purple House basement studio Chanhassen.

IIRC, there were no such writing credits on the Retrospective CD set or the book(let) that came with it.


Edit:

Jestyr said:

And it's an official release, "under license from Dez Dickerson".

Nice clear red vinyl too!


.
[Edited 9/24/08 4:50am]

mplsmike said:

How can one get a copy of this from you?

here's a link directly to the site that's selling the single, with info about the download version as well:

http://www.citinite.com/

SoulAlive said:

It's fun to hear given it's history. However, as a single it's got "Prince reject" written all over it. This woulda tanked, even in 1984.

Kinda blows that you pay 16.50 for the vinyl and they still want $1.35 per track for digital downloads as well.

ElCapitan said:

I agree - always thought it was crap, though I never realized it was not released.

Just downloaded the original version. Oh well, only took 24 years for me to get it!

Sounds so nice! Would go well with Sex Shooter, etc from the same era on a compilation.

Hell, I've had this one for years.

Ummm...way to ride that wave, Dez...

Just kidding...I'll be looking to download this one!

It wasn't that special then and i assume it will sound the same now...
NEXT.....

You can get the download here:

http://www.zero-inch.com/label/citinite

I LOVE "MODERNAIRE" but I must say, it has kinda become "larger than life" because of it's absence...
It's a fun little track, the full version is cool..that is all..