I like to trip casual fans out, if I've got friends who like prince's hits, and never dug any deeper than the really big hit albums, I burn cd-rs for them ..... but not the hit versions. unreleased versions that are completely different and superiour to what was released.....

what yall think about these, as compared to their "normal" versions?

We Can Funk, 1986 version
Around the World in a Day, 1984 version/different drums
Delirious, unreleased long version
Irrisistable Bitch, demo version
Something in the Water, early version, more piano
Darling Nikki, longer solo at end
Strange Relationship, 1985 version
alphabet street blues
elephants & flowers, 1988 version

etc

your thoughts? and what do you think made prince decide to alter these tracks before releasing them?

Joy In Repetition
Computer Blue
Cystal Ball
Old Friends 4 Sale

"Something In The Water" is actually a later re-recorded version, not an earlier one...

But I'd say the following ones do it for me the best:

Something In The Water (re-recorded)
Computer Blue (longer)
We Can Funk (DF version)
Can't Stop (This Feeling I Got) (DF version)
Tick, Tick, Bang! (demo)
Endorphinmachine (early)
Billy Jack Bitch (longer)
Old Friends 4 Sale (Parade version)
Love Or $ (alternate)
She's Always In My Hair (longer)

At least those, can't think of others top off my head right now...

Crucial (Complete), either "sax" or "guitar" version...
An Honest Man (UTCM Piano version)
We Can Funk (1986 version)
Oldfriends 4 Sale (1985 version)
The Dopamine Rush Suite (Madhouse 24 version)
Train (1986 version)

Old Friends 4 Sale

smokeverbs said:

The strange relationship on The Dream Factory Boot is definitely the best

"Endorphinmachine"
"Tick,Tick,Bang" (the 1981 version)
"Something In The Water (Does Not Compute)"

Come
Billy Jack Bitch
Strange Relationship
Endorphinmachine
Shy

come
old friends 4 sale
5 women
now

smokeverbs said:

I love the intro on the circulating out-take, the bass, it's great.

I agree with Crystal Ball to the 'purple underground' speech by Wendy is one of my favourite parts.

And Old Friends 4 Sale of course!

smokeverbs said:

Two sings immediately come to mind:

Elephants and flowers; Where the released version is mediocre, the rougher demo version is actually a GREAT song. It's a pity the circulating version is an edit.... The lyric "putting words in other people's mouth is gonna get you elected' was probably too much of a political statement at the time for Prince. (I think, listening to Mr Man, he Would release it now)

Starfish and coffee; although released/recorded after the release of the original version (which is already very good) I like the Muppet show version even more with the gospel like "oh-eh-Ooh" chants..

eelco

"Let's Go Crazy" (12") - It's the version from the actual movie. Ever since I've seen "Purple Rain," I've felt a little cheated when I listen to the album because of the abbreviated LGC. Don't get me wrong, I still love it. It's just...I love the longer version more.

Baby Go Go - Nona fucked it up


Aknowledge Me - The crystal Ball version took the jungle drums out and now it sounds plain and industrial, it lost the groove.

Tick Tick Bang - she shudda left it that way, fast 80's new wave pop for Grafitti Bridge.

Rave - just shudda included the extended one with the fake orchestra for the Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic.

His own versions of Love,Thy Will Be Done & Open Book are much better, IMO.

quoting from smokeverb:

We Can Funk, 1986 version

Irrisistible Bitch, demo version

as well as:

Old Friends 4 Sale (not that the Vault version is bad, but the original is better)

100 MPH (his version is cool)

We Can Funk, 1986 version - dope
Around the World in a Day, 1984 version/different drums - and it is longer too
Delirious, unreleased long version - bad edit in the middle ruins it for me
Irrisistable Bitch, demo version - the title is "Irresistible Bitch"...
Something in the Water, early version, more piano - dope
Darling Nikki, longer solo at end - nice
Strange Relationship, 1985 version - for lovers of sitars only
alphabet street blues - this is not an outtake but a later rehearsal of the song
elephants & flowers, 1988 version - the lyrics on the demo are not as good

Computer Blue - couldn't fit on the album due to excessive legth
Cystal Ball - I can live with the officially released version as it's not that dissimilar to the outtake
Old Friends 4 Sale - this really should have seen the light of day but was perhaps too much of a personal song for Prince to release officially

.

Computer Blue (longer) - there are no less than four unreleased versions, Nova...We Can Funk (DF version) - agree
Can't Stop (This Feeling I Got) (DF version) - agree
Tick, Tick, Bang! (demo) - great choice!
Endorphinmachine (early) - I suspect this one is everybody's choice too
Billy Jack Bitch (longer) - couldn't agree more
Old Friends 4 Sale (Parade version) - the one with Clare Fischer's strings or the one without, Nova?
Love Or $ (alternate) - aha, now we're talkin'
She's Always In My Hair (longer) - WTF???

.

Crucial (Complete), either "sax" or "guitar" version... The edited version was one of the weaknesses of the Crystyal Ball set so I agree
An Honest Man (UTCM Piano version) one of my wet dreams too, BoraBora

The Dopamine Rush Suite (Madhouse 24 version) - I would press for the entire Madhouse 24 album
Train (1986 version)[/quote] - there was just the unreleased '86 version...

.
[Edited 9/8/04 9:42am]

This is my wish-list:

Computer Blue [the St. Louis Park Warehouse version] - the rough live demo complete with ear-splitting feedback at the end is just unbeatable!

100 MPH - Prince's original demo remains the best.

Desire - ditto

Toy Box - only joking

Old Friends 4 Sale - the one without the "lush" orchestration by Clare Fischer.

Joy In Repetition - the one that starts off with the lone, echoey drum beat.

We Can Funk - '86 version is the absolutely best version of this, much more so than the unreleased '83 original...

The Voice - the dense, menacing atmosphere of the Prince demo recording is largely absent from Mavis' officially released version.

Open Book - need I say more?

Loose! [Glam Slam Ulysses version] - this one really rocks.

Sadomasochistic Groove - the vibe was more alive on the original version.

.

giotto said:

i think they are talking about the 12" version. Which was released. There isn't an unreleased version of that song , as far as I know. They plenty of live versions, though.

jamaulredmond said:

In that case I'd like to add the following to the list:

Sexy Dancer [12-Inch version]

Let's Go Crazy [special dance mix]

4 The Tears In Your Eyes ["USA For Africa" album version]

Pop Life [extended version]

Mountains [12-Inch version]

I Wish U Heaven [pts. 1, 2 & 3]

Electric Chair [uncut version]

.

andykeen said:

Aw, C'mon dude, the demo is definitely better but the official album version wasn't that bad

.

giotto said:

So true! The original sounded much more 'holographic', if that makes any sense

there were other instruments in the mix and the vocals even sounded slightly different, I
especially liked that rolling/draggin bell/pinball kind of sound that was strewn over it with
some other stuff.

months and months I kept hoping he would finally release this since it seemed such an
interesting and different affair. in the end, the released version is cool, but it doesn't do
as much for me as I'm sure the entire original version would have in good audio format.

andykeen said:

I for one, find this hard to believe, because I LOVE the album version.

I have never heard the unreleased version so... hook a brotha up.

giotto said:

If there's one thing I can't stand, it's a mufucka tryin to correct my spelling! Come on man, so your point here is "I like the demo for Irresistable Bitch, as long as you spell it right???" Asshole.....

smokeverbs said:

Glad I got your attention!

If there is one thing I can't stand is illiterate jerks with a penchant for poor spelling, even when it involves a subject matter close to their hearts

For the record, whilst the officially released version of "Irresistible Bitch" is funkier by a mile and boasts "Cloreen Baconskin"'s backing track, it still doesn't segue from "Feel U Up".

That last fact alone tips the balance in favour of the unreleased version.

.

giotto said:

- there was just the unreleased '86 version...

.
[Edited 9/8/04 9:42am]
[/quote]


there is the released version of Train on the Mavis staples cd which is a lot worse than the circulating demo; it's too electronic.