First of all, I would like to say that this is my first post at the org, although I have been visiting this site for a few weeks.... Anyway, I have noticed for a while that the vocals in "Little Red Corvette" sound very distorted in places and this applies to all the "versions" that I have (1999, Hits/B-sides, Very Best Of).... so my question is: Does anyone know if this is intentional (as in "If I Was Your Girlfriend") or if it's just a bad transfer?
And another related question: That glitch/popping sound at around 2:57 in "Something in the Water", is that also in the vinyl version?

I have wondered that about LRC, too. Cant make up my mind whever i like it or not!

I think the vocals weren't recorded perfectly!
I just listened to my 1999 CD and vinyl too and that sound in "Something in the Water" appears on both! (I think it's a drum beat!)
[Edited 11/9/04 8:05am]

Seems like he turned the level of the vocal so high that it seems consistently "hot" and distorts in places. Prince has a reputation of trying to go for emotional and "in your face" mixing styles.

The vocals on the extended version (12") don't sound as distorted. 4 example, when he sings "Honey, I say", the "I" doesn't sound distorted. Then again, I have this on an import CD single (with 1999 album version).

And yes, that "popping" sound in Something In The Water is on the vinyl album as well. Maybe he dropped something in the heat of recording his vocals...?
[Edited 11/9/04 8:17am]

Thanks for the feedback ... The first time I listened to "Something in the Water.." I thought that maybe my CD was faulty.... now when I think about it I suppose Prince might have bumped into the mic during the session....

Its very obvious on the "right to the ground" ending section.

I think its a hot board but prince probably liked it so left it.

Norah Jones sunrise has a hot track on some pressings and it drives me nuts.

on LRC though I like it.

From what I remember Prince has aid about his type of thing before - I think,up until Purple Rain, they all used to record in this really crappy place and the metal in the building used to feedback on the Mics and instruments etc.

Ive always notcied that in the early Prince stuff where he shouts but could never work out if it was cheap equipment, over enthusiastic vocal or this alleged crap studio.

I always thought that 1999's production was much worse than Controversy's.
I also think that Musicology's production is uneven, especially with the rock songs.