Is this possibly the most artistically accomplished release by Prince? It fell within the high concept energy that fueled the whole Lovesexy enterprise, it had the clear plastic minimal packaging with the graphic icons, the song has dramatic and "movielike" progression of three scenes, the revelation of the "blue angel" sounds like a glowing banshee howling wicked, prince changes from the unconditional love of part 1, to the preacher ringleader of part 2, to the bitter, violent old man in part 3... he references many of the elements of the lovesexy image (t-bird, teal blue coat) and the production is out of this world bad ass... those thunderous sound effects cracking, that whipfunk bass line, that wicked guitar, that repeating mechanical organ single "party" note...

and then turn the record over...what the -? all black, peach lettering: Scarlet Pussy by Camille.

ART. Genius.

Is all this on Lovesexy?

doctamario said:

No - this was the 12" version of "I Wish U Heaven", also released on CD with a poster sleeve (or at least it was here in the UK.)

This is the first 12" single I ever bought!
Still love it!

I love that 12"! I like the B-side too

Nikster said:

ahhhhh now we talking the real P , iwuh 123 = fantastic !!!

close.

Mountains (extended version) beats it, so does Crystal Ball.

great track, but i'd put it behind those two in terms of amazing musicianship, etc.

.
[Edited 4/15/05 2:44am]

It's fantastic that Prince takes a single, complete song you wouldn't imagine could go any futher, and extends it out into this wonderful kaleidoscope of sounds. That Blue Angel guitar sound is astounding, when it fades down in the mix you can still hear it growling away underneath like an animal.

All the extra lyrics are fantastic too, especially that whole bit in his 'sick' voice - "I gave u a white dove, why'n't u feed it? I gave u sweet love, u put it in the corner, I gave u candy, u say you don't wan' it"
[Edited 4/15/05 3:00am]