this is one of my favorite outtakes...its slowed down and less cold than the album version.love the the way he just lets the song go at the 2 and half min mark.

it does indeed rock.

Christopher said:

100 % agree.....this version is Fuc...G GREAT!

I love this version!!

I love the original song, but haven't heard any other versions. Guess it wasn't released?

Ballad of Dorothy Parker (Jazz version) is also a really nice alt. version of a great song. Any more tips on good alternative versions of Prince songs?

this version rocks. the jamming at the end is too good.

i also like the two versions of witness for the prosecution. and the unreleased version of strange relationship. going from dream factory to camille

Can never get enough of this song, especially this version.

Yes, yes, YES! I LOVE the alt version also.

zinger said:

They´re bootleg versions, but well known among long time listeners.
There´s this bootleg called "Neon Rendezvous" which contains an almost 15 minutes long, drastically rearranged version of Something In The Water ( one of my favorite tunes EVER), then there´s the ONA tour version which somehow sounds a bit calypsoesque and airy and light, but that´s just my view, I really like it ( check out the Bataclan/Paris show), then there´s this one that this thread is dedicated to, a revisited version recorded two years after the album version with a haunting piano line, less lyrics, and less synths (?)...

The Ballad of Dorothy Parker version you´re referring to is very similar to the rehearsal version from 1987....( you´re probably talking about the version he played on the LEno show....the 87 version is very much like that).

Neon Rendezvous also contains some tight versions of Noon Rendezvous, When Doves Cry and Irresistible Bitch...

One of my favourite Prince cuts of all time. Wonder why he felt the need to re-record it afterwards though, as it was already released? The new version came out great, but it would be interesting to know what inspired him to do that? "Okay, I've made "When Doves Cry", "100MPH", "The Dance Electric"... what's next? Think I'm gonna do a new version of "Something In The Water"!"

I hated this version. The album version is much better....just the way I like it....cold.

Never heard this version.

vainandy said:

You´re right, it sounds colder and therefore fits much better into all the other songs on 1999, the whole album is somewhat cold and isolated, it has a certain atmosphere to it , and I love that. But that doesn´t mean that I don´t like all the other versions of that song, I love all of them.
I have never heard the acoustic version though, I can´t even imagine it being played acoustic. ( Where was that again, Washington/Musicology tour ? Or further up north ?)

San Antonio too!

butterfli25 said:

So what does it sound like acoustic ???

( I mean, besides sounding..well...acoustic ??)

great!

I didn't recognize it at first and then I recognized the lyrics, he sings it slow, kinda jazzy. I loved it, was so suprised to hear it, started yelling ( oh no you didn't) at him and he just nodded to us( like oh yes I did) while he kept singing. It was soo cool.

Definately agree. But that's the case with all of P's material circa late 81-85. His unedited or "alternate" versions, to me, are always better. There more raw and true. He usually has more rock guitar higher in the mix, more ad-libing with his vocals, etc.

Christopher said:

I'd like to hear it, considering I think I'm the only one who doesn't like SOMETHING IN THE WATER.....maybe I'd like this version, or no?

luv4all7 said:

You will like the version from the Neon Rendezvous rehearsal bootleg...it´s almost like a totally different song.

anyone who wants to hear this...just send me an orgnote.

Christopher said:

As good as it is i think the released version is better.

i think it is way better that the official one... but then again i liked the black album much more before it was released.

Christopher said:

thanks

butterfli25 said:

I never head it!

Christopher said:

If Prince ever remasters the 1999 cd with outtakes and alt.versions or does another Crystal Ball 2. I hope this gets on here. This is a classic!