Does anyone know why Prince has never recorded Manic Monday or why he never plays it live? Or am I wrong? I'd love to hear his interpretation of it.after all, he wrote it!

Yes he's played it live. Yes there is a version floating around on a few boots.

skipper said:

I believe it was written during a dark period in Princes life. He was thinking about throwing in the towel on the music business and opening a bowling alley instead. You have to remember, this was during the Reagan administration and it was very difficult to open bowling alleys during that particular time. The market was flooded with them and Ronnie was proposing a user tax on indoor sports activities. Manic Monday was written when Prince was awoken from a dream about Valentino refusing to bowl at his alley because of these taxes. Valentino started throwing bowling balls at all the other patrons. That is where the desperation of the economy and the hectic feeling of the song come into play. This was a reoccuring dream for Prince and finally after many sleepless nights, Prince gave up on his dream of the bowling alley and decided to stick to the boring music business. To him Manic Monday reminded him of the dream that never came to be. He vowed never to perform the song or to do an interpretation of it. That is how I remember the story, someone correct me if I am wrong or if I left something out.

ian't there a version with appaloina and prince singing?

skipper said:

Who said he didn't record a version? You must be a newbie (I would be able to confirm that if the joined on date was still listed. I guess the mods figured to breakup the hierarchy of vets and newbies by removing it) Anyways who says Prince didn't record it. Haven't you heard of that Vault everyone keeps talking about.

kdj997 said:

he seems to be asking if it is circulating

kdj997 said:

Firstly,no,I'm not a newb and I've been into Prince for 23 years.I own all his official releases and quite a few boots but I've honestly never come across any versions of this song done by Prince.Don't understand the hostility around here sometimes,it sucks.

Not quite what you were asking about or looking for/wanting, but he played Manic Monday at the 2002 Celebration, and brought a fan (Connie - she used to post here from time to time, IIRC) up on stage to sing it.

WillyWonka said:

Thanks for that info,I'll try and check that out if I can.Lucky Connie too!

Manic Monday WAS recorded by Prince. He recorded it on Saturday February 4, 1984 in studio 2. The song was inspired by a dream Prince had (hence “the 6 o’clock already I was just in the middle of a dream” line). Prince and his engineer Peggy Mac had just finished a grueling session the day before working on overdubs, etc. for A MILLION MILES and A SPANISH VILLA. That session lasted until 4:30 in the morning. Peggy had not been home for very long when she got a call from Prince telling her that he came up with a chorus and if he could come up with the verse, he wanted to lay the track down straight from his head before he lost the groove.

The session started at 1 in the afternoon and lasted until most of the tracks and overdubs and mixing was done at 1 AM.

From what I can recall, Apollonia’s and Brenda’s vocals were done another day.

BTW, if you listen to the Bangle’s version of the song, you can still hear Brenda’s background vocals in the mix.

skipper said:

OMG, Honey I wasn't being hostile. That's just the way I am I didn't mean anything by it and weren't trying to put you down. You certainly been a Prince fan longer than me. I just bought Dirty Mind in 2004? I'm not sure, I don't think it was last summer but it could've been. I had a burned cd before then but I just got it on LP so I can listen to it at home outside of the car or the computer (I don't even own a cd player I just have a record player) so there, I hope you feel better because I certainly wasn't implying that I'm better than you or vice versa. Rock out today, dear.

ok,no worries,some of the posts read really hostile here sometimes its hard to know how to take comments.

SlamGlam said:

There is an Apollonia 6 version on the Work. It's awful. It doesn't sound like Prince is singing on it. I really like The Bangles' version though. I've never heard Prince sing that song; I'd be interested to hear his version, though...

jone70 said:

Lets just let The Bangles sing it - I think thats the best place to leave it dont you? it sounds great coming from them (and me on a shitty monday morning) so does that answer your question??

madhouseman said:

Didn't The Bangles re-record the whole track from scratch?


[Edited 3/4/06 16:00pm]

wendyrachel said:

I didn't ask any questions...

madhouseman said:

This one was much better than mine. This one sounds like it is the way it actually was.

Great Song!!!!

skipper said:

1999 (part II)

siriusfunk said:

please tell me that the weed was that good?

It would of been cool if he had recorded a Master to it.

nayroo2002 said:

No. they simply recorded over the original track, adding many of their own elements. Brenda's voice can be still heard. Check it out.


Siruiusfunk, thanx for the props.

Did P ever have "relations" with Susannah Hoffs?

jdcxc said:

No... when asked she pretty much said he seemed intrested and she said no.

skipper said:

I agree with whoever said it's best that he leave this one to the Bangles.

And I don't want anyone digging around for a copy of him singing Sugar Walls either!!

HalluRain said:

I found it and it's alternate title is called If I Was Your Girlfriend.

HalluRain said:

yeah there is one... i think he gave it to the time for "Pandemonium"