Hi there, this is my first post... I'm wondering about Prince's recorded, mastered and, in some cases, intended-for-release tracks from the 1985 to 1987 period, which were shelved or left off albums (of which there seem to be many). The major source of "lost tracks" is of course the Dream Factory/Crystal Ball/Sign O' The Times project.

The problem here is that I'm familiar with the releases up to the early 90s, but then (like most Prince fans at the time) I got lost in his strange career patterns and releases of the mid and latter period of that decade. I'm guess I'm just wondering if the albums like Old Friends 4 Sale and Crystal Ball are worth getting for the 80s-era tracks, or if I'm better off looking for bootleg stuff instead.

Any Prince expert have info on the best sources (legitimate releases or otherwise) of the "lost tracks" of this period? Thanks.

65980 said:

someone will be right with you, have a seat in the lobby

1984 {2} - 1985 Sessions

c 100 M.P.H # 1 {Prince Vocal} (3:19)
c 100 M.P.H # 2 {Mazzarati Vocal} (7:24)
c All Day, All night (5:57)
c The Dance Electric (11:41)
c Desire (5:15)
c Feline {Instumental Vers} (4:07)
c High Fashion (5:00)
c Jerk Out {Mazzarati Vocal} (7:01)
c Lust U Always {Instrumental Version} (10:25)
c Miss Understood (5:21)
c Mutiny (3:52)
c Nothing Compares 2 U (4:39)
c Our Destiny (3:05)
c Roadhouse Garden (5:00)
c Susannah's Jajamas (4:15)
c Toy Box {Instrumental Version} (6:20)
c Yes (6:58)

1985 {2} - 1986 Sessions

c All My Dreams (7:19)
c Can I Play With U ? (4:09)
c Dream Factory # 1 (2:39)
c Eternity (3:57)
c Euphoria Highway (2:04)
c Girls And Boys (5:41)
c Go (1:05)
c Heaven (7:11)
c I Wonder U (1:34)
c It's A Wondeful Day (3:41)
c Kiss {Prince Demo Version} # 1 (1:16)
c Kiss {Mazarati Vocal} # 2 (4:03)
c Little Girl Wendy's Parade (2:11)
c Love Or Money (4:13)
c Neon Telephone (3:49)
c Old Friends 4 Sale # 1 {W/ Orchestra} (3:29)
c Old Friends 4 Sale # 2 {WO/ Orchestra} (3:43)
c Other's Here With Us (2:38)
c Sexual Suicide (3:34)
c Strange Relationship (4:24)
c Teacher, Teacher (3:05)
c Wonderful Ass # 1 (6:15)
c Wonderful Ass # 2 (10:02)
c U Gotta Shake Something (15:19)

1986 {2} Sessions

c A Place In Heaven # 1 {Prince Vocal} (2:43)
c A Place In Heaven # 2 {Lisa Vocal / Dream Factory Version} (2:43)
c Baby Go - Go (3:26)
c Big Tall Wall (4:45)
c Can't Stop This Felling I Got # 1 (2:05)
c Can't Stop This Felling I Got # 2 (2:05)
c Crucial # 1 "Sax" (7:14)
c Crucial # 2 "Guitar" (7:23)
c Crystal Ball # 1 (11:10)
c Crystal Ball # 2 (9:54)
c Crystal Ball # 3 {Dream Factory Version} (9:28)
c Data Bank # 1 (7:37)
c Data Bank # 2 (8:27)
c Dream Factory # 2 (3:27)
c Get On Up (4:32)
c Girl O' My Dreams # 1 (1:25)
c Girl O' My Dreams # 2 (1:25)
c I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (6:48)
c In A Large Room With No Lights (3:17)
c Interlude (0:58)
c Joy In Repetition # 1 (5:26)
c Joy In Repetition # 2 (5:02)
c Movie Star # 1 (4:07)
c Movie Star # 2 {Dream Factory Version} (4:25)
c Play In The Sunshine (5:02)
c Power Fantastic (6:07)
c Rebirth Of The Flesh (4:57)
c Sign O' The Times (3:40)
c Superfunkycalifragisexy (7:15)
c Train (4:18)
c Visions (2:11)
c We Can Funk # 1 (5:25)
c We Can Funk # 2 (5:25)
c We Can Funk # 3 (5:51)
c Witness 4 The Prosecution # 1 {Unfinished Dream Factory Version} (3:57)
c Witness 4 The Prosecution # 2 {Dream Factory Version} (3:57)
c Witness 4 The Prosecution # 3 {October 1986 Remake} (4:38)
c Wouldn't You Love To Love Me ? # 3 (6:03)

1987 -1988 Sessions

c Fuchia Light
c Girl Power
c Graffiti Bridge
c I Wish U Heaven
c If I Love U 2night # 1
c If I Love U 2night # 2
c The Line
c Melody Cool # 1 {Prince Vocal}
c Melody Cool # 2 {Mavis Staples Vocal}
c Positivity (7:45)
c The Sex Of Itc U




the times on songs may be incorect

im sure i missed some things too.....

SOURCE

65980 said:

There really aren't all too many 80s-era tracks on either release (comparitively speaking).

Crystal Ball is definately worth it - It has some of the strongest cuts from the 93-95 period, in addition to many great 80s tracks (the remixes are kinda superfluous, and the 'creative' editing in places is mis-guided). It's worth getting.

The Vault...O4FS, well, apart from the title track, there aren't any 80s tracks on it, and even that is the updated '91 version.

The Vault is a kind of 2nd part to Chaos & Disorder, on the latter Prince put together a rocky set, on the former, a more jazzy collection. Both have a few gems, but are a little uneven and dis-satisfying overall.

Thanks everyone. So, I guess the only way to hear this stuff is on bootleg. Let the hunting begin...

65980 said:

Crystal Ball is definately worth getting. You get to hear the title track, Dream Factory, Movie Star and Sexual Suicide in perfect quality, although there are slightly different bootleg versions circulating. Besides which, the later stuff on there is worth having; in fact I'd say a good 75% of Crystal Ball is top quality stuff.