I've been reading a bit about an original version of "I Can't Stop This Feeling I Got." I love the version on GRAFFITI BRIDGE -- a perfect little pop masterpiece that Prince can craft like nobody else. It's one of my favorite Prince tunes.

But I am curious: What is the original version like? Better? Worse? Similar? Less pop? More raw?

Any input, thanks in advance.

I prefer the 1986 version off the Dream Factory project. It´s part of a medley im a sense..the three songs follow each other in one take, i.e. I Can´t Stop This Feeling is followed by We Can Funk..


The first part is Girl Of My Dreams.

KoolEaze said:

"And if that don't work..Yeah, what?!"

And the glory of the old version of "We Can Funk" begins.

I've heard 2 different versions. The one in the 'medley' with We Can Funk following sounds pretty unpolished with no electric guitar instead the drums and a tinny synth to the front and the beat seems even quicker than the orginal. The second version is much more like the released version but still not quite so polished.

Much thanks for the insight. You people here are extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Thanks.

Cloreen said:

There are actually a few versions of the song. I think three or four, for sure. I like what's being called the second version(according to its bootleg release). It's heavier and still has the intro I like..

I like the released version the best, but it's a great song in any form.

there's one on the "crucial" cd.

The song dates back to, what, 1983 when he did it at the piano (along with "Strange Relationship" and "Cold Coffee and Cocaine" and others).

There's probably 3 different versions and multiple mixes of them. The '83, '86, and '89/'90 versions.

Spinlight said:

have to look up that one again...as far as I recall, that piano session ( Intimate Moments ) does not contain that song...the other ones you mentioned are on it though. Maybe my version is lacking that song.

KoolEaze said:

Maybe they're thinking "Gotta Shake This Feeling".

u2prnce said:

I like that one too.
It seems to be a wee bit faster too.
good track.

KoolEaze said:

It's not on Intimate Moments.

There is also an early instrumental version of this in circulation, circa 81-82 I believe. Bass / rhythm guitar to the fore, monotone synth line comes in half way thru' - good version!

I like the version on Grafitti Bridge but LOVE the medly of 'girl o my dreams/I Can't Stop/We Can FUnk.

He MUST MUST MUST release We Can Funk, that original version which is one of his funkiest songs ever.

And this is the reason why I never even attempted to delve into the world of Prince bootlegs and outtakes. It would be a never-ending quest. There is no end, so why bother to start running the race? Prince has a massive amount of official releases that entertain me to no end.

You guys have come up with how many versions of "Can't Stop This Feeling I Got"?I would kill to hear that instrumental version, but I would also kill myself if I had to track down all the versions of this great song.

A man with one watch knows what time it is; a man with two does not. I know "I Can't Stop This Feeling I Got" is a great song. You guys who have heard all the different versions can't decide which is the great song. Don't get me wrong, I envy you all for hearing the many versions, but, man, you guys are on a never ending chase that I sure don't want to start. The world of Prince bootlegs is probably more entertaining than I can imagine, but once you take that plunge, you have to swim forever to obtain all there is. Look at this thread. I wouldn't know where to begin to get all the versions of just this one song!

Cloreen said:

Simply choose those songs that you like the most and don´t bother with the rest, because it truly is a neverending quest...but well worth it.

For instance, Something In The Water is one of my favorite Prince songs ever, and the versions that are out there are all entirely different, so it´s like a completely different song in each case.

Like this: Something In The Water ( album version, cold, dark and electronic)

" " " ( different take, recorded a year later, a bit similar but with a haunting piano line)

"" "" "" ( that infamous warehouse rehearsal from 1984...probably the most interesting one, totally different with some of the most amazing guitar playing ever....my favorite version)

"" "" "" ( The ONA tour verison, light, breezy, laid back from 2002 , another great interpretation of this gem of a song)

"" "" "" ( the Musicology tour acoustic version from 2004)



And the We Can Funk version off of Dream Factory is so great it has to be heard by more people.

Anyway, once you hear more you´ll understand.Maybe he´ll release all this stuff one day without changing them too much but that´s just wishful thinking.

Collecting boots IS a never-ending task but don't let that put you off. It's a journey, an fascinating one - enjoy the journey, don't worry about reaching the end destination. You can never have too MUCH music.

Cloreen said:

Cloreen said:

it's not that difficult really.

all you'll ever need, for most people is the complete studio boots (up until NPGMC and exluding a few recently surfaced songs) which is available on the REVELATIONS DVD.

There is a nostalgia attached to the 86 demo version, but I think in truth, the version on Grafitti Bridge wipes the floor with it.

TWO QUESTIONS:

1. Does Prince play the guitar solo when he says "Miko" on this version of We Can Funk? He does say "miko" but we all know that usually doesn't mean anything cause Prince lays most of it down in the studio. My main reason for asking this is that the solo contains a particular blues lick which almost ALL rock guitarists play but which Prince has always, always neglected, probably deliberately in pursuit of his own unique "voice" on the guitar... and I like that he has, because it's a tired old lick. Guitarists will know what I am talking about, probably. It's a staple of Hendrix and Clapton, et al... Prince NEVER plays it however. Curiously, some of the rest of the solo DOES sound Prince like.

2. Secondly, where does the medley occur on Dream Factory and what are the other tracks in sequence for this version of DF?

Cheers to anyone who can answer these two.

JPW said:

Hey hey....I looked it up again, and as far as I can tell, it´s not a DF version but outtakes of that album, i.e. one disc contains a version of DF, the second disc consists of outtakes, and on that second disc you can find the above mentioned songs, so , if I´m correct, those songs were not really part of the original configuration of DF...but then again, I´m not an expert when it comes to configurations of shelved albums....


PS: That Missy show was so terrible it made the news over here in Germany...

See, I do remember Mr.Despues...

JPW said:

As far as I know, it is Miko.....remember Miko used to brag about being just as good as Prince on the guitar because Prince had supposedly taught him "everything" .

Cloreen said:

Then again, that is just the thing that makes it interesting to me! Do you own The Hits with U Got The Look on it? In the liner notes it says that Prince kept on re-recording the song to record a version that would please a female friend. And we just know ONE version...

To me, some songs I heard first I like better just cuz I heard it before the versions he actually released. Like Can't Stop, to me is much more fun with The Revolution than the solo version he put on Grafity Bridge, just because it sounds so cool in the midst of the superb medley (you know; like the first three songs on Parade).

To me, different versions to the same song just give me that insight into Prince genius I like so much. fi; I know two versions of Tick Tick Bang and I like BOTH...

It is indeed a neverending story, but that is what collecting is all about.

SquirrelMeat said:

I agree.The 86 version sounds unfinished.

I would love to hear a clean version of the old ones. the way they all mesh together is awesome. Like the first three tracks of Parade.

the old "we can funk" is vastly superior to the mess that made on to GB. ALso the orginal "Cant stop" has less of a "God" feel to it.

emesem said:

i just cleaned up those three tonight because of this thread. part of a project i have to get the best possible sound from the best bootlegs.

JPW said:

There are nice versions on The Work Enhanced.

u2prnce said:

hmm, thanks for the heads up!

never heard of that boot

Cloreen said:

That's a bit rubbish!

A man with one watch *thinks* he knows what time it is, but is lulled into a sense of security he would perhaps be better without; a man with two watches knows that he is capable of being fooled by a watch, which is a good thing.