Released as b-sides to the single "Purple Rain", (well at least the vocal version her in the states. The instrumental was a b-side as an import), this to me represents P while he was in a certain zone. This zone where basically everything he cut was bangin', was through 81 and 85. Of course I'm not saying that he didn't record great material after 85, because of course he did. But during 1981-1985, this material set him up for the legend he would later become and the legend that he is to this very day. P recorded sooo much GREAT material during this period, not only for himself, but for others. It was like he knew he had to get all of this great material cut while he was still a "rude boy". Before superstardom and "all eyes on me" truly happened. Just my opinion, one that I've always believed. The performance of "God", instrumental and vocal version is blinding. He is so "on". His guitar playing on the instrumental is one of my favorites of his. Although it evokes the hell out of Carlos Santana, he takes it somewhere else. And his playing on all of the other instruments is a testimony to years of recording and playing. The vocal on "God" is almost scary. This is a period where P just said "fuck it" and totally let himself rip, totally free. Anyway, who else digs these two different versions of "God"?

i find it pretenious and more importantly, boring and pointless and it sounds too rushed (which may be part of the appeal to some)


I actually prefer "solo"
[Edited 6/6/06 16:47pm]

the fuck "solo" got to do with it? that was random.

Yeah, the instrumental version of God stands among P's crowning achievements. I wish it had been released in the U.S. so more Prince fans would have heard it. It's omission on the b-sides collection is criminal.

smokeverbs said:

I always compare it to "solo". As an instrumental, it is quite nice actually.

smokeverbs said:

I agree with ya, smoke. Why P didn't release the instrumental in the U.S. is insane. I can't believe P wouldn't want folks in America to hear this.

thesexofit said:

I can dig it. "solo" is cool too. I don't like it nearly as well as "God" but, u know.

I agree. I had to buy it twice when I realised the one I had wasn't the instrumental. Gorgeous.

I like both, but I absolutely love the instrumental version. I love this kind of jazz-like, free and loose approach with his drums and piano here (similar to the first version of "Old Friends 4 Sale"). And as far as I can tell, he's playing some really unusual melodies/scales on the guitar. Love the guitar sound, too.

I think somebody mentioned a note in the vocal version as propably the highest Prince has ever sung.

calldapplwondery83 said:

For those reasons, I have loved that song since high school. Couldn't have put it better. It's like witnessing a musical storm, from beginning to end.

I like both, but the instrumental is stunning.

Must remember to dig out the 12-inch and spin that later today.

calldapplwondery83 said:

yeah, though it's close to not being a note at all. a sort of screech that turns into a note.

The instrumental gives me a Pavlovian reaction after watching Prince slip his hand into Apollonia's red panties so many times as it played in the background.

Every time I hear it, I drool...in my pants.

FunkMistress said:

While it doesn't quite give me the same reaction, it's a great track. You summed it up nicely, bg.

Both versions are great. I remember it very well from the PR tour. I had not heard the song prior to the concert and remember leaving thinking, wow - gotta find that one. I enjoy the vocal perfmornace for the screams at the end but I think I like the instrumental a little more just for the overall texture of the song.

Yes, I've already told everyone that GOD the instrumental will be played at my funeral. I love that song.


M

calldapplwondery83 said:

P IS playing an exotic scale alternating between a penatonic, but the exotic is much more pronounced. He used this scale quite a bit during 83-84, i.e "When Doves Cry", "Darling Nikki". But the song that comes closest to this instrumental that was also from this period is "Another Lonely Christmas". Listen to the 12' version. Musically and the way it's played, is very similar to "God". P's guitar leads and his runs are damn near exact in both songs. It's just in different keys. Especially P's drumming. He employs the same loose pocket in both songs as well. But yeah, listen to the way the instrumental ends, with the sustain chord and that little marching drum fill he puts underneath it. Very majestic. When I was a kid, I WORE this version out, learning the solos. I wouldn't get up untill I had it.

ThreadBare said:

Funny that u should use the word "storm". I heard that P used to try to make music that evoked the sound of rain. He would include the sound of rain in actual songs. It's on the Vanity 6 album as well. Ever notice the "face" that appears in the rain on the backside picture of the 12' sleeve? The beginning of the vocal version of God sounds spooky as hell. It really doesn't sound like singing at all. His experimenting in the studio with the use of echo, he put to great use on this version.

blackguitaristz said:

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. All through high school, ALC and the instrumental -- and Alexis De Paris -- were my textbooks. Until, that is, I got up the nerve to check out Hendrix.

ThreadBare said:

U guys are amazing - it wasthe same way with me - P (and my uncles/grandfather/greatuncles who all play/played guitar) and that whole Purple Rain period got me into guitar big time and THEN I got into Hendrix. Then, Eddie and one of his "children", Vito Bratta.

I love guitar talk

JesseDezz said:

I can dig it! See, I was already into Hendrix before I got into P. That's how I knew where P was comng from as a guitarist and his image and the whole 9. I could spot who P was biting off of right away, cuz so many of P's influences are mine and even as a kid, I was already up on Santana and Eddie Hazel and Ernie Isley. So, whenever P would break off into those vibes in his music, I could spot it right away.

blackguitaristz said:

Great thread.I love these types of jams from P.He is not the greatest drummer in the world,but it is very distinctive and influential to me.The long version of Crystal ball is another example.I just love his drumming. When P gets down,there are not many I'd wanna hear.His quirky solo performances are the bomb.And both versions of GOD have a tension to them.If you didn't know it was the same guy playing everything you'd almost feel there must be something going down behind the scenes with the band.Almost like how The Police were hating each other before they broke up.The thing is,ultimately,the music thrived on this.These tracks are flat-out masterstrokes in the P canon.They contain elements of quirkiness,claustraphobia,eeriness,pain,anger,reverence,and sexuality. This is the essence of Prince.

I was never too crazy about the vocal version, but I recently heard the instrumental for the first time and it blew my mind. In fact, it's now one of my favorites.

I also agree with whoever said that it evokes an image of Appollonia in those red panties, which definitely isn't a bad thing.