This Rufus & Chaka Khan tune is an absolute classic in my opinion and it seems Prince has always been able to recognize the song's potential and convey its emotional burden by performing it several times live. And furthermore, if you ask me, you can view "Sweet Thing" musically and lyrically as a precursory to Prince's future ballads to come (speaking in past tense of course, the whole Back To The Future -syndrome...).

I have the early tapedeck demo with just Prince and his guitar, as well as a Paisley Park live performance from the year 1994 (I think). Can you recommend any other (bootleg) recordings, concert or rehearsal, of the song that are circulating? It would be nice to get one version with top-notch sound quality.

Well I wish...

The Cafe De Paris one is soundboard with Prince of course backing Chaka's main vocal.

If ya want it, boys, get in here thing...hope, it's a cheap thing, cheap thing...

...oops, wrong "Sweet Thing", I'm sure...

The Astoria Aftershow from March '95. This one has definitely a very good sound quality.

I hear you, Anxiety. What a song, what a song. That one as well.