Since we can only post threads about how great Prince is now...

... Isn't this 'performance' awesome? I've a question; when/where was the audio track recorded? I know that the last shows at Rotterdam were recorded with a view to making a film and the picture quality was poor, hence the re-recording of the visuals at Paisley Park. Where/when was the sound recorded. It's obviously not a live concert soundtrack - well, it's a highly manipulated 'live' audio track - was this recorded at paisley and then mimed to for the filming? Any answers would be gratefully received.

I enjoyed the entire dvd

The whole show is magnificent, from start to finish... but it's obvious that Prince is miming to the majority of it. Does anyone know where the audio comes from?

BoySimon said:

I did not think he was miming. Why do you say that?

Becasue he is. I didn't think the Paisley Park soundboard was clean enough at the time this was recorded to make it sound SO manufactured. The soundtrack to SOTT DVD is, I'm sure, a pre-recorded audio track they're miming to. With the possible exception to parts of Forever In My Life. Look at the actual footage from the Rotterdam concert that is used - the section in ICNTTPOYM when he's on the speakers at the side of the stage - it's mimed/pre-recorded audio they're fitting to the visual. I'm certain.

From Uptown's The Vault:

When examining the Sign O' The Times tour recordings from Europe, it was discovered that there wasn't enough separation between the channels on the multi-track tape. The decision was made to have most band members re-record their parts. Prince and band members worked on overdubs both at Sunset Sound and Paisley Park.

Performance scenes, including many closeups, are filmed at Paisley Park from July 18th to 23rd. A few hundred extras filled up the Soundstage as Prince and the band lip-synched their way through the pre-recorded concert recording. It was necessary to re-shoot the show since very little of the footage that had been shot in Europe could be used; the footage was too grainy and dark because they had not been able to get proper lighting on such short notice.

Always thought it was funny they re-recorded the concert and then mimed to it; surely they could have just re-recorded it live while re-performing it at Paisley and kill 2 birds with one stone!

Odd, yes... but, in essence it's still a live performance and it's pretty spectacular.

Love it!

My buddy, Mike Kloster, who was a staff assistant engineer Sunset Sound worked on the re-recordings in the summer of 1987.

BoySimon said:

I thought it looked like that, but I figured it might just by my crappy-a** hand me down VHS.

I loved the show! I imagined myself in Cat's place many times, especially on "If I was Your Girlfriend."

In some respects, it's a shame they didn't release this as a 'live' album... that would have gone some way to compensating the American public for the no-show tour too.

Take a look at the guitar strumming on Forver In My Life....and the piano playing on LRC....to name a couple.
BUT.....Still awesome though.....best 'concert' of his IMO.
The band's entrance on SOTT.
His guitar playing on SOTT.
Cat telling him to fuck off after he asks her out.
ICNTTPOYM guitar solo.
P on Sheila's drumming : "not bad for a girl".
The organ solo on Hot Thing.
The bands solo's...shelia's, Levi's, Miko's and Boni's.
The FIMY/It medley with P's screams and acoustic guitar.
The whole of IGBABN
and the power of The Cross at the end.

I'm off to watch it again

Love it! had it on video when i was younger and played it almost once a week for months, totally mesmorised. Got the dvd at xmas and watched it again. Amazing!

What does this Mike Kloster tell you of the time? I imagine the rush to get the movie out led to some extremely late nights for him.

luv4u said:

It was shot in the style of a movie, the takes (all the angles of housequake, hot thing for example) are available to watch how they did it. What you see is that they get ready, they roll a pre-recorded tape of the concert and then they act out the performance. Then they play the same song again for different takes and angles. The final product is more of an edited concert movie then a live documentary.

BoySimon said:

^ Sure. Every project is like that, though. When I assisted there I worked 14 hour days on average. He was just learning then. I think he had been assisting for only a short time. I never really asked him about these sessions specifically, but everyone at Sunset had 'strong' opinions of Prince sessions.

Switching time periods, I really shouldn't tell anyone about this, but I guess it's out there already: Mike is the reason we have a minute missing from the top of Cookie Jar.

Hey Jester,
I was wondering what other songs he performed that weren't in the movie?The band could have lip synched and filmed other tunes that weren't included.Were you aware of any of them when you worked for Prince?Hopefully someday,this film will get a proper,official domestic release on Dvd with bonus scenes.I know some of you folks agree with me on this.Peace!

The best ever!Love SOTT!

Why? what did Mike do? Knock the lid off of it! Sorry - really lame gag... couldn't resist.

DarylB said:

I wasn't there back then Daryl. I worked there in the early 90's. I know that Little Red Corvette and Kiss were filmed so I would assume the decision to exclude them was made around that time.

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[Edited 1/6/07 23:16pm]

BoySimon said:

He accidently printed tones on it. You probably have no idea what I'm talking about, but it just means he recorded over it.

Nice one. HOw long did you enjoy an association with Prince?

Jestyr said:

over his personal tape of it, or the master mixdown?

DarylB said:

Perhaps you don't know, it has been officially released on DVD - although with no extra material. NTSC via Alliance in Canada, available on amazon.ca, and PAL via Network (via Alliance) in Europe, available on amazon.co.uk. Just don't confuse those with the poorer 'bootleg' transfers from video that are out there.

metalorange said:

[b]Yep I have this version and it seems the best from what ive heard about the other cheaper and popular versions doing the round.

So good to finally be able to rewind tracks over and over at the touch of a button

BoySimon said:

I was associated with Sunset Sound - not Prince. Long after his time too.

ufoclub said:

Actually, it was the stereo master.

I think his performance of "If I Was Your Girlfriend" is pretty awesome.

Jestyr said:

did he then get fired?

Illustrator said: