How many versions of this are there??

I have The studio Version, and the crystal ball version.

anyone have a list?

There is a short studio version, the first one released.
There is a longer unreleased version of that same studio song.
There is the live Crystal Ball version.
There is a live from Toronto version.
And countless unofficial live versions, Prince used to play around with the beat and melody and tempo alot when he performed live earlier.

Beautiful Experience version
He also released a live CD single with a non-swearing version.

Officially released...

Days Of Wild (9:18) – / Crystal Ball (1998)
Days Of Wild (Original Mix) (11:02) – Prince / Days Of Wild (Live In Montreal) (Single) (2002)
Days Of Wild (Single Edit) (4:08) – Prince / Days Of Wild (Live In Montreal) (Single) (2002)
Days Of Wild (Concert Mix) (10:45) – Prince / Days Of Wild (Live In Montreal) (Single) (2002)
Days Of Wild (Live from Paisley Park 1999) (Xcerpt) (3:34) – / NPGMC Ahdio show download (2001)

Not officially released...

Days Of Wild (6:08) - Unreleased Studio Version
Days Of Wild (Album Edit) (3:51) - Unreleased Studio Version

Plus of course loads of live versions on various bootlegs.

BorisFishpaw said:

Was this one labeled album edit officially? I always think of this one as the album version somehow, the longer one sounds more like an extended version to me.

HamsterHuey said:

Well, it was never actually called "album edit", but it is the version that was
included on The Gold Experience up until it was pulled at the last minute.

BorisFishpaw said:

You serious? What version of The Gold Experience was that? Days Of Wild (3:51) was played on (Dutch) radio, together with some other tracks, officially leaked by Prince himself as part of fucking with WB, right? I remember Acknowledge Me on there.

Did any other of those early leaked songs vary from the versions that were intended for TGE or is just Days Of Wild different?

Maybe it is cuz I heard it before the longer version, but I like that short version way better; it's got more power. I never thought I'd say this, but long ain't always better...

The 3:51 version was included on several early configurations of The Gold
Experience. It was still included on the final version that Prince took with him
onto various TV shows (when it looked like the album might not ever get
released). It was also still present on the advance copy played to various
music journalists prior to the album's release. Days Of Wild was literally
pulled from the album just before it was pressed. The tracklisting looked
like this...

01. Pussy Control (5:59)
02. NPG Operator (0:12)
03. Endorphinmachine (4:07)
04. Shhh (7:18)
05. We March (4:49)
06. NPG Operator (0:05)
07. Days Of Wild (3:51)
08. NPG Operator (0:18)
09. The Most Beautiful Girl In The World (4:25)
10. Dolphin (4:59)
11. NPG Operator (0:20)
12. Now (4:30)
13. NPG Operator (0:17)
14. 319 (3:19)
15. NPG Operator (0:10)
16. Shy (4:04)
17. Billy Jack Bitch (5:32)
18. Eye Hate U (5:54)
19. NPG Operator (0:45)
20. Gold (7:23)

.
[Edited 7/16/07 14:26pm]

Ah, I misunderstood. My fave version IS the album version. Kewl. My ears do not deceive me. The other version sounds like a version with ad-ons, instead of a whipped down longer version, ah la Superfunkycalifragisexy.

The longer version is actually the exact same mix, just unedited. It may sound
slightly different, but that's just because it's not circulating in the same quality
as the album edit (which is straight from CD).

My opinion is as follows...

The Dutch radio version is superior to all that is/has been circulating. It is fuller and juicier and is also slightlty different in terms of background noice (sound effects) during the intro. This has always lead me to believe that either it was different, or that other "album" versions were altered or in mono...

Whatever the case, there IS a difference... IMO

horrible song. I try to forget it ever happened.