i am new on the site and am wondering if i am the only one that is in love with the original version as opposed to the one released on graffiti bridge. i was just listening to the original and could not help to think about how much better it was than the graffiti bridge one.

You mean the 1986 version? Because that isn't the original version, and IIRC, the GB version is based on the original (?).



And, I'll say the GB version, just because it's been so long since I heard any version, I can't remember what the 1986 version sounds like.
[Edited 8/29/07 10:47am]

the 1986 version is far superior to the released version ...
This 1986 version is so cool, but the overproduction of the GB-album distroyed the coolness completely.

I adore George Clinton, but he didn't add nothing too this song.
[Edited 8/29/07 10:55am]

there is an original version from early 80's which was then given to George Clinton (in 89?) and became what was released.

There is a different middle version that was done for a musical idea in 1986.

There is a bootleg version of the graffiti version without any input from
clinton, and it is cool. Is this the true original version?

sorry for the misunderstanding. i meant the 86 version because i completely forgot that he wrote it earlier than that. thanks for the reminder.

??? the 1986 versions is 100% different to the released one.
It's much slower, bassier and less polished. It got this great guitar-loop too

ThataintFunky said:

i will definitely agree with you on the guitar loop. i think that is what made me so into the song in the first place.

Hmmm... I like them both for different reasons.

I know it sometimes gets criticised around these parts but I love the Graffiti Bridge version. The way it builds and builds and builds...

But I do love the 1986 version too. Especially Miko's guitar playing.

Great song!

I like it

I LOVE the GB version, I consider it one of the highlights of that irrelevant album...

I can't even hear George Clinton on the released version... Seriously, where the hell is he supposed to be?

MattyJam said:

Just around the corner

I believe the 1986 version was played on New Years Eve at the request of Big Chick who really loved the song. That is by far the best version. The GB version sucks in comparison.

MattyJam said:

They both sing half the song ...
Their voices are quit similar, but after George’s first couplet Prince takes over ... or was it the other way around?
But they both have equal parts in the song ...

But the time I’m writing this, I doubt it too. I have to listen to the GB version tonight!
[Edited 8/30/07 6:00am]

ThataintFunky said:

Yep you took the words right out of my mouth. After hearing a shitty bootleg version of the song when I heard it was coming out official with George too boot I couldn't have been happier....That is until I heard the GB version and well let's just say I don't really listen to that song too much now a days.

Peace

JoeTyler said:

Irrelevant? That cd had three very big singles for Prince. Theives in the Temple, Round and Round and Melody Cool. Prince said in an interview that he was trying to do a Quincy Jones type of vibe where he produced other artist and the like.

I always looked at it as a cool experiement and the movie as a way for Prince to shoot multiple music videos all at the same time while saving a boat load of money in the process.

The 1986 version is far superior to the released version. Just listen to the laid back funky little guitar solo by Miko Weaver after Prince says "Miko, miko..." wonderful!

chiltonmusic said:

It's a top 5 album for me. Irrelevant? How could an album with Thieves in the Temple, Joy in Repetition, The Question of U, and New Power Generation be irrelevant?

And to answer the original question, I love the GB version, but the two outtakes that I"ve heard are just amazing. I especially love how, in one version, Prince segued from Can't Stop into WCF with "And if that don't work..." "Yeah, what?" That was hot.

Efan said:

And what about Still would stand all time, the title track, Shake and Love Machine??

Graffiti Bridge

there r many versions of this song ranging from the original 1986 version, the graffiti bridge versions (i love that 10 min version) and a version featuring the pfunk all stars that was intended 4 hey man smell my finger

I've got a few versions, but my fave is the one that starts "An if that don't work? yeah, what..."

JoeTyler said:

Okay, I'll give you Shake and the title track, but I love all the others. It's a great album.

Does everyone know that the '86 version is part of a sequence of three '86 version songs that flow together...

Girl of My Dreams>Can't Stop This Feeling I got>We Can Funk

After this superior punchy organ featuring version of "Can't Stop", it slows down with the organ trailing, and Prince says "If that don't work." "Yeah, what?" responds an unbeliever (prince's voice again?) and then counts the 2 and 3 into the deep dark version of "We Can Funk".

ufoclub said:

yep

ufoclub said:

i would have loved to hear an album recorded in the same tone as these three songs. i think it would have made an impact on the music of the time.

Mico!

And that's all I have to say about this topic. Great slow funky crunchy groove.

I prefer the GB version, but I also really like the stripped down simple nature of the non-album version. The GB version just gave it more "wierdness" and that's what I like about it.

I absolutely love the 1986 version. I love it when he sings "I could teach you things about your b-b-body, baby..." and the way his voice sounds singing the Kama Sutra part...like he almost can't get the words out or something.

This version is very sexy compared to the Graffiti Bridge version.

dustysgirl said:

I love that version. It makes whats on the album pale in comparison.

I was just thinking man P probably hates we even have this version and to a lot of us its so much better than the album one. I am beginning to think people are right at least sometimes when they say he pretties up/polishes/overproduces stuff sometimes. Takes all the rawness and originality out of some stuff.
[Edited 9/1/07 23:41pm]