Let's face it: in less than 2 years, "For You" will be 30 years old. And if Prince and WB/Rhino come to some happy terms, maybe we'll get re-mastered versions of his WB CDs. Some other artists have gotten the deluxe treatment for re-issues of their LPs, sometimes manifesting themselves as extras-filled double discs. Let's say, for sake of conversation, that the first 10 or so Prince LPs got such a treatment. What could fill out a second disc for each one? A soundboard show? Extended versions? B-Sides? Goodies from the vaults? And what of 5.1 mixes or even video (i.e. Rhino's recent wonderful treatment of Genesis's catalog)?

Of course, if all of these got a two disc treatment, then Purple Rain should get a 3 CD set, maybe hand-in-hand with a Special Edition of Ice Cream Castle?

Ideas?

Personally I'd like a 30th Anniversary edition of Parade:

Disc 1 Original Sequence Remastered
Disc 2 B Sides, alternate takes & unreleased gems from Parade sessions
Disc 3 The Family - featuring Prince on vocals

Awesome

Purple Rain:

WOW, this could be mindblowing:

Disc 1 Original Sequence Remastered (Incl extended versions of The Beautiful Ones and Computer Blue)

Disc 2 B Sides, Extended jams, and unreleased gems from the PR recording sessions

Disc 3 Remastered DVD Benefit Concert for Minnesota Dance Theatre, First Avenue, Minneapolis - 3rd August 1983

I think this is a great thread...am interested to see peoples ideas for anniversary editions for all of P's albums

jstar69 said:

Great idea!

Here's what I daydream about (and it may take a couple of posts since I'm doing this around my son's naps!).

-For You. A single CD. Bonus: demos? the tunes submitted to WB to secure the deal? Aren't there earlier polished versions of "Just as Long as We're Together" and "Soft and Wet"? Also "disco" mixes? Were there any official recordings made of his brief promo tour?

-2nd LP. 2 CDs. Bonus on CD 1: "Sexy Dancer" ext.; was there any other promo/ext/alt versions from this LP?. CD 2: the Atlanta show at the Omni

-Dirty Mind. 2 CDs. Bonus on CD 1: I'm a little stumped here. Maybe his SNL version of "Uptown"? Or should that wait for a better, more complete DVD comp? "Gotta Stop Messin' About," since it was supposedly recorded during these sessions? I've read of outtakes, but am never certain which ones come from which sessions. CD 2: the Ritz, NYC, or the Paris show.

-Controversy. 2 CDs. Bonus on CD 1: the ext. version of "Let's Work," of course, but like Dirty Mind, I can't think of a whole lot of obvious stuff. CD 2: I now lot of people will suggest the New Orleans show but I'm partial to the Saginaw, MI, show (my FAVORITE version of "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?")

-1999. 2 CDs (at least!). CD is the dbl LP proper. I don't think there's enough room for the b-sides. CD 2: the b-sides and ext. version of "Little Red Corvette"; demos galore. CD 3: a live show. I'm partial to the first half of the tour when the songs were a little less rambling (something strange happened after the beg. of 1983 and--to my ears--he started to cut some songs too short and let others run too long; also, I think Dez was giving less and less to the show. Just my opinion). Here's a crazy notion: a recreation of the whole show, as a dbl disc set: CD 1: Vanity 6 and The Time; CD 2: Prince and The Revolution. Hmmmm...

-Purple Rain. The skys the limit on this. I LOVE the idea of getting that benefit show as a DVD. One of my alltime favorite shows of his/theirs. They were on fire. CD 1 could become a full 80 min. with all the ext/b-sides, since he turned it into an artfrom about now. Or would that be too long and bleed over? And what of the alt. versions of about half the LP, even tho sometimes the differences are slight?

I'll add more ideas later since things only get more sophisticated!

I can see this discussion is lighting up the boards, but so be it. Here's more of my suggestions and maybe someone will toss in more ideas.

-Around the World in a Day. 2 CDs. CD 2 could be all the extended versions and b-sides, which is a shame that so much time would be eaten up by that 20 min version of "America" (yawn). Of course there's a lot of outtakes or demos but little in the way of live material. The videos are few also, tho the most exciting by far is that live version of "America." (Really, the easiest solution for all this video is a thorough, chronilogical DVD.)

-Parade. 2 CDs. (As much as I like the prior suggestion of a version with Prince's demos for the Family LP, I think there should be a Special Edition of THAT, too!) CD 2: Like the prior LPs, there's plenty of extended versions and b-sides. Maybe a third CD could be the Roadhouse Sessions? Or a live show, whether it's a DVD of the Detroit show (the complete show), augmented by the Revolution's encore appearance with Sheila E., OR the First Avenue show from March '86 (if a clean version exists). That, to me, is the final word on the Revolution, hearing them in jam-mode, with Prince content to let the songs go on long since he's in a safe place and still working out the setlist. (Hell, it's the show where he announces the creation of Paisley Park!)

-Sign o' the Times. 2 CDs. I expect a lot of people would want 3 CDs for this, but I have my doubts that it could hold up. True, a second CD could be only b-sides and extended versions (even tho it's sadly the beg. of him allowing others to handle such chores) and Crystal Ball outtakes. I suppose a third CD could be the soundtrack to the film OR the First Avenue show before the tour OR the New Year's Eve show when Miles showed up OR even a rehearsal, but I'm not sure.

-LoveSexy. 2 CDs. I hope we all agree it's time for this CD to be tracked! And a lot of the b-sides and extended versions are wonderful. CD 2 could be those, I guess. A whole show, from Europe or Japan would fill up another 2 CDs, tho a 4 CD set for LoveSexy would be a hard sell. Pairing it off with the Black Album? Hmmmm....

I fizzle after that, idea-wise. I do think the first 3 Time CDs--especially What Time is It?--could get some kind of deluxe treatment. Hell, they were all big sellers. Would pairing off Vanity 6 and Apollonia 6 help their sales? Sheila E. early LPs could be stretched out with some live material and b-sides ("Too Sexy"? Smokin!). What about a Madhouse double disc with 8, 16 and both 24s, plus the great b-sides? Jill Jones's LP has a loyal following and it took me a few years, but now I'm a BIG fan; I'd love to see that get souped up some. And like I said before The Family LP needs extra special care because it got so overlooked the first time around. It's a drag so many of these LPs DIDN'T make $$ the first time around, bec. there's no way I could see a label giving it such attention now, unless of course Prince took the attitude of, "Look, you want me to play ball with the big sellers? OK, then let's do it right, straight across the board." Sadly, that doesn's seem like a likely thing.

I would jizz my pants if Parade was re-mastered with extras.


But do you think Prince would allow this considering the language and overall themes of his earlier work?

saltobello said:

Now, I'm feeling old.....I would love to hear 1999 re-mastered!
[Edited 10/18/07 19:10pm]

Great work people - keep the ideas (dreams) comin'

Imago said:

Drat. I hadn't thought of that. Shucks. That' a good point.

saltobello said:

Stranger things have happened - Will depend on where he is at that time!!!!

Will be interesting over the next couple of years 2 see if Prince supports his back catalogue and remasters(as is) or whether he massacre's his risque stuff and ruins it by editing... myself hope he embraces his legacy 4 what it was and what it is 2day and treats it with the respect it deserves. Couldnt see the point in changing and ruining what made him what he is 2day.

That would be so great if WB Records remastered or re-released all of Prince's WB albums. They are doing it for Genesis so why not? I always thought they should put out box sets of Prince's albums in 5 year intervals. For example the 1st box set could be called " Prince: The Complete WB Recordings:1978-1983" And they should come in a nice box and have brand new photos and liner notes all original album artwork remastered sound and bonus tracks live tracks B Sides abandoned cutting room floor tracks and demo's. Is anybody else feelin' this idea?! I say we write a petition to WB and get the ball rollin'! Prince's albums have desereved the "deluxe treatment" for a long, long time now! His fans deserve it too! I would die and go to heaven if they put out all of his material from 1987!!! The Black Album,Camille, The Dream Factory, Crystal Ball, Sign O The Times! Personally I think it would be awesome if WB reissued The Black Album and Lovesexy together as a "two-fer" special package. Those two albums have always belonged together and have always complemented each other! I don't want to get too excited becasue it may not happen, but I really think something BIG is gonna happen in 2008 for 2 reasons
1. Prince is turning 50
2. and it is his 30 year anniversary as a recording artist/musician
Don't worry fellow Rainbow Children, our beloved purple one will definately have a big surprise up his sleeve... count on it!

You know them DualDisc's (cd/dvd) Are cool too
Imagine having the album on one side and all the album videos on the other
But sure a 2 cd set with extras would rule even more

I'd like a box set of all the singles on imitation vinyl CDs in paper sleeves that replicate the original artwork - but add all the available versions. Like how the 'Pop Life' single had different mixes on the UK and US 12", well put them all on one CD single with slightly altered artwork.

I also think 'The Crystal Ball', 'Camille' and 'Sign 'O' The Times' should be released remastered as a single unit of some sort. Maybe five CDs and a DVD in a box. Similarly, 'Roadhouse Garden', 'Around The World In A Day' and 'Parade' all seem to belong together in my mind.

Fun suggestions from every1. I'm not getting my hopes up.

Great suggestions all round... but reading these kinds of threads only makes it more frustrating that we ain't getting any of this... wake up P.!

I loved Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run 30th Anniv." box:

Disc 1) Original album remastered
Disc 2) DVD: documentary on the making of the album
Disc 3) DVD: complete concert from "Born to Run tour" 1975

and apparently he's planning a similar one for "Darkness on the Edge of Town" in 2008 (another 30 year anniversary).

The stuff a fan's dreams are made of right?

Imago said:

me too
[Edited 10/19/07 6:06am]

MetalMonkey said:

It'll be a regular cum-fiesta!

jstar69 said:

Why wait until 2016? Let's have a 21st Anniversry edition

Ya know, I thought I heard way back in the "Slave" days that according to Prince's contract, his masters would revert back to him 30 years after the particular album's release date. Was that not true?

MartyMcFly said:

Wow. I think a multi-disc set for Born to Run is a no-brainer--as is Purple Rain or 1999--and I'm sure many money-obsessed CD execs would agree. But a multi disc set for Darkness, which sold poorly upon its release, is a different story. It's great, I think, but that Born to Run box must have sold awfully well to consider a similar treatment for anything other than Born in the USA.

All these multi-disc sets are encouraging.

piepie1976 said:

I remember that being commonly stated as fact. If that's the case, maybe WB/Rhino will have to negotiate to release a remastered 'For You' next year? It's interesting that all the current WB album pressings are temporarily out of print. Are new versions about to take their place?

I think WB should re-release and remaster the following albums from Prince and his associates from the year 1984 and give them all some kind of "deluxe-treatment"

-Ice Cream Castles- The Time-1984
-Apollonia 6- Apollonia 6-1984
-The Glamourous Life-Sheila E.-1984

-Purple Rain 25th anniversary CD 2 discs prefferably
The B-Sides from the "Purple Rain/1984" era:
1.God
2.Another Lonely Christmas
3.17 Days
4.Erotic City
5.Modernaire (The Dez Dickerson Band)
6.Father's Song/Computer Blue (bridge) (John L. Nelson)
7.instrumental synthesizer/orchestral score by Michel Colombier if possible (which is a shame no one talks about him or his contributions to Purple Rain, listen to it in the film, it's BEAUTIFUL and haunting.

-new liner notes by Albert Magnoli and Prince and The Revolution
- a track by track song commentary by Prince
-a looking back 25 years retrospective
-the impact of Purple Rain on pop music and culture/society over the last 25 years.

Prince needs to wake up and give his fans what they want! I mean yeah I like Planet Earth for what it is, but I really want his old music to be given the deluxe treatment it deserves! For Christ sake! Michael Jackson gets some kind of special treatment every time "Thriller" reaches some milestone or anniversary benchmark. Doesn't "Purple Rain" deserve the same treatment? I don't know about you all, but I think it's LONG overdue!

By the way for all you MJ lovers out there. I don't care what all the critics in N.Y. say. Thriller might have sold the most copies of any album. But I go for quality and I think Purple Rain is hands down THE GREATEST POP ALBUM OF ALL TIME !!! PERIOD!!! (In my not so humble opinion)
[Edited 12/8/07 20:50pm]

saltobello said:

In less than 2 years??? Try in less than 5 months!! "For You" was released in April 1978!

If history has taught us anything, I wouldn't hold my breath or get my hopes up waiting for anything special.

I think U2's Joshua Tree is the new gold standard in special editions. There were three versions of the release:

1. For the casual fan: Just the album, remastered with no bonus tracks.
2. For the more hard-core: A two disc set. Disc 1 is the remastered album while disc 2 has all the b-sides, alternate versions and out-takes.
3. For the die-hard: All of the above plus a DVD with concert footage & videos. It also comes with a 56 page hardback embossed book that includes photos, lyrics and thoughts on the album.

http://www.amazon.com/Jos...855&sr=8-1

Pretty much everything in Prince's catalog deserves that kind of treatment. Disc 1: The remaster, Disc 2: b-sides, remixes, and out-takes, Disc 3: The videos and live performances.

I would love any special editions of the albums. I doubt that will happen because Prince does not like to look backwards much, and turning 50 probably does not mean that much to him. But we will see.

Some demos would be fun, especially the songs he wrote for other people.

Maybe Prince would write a memoir and talk about all the songs. Serious treatments have been done of other writer, I thinking of books done Stephen Sondheim's work. Similar analysis could be done on Prince's catalog. But i would like to hear Prince's analysis of his own work. But we will see.

He will do something next year and I am sure it will be great.

I would love the originals to be released with a second cd, of live versions of the same songs...
[Edited 12/9/07 4:14am]

Batman Deluxe

Disk One
1. The Future
2. Electric Chair
3. The Arms Of Orion
4. Partyman
5. Vicki Waiting
6. Trust
7. Lemon Crush
8. Scandalous
9. Batdance

Disk Two
1. The Future (remix)
2. Electric Chair (remix)
3. I Love u in me (B-side of Arms of Orion)
4. Partyman (The Purple Party Mix)
5 Partyman (Partyman Music Mix)
6. Partyman (The Video Mix)


Disk Three
1. Feel U Up (Long Stroke)
2. Scandalous (the Sex Suite)
3. Sex
4. Batdance (the Batmix)
5. Batdance (Vikki Vale mix)
6. 200 Balloons
7. Batdance Video
8. Partyman Video
9 Scandelous Video

Aren't cd's on the way out?. It would be great to hear some of those unreleased songs though, been dying to hear them.