I must have listened to SOTT many thousands of times since it came out.

For the last 5 years or so though I've not played the album, but I've been listening to the songs in the Lovesexy and SOTT rehearsals and shows on heavy rotation.

So last night, for the 1st time in ages, I put SOTT disc 1 in.

And I couldn't listen to it.

Not only was the sound quality so bad, especially compared to those lovely uncompressed rehearsal tapes, but the music sounded so damn slow and measured. It was like listening to a 45 on 33.

I think I must've hard wired my brain with the live versions. Now I know how good this album is and I'm horrified that I've done it in for myself.




I feel your pain - it kinda happened to me too. Have a listen to the mid nineties live stuff for two weeks and then you'll welcome the relative calm artistry and craft.



I think I need to go cold turkey on all the SOTT tracks in any format for at least a year to reset the damage.

Any other suggestions gratefully appreciated!

wickyb said:

yeah, mine sounds slow too, especially POP LIFE. It's not you

Dayclear said:

Now i'm confused ??

jasontate said:

but seriously..i also think sign is way to slow and "thin"...the live versions are way better..remember forever in your life?

jasontate said:

but seriously..i also think sign is way to slow and "thin"...the live versions are way better..remember forever in your life?

101 said:

yep, I agree on that one! I think that's one of the most powerful performances of ANYof his songs EVER!

The SOTT version is very good but it's by far not as spectacular as the live version...

I them Sign o' The Times rehearsals...Some are so loud and clear

I have a great sound board recording, but have no idea where it's from. Plus there is no interaction with the crowd, so maybe this is one of the rehersals. It seems pretty true to the recorded stuff too, no extra bits added, but the sound is really rich. It's got Purple rain mid way through - does this add up?

jasontate said:

Sounds like it..i should know this by heart,
but there are like 3 or 4 what sound like complete rehearsals where they run through the whole show

Some of the shows sound a lil better then the rest, but all of them are soundbord.

if you need help for sure...
print out the set list and we should be able to give you a date

mplsmike said:

Here goes:

Sign o the times
Play in the sunshine
Little red corvette
Housequake
G's and B's
Slow love
Never take the place of your man
Hot thing
Now's the time (This is absolutley brilliant)
Let's go crazy
When doves cry
Purple Rain
1999
The Cross
It's gnna b a beautiful night

jasontate said:

This is a cd called '87 Laments' - Live in Paris on Speedball records

All of Prince's music pre-2000's has very poor sound quality. I have to turn up the volume so much louder than most other cd's. Something needs to be done, but he's probably waiting until he needs money again before he re-issues them.