I was reading Prince by jon ewing the other night when I came across this part and I quote."The national enquirer published an interview with chick huntsburry-the huge bodyguard who had left princes employ as the result of a very expensive cocaine addiction- which portrayed prince as a paranoid, workaholic religious maniac who had lost touch with real life. The Headline ran: "The real prince. Hes trapped in a secret bizarre world of terror". Has anyone read this interview or do you have it if so can you post it here so I can read it thanks.

I do not have it, but that interview hurt Prince pretty bad. He wrote part of the original unreleased version of Old Friends 4 Sale about this. The lyrics are pretty obvious; former bodyguard sells story to tabloids.

I think that after Chick died Prince changed the lyrics not to hurt his family further.

The sun, the sun set in my mind this evening
4 someone who said they would die 4 me
Sold some, they sold some more pictures and all my little memories
Chump change is 2 unravel the mystery, ah ha
But life is no fun, life ain't no fun without fantasy
Some things are better left unsaid
And some people are better left untrusted

Prince also played a benefit gig for his family following Chick's death.

Sad....People should drink Pepsi instead.

giotto said:

Which goes to show. Prince was very lov when recording the original Old Friends 4 Sale. Chick's subsequent death must have had an influence on the re-recording with new vocals.

Which is too bad, as the original version is probably the most beautiful vocal recording I heard him do, ever. All that hurt, the breaking voice; amazing.

Dayclear said:

Sorry for a thread not about Prince's booty.

HamsterHuey said:

I agree:"all that hurt" pouring out of him was a big part of the reason it wasn't released in the first place.

Which raises the question: does an official/commercial release necessarily validate a song of this calibre? Or aren't we just content that we are able to listen to the song and enjoy it for what it is?

I just listened to the released version once. It felt so insincere I never touched it ever after.

And it's hard to explain to people that just know the released versions of songs like Joy In Repetition. I love the song with the original, unmixed intro SO much, that the version of Graffity Bridge sounds... torn apart somehow.

And I know, the version I love is illegal, but no matter how it got out; it got out. It taints my opinion of the Graffity Bridge album AND the version of Joy on there. I still skip it. Consequently, it was the first Prince album that disappointed me. Prince'd probably say it was my own fault, for listening to boots in the first place.

But I am SO glad those songs are out there; so glad Crystal Ball was there in 1988 to help me through some hard personal times.

HamsterHuey said:

We're going wildly off topic but I find your comments insightful.

It's interesting that having access to unreleased versions of songs has forever coloured your perception and evaluation of the released versions. Perhaps you wouldn't be skipping the Graffiti Bridge versions of those songs if those demos hadn't seen the light of day; showing that Prince at least seems to have a point in wanting to keep those tracks under wraps.

I still think it's a good thing that outtakes are within our reach, though.
The more the merrier.

giotto said:

I wish that Prince would realise these songs are out there ANYWAYS and that we would love to pay HIM for them, not bootleggers.

I do not know how these songs got out, but I had Crystal Ball beginning of 88, so it must be a source close to Prince himself.
I mean, Prince has not been averse to leaking stuff himself, if it could get him out of his WB contract.
The song Crystal Ball is still such a staple in my canon of songs that touch my soul, as is Joy In Repetition. I rather listen to the boot than the released version.
Some cases it's different. I like the released version of Purple Rain better and the released version of Sexual Suicide. And It's Gonna be A Beautiful Night. All the better for it.

That is sad 2 hear,but i doubt it has any proof. legally the bodygaurd has no right 2 comment on his ex-employers personal business. Besides, was that interview between dolly pardon gets abducted by aliens and big foot seen runing thru NY?
[Edited 7/21/08 9:20am]

I remember that epose being everywhere when if first came out. Prince had to do a bit of damage control because of it, which is why he did the RollingStone interview.

He was clearly very hurt by Chic's betrayal. This was his closest confidant after all - very much a father - son like relationship. A few years later Chic expressed regret at having sold Prince out like that, saying drugs were the only reason he did it.

What I find absolutely amazing is that Prince forgave Chic for it immediately, offering him his job back and even keeping him on the payroll for god only knows how long after he left.

giotto said:

Prince is a good person regardless as to what some folks think. He took the high road, not many employers would have done what he did. Trust in God, He never disappoints you....man may not intend to but guess what "he does".

giotto said:

Yep, and when over 3000 of us younger fans called Paisley Park to say we weren't old enough (you had to be 21+)to attend the benefit or couldn't afford to (it was $100 per head), he performed an open rehearsal for us at the civic center arena for $10 a person and asked that we bring in food to donate to local food shelves. He didn't have to do that for us. I don't care what anyone says - he can really be a sweet and stand up guy!
[Edited 7/22/08 20:03pm]

HamsterHuey said:

ditto-i just didnt understand why P would release THAT version of old friends 4 sale

the original alongside JOY and ALL MY DREAMS cemented his genius-those songs fed his "unreleased canon" ever since -that period of 84-86 was just astounding

and your right-crystal ball is just unbelieveable-i remeber being 14 and just being hypnotised-one of my all time fave songs

HamsterHuey said:

it was meant for tame answer

Dayclear said:

This is what we have the quote button for!

[grin]

jonylawson said:

Well, the main reason, I guess, is because it was far too personal. The same happened with 'Empty room' back in 1985. Even though that case was too extreme, in fact he destroyed the master tape.

As for 'Old friends 4 sale' from 1985, I quote HamsterHuey; it's more intense and hits you right there, where it hurts. That's what real songs should always do.

Sometimes, to show your feelings completely makes you vulnerable and it's painful.

'Some things are better left unsaid'...
[Edited 7/22/08 2:17am]

Sophianestesia said:

You're not confusing 'Empty Room' with 'Wally'? 'Wally' is said to be the only master he ever destroyed, in a story told by Susan Rogers, his previous sound engineer.

Empty Room was released, albeit in a live version. And if I remember correctly, there was even a video made for it.

HamsterHuey said:

I'm familiar with that, too. But in some thread here (the 'Empty room - I'll do anything' version, search pages 2-5, I think), it was said that the 1994 version was just a newly recorded master; a second number one master, so to speak. That the 1985 version was destroyed 'cause of the extreme personal and painful lyrics, inspired by the end of his relationship with Susannah Melvoin.

By the way, has Susannah got anything to do with Wally (Safford)?

Sophianestesia said:

You mix up the two songs. Empty Room just got re-recorded. The original master was as far as I know, and what do I know, never destroyed.

But Wally's original master got wiped. Both Wally and Empty Room are said to be about Susannah.

HamsterHuey said:

So you say that, if we're lucky, we could get our hands on the original version of 'Empty room'?

Another question which is tearing me; is that 'Wally' the stage bodyguard Wally Safford that danced with Greg Brooks in 1985-87 concerts?

Sophianestesia said:

Yes.

Wally was a song where Prince was telling Wally about his hardships and pain. Susan Rogers said there were vocals using the words "Ma La Di" which according to Prince formed the French word for pain or something.

I am too lazy to look up all the particulars, sorry.

HamsterHuey said:

Thanks, though

I know that must have hurt Prince deeply, someone that he trusted with his life had turned on him like that. No wonder he's so skittish now.
[Edited 7/22/08 5:33am]

just before this thread i made my mate a mix cd"ALL KILLER NO FILLER!!"

ironicly i included old friends THE ORIGINAL and joy in repetition-take 2 NOT the graffiti version

do you remeber seeing the film for the first time? i couldnt believe that a "video" had been made for JOY-it seemed so wrong

for such a claustrophobic,introspective song to be made all glossy and .....slightly shallow(when he looks up"and it started to rain" awww come on-was JUST WRONG!!!!!

Yikes!

simm0061 said:

no matter what people say about Prince, he truly has a Heart of Gold and it's huge. He is a loving person and he Does love his fams.

I listened to this song again yesterday knowing the partial story here and I have to say that it is still a very sad song. The hurt of the deception comes through loud and clear. Yet, it's a very beautiful song.