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Thread started 07/29/08 2:32am

G0d

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CRYSTAL BALL * LOVE THREAD *

heart

Expert lover, my baby
U ever had a Crystal Ball?
Expert lover, my baby
U ever had a Crystal Ball?
Ooh, expert lover, my baby
Ever had a Crystal Ball?
Expert lover, my baby
U ever had a Crystal Ball?

As bombs explode around us and hate advances on the right
The only thing that matters, baby, is the love that we make 2night
As little babies in make-up terrorize the western world
The only thing that matters, baby, is love between a boy and girl

Oh, expert lover, my baby
U ever had a Crystal Ball?
Undercover, no maybe
All 4 fun and fun 4 all

I can't remember my baby's voice cuz she ain't talkin' no more
Only the sound of love and prayer echo from the yellow floor,
yellow floor
Huh, she's sayin' - "Dear Jesus, save us from temptation
Dear Jesus, save us from hell
Save us from the madness that threatens us all
Can U hear us? It's hard 2 tell
In your name we pray"

Expert lover, my baby
Ever had a Crystal Ball?
Undercover, no maybe
All 4 fun, fun 4 all

As soldiers draw swords of sorrow
My baby draws pictures of sex (Yes, she does)
All over the walls in graphic detail - sex!

Everybody say it now
Expert lover, huh, my baby
Ever had a Crystal Ball?
Under... undercover, ha, no maybe
All 4 fun and fun 4 all

Rip it, ouch! Uh

Expert lover, my baby
Ever had a Crystal Ball?
Uh, expert lover, my baby (My baby)
Ever had a Crystal Ball?
Crystal Ball
Expert

My baby, my baby, my baby, my baby
Kiss me, lick me, trick me, whoa!
Oh yeah, yeah
Come on, come on, come on, won't U come on?

Expert lover, huh, my baby
Have U ever had a Crystal Ball?

Don't U wanna?
What my drummer wanna say? [x2]
Yeah! Drummer
Tell me what the bass said

Yeah
Oh, ow!
Listen 2 my, uh, listen 2 my bass man play

(Alright) (Expert lover, my baby is alright)
(Alright) (Undercover, my baby is alright)
Listen 2 the guitar play
Hey! Wait a minute now
It's groovy
Ouch! Guitar, guitar
Come on now
Oh yeah!

My baby licked me fast
Her mama watch her gas
Come on, baby, do me fast
Come on, come on
Your mathematical gas

Uh
Ooh wee!
Darlin, darlin, U know U want a Cry...Crystal Ball
Crystal Ball

I don't know, I have 2 ask my mommy first

As bombs explode around U and hate advances on your right
The only thing U can be sure of is the love we make 2night

Expert lover, my baby
Ever had a Crystal Ball?
Take off your clothes, baby
Come on, get the Crystal Ball

Oh, expert lover, my baby
U ever had a Crystal Ball?
Come on, take off your clothes, baby
Come on, get the Crystal Ball

Come on!
Expert lover, my baby
Ever had a Crystal Ball?
Oh, my baby, my baby, my baby
Come on, get the, get the, get the Crystal Ball

Oh, U ever had a Crystal Ball?
"LOVE YOURSELF AS ALL PEOPLE"
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Reply #1 posted 07/29/08 2:44am

Tame

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The song is very cool...It reminds me of a submarine recording...or an underwater view or something....

Yes...The Crystal Ball says "Love 4 Us All..." Most importantly, being with your true love in a marriage...getting rid of all of the saturated distorted versions of sex between two people...When privacy is respected.

I know that not everyone will be in their perfect pairs immediately...however...education can help...and taking away excessive sexual options or alternatives to "finding that special someone," will eventually land everyone into the arms of someone.

Oh, what's this...? The Crystal Ball says that an "Undercover Angel, will be Prince's Midnight fantasy.."
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight...
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Reply #2 posted 07/29/08 2:56am

Twinkly1

I don't understand the reference to Crystal Ball -- can someone explain?

confuse
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Reply #3 posted 07/29/08 3:03am

savoirfaire

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The song is very inconsistent for me...

It's very cool at certain points, and then transitions poorly to annoying stuff I wish wasn't in it.

But I applaud his attempts at recording it and would overall give it a positive rating as it is quite unique.

The Crystal Ball album (that is, the officially released one) as a whole, I really enjoy, I think there are some great cuts in there, but similar to the song, it's quite inconsistent.

Still, a great set to have.
"Knowledge is preferable to ignorance. Better by far to embrace the hard truth than a reassuring faith. If we crave some cosmic purpose, then let us find ourselves a worthy goal" - Carl Sagan
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Reply #4 posted 07/29/08 3:07am

truleyloved

Twinkly1 said:

I don't understand the reference to Crystal Ball -- can someone explain?

confuse

frist of ahll u cant realy sen into a crystal ball ut it is about his gutar love ant he is ahlso talking about i sex toy then can get them both off i think but sence he whant her to see what he does but not though the ball but thoe his eyes as well cause it is realy in the heart thoe u will see then love and peace
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Reply #5 posted 07/29/08 3:44am

Sander

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Prince' best song! Unique! Groundbraking! A trip in itself!

I love the way it builds up, especially when the snare drum enters (As little babies in make-up). Also the prayer and the way the song starts up again is brilliant (In your name we pray)!

I am assuming it's Prince on all instruments. Even still, it's classic Prince, at the hight of his powers, effortlessly shifting through the song, changing melody, tempo and energy.

But most of all it's his voice. And layers of it. I'm still not sure what the feeling is he's getting at in this song, but it's strong. My favorite vocal delivery right here:
"I can't remember my baby's voice cuz she ain't talkin' no more
Only the sound of love and prayer echo from the yellow floor,
yellow floor "

Also, bootleggers mistook the title as Crystal Ball. This song is called Expert Lover. Crystal Ball is Eye No with different lyrics...

And last, but not least. I prefer the version without the Clare Fischer strings. Most of the times I prefer his additions, just not on this track and Old Friends For Sale. I'm sorry Clare, do love your work though! biggrin
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Reply #6 posted 07/29/08 3:52am

bigben07

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Sander said:

Prince' best song! Unique! Groundbraking! A trip in itself!

I love the way it builds up, especially when the snare drum enters (As little babies in make-up). Also the prayer and the way the song starts up again is brilliant (In your name we pray)!

I am assuming it's Prince on all instruments. Even still, it's classic Prince, at the hight of his powers, effortlessly shifting through the song, changing melody, tempo and energy.

But most of all it's his voice. And layers of it. I'm still not sure what the feeling is he's getting at in this song, but it's strong. My favorite vocal delivery right here:
"I can't remember my baby's voice cuz she ain't talkin' no more
Only the sound of love and prayer echo from the yellow floor,
yellow floor "

Also, bootleggers mistook the title as Crystal Ball. This song is called Expert Lover. Crystal Ball is Eye No with different lyrics...

And last, but not least. I prefer the version without the Clare Fischer strings. Most of the times I prefer his additions, just not on this track and Old Friends For Sale. I'm sorry Clare, do love your work though! biggrin

If the song is really called "Expert Lover", then why in the official release is it called "Crystal Ball"? I would assume Prince had the final say as to how it was titled in the official release. Isn't the "Eye No" track with different lyrics called "The Ball?" I agree that what you stated is probably true, I just wonder why the title "Expert Lover" wasn't used in it's release.
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Reply #7 posted 07/29/08 5:15am

Sander

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bigben07 said:

If the song is really called "Expert Lover", then why in the official release is it called "Crystal Ball"? I would assume Prince had the final say as to how it was titled in the official release. Isn't the "Eye No" track with different lyrics called "The Ball?" I agree that what you stated is probably true, I just wonder why the title "Expert Lover" wasn't used in it's release.


Whoops! No, you're right! I messed up, like the bootleggers once did! Bootleggers named this track 'Expert lover', because they called 'The Ball' 'Crystal Ball'.

This track is definitely officially called 'Crystal ball'. My bad.
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Reply #8 posted 07/29/08 6:37am

NouveauDance

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Sorry to go against the grain, but I think this is one of Prince's most over-rated tracks.

The mystic around it can be accounted for because it was unreleased for 12 years, it was the title track to an unreleased album, has been circulating for almost as long as it has existed, it's lengthy and from the Revolution era.

Not to say I don't like it, but I've come to like it less and less as time has gone by and find it rather overblown, meandering and pompus. It's really only the last third that does much, and I think with concerns to CB/SOTT, it's one of those occasions where Prince's self-editing was on good form, and cutting the title track from the set when it was shrunk to 2LPs was a smart move, I don't think this track would've been looked upon particularly favourably had the 3LP been released back when.

My favourite word for this track has always been: masturbatory.

Sorry.
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Reply #9 posted 07/29/08 9:11am

Sander

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NouveauDance said:


Not to say I don't like it, but I've come to like it less and less as time has gone by and find it rather overblown, meandering and pompus. It's really only the last third that does much, and I think with concerns to CB/SOTT, it's one of those occasions where Prince's self-editing was on good form, and cutting the title track from the set when it was shrunk to 2LPs was a smart move, I don't think this track would've been looked upon particularly favourably had the 3LP been released back when.


Okay, now listen to the nine minute version without Clare. Still pompus?

He did went a bit overboard with the tempochanges and solo's, therefor it probably wasn't suited for an album/the masses. Good move. It really isn't much of a song either, I'm not quite sure how to edit this mother to make it a single. Nor do I really care, since this thing is perfect Prince. biggrin

Crystal ball isn't really discussed much, so I'm guessing the org is kinda divided on this one?
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Reply #10 posted 07/29/08 9:15am

Handel

NouveauDance said:


My favourite word for this track has always been: masturbatory.


Isn't masturbation sex with someone you love? Don't knock it
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Reply #11 posted 07/29/08 9:24am

NouveauDance

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Handel said:

Isn't masturbation sex with someone you love?

Only at the height of narcissism.
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Reply #12 posted 07/29/08 9:26am

Handel

NouveauDance said:


Only at the height of narcissism.


Don't knock narcissism... oh well biggrin
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Reply #13 posted 07/29/08 9:29am

MIGUELGOMEZ

Crystal Ball is one of the gems.
MyeternalgrattitudetoPhil&Val.Herman said "We want sweaty truckers at the truck stop! We want cigar puffing men that look like they wanna beat the living daylights out of us" Val"sporking is spooning with benefits"
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Reply #14 posted 07/29/08 9:33am

Handel

It's an ambitious and dareIsay epic experient that really comes off well. That's not to say it should've been on any album.. it is, after all, as far away from being commercial as possible. It got slated when it was eventually released as part of the NPG Crystal Ball set after all.

But that doesn't mean it ain't a classic. It is as phenomenal and ambitious in scope as, say, "The End" by The Doors or "The Width of A Circle" by David Bowie.

Love it
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Reply #15 posted 07/29/08 10:20am

ufoclub

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It's such an original take on depression.... the futility of having to wish to look into a crystal ball for hope...

and the sound design and pacing and transitions from quiet to loud are just like the thoughts of someone lost in depression.
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Reply #16 posted 07/29/08 10:39am

giotto

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ufoclub said:

It's such an original take on depression.... the futility of having to wish to look into a crystal ball for hope...

and the sound design and pacing and transitions from quiet to loud are just like the thoughts of someone lost in depression.


A reference to the "deepbluefunk" mood Prince referred to in the liner notes, no doubt.

To my knowledge, the track's creation was inspired by the bombing of Lybia by the Reagan administration, when they were hoping to get Gadaffi. The line "little babies in make-up terrorise the Western World" could be a direct reference to that episode.
"You don't frighten us, English pig dogs. Go and boil your bottoms, sons of a silly person."
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Reply #17 posted 07/29/08 10:51am

superspaceboy

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truleyloved said:

Twinkly1 said:

I don't understand the reference to Crystal Ball -- can someone explain?

confuse

frist of ahll u cant realy sen into a crystal ball ut it is about his gutar love ant he is ahlso talking about i sex toy then can get them both off i think but sence he whant her to see what he does but not though the ball but thoe his eyes as well cause it is realy in the heart thoe u will see then love and peace


nuts um yeah!

Christian Zombie Vampires

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Reply #18 posted 07/29/08 10:52am

superspaceboy

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Twinkly1 said:

I don't understand the reference to Crystal Ball -- can someone explain?

confuse


I believe it means the best/last sex you'll ever have before the world ends.

Ball = Sex

Christian Zombie Vampires

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Reply #19 posted 07/29/08 10:56am

superspaceboy

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NouveauDance said:

Sorry to go against the grain, but I think this is one of Prince's most over-rated tracks.

The mystic around it can be accounted for because it was unreleased for 12 years, it was the title track to an unreleased album, has been circulating for almost as long as it has existed, it's lengthy and from the Revolution era.

Not to say I don't like it, but I've come to like it less and less as time has gone by and find it rather overblown, meandering and pompus. It's really only the last third that does much, and I think with concerns to CB/SOTT, it's one of those occasions where Prince's self-editing was on good form, and cutting the title track from the set when it was shrunk to 2LPs was a smart move, I don't think this track would've been looked upon particularly favourably had the 3LP been released back when.

My favourite word for this track has always been: masturbatory.

Sorry.


I think it's Epic in scope. Similar to All My Dreams. Overblown, pompous, complex, and really all over the place. I don't think it would hhave worked on SOTT, but it would have on Dream Factory, which I find more of the songs a lot more whimsical than the pared down SOTT.

Christian Zombie Vampires

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Reply #20 posted 07/29/08 10:58am

superspaceboy

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Sander said:

NouveauDance said:


Not to say I don't like it, but I've come to like it less and less as time has gone by and find it rather overblown, meandering and pompus. It's really only the last third that does much, and I think with concerns to CB/SOTT, it's one of those occasions where Prince's self-editing was on good form, and cutting the title track from the set when it was shrunk to 2LPs was a smart move, I don't think this track would've been looked upon particularly favourably had the 3LP been released back when.


Okay, now listen to the nine minute version without Clare. Still pompus?

He did went a bit overboard with the tempochanges and solo's, therefor it probably wasn't suited for an album/the masses. Good move. It really isn't much of a song either, I'm not quite sure how to edit this mother to make it a single. Nor do I really care, since this thing is perfect Prince. biggrin

Crystal ball isn't really discussed much, so I'm guessing the org is kinda divided on this one?


Still pompous w/out the strings. Though I think I like sans strings better...with the purple underground part.

Christian Zombie Vampires

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Reply #21 posted 07/29/08 11:24am

NouveauDance

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superspaceboy said:

but it would have on Dream Factory, which I find more of the songs a lot more whimsical than the pared down SOTT.

Mmmm, definately. nod
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Reply #22 posted 07/29/08 11:34am

ufoclub

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giotto said:

ufoclub said:

It's such an original take on depression.... the futility of having to wish to look into a crystal ball for hope...

and the sound design and pacing and transitions from quiet to loud are just like the thoughts of someone lost in depression.


A reference to the "deepbluefunk" mood Prince referred to in the liner notes, no doubt.

To my knowledge, the track's creation was inspired by the bombing of Lybia by the Reagan administration, when they were hoping to get Gadaffi. The line "little babies in make-up terrorise the Western World" could be a direct reference to that episode.


I always thought it was a song to express epic depression (or maybe dread?) when I first heard it on a vinyl bootleg. That scream, and just the concept of a mantra about a crystal ball to see the future. The way I interpreted it, even his girl is a depressing thing, and even the sex is desperate. I think its the tone of the music and sound effects as well that leads me to that.
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Reply #23 posted 07/29/08 1:35pm

L4OATheOrigina
l

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Best part of the song 4 me is "i don't know i have 2 ask my mommy 1st" falloff
man, he has such an amazing body of music that it's sad to see him constrict it down to the basics. he's too talented for the lineup he's doing. estelle 81
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Reply #24 posted 07/29/08 3:20pm

MoniGram

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I enjoy this song a great deal..it's probably in my top 10 of favorites.
Proud Memaw to Seyhan Olivia Christine ,Zoey Cirilo Jaylee & Ellie Abigail Lillian mushy
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Reply #25 posted 08/10/08 3:56am

MrGoodnight197
8

L4OATheOriginal said:

Best part of the song 4 me is "i don't know i have 2 ask my mommy 1st"


Oh yes. So tongue in cheek, so incredibly sexy. Lip biting, finger pulling.
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Reply #26 posted 08/10/08 6:15am

Dayclear

I like it a lot, the truth is my favorite.
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Reply #27 posted 08/10/08 8:31am

cassingle

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One of my all time favorite P songs, esp. the pared down version without the strings. I wrote a really long thread on it a while back...
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Reply #28 posted 08/28/08 1:26am

ImAKawak

Great Song Crystal Ball
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Reply #29 posted 08/28/08 1:32am

garganta

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it´s too long. some parts are brilliant, others just a mess. it summarizes
Prince´s career quite well, come to think of it
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