I have most of Prince's released albums (everything except for "For You" and including "One Nite Alone" and "Kama Sutra") and I am wondering, have I already heard the best stuff he's done? I like to imagine there are some hidden gems on bootlegs that I am missing out on, and that there is more amazing music to be discovered (I'm talking about studio versions, not live). So, my question is, what are some of the best studio outtakes and are they any better that his official stuff? I've heard "All My Dreams" and "She Wants a Place in Heaven" and I was not that amazed. I've heard "Splash" and I was a little more impressed as it had the same sort of sound as the Parade Era, which is my favourite era. I am a musician and appreciate the amazing musicianship of Prince more than anything else...so, any thoughts?

"I've heard "All My Dreams" and I was not that amazed. "


then you got something wrong with u !

justanotherasshole said:

You fit your moniker well, mr asshole. I hardly find your comment helpful. I was not saying "All My Dreams" was bad, I just don't think it's up there with his best work that I have heard. There were certainly some interesting aspects to it I thought - the old-time radio, crooning style vocal, quite uncharacteristic for Prince and variety is what I look for in his music. I'll have to listen to it again, though - I admit I don't have the best quality recording of it, so that could have something to do with it.

Look, I love Prince and I think almost anything I hear from him has some worth...now please can anyone offer something a little more helpful? How about a list of best outtakes or something? Does EVERYONE have to attack everyone else on this board for having a difference of opinion? It sometimes seems that way.

What's a Babylonian anyway? Something like a Plebian?

Come on people, surely you can help me out with some "best outtake" song titles?

mrdespues said:

I've heard that the following are pretty good:

Lisa
Extraloveable
Chocolate
Moonbeam Levels
The Dance Electric
All Day, All Night
Neon Telephone
A Place in Heaven
Train
Teacher, Teacher
God Is Alive
Me Touch Myself
Bliss
Love...Thy Will Be Done
Spirit
I Wonder
Player
Open Book
I Hear Your Voice
Allegiance
Empty Room
Snowman
2020

Yeah and don't forget-

In A Large Room With No Light
Old Friends For Sale
Heaven
There's Others Here With Us
Data Bank
The Sex of It
Cookie Jar
Mind Bells
Dance With The Devil
It's A Wonderful Day
Eternity
Baby Go-Go
The Dopamine Rush Suite
Rootie Kazootie
Asswoop
Are You Legal Yet?
The Line
Purple Music
Possessed
Witness 4 The Prosecution
Can I Play With U?
I Wonder
Schoolyard
Slave 2 the System
Feel Good
I Am The DJ
Strangeway of Saying I Love U
Make It Through The Storm
Nadeara
Nightingale
Wouldn't U Love 2 Love Me?

Not that I know anything about these songs.

Thanks moonbeam, I'm taking note of those songs, some of which I hadn't heard of. Anyone else got any suggestions?

TRON said:

I've heard that those are pretty great too.

Moonbeam said:

You've heard these!? I'm telling Prince on you.
[This message was edited Wed Nov 20 0:11:49 PST 2002 by TRON]

TRON said:

I've heard THAT they are pretty great- I speak with no experience on this matter.

Lies!

TRON said:

Just like Missy enjoying the treadmill.

Here...

http://64.239.7.142/Music...ce/a2z.asp

Have fun!

Where does the song "I Miss U" come from? I love that little track.

SuperiorTe said:

Huh?

I Wonder U?

There are GREAT unreleased songs including:

Empty Room
Witness 4 The Prosecution
Old Friends 4 Sale
The Grand Progression
Play
Heart Of Stone
A Place In Heaven
I Miss U
Lisa

and Prince's versions of his songs for others:

Open Book
Love Thy Will B Done
You

These are just examples. But I feel that one 3-CD set is about all we'd get that might compare with "THE BEST" (1999, Purple Rain, SOTT, Lovesexy).

SuperiorTe said:

Miss u... i believe that 1s part of the Sound 80 sessions?! its from that era anyway (1979)... talk about 'the good ole days' hehe ... so snatch urself 'Studio Nights' & i think u'll do fine, finding it on there ... & 2 my knowledge (<-- if u could call it that lol) it also apears on 'The Work' vol 1

Nooo ... i've been possessed... surely I wouldnt willing talk about boots... HELP!! i want 2 b pure again ... PURE!!


:p hehehe
[This message was edited Wed Nov 20 4:44:34 PST 2002 by harmony]

mrdespues said:

You need to get your hands on "The Work Volumes 1 - 5". Twenty CDs of outtakes and alternate versions/mixes.

mrdespues said:[quote]I have most of Prince's released albums quote]

Have you heard both 'Madhouse 8' & '16'? New collectors often find those two LPs are difficult to get. But they're really worth a listen. As for associated artists I would strongly recommend you get hold of a copy of 'Jill Jones' seeing as you enjoy Prince's 'Parade' era so much, as well as Mavis Staples' 'Time Waits For No One' album.

Thunderball recently released a 2CD set comprising Prince's unreleased 'Dream Factory' album and a CD of leftovers from the same sessions (which feature some of the cool songs Moonbeam and co. have listed above), a much better package than Sabotage's "remastered" edition.

If you enjoy the live experience, then 'Small Club' is a must.

But I really recommend you get 'The Undertaker' CD. I have turned formed Prince haters into fans after letting them hear this.

peace


.

Oh, last but definitely not least: 'The Family' album!

.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. They are all very helpful! Cheers!

Se7en said:

Play? I think you mean "Player", right? That's a very cool tune...

No, there's one called "Play" too. Often mistitled as "Can U Come Outside and Play?" from the aborted NPG ep from 1990.

mrdespues said:

MR ?

Did I miss something ?

and go get a dictionary and find out what you are..
[This message was edited Mon Dec 16 9:45:25 PST 2002 by justanotherasshole]

Mrdespues,

The Parade era is also my favorite era in Prince's career.

That having been said, I've found the best unreleased material from this time to be among the following:

*The CHARADE bootleg: Contains many alternate versions, a couple alternate B-sides and several outtakes from the PARADE album. Warning: The sound quality sucks. I agree "In All My Dreams" is just OK, but you'll likely love "Heaven" (NOT "A Place in Heaven," which I rather hate), "There's Others Here With Us," and the slightly more raw or differently mixed versions of "Christopher Tracy's Parade" (here called "Little Girl Wendy's Parade"), "I Wonder U" and "Love or Money." All in all: really interesting stuff.

* THE FAMILY outtakes: Prince first recorded many songs from the sting-laden "Family" album himself. You'll likely love his versions of "High Fashion," "Mutiny," and "Desire." Also, if you don't already have it, the official release is a MUST for a Prince collector.

* JILL JONES outtakes: Though released in 1987, much of Jill's album was written just before and during the Parade era... just listen to all those strings in "Mia Bocca," for example. Anyway, check out Prince's versions of "G-Spot," and "All Day, All Night." They'll knock your socks off, and you'll likely enjoy Jill's (somewhat more rehearsed and less energetic) officially released versions too.

* The CRUCIAL bootleg: Bad sound quality again, but heavy brass and some strings. Many of the trumpet parts were attributed dubiously to Miles Davis because of use of a mute, but these parts were most likely Prince's old pal Matt "Atlanta Bliss" Blistan along with Eric Leeds on alto or baritone sax. Interestingly, a lot of this stuff is in the vein of "Power Fantastic," a favorite of mine, which is included here; while other stuff is just all-out rock-n-roll, like "Witness."

Miscellaneous titles: If your tastes are like mine, among your favorite unreleased titles from varied eras will be: Moonbeam Levels (sometimes erroneously called "A Better Place to Die," originally considered for PURPLE RAIN), "Big Tall Wall," "Neon Telephone" (given to Hawaiian group The Jets, but without the funky breakdown at the end), "Nightengale," "Showering Beauty," "Mama" (from a mostly solo piano and voice bootleg called INTIMATE MOMENTS, I think), "An Honest Man" (the instrumental of which was in "Under the Cherry Moon's" score), the extended version of "Alexa de Paris," the alternate and slightly longer and more raw version of "Around the World in a Day", "The Line," and "Rebirth of the Flesh." For instrumental merit, also check out the "Habibi" guitar solo and any extended versions of "Computer Blue" you might find.

I reckon you have some of this stuff. If so, I apologize.

I'm just gonna list the only unreleased songs that I think are truly as great as some of his best that are released-

1. Rebirth of the Flesh
2. Empty Room
3. Open Book
4. Large Room with No Light
5. Train

To me these are the five most essential outtakes.