It has been 7 years since Prince first previewed the song
"Prince and the Band"

All that time and the song remains unreleased.
The most interesting point is he has played this track pretty regularly since 2002 and yet still no released version.

There R at least 2 known STUDIO versions of this track
one was recorded in 2002 and is said 2 sound very much like
"Y Should eye do that when eye can do this?"
It was played at a few paisley parties in MPLS and LA.
The studio version was played 4 the first time in Paisley Park at the after party 4 the release of Prince:Live at the Alladin.

The New Studio Version was played at the Indigo2 during the 21 Nites tour. It features updated lyrics and Maceo Parker.

the actual title has been referred 2 by three names
"Prince and the Band"
"Prince & the Band"
"Calibama"

The song was played live 4 the first time on the Canadian leg of the One Nite Alone Tour.

This is one of my all-time favorite cuts and I would love 4 it 2 b released.

Any new or further information would be appreciated.

Prince and the Band

Like a Rim-Shot on a new Badu Joint
(Like a rim-shot on a new Roots joint)***
My band’s tight. Yea – anointed
(live in concert, au natural)***
Au natural
Pass my tape go straight 2 jail
And another thing –When eye sing
Black and White hold hands
Start clappin’ when we enter
The jam packed dance
If U wanna just clap yo’ hands
(Clap yo’ hands
Clap yo’ hands y’all
4 Prince and the Band) ***
Here We Come Y’all
Prince and the Band



Happy – Cause We Just got paid
Free from all contracts
(Happy y’all cause Eye finally got paid
I’m off the plantation Boo)***
Chillin’ in the shade
Of the Sun’s light
We got it right
Distribute your own
Make a million overnight
B4 the tax comes
Quick, buy some land
But don’t build nothin’ just clap yo’ hands
Don’t build Nothin’ Just clap yo hands
(Clap yo’ hands y’all )***
(4 Prince and the Band)***
Here we come people
Prince and the Band


Record labels used 2 be a friend of mine
(Warner Bros. used 2 B a friend of mine)***
Now they’re just a monumental waste of time
Sell a million records
Make a dollar a pop
Still un-recouped when your band gets dropped
Got your own label but you’re givin’ ‘em half
Xpenses off the top
Who’s takin’ a bath?
7 years of prime life
Your soul and your name
That’s what U pay 2
keep yourself enslaved 2 that game
Whatever U can’t do alone is not worth the fame
They all get older but we still look the same
U can’t understand, y’all can’t understand
Just clap yo’ hands
Clap yo’ hands
Clap yo’ hands y’all
4 Prince and the Band


Like a policeman 2 a crime
Eye just can’t make up my mind
2 jam or not 2 jam
The Big Crowd Rocker, that’s who we am
Funky y’all – TRUTH be told
Prime time ain’t ready 4 us all
We bring the noise the best we can
Clap yo hands
Clap yo’ hands
Clap yo’ hands y’all
4 Prince and the Band


© 2002 NPG Records
(2 Versions Xist one from 2002 and one from 2007)
***(original or alternate lyrics)

i think the first time i heard it was on the musicology tour, though the first time i heard the STUDIO version was at a prince dance night at berlin in chicago, maybe in the summer of 2005?

Gosh, Looks like a perfect candidate for release on the much maligned website dontcha think? Prince are ya listening?

never heard a studio version before, what disc / boot can they be found on?

dig the aftershow version from soundboard boot--wasnt the studio version floating around the leggers circle?

Anxiety said:

Anx

this must have been the first version.
any way U can elaborate on what U heard?
how was it different from the version played at the indigo2?

im sure its all a blur now, but id love 2 hear anything u might remember.

thaCONcept said:

well, i never got to see an indigo2 show, but the studio version was played quite a bit at berlin (nightclub in chicago), from I BELIEVE around 2005 through the end of samnation's run as DJ for the parties in early fall 2007. i only remember ever hearing one studio version, which was kind of spare and jazzy sounding. it's a really nice track, i don't understand why he won't at least release it to fans online or something. the only other time i've heard it was live when i went to the musicology tour (did he play it during 7/7/07? i forget), though i know he's played it live many times since then.

wow I've never even heard of this track.

Anxiety said:

Yes ANX
he played it 7/7/7 as a Medley with Musicology Just like 3121 Vegas and 21 Nights in London

the only known "circulating" studio version is taken from the PA and was played in part only as a Dj Rashida Mix b4 one of the Indigo2 aftershows
[Edited 6/23/09 15:56pm]

I love the really loose (18 minute) version from night 4 of the Xenophobia Celebration at Paisley Park. Cool as FUCK!

But has anyone else noticed that he slipped in a couple of bars during 'Joy In Repetition' on the first night of Xenophobia.

thaCONcept said:

I remember this tune, especially @ afterparties & such, n fact eye do have this from way back npgmusic club downloads, eye remember burning it 2 a cd.


Prince starts off w/

One Mo' Jam, One Mo' Jam , One Mo' Jam 4 Prince & the band
then comes Prince on the guitar w/pedal & Larry on pluckin' da bass. w/intro.

kathieyes said:

U're thinking of Days Of Wild.

thaCONcept said:

Oh come on, that's only two names.

billymeade said:

hey, don't hurt the ampersand's feelings!

xenon said:

ahhhh u stand correct, mate , eye get delirious

He sang it the 7-7-07 concert. It was the first time I heard it. He started to rap and I was like "oh no", but it was the jam. "quick buy some land".... the concert was jammin' and that song killed.

He should release it, but it will never be the same as live.....

Holla

I'm not sure if it was discussed here on the ORG but there is an interesting story that may go with this song. Word on the street is - that Lotusflow3r was ORIGINALLY supposed 2 contain 3 CDs of all Prince Music and not BRIA. The 3rd CD was 2 b entitled "F.U.N.K.". This CD was originally supposed 2 come out around the time of the "Turn Me Loose" per4mance on Leno. 4 one reason or another (haterz on the internet) plans changed and instead it was 2 B the 3rd CD of the Lotusflow3r SET.

Some songs on this CD were:
Turn Me Loose
$
Feel Better Feel Good Feel Wonderful
F.U.N.K.
Prince and the Band

It would b a really cool gesture 4 Prince 2 release
"Prince and the Band" and maybe even "Turn Me Loose"
on www.Lotusflow3r.com
(with or without an xplanation)

what do u all think?

C'mon Prince - Release it!

i was there at the celebration when he did this song and my god my draw dropped cause it was just FUNKY!!!

the acoustic versions on the musicology tour were okay

and on the 21 nights 4 me it lost something still kind of funky but based off the music of musicology..

it would b interesting 2 hear both studio versions ..damn i miss the days of studio leaked tracks

thaCONcept said:

u mean lotus, mplsound AND funk? why would he release mplsound (his worst of the decade) rather than the funk cd?

luvsexy4all said:

For all of the rest of us who enjoy it just as much if not more than LotusFlow3r

lezama said:

its one thing to like his funk/r&b side over his rock side ---but to like his horrible r&b side over his great rock side is crazy

luvsexy4all said:

well u know what they say about opinions right...

thaCONcept said:

"Word on the street", huh? Forgive me for saying so, but that reads like wishful thinking more than anything else.