Efan said:

I LOVEEEE the performance in the movie!

the 1981 version, hands down

There is an unreleased demo like version of the 89' one without the keyboard toy xylophone type instrumentation that plagues that album.

DecaturStone said:

I love the 1990 version...so sexy and funky! Years ago, I read about the 1981 version on the boards here, and about how many feel that it's far superior to the released cut. So I searched on the net and found it.

I was shocked. Tick, Tick Bang '81 was so embarrassing to listen to that I had to shut it off halfway through! OMG, just absolutely cheesy! I love the whole vibe of the Controversy era, I really do. Prince CAN do New Wave; "Sexuality" is proof positive of that, and it's a great song. The original Tick, Tick Bang, however, is a whole other story.

I'll never understand why people see this track and "Moonbeam Levels" as "gems." I'm going with the idea that was mentioned earlier: In some peoples' minds, if a track is rare or unreleased, that automatically makes it great. I don't see it at all with the 2 examples I've cited but, to each his/her own, I suppose.

bluefish said:

I am with you on 'Moonbeams Levels' I see why that one was omitted. If Prince ever got adding hip hop into his music right this song and 'Get Off' were the 2
that he did

bluefish said:

I agree with Moonbeam Levels...It gets so much praise around here, and when I first heard it, I was kinda disapointed..It's just alright to me..Difnately not as Great as people make it out to be..

jonylawson said:

Only in this case, the unreleased version is much superior...

bluefish said:

No, it does not automatically make it great. If that were true, folks would be skipping around singing "Neon Telephone" all over the place.

Some are superior to released material because they are just superior.

Material that gets released is the material that some consider "Public friendly" and that does not equal better... Almost all the songs I like by Prince and others are non-single tracks. The album tracks and some boots...

DecaturStone said:

U don't know why it was omitted. It was performed during the 1999 tour. So it couldn't be because it wasn't good. Prince had a lot of songs for the 1999 album as well as a 1999 followup. He couldn't put them all on the albums. I think Moonbeam Levels could have been a better B side than Horny Toad.

How many songs that we love from Purple Rain never got released? God the Love Theme, Possessed, Noon Rendevzous(he gave 2 Sheila) and many others

OldFriends4Sale said:

Hold up now, Horny Toad is my jam. Take it back. Take it back, I say.

OldFriends4Sale said:

That version of God was released as the b-side to Purple Rain in some countries. I'm pretty sure you can get it on iTunes right now.

Vendetta1 said:

I like the released version better, too. Love the hook.

The original, of course.

squirrelgrease said:

I am with you. I used to play Horny Toad TO DEATH

ufoclub said:

squirrelgrease said:

LOL don't get me wrong, I love all the b sides from 1999 but in comparison to Moonbeam Levels, I think M L is much better

TwiliteKid said:

o it was? hmmmmm but it goes to show, what was/wasn't released really has nothing to do with if it's a good or bad song

I would have love released versions of Leaving 4 NY, Lisa, Lust U Always, the Line

like em both, but if had to choose
id pick the unreleased version it is a bit faster and has a new wave sound to it.

Just had to add this picture to this thread because it part of the topic and it makes me laugh...