The cure for what ails you is listening to Prince stand tall in the high heels of music. I was gloomy with rain and landlord problems until I listened to Prince from a live concert in Detroit 1982. He, of course, has many studio recordings that have good to great songs from this era and later. But, to me, his live recordings always have an immediate electricity that the studio versions do not. I'm listening to recent ones and older ones that I've never heard and I like some of the recent ones as much as the older ones--One Night Alone, for example. Despite what the skeptics say, he still gives performances that spark with life and excitement!What are your favorite live recordings of Prince concerts over the last 30 years? Hope to hear one in person in 2010!
[Edited 1/17/10 20:11pm]

Small Club is the Ultimate Bomb!
[Edited 1/17/10 18:57pm]

New Orleans 1981.

The recording is average, but the performance
The energy is great, Prince almost leaps out of the speakers at me.

The first live recording I got, and still one of my favourites.
Recordings like this made me a life long fan.

mostbeautifulboy said:

Exactly! It is that kind of concert experience that keeps you coming back for more!

So far I like the Leno shows and the Montreaux vids best.

sweething said:

The Leno shows were the bomb--I loved it when shy Prince wrote that note when he was performing and gave it to Jay at the end of the show--saying Jay is the best (or something to that effect!). I just thought that revealed a lot about Prince, apart from all the negative publicity he has received!

8th March 1982

another old one, but a favourite.



"never let it be said, white folks ain't got no soul"

poetcorner61 said:

Yeah, genuinely sweet.

Small Club - anytime

Small Club is very good, I like it alot,
but it does't give me the same rush as earlier gigs.

mostbeautifulboy said:

I have the Lakeland gig from '82 or '83 on dvd and it's good, but I like Small Club more. Maybe it's because I'm a musician and I enjoy those long instrumental jams more than the "real" songs

mostbeautifulboy said:

I'm listening to the Atlanta 85 gig and I am electrified by the songs--"God" in particular--just spell-bound!

zaza said:

Yeah, and Im a punk on speed

everything makes sense

mostbeautifulboy said:

Some of the long instrumental jams are great--especially attached to abbreviated "vocal" songs! If U listen to Prince at the top of his game you don't have to be a "punk on speed" to get a "high" off his "real" songs!

poetcorner61 said:

I agree 100%

Sometimes I could listen to his jams for hours, but sometimes I just wanna GO,GO, GO!!!

I have 2 sides and they're both friends

mostbeautifulboy said:

poetcorner61 said:

For all those who think Prince wasn't spiritual and conflicted in the early days, here is a direct quote from his Atlanta 85 performance:

"I'm so confused..."

"Don't Be Confused...There's only one Lord--Jesus"

"I'm sorry I'll be good, I promise..."

"If U believe He'll Forgive U..."

"The beautiful ones, you always seems to lose..."

A great summary of my spiritual belief and confusion... I always thought P was spiritual long ago, now I know it for real...in his own words...and the struggle...the same as so many of us have! Whatever our spiritual paths are, and they are many!
[Edited 1/18/10 1:18am]

poetcorner61 said:

Makes me want to get out the Alanta gig right now and give it a listen.

Still struggling with my spirituality, and I think I will be for quite sometime yet.Reassuring to know we are not alone in our quest.

Music can be so powerful in our lives. Im glad its a positive force.

I am thankful for music like this

mostbeautifulboy said:

I wish you well, my friend, on whatever your endeavors are! People who reach out and search for their connection to the Maker are sure to find it, in whatever way meets your path! The only ones left out, are the ones who think we got here--in this existence, on this island in space--by ourselves!

My faves:

1988 Lovesexy Dortmund, Germany
1988 Small Club, Holland
1989 Lovesexy, Osaka Japan
1987 Sign O The Times, Paris France
1985 Purple Rain Tour Syracuse NY, USA
1985 Purple Rain Tour St Paul, MN USA
1983 1999 Triple Treat Tour Providence USA
1983 1999 Triple Threat Tour Fresno USA
1990 Nude Tour Tokyo Japan
1993 Act 2 Duneberg Germany
2001 Hit N Run Columbus, USA
2002 ONA Tour Aftershow Le Bataclan Paris France
2002 ONA Live (Official Boxset)

OOPS! Double-post!
[Edited 1/18/10 13:27pm]

I love the Welcome to the Beautiful Experience concert.