Just want 2 know. I love this song!!!!

The studio version is unreleased, although a live version was made available as part of the NPG Music Club downloads.

It was one of the tracks removed from Crystal Ball when it was parred down to 2LPs instead of 3 and released as 'Sign O' The Times', where it was the opening track and before which was the same on the similarly unreleased 'Camille' album.

Search the forum for more info on Crystal Ball and Camille, there two of the most discussed topics, lots of info already on here.

The version released via NPGMC is a rehearsal.

Yep, the released version is a rehearsal, and was released in year 1 on NPGMC (2001). The studio version remained unreleased.

Originally it was the opening track on the Camille album, and segued into "Play In The Sunshine" (opposed to SOTT, which later did).

To technically, all the Camille tracks have now been released in some fashion.

The studio version has leaked out, and on the 30 Years of Unreleased Funk that version is on there which does segue into "Play In The Sunshine", as originally intended.

Yes, live rehersal, sorry! You guys are pedantic as hell!

that rehearsal is so HOT AGGRESSIVE FUNKY.

ufoclub said:

His control of the feedback from the guitar as his solo begins is INFUCKINSANE. Wow, it's so good. Prince is often capable of magic when he solo's.

NouveauDance said:

anyone know WHY he was rehearsing it? Were they rehearsing for a possible Crystal Ball tour early (I'm thinking like that Diamonds & Pearls tour rehearsal that bears hardly any resemblance to the actual tour). Or was it at one time slated for the Sign o' the Times tour much like the unreleased Black Album tracks being played the year after on the Lovesexy tour.

Erik

erik319 said:

SOTT tour!

ufoclub said:

That would have been immense!

Erik

Actually, the version of Rebirth Of The Flesh released through
the NPGMC was credited as being from a 1988 rehearsal.

So strangely enough this means it was being rehearsed for the Lovesexy tour!
not Sign O' The Times. (Which obviously begs the questions, why was an
unreleased track, that wasn't on the black album, being rehearsed for that tour)

BorisFishpaw said:

curious indeed. Could the 'dark' first half have perhaps orignally contained Rebirth alongside Bob George & Superfunky? That's a LOT of unreleased tracks for one show. Especially as all three were shelved, it's not as though they were to be included on an upcoming album.

I love the 1986-1988 period. So productive and also still mysterious.

Erik

BorisFishpaw said:

The same reason he was rehearsing unreleased Black Album tracks. Remember, the first act of the Lovesexy tour WAS the Camille character. It was all about the flesh, sin, and the dark side of the character. The whole first hour was a struggle. He wanted to fuck her, then he Adored her, he wanted to be her lover, etc. But in the end, the Light won (Anna Stesia), and Act II was his "rebirth", which is why all the band came up from under the stage, as if they were being created from the dust. Flowers surrounded the stage, etc. He could have just as easily thrown in "Rebirth of the Flesh" instead of "Superfunkycalifragisexy" or "Bob George", or put it anywhere else in the show, in that first hour.

If it was for the Lovesexy Tour, it might have been a rehearsal for the aftershow performances. We literally have endless CD's of the Lovesexy rehearsals for the main show... no slot for Rebirth... unless it was considered for the US leg.

But I think I remember hearing... Brother Brooks... who was on the SOTT tour, not the Lovesexy tour, right?

ufoclub said:

Brooks and Wally were all on the SOTT tour, but nixed by the time Lovesexy came around.
[Edited 1/28/10 8:20am]

ernestsewell said:

Right, so is that not Brooks we hear on this recording?

ufoclub said:

The rehearsal released via NPGMC? I don't know. It's been a long time since I've listened to it.

ernestsewell said:

Yes, that's what made me think it was a SOTT rehearsal.

I haven't heard it in years, but I have in my mind it was from the cancelled SOTT USA tour rehersals?

I say this knowing I could get willingly bitch slapped by Boris at any time.

ernestsewell said:

Don't you mean ''crystal ball'' album? im pretty sure camille did not have play in the sunshine on it!!!!

JAYJOE said:

Hmmm, I stand corrected on that one. The Camille album was:

Rebirth of the Flesh
Housequake
Strange Relationship
Feel U Up
Shockadelica
Good Love
If I Was Your Girlfriend
Rock Hard In A Funky Place

The two songs, segued together, is still out there on the 30 Years of Unreleased Funk set (Volume 2).

Crystal Ball was:
Side 1
* "Rebirth of the Flesh"
* "Play in the Sunshine"
* "Housequake"
* "The Ballad of Dorothy Parker"
Side 2
* "It"
* "Starfish and Coffee"
* "Slow Love"
* "Hot Thing"
Side 3
* "Crystal Ball"
* "If I Was Your Girlfriend"
* "Rock Hard in a Funky Place"
Side 4
* "The Ball"
* "Joy in Repetition"
* "Strange Relationship"
* "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man"
Side 5
* "Shockadelica"
* "Good Love"
* "Forever in My Life"
* "Sign "☮" the Times"
Side 6
* "The Cross"
* "Adore"
* "It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night"

ufoclub said:

I'm listening now. The guy at the beginning laughing or doing the call outs sounds more like Levi.


And fuck me running - I forget that Prince fucking reversed a curse word in this! !%*&#!()!(#*%^&

ernestsewell said:

The guy at the beginning does not match the callouts during HouseQuake in the SOTT movie? Or the line "Sweet Sticky Thing" during the leadup to Hot Thing? In my memory it was... but maybe not, I don't have the Rebirth track handy...

ufoclub said:

Those call outs were Greg Brooks, you are correct. But the guy in the "Rebirth" rehearsal doesn't have quite the same voice. I think it's Levi.

ernestsewell said:

Jerome was on the SOTT tour, or do you mean slated to be until Prince let him go for working a side project with Jimmy & Terry/Janet?

BorisFishpaw said:

Prince has been doing that for so long, rehearsing and/or performing unreleased stuff possibly slated for an album:Head was being performed during the Prince album shows, Moonbeam Levels during the 1999 shows, Our Destiny-Roadhouse Garden during his PR era Birthday show, was Neon/Noon Rendevzous intended for Sheila E when it was performed by the Revolution? or was it just intended..., Dance Electric during Parade rehearsals, SuperfunkiCalifragiSexy previewed at the 1st Ave SOTT "open rehearsal" Movie Star performed instrumental during the SOTT:New Years Eve show etc etc
[Edited 1/28/10 7:00am]

NouveauDance said:

greyhoodiegirl said:

hold on lemme look up that word...

ufoclub said:

marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects

LOVE "Rebirth of the Flesh"!!
the whole Camille project is great.