The Question Of U is the fourth track on Prince's twelfth album Graffiti Bridge. The song also features in the movie Graffiti Bridge. In 2004, a live version (as The ? Of U in a medley with Fallin' and The One was offered as both audio and video by NPG Music Club for $7.77 for members ($9.99 for non-members). In 2007, a live version using the lyrics of The One, was included as the 14th track on Prince's fourth live album Indigo Nights (credited only as The One).

While specific recording dates are not known, initial tracking took place in mid-late July, 1985 at the Washington Avenue Warehouse in Eden Prairie, MN, USA (during the same set of sessions that produced Girls And Boys, ♥ Or $, Neon Telephone, Do U Lie?, Venus De Milo and (U Got The) Good Drawers), but was not included on any known configurations of Parade, or any other projects during 1985-6. An instrumental version was recorded on 28 December, 1985 at Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA with Sheila E., Levi Seacer, Jr. and Eric Leeds during the so-called "Paisley Jam" session (that also produced Slaughterhouse, U Just Can't Stop, Run Amok, Mobile, Madrid, Breathless and High Calonic). Eric Leeds named the track 12 Keys, unaware (as were Sheila E. and Levi Seacer, Jr.) that it was an instrumental version of a track Prince had recorded previously. It is unknown if this version was intended for The Flesh album or any other project. When Prince began work on Graffiti Bridge in late 1987, he pulled out the original studio of The Question Of U and recorded additional parts.

I would imagine so, since the first version of the song was recorded in July of 1985.

http://www.princevault.co...stion_Of_U

squirrelgrease said:

wonder whether he revisited these/portions of these for inspiration for the early 2000's NPGMC tracks of similar names. Probably not, but it's still nice to speculate.

Even now, I still get a thrill when I hear the names of uncirculating tracks sad eh?

Erik

Is there any substance to rumour that this song was originally entitled 'Life withou you'?

From this thread:

"i know a sound engineer (early prince fan) who spoke to Tom Garneau in the mid-nighties. They got onto the subject of Working for Prince. Tom, who apparently worked on the track in question, stated that the initial recordings at paisley park started with the song being called 'Life Without U'. Supposedly, the line went like - "Of all of the things 2 lose...Life without U" (only an estimation of the lyric i was told, very old memory!). I love the Question of You! great track!"

Interesting!