Hi

finally got hold of a boot with moon beam levels listed. Never heard this track before & heard alot of guys talking about it. When I play the track "better place 2 die" plays, Is it the same track or is it labelled wrong?

Same track, depending on what boot u have. Just a different title.

Oh bollocks I've had this track for years on another boot! Oh well it's a better version! I've been searching for it for ages ,what A twat.

"A Better Place To Die" is a false title for "Moonbeam Levels".

If you listen to the opening verses of "3 Chains o' Gold" from , you'll hear that Prince took the melody from "Moonbeam Levels" and recycled it.

I'd still love a crisp, fresh quality version of this song. It's one of my all time favorite bootleg.

I'll agree with ernestsewell on that comment. It's another purple classic! Just a little info, it was originally intended 4 the '1999' album. The recording of 'Free' may have been the reason why it didn't make the album. It's was later re-worked and intended 4 the shelved 1988 'Rave Until The Joy Fantastic' album. Oh yeah, it's one of Prince's favorites in the vault.
[Edited 4/21/10 12:21pm]

... we just need to raid "the vault" and clean up some of that Purple Funk from yesteryear ... LoL

So where did the title moon beam levels Come from? What does it mean?

sms130 said:

You are correct. "Moonbeam Levels", sounding a lot like "Free", was intended for
1999, but was removed once "Free" was written; it was a stronger song. I do wish it had come out as a B-side at least. The song was recorded July 6, 1982 at Sunset Sound.

I don't remember it being reworked for the Rave album. 1988 was Lovesexy, not Rave. However, perhaps you meant 1989. Prince aborted the Rave venture when Batman came along, as evidenced, if for no other reason, than the plethora of "Rave" lines in the Batman era tracks.

purpleparty3000 said:

It's a bit of an unknown thing. There are many people's ideas on that, but never a real reason for the name or the meaning of it in the song.

its great just suffers from the same thing alot of good boots do-bad sound quality. all day all night is a good example of this the BOC version really makes it shine!

ernestsewell said:

The tracks for the original Rave were all recorded in 1988 for a planned release in February '89, I believe. I know Prince's epic live recording of the title track happened in July of 1988.

Sorry, had to laugh!... Can imagine it being a huge let down having heard about this amazing track, only to find out you already knew it under a different name!

ernestsewell said:

few things. yes, it was re-recorded for Rave in '88, as were most (or all) of the tracks for that intended album. and how would you remember it being recorded unless you were sitting there with him?

also, which song are you saying was the stronger song? because Moonbeam Levels shits all over Free.


also... does anyone think, hearing the beginning of the track, if it was intended to lead in from the song 1999? it starts with what sounds like it could be the end of 1999. and it would sort of fill that "pop rock" position on the album that Little Red Corvette occupies on there.

errant said:

Few more things:
1) I never said I was there. Try to read past what I'm saying before trying to shit on someone's comment(s).

2) I never said I thought it was a stronger song. Prince obviously thought it was a better song, hence his replacement with "Free". The same goes for "Electric Intercourse" being replaced by "The Beautiful Ones". Mmmkay?

ernestsewell said:

You said you didn't remember it being reworked. I asked why you would remember such a thing. What you don't remember is hearing or reading about it being reworked.

How do you like it?

errant said:

I'd rather have a real conversation instead of a pissing contest with an inferior mind, so I'll just find someone else to engage.

ernestsewell said:

what, I thought you enjoyed the picking apart of people's posts over irrelevant syntax, spelling, & semantics...

how is discussing bootlegs dissimilar from soliciting bootlegs?

Cx

mrsquirrel said:

You answered your own question. Discussion doesn't equal "where can I get it?" There are no rules broken on the forum by talking about bootlegs.

Excellent song! It's a shame that this was never officially released.

Christopher said:

I had this on headphones walking to work in the sunshine this morning. Man, does that song do it for me!

NouveauDance said:

I had the same experience I could never work out what he was singing during the 'please send all your moonbeam levels to me' bit

vivid said:

^^^

prince reading your post

Christopher said: