Was Eye No from Lovesexy originally named Crystal Ball? I heard this different version of Eye No which is a little different but is called Crystal Ball and Prince sings in this song "Welcome to the crystal ball." Then the song melts into Joy in Repetition. Perhaps this has been covered here before but I could not find it.

No it was called The Ball not Crystal Ball.
[Edited 4/30/10 4:52am]

ZiggmanZoo said:

Crystal Ball was a common theme in Prince's music around that time, and even later. He references a crystal ball in "Hot Thing" as well. But " No: was originally called "The Ball" and had totally different lyrics.

"Crystal Ball" was always named as such, although there were different edits throughout the time periods. I think some bootlegs used to call it "Expert Lover", but I'm not sure that was ever a real title - it was just what the bootleggers thought it was called (similar example with "Welcome 2 The Rat Race" actually being called "In A Large Room With No Light" - Prince cleared that one up himself about 10 years ago).

Written after the Dream Factory project was shelved, "The Ball" is a straightforward party song with no deep message, Prince has "no time for attitudes" and urges everybody to give up "any notion about the way things are" and come to the Crystal Ball to "get loose." Most of music was reused for " No" on Lovesexy. In fact, Prince even kept the "party talk" that was used as a segue between "The Ball" and "Joy In Repetition." A part of the segue was used once again when most of the original recording of "Joy In Repetition" turned up on Graffiti Bridge. "The Ball" was intended to open side four of the 3-LP Crystal Ball.

~
[Edited 4/30/10 5:48am]

ernestsewell said:

Now as a Jehovah Witness he could never really push occult subject matter like a crystal Ball (device to tell the future) (although he also seems to use the word interchangeably with "ball" as in a formal dance party. They are very picky on anything supernatural not related to God.

ufoclub said:

Most Catholic and Protestant groups are opposed to that. The Bible clearly speaks against using wizards, mediums, witchcraft, seers, etc.

Wasn't there also some connection to 'Escape' and 'Glam Slam 91' and then to 'Gett Off'?

Lots of songs borrow from other songs. The thing is that many unreleased Prince songs found their way out of his vault and so we can prepare.

Prince often records different versions of a song or decides to lift parts of other songs as a slight motif into other songs.

For instance; the motif (melody, whatever) you hear at 2:10 in 1992's "The Max" (just after Prince's 'yeahyeahyeah!') is the same motiv he used in 1988's Small Club's live rock version of 'Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic', but it was lifted from a studio recording of 'Soul Psychodelicide' even earlier.

So he uses ideas again and again and 'updates' them, sometimes with a great result (1989's Feel U Up sounds way more complete than the earlier demo medley with Irresistible Bitch) and other times he kills the song (like The Time's sub-par version of Databank)

There are LOADS of connections.

And sometimes even to other artists; listen to the bass in Aretha Franklin's Rock Steady and compare it to Daddy Pop's bass...

OnlyNDaUsa said:

I think there was a "Glam Slam Boogie" "Glam Slam '91" that ended up becoming what is "Gett Off".

Also, Prince samples his own "Get Off" in "Gett Off", near the end of the album track.

I forget the "Escape" connection, if there is any.

Thanks to you all for the info. On the bootleg I have, the song Crystal Ball is called Expert Lover. But what a project the original Crystal Ball was intented to be! I'm still glad it came out as a double album as Sign O' the Times.

Ps.
In The Ball you can also hear the same voice effect as later in Bob George.

ernestsewell said:

it is a very vague memory of something I read years ago. Maybe on AMP? But it was interesting how several songs had more than just a passing simularity but had all apparently evolved from the same music. Along with "get off" and 'New Power Generation.' The idea of the NPG goes back to the "New Power" theme from Lovesexy and has been present through out the 90s and 00.

ernestsewell said:

Not with The Ball or Eye No, but it shares lyrics with The Rebirth of The Flesh of the same cancelled album.

HamsterHuey said:

as well as the mention of 'rat race' which was in "large room" which may have also (I never payed much mind to the configurations of various canceled projects) been on one of the CB/DF projects as some point.

ernestsewell said:

I've never heard of a Catholic or Protestant friend not celebrating Halloween or saying the pledge of allegiance! But I do have Witness friends that couldn't when they were young.

OnlyNDaUsa said:

Glam Slam '91 was split into two songs later released: Gett Off and Love Machine.

OnlyNDaUsa said:

possibly some connection

Glam Slam


This thing we got - it's alive!
It seems 2 transcend the physical
One touch and I'm satisfied
Must be a dream it's so magical
CHORUS:
Glam Slam - thank U, ma'am
U really make my day
Glam Slam - thank U, ma'am
I pray U'll always stay

I know I hold U 2 tight (2 tight)
But I just can't seem 2 get close enough (I want 2 hold U)
Want 2 hold U every night (Wanna hold U every night)
I'm so horny and U're the stuff

CHORUS

Heavy feather, flicka nipple
Baby scram, water ripple
(I don't understand) It means I love U
Come a butterfly straight on your skin
U go 4 me and I come again
Glam Slam - thank U, ma'am

Sun is risen, moon is gone
Soda fizzin' on the lawn
Come a butterfly straight on your skin
Glam Slam
Glam Slam - thank U, ma'am
U really make my day - ha ha ha ha

This thing we got - it's alive! (Alive)
It seems 2 transcend the physical
One touch and I'm satisfied (Ooh, baby)
Must be a dream it's so magical

CHORUS

Glam Slam
U will always stay {x2}
It's all right, it's OK
© 1988 Controversy Music - ASCAP


Escape (Extended Version)

Snare drum pounds on the 2 and 4
All the party people get on the floor {x2}
Bass!
{crowd noise} {sampled throughout song}
Glam Slam - Escape! (Glam Slam)
CHORUS:
Glam Slam - free yo' mind from this rat race
Glam Slam - Escape!

15 minutes ain't long enough
2 be out yo' mind in a world so tough
If U wanna escape and truly be
All the crack in Compton won't set U free
Come on

CHORUS
(Slammin')

U got 2 be yourself, U got 2 be aware
Cuz the Gangster Man - hmm, he don't give a care (Don't care)
Whether U live or whether U die
Glam Slam Escape, gotta give it a try, come on (Ooh!)

CHORUS
(Slammin')

(Party baby) {x8}
(Where did I hear that before?)

Glam Slam - Escape!
Everybody trippin' on the party bass
However high U get is a matter of taste (Party baby, party baby)
Winner takes all in the hardest race (Yes it does)
Don't get on the scale if U ain't got the weight
It's more hard 2 love than it is 2 hate
Say it!
It's more hard 2 love than it is 2 hate
Come on
It's more hard 2 love than it is 2 hate
Yeah
It's more hard 2 love than it is 2 hate
One more
More hard 2 love than it is 2 hate

Escape!
Glam Slam
Ow!

CHORUS

Escape!

Don't ask 4 sex, he ain't got the time
Keep your body, he wants your mind
Glam slam slam slam (Keep your body, he wants your mind)
(Keep your body) {x2}

Escape!

CHORUS

(Party baby) {x2}
Bass - as in a limbic
U know it's not free
(Party baby) {x2}
Everybody just wants 2 play
Say it! (Play!)
Come on! (Play!)
Slammin', slammin', slammin! (Play! Play!)
Escape! {repeat in BG}

Trancend the physical
Glam Slam
Keep your body, he wants your mind
No punks aloud
Music up - crucifixion goin' down, down, down... (Glam Slam)
Ah yeah!

Glam Slam

© 1988 Controversy Music - ASCAP

Escape draws from Rebirth of The Flesh. Instead of the kick drum starting the song off in Escape the snare drum does.

~
[Edited 4/30/10 5:48am]
[/quote]

Now as a Jehovah Witness he could never really push occult subject matter like a crystal Ball (device to tell the future) (although he also seems to use the word interchangeably with "ball" as in a formal dance party. They are very picky on anything supernatural not related to God.[/quote]

I thought when he asked "Expert Lover, my babe, ever had a crystal ball?" he was trying to get in the girl's pants!