I know this topic has been addressed in numerous threads in the past, but perhaps not as specific as I hope y'all can help me with. What would you recommend as the 3 essential Prince bootlegs? BUT, I want to avoid live show recordings if possible (soundboard recordings without all the damn whistles, shouts, tambourine shakes, barking, and other crowd noise would be okay though). I'm currently trudging my way through Work It 2.0, so I'm already aware of that one. I also already have Small Club, Continental Drift, Dreams, Dream Factory, the three volumes of 30 Years of Unreleased Funk, and Box O' Chocolates. Thanks in advance.

[Edited 6/8/10 6:54am]

You really seem to have it sorted as far as outakes are concerned, Work It, Unreleased Funk, and Box of Chocs, are all regarded as pretty much essential.

You might also want to try The Lotus Box, it ties up a few loose ends, and the content is quite good, it can also be found for free like all the others.

Regarding soundboard live recordings, you cannot really go wrong with 'Nagoya-89' from the Lovesexy tour, the sound on this concert recording is pristine.

Also from the Lovesexy tour, you could try 'Osaka-89', this one includes a great soundcheck recording, and once again the sound is top notch. I could go on and on, but another favorite of mine is 'ONA in Copenhagen', This is an aftershow on the ONA tour, and the sound is excellent, that too is a soundboard release.

All this stuff mentioned can be found for fee download, and in most cases in Flac quality.

Happy hunting.

[Edited 6/8/10 7:52am]

http://thedigitalgarden.org/index.html and also http://www.angelfire.com/jazz/ug2p/ are good guides.

You could also try http://www.smallclub.org/

These sites are good for reviews info etc.

Go to the sites linked above. As far as Live shows are concerned, it's shooting fish in a barrel. There's "must have" shows from every tour, but not every tour really appeals to everyone.

The City Lights remastered stuff should be given a spin by every Prince fan at least once... But as far as repeat playability, that's up to the listener. I, for one, can't be bothered to listen to the Controversy tour or the Purple Rain tour too often, but I love the Dirty Mind, SOTT, Lovesexy, and Nude tours. Oh well.

It's impossible to list only 3 boots.

Not even 3 per tour.

And content quality is more important that sound quality.

I started with The Work series not as exclusive as The Revelations but for a start they'll do. Hope that helps.

[Edited 6/8/10 10:12am]

As for soundboard recordings, Moonraker did a good series and the titles to look out on there are:

Dance 2 The Beat

Syracuse 1985

Detroit Birthday Show

4 Those Of u On Valium

Livesexy

Small Club

Tokyo '90

Any varients are key ones to pick up

also Sabotage are remastering and expanding the City Lights collection so you may want to pick them up too

MikeyB71 said:

http://thedigitalgarden.org/index.html and also http://www.angelfire.com/jazz/ug2p/ are good guides.

You could also try http://www.smallclub.org/

These sites are good for reviews info etc.

Yeah, I've perused these sites. The only thing I'm not skilled at "reading into" is the sound quality rating. I've downloaded some boots that have had an "excellent" rating, but sounded like absolute caca. Too bad you can't hear the sound quality before downloading the files.

Harlepolis said:

I started with The Work series not as exclusive as The Revelations but for a start they'll do. Hope that helps.

[Edited 6/8/10 10:12am]

I understand one should pass by The Work and go straight to Work It 2.0, or does The Work still have merit of its own?

vitriol said:

It's impossible to list only 3 boots.

Not even 3 per tour.

And content quality is more important that sound quality.

How about if I say pretty please?

Spinlight said:

Go to the sites linked above. As far as Live shows are concerned, it's shooting fish in a barrel. There's "must have" shows from every tour, but not every tour really appeals to everyone.

The City Lights remastered stuff should be given a spin by every Prince fan at least once... But as far as repeat playability, that's up to the listener. I, for one, can't be bothered to listen to the Controversy tour or the Purple Rain tour too often, but I love the Dirty Mind, SOTT, Lovesexy, and Nude tours. Oh well.

I agree with you on the live shows point. I'll check out the City Lights remastered stuff and the tours you recommend. Any specific shows on those tours?

ravein2thejoy said:

As for soundboard recordings, Moonraker did a good series and the titles to look out on there are:

Dance 2 The Beat

Syracuse 1985

Detroit Birthday Show

4 Those Of u On Valium

Livesexy

Small Club

Tokyo '90

Any varients are key ones to pick up

also Sabotage are remastering and expanding the City Lights collection so you may want to pick them up too

Thanks. I'll check these out. I have the Small Club boot. I dig it.

Poiple said:

Harlepolis said:

I started with The Work series not as exclusive as The Revelations but for a start they'll do. Hope that helps.

[Edited 6/8/10 10:12am]

I understand one should pass by The Work and go straight to Work It 2.0, or does The Work still have merit of its own?

To me it does.t

Since you want studio outtakes for the time being, The Work is def right up your alley. And the great thing about it is compiled most of the unreleased songs from 1976-2001. Its a 5 compilation series with 4 CDs each, so its a fruitful listen for somebody who wants a start(at least it was for me).

There's an enhanced version of The Work where it compiled all of those periods(to 2005) in only 4 CDs if you only want an overview.

[Edited 6/8/10 10:53am]

Dream Factory

Small Club

The Dawn

To stop there would be madness, but they are the best of the best, IMO, covering different facets of the Purple Underground.

I don't wanna hijack the topic or anything, but can I ask what the actual track-listing for Small Club is? I've seen like 10 different ones and it's put me off downloading the thing.

soulyacolia said:

If you stick to just soundboard you are going to miss out on some amazing shows. As someone said above it's just as much about content. Every fan should hear the Conga Room show from last year or the 'power trio' aftershow from the 21 nights run (which by the way is awesome sounding for an audience recording)

After I get the quality sounds, I will likely venture into the "non soundboard" recordings. I just despise trying to listen to music that sounds like it was performed underwater and recorded with a $5 tape recorder wrapped in cotton, though (I know all boots don't sound like that--I'm being a bit facetious to make the point). I will check out your recommendations. Thanks.

Eiken said:

I don't wanna hijack the topic or anything, but can I ask what the actual track-listing for Small Club is? I've seen like 10 different ones and it's put me off downloading the thing.

Hmmm, now you've got me wondering. After digging a little, there appear to be several "Small Club" boots. Is it the Trojan Horse Aftershow boot that is the brass ring here? Or one of the other "Small Club" boots? I've gotta dig some more.....

Poiple said:

Eiken said:

I don't wanna hijack the topic or anything, but can I ask what the actual track-listing for Small Club is? I've seen like 10 different ones and it's put me off downloading the thing.

Hmmm, now you've got me wondering. After digging a little, there appear to be several "Small Club" boots. Is it the Trojan Horse Aftershow boot that is the brass ring here? Or one of the other "Small Club" boots? I've gotta dig some more.....

The original Small Club - Second Show That Night was issued on X Records. That's where it all started. I believe every boot that followed sourced from this recording, but may have been tweaked a tad. Certainly, you should get at least that one and some others to compare differences.

Poiple said:

soulyacolia said:

If you stick to just soundboard you are going to miss out on some amazing shows. As someone said above it's just as much about content. Every fan should hear the Conga Room show from last year or the 'power trio' aftershow from the 21 nights run (which by the way is awesome sounding for an audience recording)

After I get the quality sounds, I will likely venture into the "non soundboard" recordings. I just despise trying to listen to music that sounds like it was performed underwater and recorded with a $5 tape recorder wrapped in cotton, though (I know all boots don't sound like that--I'm being a bit facetious to make the point). I will check out your recommendations. Thanks.

Feel the same way you do! Only want the good sounding ones! I have two versions of "Small Club" which are good. I can also speak for the quality of the Lovesexy Nagoya Live, Return of the Bumpsquad, and Thunder from the Diamonds and Pearls tour. One other that I am listening to today I would add--The Dawn compilation--just love it!

Virtually anything from 4DaFunk's and Free Boot Generation's catalogues is well worth grabbing. Be it sbd or not.

You can definitely pass on The Work volumes.

The original pressed releases were five 4CD sets that were later completed with 4 more 3 and 4 CDr volumes but it became a mess. Tracks were repeated from earlier volumes in better qualities and chronology was thrown down the drain.

You can't go wrong with the full 34cds of Work It 2.0 Updated. Especially if you also have the 3 30 Years volumes and Box O'Chocolates.

The 1989 Japanese concerts in Sendai, Nagoya and Osaka were issued by Sabotage in pristine quality.

But, again, it would be better to ask for some recommendations for every tour. There's so much out there to say no to a good part of it.

Eiken said:

I don't wanna hijack the topic or anything, but can I ask what the actual track-listing for Small Club is? I've seen like 10 different ones and it's put me off downloading the thing.

Den Haag 88-08-19

1- Instrumental Jam

2- Dance, Music, Sex, Romance

3- Just My Imagination

4- People Without

5- Housequake

6- Kansas City, Hear I Come

7- I Don't Care (Medley)

8- Forever In My Life

9- She Will Stand On Time

10- I'll Take You There I

11- I'll Talke You There II

12- R.A.D.E

I hope this is correct.

Does Work It have improved sound quality or any tracks that aren't included in The Work?

[Edited 6/8/10 16:00pm]

elmer said:

Eiken said:

I don't wanna hijack the topic or anything, but can I ask what the actual track-listing for Small Club is? I've seen like 10 different ones and it's put me off downloading the thing.

Den Haag 88-08-19

1- Instrumental Jam

2- Dance, Music, Sex, Romance

3- Just My Imagination

4- People Without

5- Housequake

6- Kansas City, Hear I Come

7- I Don't Care (Medley)

8- Forever In My Life

9- She Will Stand On Time

10- I'll Take You There I

11- I'll Talke You There II

12- R.A.D.E

I hope this is correct.

Does Work It have improved sound quality or any tracks that aren't included in The Work?

[Edited 6/8/10 16:00pm]

For the most part, Work It 2.0 has superior sound quality to The Work. As far as I know, it is the most updated sound source for most of the tracks on The Work compilation.

elmer said:

Eiken said:

I don't wanna hijack the topic or anything, but can I ask what the actual track-listing for Small Club is? I've seen like 10 different ones and it's put me off downloading the thing.

Den Haag 88-08-19

1- Instrumental Jam

2- Dance, Music, Sex, Romance

3- Just My Imagination

4- People Without

5- Housequake

6- Kansas City, Hear I Come

7- I Don't Care (Medley)

8- Forever In My Life

9- She Will Stand On Time

10- I'll Take You There I

11- I'll Talke You There II

12- R.A.D.E

I hope this is correct.

Does Work It have improved sound quality or any tracks that aren't included in The Work?

[Edited 6/8/10 16:00pm]

at R.A.D.E. It's actually a version of Rave unto the Joy Fantastic. The Instrumental jam also includes the lead line from Rave. I Don't Care is JB's Cold Sweat.

Listen, don't let the screwy tracklist deter you from hearing Small Club. It is arguably the best Prince unauthorized recording of all time - based on performance AND sound quality.

It's pretty hard to narrow down, but right now I'm stuck on Parade Around the World.

It's a 3CD set:

Disc One: August 25, 1986 Paris (not complete:-( )

Disc Two: Mix of various performances including the Sheridan Wyoming 07/01/86 MTV performance, the America video, some from Parade shows in Germany, Detroit, Stockholm

Disc Three: Parade rehearsal

Christopher Tracy's Parade

New Position

I Wonder U

Raspberry Beret

Delirious

Controversy

Mutiny

snippet of Life Can Be So Nice

Soul Psychedelicide (extended jam...goes on for nearly an hour! FANTASTIC!)

Frustrated at the incomplete Paris show (I have a complete audience recording of the show and its awesome!), but the sound quality alone makes up for it.

Disc Three is the absolute fonkiest I have ever heard the Revolution play.

Now...as for the City Lights shows...all are great, but get the 1999 show! It comes with two shows, Detroit 11/30/82 and Providence, Rhode Island 02/10/83. Sound quality is better on the Detroit show, but both are the bomb with somewhat different track lists

DETROIT

Controversy

Let's Work

Little Red Corvette

Do Me Baby

Head

Uptown

Lisa's keyboard solo

How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?

Lady Cab Driver

International Lover

1999

DMSR

RHODE ISLAND

Controversy

Let's Work

Do Me Baby

DMSR

Still Waiting

How Come U Dont Call Me Anymore?

Lady Cab Driver

Little Red Corvette

Dirty Mind

International Lover

1999

Damn...I love threads like this!! I'm going to dig thru my stuff!!

Spinlight mentioned City Lights. Get it.

Also, remember to find and download the offline DataBank.org site. It's a wonderful cross-referencing resource until TheDigitalGarden.org is fully up and complete.

squirrelgrease said:

Spinlight mentioned City Lights. Get it.

Also, remember to find and download the offline DataBank.org site. It's a wonderful cross-referencing resource until TheDigitalGarden.org is fully up and complete.

City Lights is the BOMB!

^Especially the versions by 4DaFunk (Atlanta 80, Columbia 81, Saginaw 82, Detroit 82 and Providence 83) are way better than Superhero's originals.

In fact, they are the ones Sabotage is snatching for "their" remastered versions.

[Edited 6/9/10 2:13am]

vitriol said:

^Especially the versions by 4DaFunk (Atlanta 80, Columbia 81, Saginaw 82, Detroit 82 and Providence 83) are way better than Superhero's originals.

In fact, they are the ones Sabotage is snatching for "their" remastered versions.

[Edited 6/9/10 2:13am]

What does 4DaFunk call their City Lights reworks?

squirrelgrease said:

vitriol said:

^Especially the versions by 4DaFunk (Atlanta 80, Columbia 81, Saginaw 82, Detroit 82 and Providence 83) are way better than Superhero's originals.

In fact, they are the ones Sabotage is snatching for "their" remastered versions.

[Edited 6/9/10 2:13am]

What does 4DaFunk call their City Lights reworks?

I think they called it 'The Soundboard Series'.

Not 100% on that though.

Digital Garden mention the 4DaFunk series in their review of the Sabotage City Lights Remasters, though no real mention of a title.

[Edited 6/9/10 14:33pm]