I'm obsessed with it at the moment and must know any and all information regarding it!

It was oringinally supposed to be on the Apollonia6 album.

It's rdhulls favorite Prince song

All I know is it's one of his best songs (IMO)

Hi,


Days Of Wild says:

The B-side of "When Doves Cry" was "17 Days", an outstanding funk/pop tune that ranks with the finest music on Purple Rain. Indeed, the images used in the song would have made it fit perfectly in the movie. The song deals with the famliar theme of unfaithful woman. Prince (the Kid) called his woman on the telephone, but she didn't answer leading him to suspect that she was with another man. He calls on the rain to come down, as if it will wash away his problems, purifying the world in its awake. Underscoring the Kid's sad resignation, the music is melancholy, set in a minor tonality. The melody is sung over two alternating guitar chords and a rhythmic foundation made up of a basic drum machine beat and a rubbery-sounding bass that repeats a monotonous figure. Prince adorns the track with an addictive synth hook line.

It was first recorded in August 1983 and was intended to be part of the second Vanity 6 album. Prince was half way recording it, when she left. Songs already in the can were:

Promise To Be True
Vibrator
Sex Shooter
and 17 Days


He also recorded for her a song called G-spot intended to be included in the Purple Rain-movie, but it got replaced in the film by Darling Nikki. (G-spot was later given and re-recorded to Jill Jones for self titeled album released on the Paisley Park Label in 1987.)

In december 1983 he re-recorded 17 Days with Wendy & Lisa who supplied the backing vocals in Sunset Studio

along with:

Erotic City
She's Always In My Hair (my fav!!)
Tricky (a B-side released by The Time)
Another Lonely Christmas


I hope this helps!

Spanjeganger

it's one bad-ass song...

Pepina said:

Prince doesn't smoke does he? So what's that "all I got is two cigarettes, and this broken heart of mine" shit all about? Another of young Prince's bullshit fictional melodrama (e.g. Another Lonely Xmas) lyrics... I'm glad he stopped that.

I hate this song, and Wendy & Lisa's discordant out-of-tune wailing in the chorus doesn't improve matters.

This might just be a coincidence, but I remember reading that 17 days was the Guinness Record for the longest kiss.

I don't know if it's the current record or not . . .

ian said:

Damitt Ian! Do you like anything by prince?
As or the ciggarette line, this song was supposed to be on the Apollonia6 album, sung by Brenda, who smoked. In the Vanity6 vinyl version, there's even a picture o her with a ciggarette in her mouth.

I was in a dollar store last week and they played "17 days", boy, did that make my day.
I almost had a heart attack.

lovebizzare said:

Well let Brenda sing it then. Prince's version was dreadful I like lots of Prince's songs, but unlike some fans I don't think his music is above reproach.

I just seem to hate lots of songs that other fans like - e.g. "God", "Another Lonely Xmas", "Free", and "17 Days". It's all cheesy schmaltz IMO.

ian said:

...and i thought i wuz picky when it comes 2 p, ian...

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I'm not afraid to fly in the face of popular opinion haha.

ian said:

i thought i read that it was jill jones somewhere...or maybe i'm thinking of 'hello..'?

either way..some of the backing vocals in those days..were..yeh..a little harsh...


i do love '17 days' tho...

oh..and sheila e. performed it at the celebration last year...

it seemed like they were waiting for prince to come out..but that's the nite that the air conditioning was out..so i think he was elsewhere...

rio said:

especially in the live video from syracuse, I love W&L, but they just sounded...bad.

Brenda is singign background as well especially the vamp ending..the best part

Only that it's Prince's song, and I LOVE IT !!!
[This message was edited Sun Feb 9 19:08:34 PST 2003 by Starmist7]

ian said:

They did that a lot didn't they?

rio said:

harsh? more like rough...

i know that Living Color did a cover of it, but i've never heard it...

So was 17 Days never considered for inclusion on the PR album?

A question I've always had.. the booklet for The Hits says that When Doves Cry was recorded late for PR, when the album was "already finished". So what song did it replace? I've always thought that it was 17 Days, but I guess not...?

ian said:

I hope that was a joke. Prince is well known for writing dissonant chord structures. The use of dissonant chords is a classic Prince signature, especially from those days.
I'm quite sure Wendy & Lisa were singing the notes exactly the way Prince wanted them to sing it.

Besides that, how could you NOT like that bass line???

JonSnow said:

Chances are that you wouldn't recognize Living Color's cover of 17 Days if you heard it, unless someone told you.
It's Total grunge/heavy metal style. It's interesting, if nothing else.

It's sort of like how Herbie Hancock completely reworked Thieves in The Temple into a jazz song.

Hella song !
Before I had a personal copy we used to go to the Pizza Hut to hear it.They had a jukebox there with the 45 of When Doves Cry/17 Days.

Ahh! The good ole days !

This was when Prince was in the Zone.
Summer of 84, 2 number 1 singles, 3 number 1 on the R & B charts.Prince played on all the radio stations.
RADIO still mattered !
19 years ago wha ???

i know that the bassline on it is an absolute killa.

muleFunk said:

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I can tell you it's absolutely kickass Once my favorite, I'm not so sure anymore but it'll always be top 5 on my list...

muleFunk said:

I miss dem days
*gettin all teary eyed*

lovebizzare said:

(little kid voice)

tell me 'bout the old days...