In Prince's Rolling Stone interview from 1985 he says:

"I want to show you the archives, where all my old stuff is. There's tons of music I've recorded there. I have the follow-up album to 1999. I could put it all together and play it for you, and you would go "Yeah!" And I could put it out, and it would probably sell what 1999 did. But I always try to do something different and conquer new ground."

Surely we can all guess, but does anyone have real insight to the tracks considered for this unreleased album?

alphachannel said:

In Prince's Rolling Stone interview from 1985 he says:

"I want to show you the archives, where all my old stuff is. There's tons of music I've recorded there. I have the follow-up album to 1999. I could put it all together and play it for you, and you would go "Yeah!" And I could put it out, and it would probably sell what 1999 did. But I always try to do something different and conquer new ground."

Surely we can all guess, but does anyone have real insight to the tracks considered for this unreleased album?

No, because there wasn't a followup. He's got the material for it ready to go, but no compiling ever happened. I think he is just saying he's got deep purple concord jams in his vault and he did not "forget" to play the kinda music he did before he went mainstream (massive PR success).

Understood. I took the quote to mean that he had tracks in mind for an album, but I didn't think he'd gone as far sequencing, choosing an album title, artwork, etc. What intrigued me was that he'd actually had these tracks completed and wondered what songs they were. First guess was that Extra Loveable was one, but I think that was for the proposed V6 follow-up album. Were some of these songs early versions of Purple Rain tracks, left-overs, or maybe songs that are mistakenly tagged as "1999" outtakes? A track like Possessed comes to mind...

Spinlight said:

alphachannel said:

In Prince's Rolling Stone interview from 1985 he says:

"I want to show you the archives, where all my old stuff is. There's tons of music I've recorded there. I have the follow-up album to 1999. I could put it all together and play it for you, and you would go "Yeah!" And I could put it out, and it would probably sell what 1999 did. But I always try to do something different and conquer new ground."

Surely we can all guess, but does anyone have real insight to the tracks considered for this unreleased album?

No, because there wasn't a followup. He's got the material for it ready to go, but no compiling ever happened. I think he is just saying he's got deep purple concord jams in his vault and he did not "forget" to play the kinda music he did before he went mainstream (massive PR success).

Nicely done!

alphachannel said:

Understood. I took the quote to mean that he had tracks in mind for an album, but I didn't think he'd gone as far sequencing, choosing an album title, artwork, etc. What intrigued me was that he'd actually had these tracks completed and wondered what songs they were. First guess was that Extra Loveable was one, but I think that was for the proposed V6 follow-up album. Were some of these songs early versions of Purple Rain tracks, left-overs, or maybe songs that are mistakenly tagged as "1999" outtakes? A track like Possessed comes to mind...

It's hard to really pinpoint what tracks were intended for what projects because a lot of misinformation exists within all the knowledge we have.

Example 1: In the liner notes for Crystal Ball, Prince states that "Crucial" was the original album closer for Sign o the Times. It is known from session documents, personal accounts from witnesses and bandmembers, and other anecdotal evidence that "Crucial" was never intended for Sign o the Times and that the album itself only ever had 2 possible closing tracks: "Adore" and "...Beautiful Night". Where did Prince get this idea from in 1998 when he wrote these liner notes?

Example 2: Prince states in the Crystal Ball liner notes that "Movie Star" was a track written for The Time. This song, according to gathered data, is from March 1986. The Time was disbanded for over 2 years at that point. Further, the reformation of The Time began as early as 1987 when the drafts for Graffiti Bridge were first written and included the band*. Prince either must've known shortly after The Family's and The Revolution's dissolutions that The Time would make a comeback. Perhaps Prince felt he would have more time to devote to the band. Who knows. What we do know is that "Movie Star" has always been a contender for release since it showed up on nearly every configuration of The Dream Factory and the proto-Crystal Ball record.

* All we know at this point about what "the band" consisted of in those early drafts is anyone's guess. We see, further, that it may have been intended to have Corporate World as the followup to Ice Cream Castles, but was scrapped in favor of putting the movie's tracks on Prince's album (which they perceived to be a mistake with the handling of the Purple Rain soundtrack before).

I bet "Feel U Up" would have been on that.

I remember Blackguitaristz making a post about it couple of years ago, assuming that the album was titled "Dance Electric", the song he gave to Andre Cymone later.

83 was a busy year though, and I'm sure an album would've interfered with the Purple Rain plans, or even get ignored once it get released because of Purple Rain.

Harlepolis said:

I remember Blackguitaristz making a post about it couple of years ago, assuming that the album was titled "Dance Electric", the song he gave to Andre Cymone later.

83 was a busy year though, and I'm sure an album would've interfered with the Purple Rain plans, or even get ignored once it get released because of Purple Rain.

I'm pretty sure The Dance Electric was recorded after Purple Rain, which would make it tough to have been considered for any project in 83.

TwiliteKid said:

Harlepolis said:

I remember Blackguitaristz making a post about it couple of years ago, assuming that the album was titled "Dance Electric", the song he gave to Andre Cymone later.

83 was a busy year though, and I'm sure an album would've interfered with the Purple Rain plans, or even get ignored once it get released because of Purple Rain.

I'm pretty sure The Dance Electric was recorded after Purple Rain, which would make it tough to have been considered for any project in 83.

Hell, I wouldn't know just reflecting on what went in that thread. Thanks for the info though.

^ I think that thread might've been a 'what if' thread, like a Purple Rain pt.2 thing - maybe.

Spinlight said:

alphachannel said:

Understood. I took the quote to mean that he had tracks in mind for an album, but I didn't think he'd gone as far sequencing, choosing an album title, artwork, etc. What intrigued me was that he'd actually had these tracks completed and wondered what songs they were. First guess was that Extra Loveable was one, but I think that was for the proposed V6 follow-up album. Were some of these songs early versions of Purple Rain tracks, left-overs, or maybe songs that are mistakenly tagged as "1999" outtakes? A track like Possessed comes to mind...

It's hard to really pinpoint what tracks were intended for what projects because a lot of misinformation exists within all the knowledge we have.

Example 1: In the liner notes for Crystal Ball, Prince states that "Crucial" was the original album closer for Sign o the Times. It is known from session documents, personal accounts from witnesses and bandmembers, and other anecdotal evidence that "Crucial" was never intended for Sign o the Times and that the album itself only ever had 2 possible closing tracks: "Adore" and "...Beautiful Night". Where did Prince get this idea from in 1998 when he wrote these liner notes?

Example 2: Prince states in the Crystal Ball liner notes that "Movie Star" was a track written for The Time. This song, according to gathered data, is from March 1986. The Time was disbanded for over 2 years at that point. Further, the reformation of The Time began as early as 1987 when the drafts for Graffiti Bridge were first written and included the band*. Prince either must've known shortly after The Family's and The Revolution's dissolutions that The Time would make a comeback. Perhaps Prince felt he would have more time to devote to the band. Who knows. What we do know is that "Movie Star" has always been a contender for release since it showed up on nearly every configuration of The Dream Factory and the proto-Crystal Ball record.

* All we know at this point about what "the band" consisted of in those early drafts is anyone's guess. We see, further, that it may have been intended to have Corporate World as the followup to Ice Cream Castles, but was scrapped in favor of putting the movie's tracks on Prince's album (which they perceived to be a mistake with the handling of the Purple Rain soundtrack before).

Those facts don't necessarily negate the Crystal Ball liner notes: Although "Crucial" had been recorded earlier, Prince could have toyed with the idea of making it the final track, an idea he might not even have expressed to anyone else.

Also, "Movie Star" was recorded in '86, well after The Time, but it could have been written (or at least conceived) much earlier.

But, we also know Prince lies a lot and deliberately spreads misinformation, so really we'll never know. Ah, the joy of being a Prince fan...

Back to the topic though, I doubt there was ever even the tiniest plan of releasing an album in 1983. The 1999 tracks were blowing up at pop radio that year and finally getting him the crossover he wanted, and all attention was focused on Purple Rain. As much as he wanted to release new material and a constant rate, I don't think even he thought a new album in 1983 was feasible, especially since it could have derailed his burgeoning superstardom (which he so desperately wanted at that time).

We've had many threads like this before.The idea of a "lost album from 1983" is intriguing but as others have pointed out,it most likely doesn't exist.

There has been zero proof that Movie Star was recorded in March 1986 - no track sheets - nothing. And just because it was placed on several configurations of subsequent 1986 album projects does not mean that the track was recorded during the same year. It could have simply undergone some overdubs that year. As a matter of fact, it seems to me that the musical 'pallette' that was used on the track more closely resembles the pallette he used in 1984 (i.e. the Linn side stick and synth 'whistle' sound - which also featured in America, which research says was recorded in summer 1984) and it might be the case that Movie Star was intended as a b-side for a single release by THE TIME during the Purple Rain era, bringing more sense to what is written in the Crystal Ball liner notes.

Jestyr said:

There has been zero proof that Movie Star was recorded in March 1986 - no track sheets - nothing. And just because it was placed on several configurations of subsequent 1986 album projects does not mean that the track was recorded during the same year. It could have simply undergone some overdubs that year. As a matter of fact, it seems to me that the musical 'pallette' that was used on the track more closely resembles the pallette he used in 1984 (i.e. the Linn side stick and synth 'whistle' sound - which also featured in America, which research says was recorded in summer 1984) and it might be the case that Movie Star was intended as a b-side for a single release by THE TIME during the Purple Rain era, bringing more sense to what is written in the Crystal Ball liner notes.

I don't have any further light to shed on the recordings and configurations, but I agree with you about the sound. Usually Prince's sound is very easy to place chronologically, and Movie Star sounds far more late 83 to mid 84.

Its no more than gut feel, but Movie Star feels like Prince having some fun with his "Time" writing, after Ice Cream Castles, but as Purple Rain was exploding.

Jestyr said:

There has been zero proof that Movie Star was recorded in March 1986 - no track sheets - nothing. And just because it was placed on several configurations of subsequent 1986 album projects does not mean that the track was recorded during the same year. It could have simply undergone some overdubs that year. As a matter of fact, it seems to me that the musical 'pallette' that was used on the track more closely resembles the pallette he used in 1984 (i.e. the Linn side stick and synth 'whistle' sound - which also featured in America, which research says was recorded in summer 1984) and it might be the case that Movie Star was intended as a b-side for a single release by THE TIME during the Purple Rain era, bringing more sense to what is written in the Crystal Ball liner notes.

http://princevault.com/in...Movie_Star

Harlepolis said:

I remember Blackguitaristz making a post about it couple of years ago, assuming that the album was titled "Dance Electric", the song he gave to Andre Cymone later.

whatever happened to Blackguitaristz? Is he still around on this site?

NouveauDance said:

^ I think that thread might've been a 'what if' thread, like a Purple Rain pt.2 thing - maybe.

Imagine if Prince had released an album titled 'The Dance Electic' in the summer of 1985.It would have been incredible! He had alot of top-notch songs that he could have used.

SoulAlive said:

NouveauDance said:

^ I think that thread might've been a 'what if' thread, like a Purple Rain pt.2 thing - maybe.

Imagine if Prince had released an album titled 'The Dance Electic' in the summer of 1985.It would have been incredible! He had alot of top-notch songs that he could have used.

Terrible idea; He'd already released ATWIAD by the spring!

In my opinion, a 1983 album would have been his best ever.

If Movie Star had been recorded earlier for the Time, wouldn't it be more likely that Prince would be doing it in his Jamie Starr voice?

I hear where you guys are coming from, but the lightness of touch and lyrics to Movie Star places it where traditionally it's said to be recorded. It has that confidence and ease about it that you find on Parade and DF. Just my - You make a convincing argument with regards to the Linn etc though

Blackguitaritz doesn't come to the org. much.. but the last time I spoke with him he was well and busy with his musical projects (producing,recording,writing etc).

Hopefully one day he'll make a cameo.

I think he was just stating the fact, that he had plenty of material, and that if he wanted, he could have released a follow-up album to 1999, b4 releasing PR. But i dont think he had any plans on actually doing so, r any slated songs, he was just teasing us(as always) in my opinion

Spinlight said:

Jestyr said:

There has been zero proof that Movie Star was recorded in March 1986 - no track sheets - nothing. And just because it was placed on several configurations of subsequent 1986 album projects does not mean that the track was recorded during the same year. It could have simply undergone some overdubs that year. As a matter of fact, it seems to me that the musical 'pallette' that was used on the track more closely resembles the pallette he used in 1984 (i.e. the Linn side stick and synth 'whistle' sound - which also featured in America, which research says was recorded in summer 1984) and it might be the case that Movie Star was intended as a b-side for a single release by THE TIME during the Purple Rain era, bringing more sense to what is written in the Crystal Ball liner notes.

http://princevault.com/in...Movie_Star

The Prince Vault is maintained by one of us, right? Not Prince. And like I said, it may have been overdubbed with a segue on March 27, 1986 (the segue leading into A Place in Heaven, perhaps) but there is still no proof this is the original tracking date.

[Edited 5/20/11 18:55pm]

Does anybody think that tracks like "Moonbeam Levels", "No Call U", "Purple Music", "Feel U Up/Irresistible Bitch", "Extra Loveable", etc. could have been on that album IF it really existed?

{I'm not sure exactly when these tracks were recorded, So I'm more or less I'm just asking }

How 'bout some of the tracks from the famous '84 Birthday show like "Noon Rendevous", "Roadhouse Garden", "Our Destiny", "All Day, All Night", "Possessed" & "Irresistable Bitch". Those were tracks he seemed to be into at that time.

Sounds like a pretty good start to an album if you ask me....

[Edited 5/20/11 19:39pm]

Jestyr said:

Spinlight said:

http://princevault.com/in...Movie_Star

The Prince Vault is maintained by one of us, right? Not Prince. And like I said, it may have been overdubbed with a segue on March 27, 1986 (the segue leading into A Place in Heaven, perhaps) but there is still no proof this is the original tracking date.

[Edited 5/20/11 18:55pm]

The source is The Vault from Uptown. Unless you're a member of Uptown, I'm unsure as to what makes you think their information is wrong?

Tittypants said:

Does anybody think that tracks like "Moonbeam Levels", "No Call U", "Purple Music", "Feel U Up/Irresistible Bitch", "Extra Loveable", etc. could have been on that album IF it really existed?

{I'm not sure exactly when these tracks were recorded, So I'm more or less I'm just asking }

All of those tracks were recorded in 1981-1982.

Jestyr said:

Spinlight said:

Jestyr said:

There has been zero proof that Movie Star was recorded in March 1986 - no track sheets - nothing. And just because it was placed on several configurations of subsequent 1986 album projects does not mean that the track was recorded during the same year. It could have simply undergone some overdubs that year. As a matter of fact, it seems to me that the musical 'pallette' that was used on the track more closely resembles the pallette he used in 1984 (i.e. the Linn side stick and synth 'whistle' sound - which also featured in America, which research says was recorded in summer 1984) and it might be the case that Movie Star was intended as a b-side for a single release by THE TIME during the Purple Rain era, bringing more sense to what is written in the Crystal Ball liner notes.

http://princevault.com/in...Movie_Star

Is that really Susannah on moviestar?? Hmm I always wondered who it was

Spinlight said:

Jestyr said:

The Prince Vault is maintained by one of us, right? Not Prince. And like I said, it may have been overdubbed with a segue on March 27, 1986 (the segue leading into A Place in Heaven, perhaps) but there is still no proof this is the original tracking date.

[Edited 5/20/11 18:55pm]

The source is The Vault from Uptown. Unless you're a member of Uptown, I'm unsure as to what makes you think their information is wrong?

I knew many of the folks who contributed to Uptown, They are fans just like us and while they did an incredible amount of research that we and a myriad of Prince authorities have benefitted from for years, they have also (self admittedly) gotten things wrong in the past. I believe this is one of those times.