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Thread started 07/16/11 7:14pm

thebanishedone

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Overdubbing on Purple Rain album

Purple Rain is a live album exept for the songs Computer Blue,When Doves Cry and Beautiful Ones ,Take me with U

All other songs are recorded live at First Avenue with heavy overdubbing of voices,instruments,instrumental parts.

Let's discuss what was overdubbed on which song

for example

song Purple Rain was edited from original 15 minutes to 8 minutes .

Wendy's intro was re-recorded in the studio and flanger effect

was erased from Wendy's rhythm guitar.

Prince's guitar solo was overdubbed in parts,

especially the lead line

theme on guitar,also some of the lyrics are edited such as "I Don't want your money baby" to add on the monumentum of the song.

let's discuss

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Reply #1 posted 07/16/11 7:22pm

toejam

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I don't think it's fair to say it "is" a live album as the majority of it is not. But I do find it funny how a lot of people complain about his overdubbed live material, yet some of his most famous and loved songs - "Purple Rain", "I Would Die 4 U", "Baby I'm A Star" are just that.

I guess the difference with this album is that it's not advertised as a live album...

Toejam @ Peach & Black Podcast: http://peachandblack.podbean.com
Toejam's band "Cheap Fakes": http://cheapfakes.com.au, http://www.facebook.com/cheapfakes
Toejam the solo artist: http://www.youtube.com/scottbignell
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Reply #2 posted 07/16/11 7:26pm

alexnvrmnd777

thebanishedone said:

Purple Rain is a live album exept for the songs Computer Blue,When Doves Cry and Beautiful Ones ,Take me with U

"Purple Rain" is a whole live album except for half the album?? Um, no. That doesn't even make sense.

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Reply #3 posted 07/16/11 7:52pm

thebanishedone

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well the album have 5 live songs

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Reply #4 posted 07/16/11 7:54pm

thebanishedone

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thebanishedone said:

stick to the topic ,let's discuss what is changed on those songs

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Reply #5 posted 07/16/11 8:01pm

toejam

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I'm not so sure about "Let's Go Crazy" and "Darling Nikki" - weren't they Warehouse recordings? According to Prince Vault, it's only the last three tracks - http://princevault.com/in...urple_Rain. But I'd still argue that "Let's Go Crazy" and "Darling Nikki" were based on live-in-studio band recordings, and not done track by track like "When Doves Cry"...

Toejam @ Peach & Black Podcast: http://peachandblack.podbean.com
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Reply #6 posted 07/16/11 8:27pm

thebanishedone

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Darling Nikki is studio work,Let's Go Crazy is live with studio overdubbs

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Reply #7 posted 07/16/11 8:38pm

TwiliteKid

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thebanishedone said:

Darling Nikki is studio work,Let's Go Crazy is live with studio overdubbs

Wrong: Let's Go Crazy was recorded at the Warehouse. I Would Die 4 U, Baby I'm A Star and Purple Rain are the only live recordings.

Edit: I see Toejam beat me to this. Check PrinceVault, check the liner notes (you DO own the album, right?), read Alan Leed's liner notes to The Hits or any of Per Nielson's books: You got your fact's wrong.

[Edited 7/16/11 20:41pm]

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Reply #8 posted 07/17/11 9:14am

savagedreams

it wasnt meant to be a live album though. it was still recorded the way most albums are. band plays a song, you keep whats good. you get drums first, bass, then rhythm parts, etc....

it just happens some of the tracks were recorded onstage instead of a studio. its not really the same situation as releasing something as a live concert that has overdubs on it.

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Reply #9 posted 07/17/11 10:47am

smokeverbs

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thebanishedone said:

Purple Rain is a live album exept for the songs Computer Blue,When Doves Cry and Beautiful Ones ,Take me with U

All other songs are recorded live at First Avenue with heavy overdubbing of voices,instruments,instrumental parts.

Let's discuss what was overdubbed on which song

for example

song Purple Rain was edited from original 15 minutes to 8 minutes .

Wendy's intro was re-recorded in the studio and flanger effect

was erased from Wendy's rhythm guitar.

Prince's guitar solo was overdubbed in parts,

especially the lead line

theme on guitar,also some of the lyrics are edited such as "I Don't want your money baby" to add on the monumentum of the song.

let's discuss

Like everyone else said, Only the last 3 tracks on the album were recorded live.

And also, Prince's guitar solo wasn't overdubbed, it was just heavily edited.

In "I Would Die 4 U" it seems almost everything was overdubbed and replaced, including the lead vocal. Maybe the keyboards and the drum machine were kept.

"Baby I'm a Star" - Backwards W&L were added. Lead Vocal redone, orchestra added, more synth added. The original version sounds positively naked compared to the finished mix. Backing vocals added.

Purple Rain. Obviously, new intro, orchestra added, guitar solo heavily edited. 3rd verse & chorus removed.

Keep your headphones on.
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Reply #10 posted 07/17/11 5:10pm

SquirrelMeat

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thebanishedone said:

Darling Nikki is studio work,Let's Go Crazy is live with studio overdubbs

LGC was not live.

So far, this a a "live album" where two thirds are not live.

.
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Reply #11 posted 07/17/11 5:53pm

ufoclub

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Maybe they meant Let's Go Crazy is recorded in the studio in real time as a band instead of multitracked over time by Prince solo.

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