I simply can´t understand why everybody is putting down the "new" 1998 version - it´s absolutely brilliant!!!!! I love the lyrics, I love the orchestration, I love the vocals; It´s a masterpiece. And so is the 1985 original version. I really think that the string arrangement fits this song perfectly and it doesn´t make it worse than the original - just gives it another vibe and feel. I can´t choose between the two versions because I find them both equally good in their own different ways. But hey, why should one have 2 choose?? Just B happy 4 both versions. Although it seems like I´m almost alone about loving the newer version, I´m extremely happy he did more than one version of it.

MrNorway said:

I simply can´t understand why everybody is putting down the "new" 1998 version - it´s absolutely brilliant!!!!! I love the lyrics, I love the orchestration, I love the vocals; It´s a masterpiece. And so is the 1985 original version. I really think that the string arrangement fits this song perfectly and it doesn´t make it worse than the original - just gives it another vibe and feel. I can´t choose between the two versions because I find them both equally good in their own different ways. But hey, why should one have 2 choose?? Just B happy 4 both versions. Although it seems like I´m almost alone about loving the newer version, I´m extremely happy he did more than one version of it.

Which one did you hear first?

* Old Friends 4 Sale can b heard when christopher comes home 2 a drunk tricky

Old Friends 4 Sale

The sun set in the west this mornin'
4 I know, I know L.A. is callin'
Bad news, Steve said, and people are talkin'
They say your kingdom is fallin', yeah
They say U lost your fire
When another musician U hired
Little do they know, U wouldn't have passed go
Unless they could take U higher, yeah

The sun set in my heart this afternoon
4 2 friends of mine got stuck in the snow
In Uptown when winter's alarmin', oh
Cocaine becomes charmin'
But U talk about things U don't know 'bout
I know, no matter how pleasant your past was
Green and white return 2 blue
U're happy as long as your last buzz
And then U think U want something new, yeah

The sun, the sun set in my mind this evening
4 someone who said they would die 4 me
Sold some, they sold some more pictures and all my little memories
Chump change is 2 unravel the mystery, ah ha
But life is no fun, life ain't no fun without fantasy
Some things are better left unsaid
And some people are better left untrusted
Maybe, maybe, maybe it'll all make sense when I'm dead
When I'm dead

Old friends 4 sale
Get'em while the gettin' is hot
Watch out, they'll kiss U until they get what U got
And they'll show U the friends that they're not
Old friends 4 sale

Old Friends 4 Sale
This slow bluesy classic is one of Prince's most autobiographical songs in which he sings about Steve Fargnoli, Wendy Melvoin, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and the late bodyguard Chick Huntsberry. A somber mood is established from an eerie slightly discordant synth with a piano the main accompaniment. Recorded during the Parade sessions, two versions exist, with one including Clare Fischer's orchestra. It was revised in 1991.

I rember one happening that sticks in my head.Johhny Carson was talking about PRINCE at the time He "was retiring" sometime around artwiad.Carson said "This guy Prince has only been around 3-5 years!Retiring???? What is he a little Baby.

do u dig?????

DMSRCMC12 said:

I rember one happening that sticks in my head.Johhny Carson was talking about PRINCE at the time He "was retiring" sometime around artwiad.Carson said "This guy Prince has only been around 3-5 years!Retiring???? What is he a little Baby.

do u dig?????

oh,

I don't think it was common thing though, interviews, commentaries, I've never heard him generally refered to as a baby (Plus that's a comedian lol they say anything 4 a laugh)

OldFriends4Sale said:

* Old Friends 4 Sale can b heard when christopher comes home 2 a drunk tricky

Old Friends 4 Sale

The sun set in the west this mornin'
4 I know, I know L.A. is callin'
Bad news, Steve said, and people are talkin'
They say your kingdom is fallin', yeah
They say U lost your fire
When another musician U hired
Little do they know, U wouldn't have passed go
Unless they could take U higher, yeah

The sun set in my heart this afternoon
4 2 friends of mine got stuck in the snow
In Uptown when winter's alarmin', oh
Cocaine becomes charmin'
But U talk about things U don't know 'bout
I know, no matter how pleasant your past was
Green and white return 2 blue
U're happy as long as your last buzz
And then U think U want something new, yeah

The sun, the sun set in my mind this evening
4 someone who said they would die 4 me
Sold some, they sold some more pictures and all my little memories
Chump change is 2 unravel the mystery, ah ha
But life is no fun, life ain't no fun without fantasy
Some things are better left unsaid
And some people are better left untrusted
Maybe, maybe, maybe it'll all make sense when I'm dead
When I'm dead

Old friends 4 sale
Get'em while the gettin' is hot
Watch out, they'll kiss U until they get what U got
And they'll show U the friends that they're not
Old friends 4 sale

Old Friends 4 Sale
This slow bluesy classic is one of Prince's most autobiographical songs in which he sings about Steve Fargnoli, Wendy Melvoin, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and the late bodyguard Chick Huntsberry. A somber mood is established from an eerie slightly discordant synth with a piano the main accompaniment. Recorded during the Parade sessions, two versions exist, with one including Clare Fischer's orchestra. It was revised in 1991.

those first few lines in old friends is about as close as he's ever come to saying Wendy contributed significantly to his purple rain success. Whether we believe that or not, it seems he did.

DMSRCMC12 said:

Back during this time Prince was not seen as HE is 2day.People saw a Cry Baby that did not speak.When this song first saw light fans were the only ones that cared.It was very hard trying to talk 2 non fans-there only saw high heels.SAD!

maybe you saw a crybaby, I didn't. even at my young age I was awed at how much work he did and realized only a superman could do all that.

dualboot said:

MrNorway said:

I simply can´t understand why everybody is putting down the "new" 1998 version - it´s absolutely brilliant!!!!! I love the lyrics, I love the orchestration, I love the vocals; It´s a masterpiece. And so is the 1985 original version. I really think that the string arrangement fits this song perfectly and it doesn´t make it worse than the original - just gives it another vibe and feel. I can´t choose between the two versions because I find them both equally good in their own different ways. But hey, why should one have 2 choose?? Just B happy 4 both versions. Although it seems like I´m almost alone about loving the newer version, I´m extremely happy he did more than one version of it.

Which one did you hear first?

Dualboot, I heard the new one first. And I got used to it and found it amazing. And then later on I got to hear the original after I found out that there were other versions of it. But it doesn´t matter, because I find them equally good no matter what.

WOW! This is one of the reasons I love Prince so much and his work! Reading through the history of this song really amazes me. I have the original version from 1985 and it is impeccable! I love the lyrics, they are genius, and it explains the nature of what he felt during the time with his friends. I am not going to say I don't like the other version, because it is good, but it does not come close to this. It seems "Overworked' in my opinion killing the heartfelt emotions.. The emotions are heard in every vocal. The metaphors are also placed very well here; he wrote this tune out of genuine emotion, and I love the history behind it. Thank you all for the information! I had no clue it is as deep as it is. I woke up this morning with this in my head and heart, and I feel these emotions now surrounding some of my "friends.."

OldFriends4Sale said:

* Old Friends 4 Sale can b heard when christopher comes home 2 a drunk tricky

Old Friends 4 Sale

The sun set in the west this mornin'
4 I know, I know L.A. is callin'
Bad news, Steve said, and people are talkin'
They say your kingdom is fallin', yeah
They say U lost your fire
When another musician U hired
Little do they know, U wouldn't have passed go
Unless they could take U higher, yeah

The sun set in my heart this afternoon
4 2 friends of mine got stuck in the snow
In Uptown when winter's alarmin', oh
Cocaine becomes charmin'
But U talk about things U don't know 'bout
I know, no matter how pleasant your past was
Green and white return 2 blue
U're happy as long as your last buzz
And then U think U want something new, yeah

The sun, the sun set in my mind this evening
4 someone who said they would die 4 me
Sold some, they sold some more pictures and all my little memories
Chump change is 2 unravel the mystery, ah ha
But life is no fun, life ain't no fun without fantasy
Some things are better left unsaid
And some people are better left untrusted
Maybe, maybe, maybe it'll all make sense when I'm dead
When I'm dead

Old friends 4 sale
Get'em while the gettin' is hot
Watch out, they'll kiss U until they get what U got
And they'll show U the friends that they're not
Old friends 4 sale

Old Friends 4 Sale
This slow bluesy classic is one of Prince's most autobiographical songs in which he sings about Steve Fargnoli, Wendy Melvoin, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and the late bodyguard Chick Huntsberry. A somber mood is established from an eerie slightly discordant synth with a piano the main accompaniment. Recorded during the Parade sessions, two versions exist, with one including Clare Fischer's orchestra. It was revised in 1991.

Thank You So Much "OldFriends4Sale" Haha...Ironically, you would know about this, because it's your name here...lol. But I mean, thank you for the lyrics and story. I agree with your points here, and I think it is one of his most autobiographical songs too. I love the 1985 version, and the sheer emotion delivered in it. I woke up singing this, and feeling what he was saying. I payed closer attention to the lyrics, and now I know what he was talking about. With Cocaine, and all of those rumors that started..he said it right when he said...

"Old friends 4 sale
Get'em while the gettin' is hot
Watch out, they'll kiss U until they get what U got
And they'll show U the friends that they're not
Old friends 4 sale"

Nevertheless; I just want to thank you for your commentary and the lyrics you provided!

EyeJester7 said:

WOW! This is one of the reasons I love Prince so much and his work! Reading through the history of this song really amazes me. I have the original version from 1985 and it is impeccable! I love the lyrics, they are genius, and it explains the nature of what he felt during the time with his friends. I am not going to say I don't like the other version, because it is good, but it does not come close to this. It seems "Overworked' in my opinion killing the heartfelt emotions.. The emotions are heard in every vocal. The metaphors are also placed very well here; he wrote this tune out of genuine emotion, and I love the history behind it. Thank you all for the information! I had no clue it is as deep as it is. I woke up this morning with this in my head and heart, and I feel these emotions now surrounding some of my "friends.."

yes, i know what you mean, cut your losses while you can. I spend too much time thinking of my old "friends". It's wasteful. These days I don't play, people fuck around they're out of my life forever. Life is too good and too short.

MrNorway said:

I simply can´t understand why everybody is putting down the "new" 1998 version - it´s absolutely brilliant!!!!! I love the lyrics, I love the orchestration, I love the vocals; It´s a masterpiece. And so is the 1985 original version. I really think that the string arrangement fits this song perfectly and it doesn´t make it worse than the original - just gives it another vibe and feel. I can´t choose between the two versions because I find them both equally good in their own different ways. But hey, why should one have 2 choose?? Just B happy 4 both versions. Although it seems like I´m almost alone about loving the newer version, I´m extremely happy he did more than one version of it.

The lyrics were for the later version seemed to be thrown together for a commercial release. The original lyrics were personal and relevant and insightful and sullen. It gave insight to an otherwise extremly guarded individual. But the biggest reason for the dislike for the released version is that they just don't make sense.

The big band style orchestration in the official version is very good, and very unusual in his catalogue; he mostly uses sax for recordings, not trombone + trumpet (yes I know Parade + tour, but generally!). I love that part of it, but the lyrics and delivery are not what the original is: haunting and heartfelt