I know there's a ton of threads on this killer show, but does anyone know if there's a story behind why he chose these particular songs. Barring covers I think this is the most unreleased and differently arranged material done in one show:

The current single (Doves, so it's obviously different from the released version)

The current single's B-Side

Very different versions of two "1999" songs (rivaling the released versions)

A B-side from "1999"

Two songs eventually released on protege albums

A "Purple Rain" B-Side not yet released

and 3 songs he'd never release

Again, the arrangements are markedly different from the released versions or any other live versions I've heard. I can't think of another show like this, certainly not from this time period.

I've wondered if he was close to releasing these songs at the time (I think by this point he'd already begun ATWIAD). We sort of discussed this on a different forum but imagine if he'd taken then unreleased tracks in this show and recorded them (using these same arrangements) and, along with a few other choice cuts from 1983, put this out an album between "1999" and "Purple Rain".

Interesting to consider yet impossible to imagine...

Purple Rain was about to drop when this show hit.

But yes it's one of the Top 2 of my favorite shows

Beginning 2 end, it had direction and purpose

it was a rehearsed raw show, different arrangements and a swirl of sounds

that I only find in Prince music

Since Prince and Warner Bros went through the trouble and expense to have a mobile recording studio at First Avenue that night, it stands to reason that most, if not all of the unreleased songs played that night were considered for inclusion on a current or future project. This was the case for the October, 1983 Time show and the August '83 benefit concert.

It also says a lot about Prince's confidence in his two bands, even though he would eventually heavily overdub what did get released from these shows.