in the last few months we've been getting some really great bootlegs of amazing stuff in amazing quality, with a mix of both audio and video and soundboard and proshot stuff, plus outtakes taken from early generation tapes sounding notably better than any previously circulating bootleg, and in particular a world of difference compared to the original bootlegs from back in the day (ie. box of chocolates compared to chocolate box or parade demos compared to charade)

the same topic was asked a while back on moquake around the time of BOC and charade was a popular answer. so with as good a quality copy as you could reasonably want or expect, what next would you want to come out?

right now there are a load of things circulating already, and many of them are about in pretty decent if not perfect quality. stuff from the last 15 years or so is pretty much about in cd quality, so we are looking at earlier stuff from the 80s that's came from analogue sources. going back to the very earliest demos, there are already decent quality copies that aren't going to be realistically improved on a great deal. the 76 accoustic demos sound about as good as you will get, the loring park demos sound great, so we move on a bit to the outtakes that have circulated from the 80s on, from the days when we had tape and vinyl bootlegs from umpteenth generation tapes. some have improved over the years, sometimes quite considerably and we now have decent enough copies, but others have sound that's lacking, and would greatly benefit from an improvement

so what would you like next that currently circulates in crap quality?

here are a few things that spring to mind, in a rough order of preferance

crucial - you know, THAT bootleg. you had chocolate box and charade and the black album, then that

the family demos - prince's own lead vocals. a cleaner copy of this would be great

turn it up sessions - extralovable, feel u up, possessed, you know that stuff

yellow - hissy version of great stuff like i wonder, martika's kitchen etc

dream factory - as most stuff is already out, it's a bit lower in the list, but i want clean copies of the rest of the stuff

purple rain demos - so longer versions of the tracks from the album, plus the other songs

so that's a reasonably short list. most of that stuff has been cleaned up on umpteen other boots since the first versions, but to get those in particular from low gen tapes where the hiss hasn't just been zapped out along with all the high end frequencies would be great. it's also a short list as we've been lucky to get a lot of stuff in great quality already, such as the studio nights box, and a lot of the 90s onwards stuff coming from dat and cd without hissing

The Grand Progresssion

unique said:

crucial - you know, THAT bootleg. you had chocolate box and charade and the black album, then that

the family demos - prince's own lead vocals. a cleaner copy of this would be great

I would be happy with these 2.

DF in the final configuration is already available as perfect quality, but if you are talking of the various tracks circulating (and not) from previous configurations, I'm with you also on that.

By the way, I would also like to add to the list the original GB demos ("Take It To The Bridge") and pristine quality versions of "Batdance (Uncut Version)" and "Dance With The Devil".

The improved quality releases of late such as BOC, Parade demos, Exodus outtakes and the upgraded rehearsals have been a dream come true for anyone interested in this type of thing. Not to mention the vastly improved quality of some classic live shows too.

I would welcome anything from most eras in improved quality, whether that be studio outtakes or classic live shows.

I would like to see/hear things like the early 80's piano rehearsals in better quality. The Prince versions of "The Family" songs (as mentioned above) would also be great.

Besides all the classic unreleased 80's songs that would be welcomed in A1 quality, I would also like to see things like the NPGMC tracks see the light of day, things like C-Note, Xpectation, Choc Invasion etc. I know we have those in excellent quality already, but having true lossless versions would be a treat.

Moonbeam Levels

Heaven

Wednesday

Everybody Want What They Don't Got

BoraBora said:

unique said:

crucial - you know, THAT bootleg. you had chocolate box and charade and the black album, then that

the family demos - prince's own lead vocals. a cleaner copy of this would be great

I would be happy with these 2.

DF in the final configuration is already available as perfect quality, but if you are talking of the various tracks circulating (and not) from previous configurations, I'm with you also on that.

By the way, I would also like to add to the list the original GB demos ("Take It To The Bridge") and pristine quality versions of "Batdance (Uncut Version)" and "Dance With The Devil".

i forgot about the GB stuff, but most of those were songs we already have in relatively similar versions. i was aiming more for stuff that was songs we don't have in good quality. ok extraloveable and feel u up were released in one shape or form, but very different versions as opposed to most of the GB stuff being different mixes. but most of that stuff was fairly hissy so would be stuff to benefit from an upgrade more than others

dance with the devil is pretty perfect quality apart from it being in mono. the longer batdance in cd quality would be good though, but it's not that different from the released version really

about DF, there isn't really a perfect quality version. most of it is released, but songs like train etc were a bit hissy or you have equalised versions with less top end. there's also all the other tracks from that time that are circulating that were on a second disc in a 2disc DF release from tball or sab

TheDigitalGardener said:

The improved quality releases of late such as BOC, Parade demos, Exodus outtakes and the upgraded rehearsals have been a dream come true for anyone interested in this type of thing. Not to mention the vastly improved quality of some classic live shows too.

I would welcome anything from most eras in improved quality, whether that be studio outtakes or classic live shows.

I would like to see/hear things like the early 80's piano rehearsals in better quality. The Prince versions of "The Family" songs (as mentioned above) would also be great.

Besides all the classic unreleased 80's songs that would be welcomed in A1 quality, I would also like to see things like the NPGMC tracks see the light of day, things like C-Note, Xpectation, Choc Invasion etc. I know we have those in excellent quality already, but having true lossless versions would be a treat.

i thought the piano demos were recorded from a boombox like the 76 accoustic stuff, so i'm not sure if a really good quality version would even exist. if you took the first gen tape of the 76 stuff it would still sound rough, i think the piano demos would be similar, although i'm sure you could get a bit higher fidelity. they aren't the kind of thing most people would listen to much though, so i think there would be more benefit from the actual studio outtakes like the ones i mentioned

about the npgmc stuff, maybe one day there will be another website and it will offer that stuff in lossy files, and what we've got already is very listenable quality, so i'd prefer to have the worst sound quality but good music stuff first. the exodus outtakes were an improvement, but even the original boots were good quality. whilst yellow in particular was really hissy and had a horrible whine that spoiled what was otherwise a great selection of outtakes. crucial was also great, just a bit hissy. the xtraloveable stuff was a bit woolly and hissy from a mix of umpteenth generation recordings with equalizing several times along the line to remove hiss but removing the high end at the same time

unique said:

i forgot about the GB stuff, but most of those were songs we already have in relatively similar versions. i was aiming more for stuff that was songs we don't have in good quality. ok extraloveable and feel u up were released in one shape or form, but very different versions as opposed to most of the GB stuff being different mixes. but most of that stuff was fairly hissy so would be stuff to benefit from an upgrade more than others

dance with the devil is pretty perfect quality apart from it being in mono. the longer batdance in cd quality would be good though, but it's not that different from the released version really

about DF, there isn't really a perfect quality version. most of it is released, but songs like train etc were a bit hissy or you have equalised versions with less top end. there's also all the other tracks from that time that are circulating that were on a second disc in a 2disc DF release from tball or sab

I see your points, but then to be fair the "Crucial" boot is already available in near perfect quality, barring the two long Crucial versions (that would be highly desiderable, Crucial is one of my top 10 P songs) and "In The Large Room With No Light" (I don't have the tracklist at hand, maybe I'm wrong).

"Dance With The Devil" HAS TO BE Stereo. Mono to me is not perfect quality.

And the Uncut Version of Batdance is not that different but it has some sections completely deleted from the released version.

For GB you're right, the only track non released is "The Grand Progression", the others are alternates.

Anyway, the 2 versions of "Can't Stop This Feeling I Got", the full six minutes "New Power Generation" and the P version of "Melody Cool" would deserve to have in full pristine quality, to not mention the full "Joy In Repetition" with the intro not butchered.

Out of curiosity, I checked the "Crucial" tracklist.

"Power Fantastic" is on The Hits/The B-Sides and "Last Heart" is on CB

"Girl Of My Dreams-Can't Stop This Feeling I Got-We Can Funk" is on BOC.

"Can I Play with U?!?" is the short version, but from some time the long version is circulating in near perfect quality.

"The H Man", we all know, is Miles' "Amandla".

So what we are really missing are the 2 Crucial versions, the original "Sexual Suicide" (the CB version is different), "In A Large Room With No Light" and the short intro to "Power Fantastic".

Let's hope someone will take them to the light. It would be really cool.

BoraBora said:

unique said:

i forgot about the GB stuff, but most of those were songs we already have in relatively similar versions. i was aiming more for stuff that was songs we don't have in good quality. ok extraloveable and feel u up were released in one shape or form, but very different versions as opposed to most of the GB stuff being different mixes. but most of that stuff was fairly hissy so would be stuff to benefit from an upgrade more than others

dance with the devil is pretty perfect quality apart from it being in mono. the longer batdance in cd quality would be good though, but it's not that different from the released version really

about DF, there isn't really a perfect quality version. most of it is released, but songs like train etc were a bit hissy or you have equalised versions with less top end. there's also all the other tracks from that time that are circulating that were on a second disc in a 2disc DF release from tball or sab

I see your points, but then to be fair the "Crucial" boot is already available in near perfect quality, barring the two long Crucial versions (that would be highly desiderable, Crucial is one of my top 10 P songs) and "In The Large Room With No Light" (I don't have the tracklist at hand, maybe I'm wrong).

"Dance With The Devil" HAS TO BE Stereo. Mono to me is not perfect quality.

And the Uncut Version of Batdance is not that different but it has some sections completely deleted from the released version.

For GB you're right, the only track non released is "The Grand Progression", the others are alternates.

Anyway, the 2 versions of "Can't Stop This Feeling I Got", the full six minutes "New Power Generation" and the P version of "Melody Cool" would deserve to have in full pristine quality, to not mention the full "Joy In Repetition" with the intro not butchered.

the full joy in rep would be great, and melody cool etc. there's also a version of "the ball" that segues into joy

but whilst some of crucial is out in good quality, not all of it is...

01. Paris (Listed As Crucial Love (Instrumental)) (1.30)
02. Power Fantastic (Listed As Fantastic) (4.41) (Not Included As It Has Been Released) *
03. Crucial (Normal Version) (7.17) (Different From Released Version)
04. Last Heart (Listed As Break My Heart) (2.57) (Not Included As It Has Been Released) *
05. Sexual Suicide (3.34)
06. Girl O' My Dreams (Listed As Girl In My Dreams) (1.23)
07. Can't Stop This Feeling I Got (Listed As Can't Stop) (2.05) (Different From Released Version)
08. We Can Funk (Prince & G. Clinton) (5.28) (Different From Released Version)
09. In A Large Room With No Light (Listed As Welcome 2 The Rat Race) (3.17)
10. Witness 4 The Prosecution (Listed As Witness) (3.54)
11. Can I Play With U? (Listed As Red Riding Hood) (3.46)
12. Crucial (Extended Version) (7.28) (Different From Released Version)
13. Amandla (Miles Davis) (Listed As The H. Man) (5.14) - OFFICIALLY RELEASED MD TRACK

comments above weren't mine btw

so you have the long version of power fantastic, which is listed as two tracks (paris being the start of power fantastic and not a track on it's own), two long versions of crucial which i think is a great track and it looks like the guitar version was the version of choice as that's what was cut down on the releasd version whilst i think the sax mix is the best. then last heart/sexual suicice were officially released, the GOMD/cant stop/WCF medly is on box of chocolates, but there were two slightly different versions of that, i'm not sure if the BOC is the same, so would be nice if it was the other version, then we have large room no light, which would be great in perfect quality, there are a few versions of witness, so would be nice if it was different from BOC, and of course amandla is an official miles track

so there is a mix of stuff we have and stuff we don't have in good quality. a bit of the same with both BOC and charade/parade demos which were so highly rated. 3 out of 11 tracks on BOC were officially released in pretty much the same versions, and about 5 out of 11 were the same on parade demos, with girls and boys only literally having a tiny few seconds of extra stuff at the start and end. so on that basis crucial is just as valid as the other two. it was a very popular and great bootleg upon release so would have similar reactions i'd imagine if we had a copy as good as BOC and parade demos

unique said:

10. Witness 4 The Prosecution (Listed As Witness) (3.54)

Ops, I forgot Witness.

Anyway, from memory, is the W&L backing version, the same we found on DF.

unique said:

the full joy in rep would be great, and melody cool etc. there's also a version of "the ball" that segues into joy

I never liked too much the way Prince segued Joy in Repetition with "The Ball" (even tought is not the atrocity it made pasting it to "We Can Funk" in that weak way on GB).

I remember first time I listened to JIR on "Chocolate Box" and I think that lone drum settles perfectly the tone of the track. It's a gem.

unique said:

so there is a mix of stuff we have and stuff we don't have in good quality. a bit of the same with both BOC and charade/parade demos which were so highly rated. 3 out of 11 tracks on BOC were officially released in pretty much the same versions, and about 5 out of 11 were the same on parade demos, with girls and boys only literally having a tiny few seconds of extra stuff at the start and end. so on that basis crucial is just as valid as the other two. it was a very popular and great bootleg upon release so would have similar reactions i'd imagine if we had a copy as good as BOC and parade demos

Again, I see your point. With these parameters, you're absolutely right.

BoraBora said:

unique said:

10. Witness 4 The Prosecution (Listed As Witness) (3.54)

Ops, I forgot Witness.

Anyway, from memory, is the W&L backing version, the same we found on DF.

No, it's the same version as on Box Of Chocolates.

It's true that Can't Stop and We Can Funk were release on Box Of Chocolates, but they're different mixes (Prince's vocals more promient), so it would be nice to have the Crucial mixes in better quality.

TwiliteKid said:

No, it's the same version as on Box Of Chocolates.

OK, sorry.

It's a long time I don't listen to these CDs.

Probably I made confusion with the "Crystal Ball" boot released near the same months.

Looking at the tracklist above for Crucial, that gets my vote.

Also anything with the long version of "Computer Blue".

As for live shows, I want a complete Parade tour gig in excellent quality from any city.

sextonseven said:

Looking at the tracklist above for Crucial, that gets my vote.

Also anything with the long version of "Computer Blue".

As for live shows, I want a complete Parade tour gig in excellent quality from any city.

one of those things might happen soon

yes that long version of Computer Blue without any of the hallway speech or other nonsense. It might be the "warehouse" version but not sure. But it's the one that surfaced first, way back in the mid 80s on the same tape as G-Spot...that's another good one too.

is there a version of Joy In Repetition without any segue of some sort (be it from crystall ball or GB) like from a promo single ? i love that song, would love it on it's own.

bigd74 said:

is there a version of Joy In Repetition without any segue of some sort (be it from crystall ball or GB) like from a promo single ? i love that song, would love it on it's own.

not on a promo. but the original chocolate box bootleg had the full track with the intro, whilst the released version segues the track from we can funk and another bootleg version seques the track from the unreleased track the ball, which has the arnold j crabtree section that was used on lovesexy

unique said:

bigd74 said:

is there a version of Joy In Repetition without any segue of some sort (be it from crystall ball or GB) like from a promo single ? i love that song, would love it on it's own.

not on a promo. but the original chocolate box bootleg had the full track with the intro, whilst the released version segues the track from we can funk and another bootleg version seques the track from the unreleased track the ball, which has the arnold j crabtree section that was used on lovesexy

i would love a really good quality version with no stupid segues!

Most of us who know our outakes, know there are them few tracks that sound horrable

But boots like box o chocolates, 4df Parade demos, 30 years of funks vol 1,2,3

Have shown us all them shity quality recordings we had in the past really existed in High quality

Not to mention all the live soundboards recently released in the last few years

People are Holding out on us! Big time!

This leads me to believe certain old crappy sounding recordings say like..

Mutiny, Baby your a trip, A million miles, chocolate, Wonderful Ass (Ext) exist in higher quality

I hope the pople who release this stuff know how much we love and appreciate these releases

That said i love better copys of

Around the world in a day (alt & or remix?)

Purple Music

Exralovable

Moonbeam levels

Muiny / High fashion

Yes

Eternity

sounds like a kinda tie between the family demos and crucial then?

unique said:

sounds like a kinda tie between the family demos and crucial then?

I would have to say Crucial only for "In A Large Room With No Light".

I didn't see anyone mention "Rebirth of the Flesh" but that would be extremely appreciated along with the others already mentioned here- then we could truly create our personal ultimate dream factory's crystal ball, camilles, what's it albums.....

jtgillia said:

Romeoblu said:

jtgillia said:

I didn't see anyone mention "Rebirth of the Flesh" but that would be extremely appreciated along with the others already mentioned here- then we could truly create our personal ultimate dream factory's crystal ball, camilles, what's it albums.....

Rebirth is available already in pretty top notch quality.

yeah, perfect quality in fact