I was listening to "The Park, Volume 2" yesterday (September 9, 1995 Paisley Park concert). I've always loved the version of "Funky Design" they played that night. Very "powerful". I particularly like the break, where they almost stop playing (at ~3:00).

So, which version of "Funky Design" do you like best?

• Prince's studio version (NPGMC)
• Sonny T's studio version
• T's remix (Princemas)
• The Garage, March 15, 1995 - is that circulating, BTW?
• Emporium, March 22, 1995 (short version, extension of "Get Wild")
• Emporium, March 23, 1995
• Paradiso, March 27, 1995
• The Pod, March 31, 1995
• Paisley Park, September 9, 1995
• ...?

IMHO, the original studio versions are weak. T's remix is pretty cool, but his remix of "Mad" is better (the intro, at least). As far as live versions go, the Paradiso version is cool, but I still think the "ultimate" version is the one played at Paisley Park.

It's possibly my least liked track from that period. I don't recall T's remix, i'd need to check, As for all the others you mention, I guess the Emporium versions are ok as I recall liking those 2 shows very much. Tbh I have not listened to any of those shows in a long long time. The Park Volume 2 was always a highlight for me and imo the best of those volumes but I can't recall any specific track, like I said, it's been a long time. I will need to dig some of these out and refresh my memory.

The Glasgow Garage show is circulating, but unfortunately it sounds like shit.

I love that song and Prince's studio version is my favourite. His delivery of the lyrics is crazy, quirky and aggressive, which I like.

the very first performance of the track from the garage aftershow in glasgow isn't circulating. the rest of the show is about in shitty quality. maybe one day a much clearer copy will come out. the circulating copy was from a several gen copy that was graphic equalised to hell and back. it was recorded on a c100 tape so only the first 50 mins of the show were recorded (over the top of that nights main show), and funky design was in the last 10 mins of the excellent hour long show. it was a pretty cool version as it was a very tight show as prince came onstage just an hour before the club had to close, so unlike the very relaxed afterparties from other cities, he played a storming set, cutting out the mucking about. and that's why i consider the version of the ride from that gig to be the best

i'd still go with the studio version with prince's vocals that ended up on npgmc. likewise the prince studio version of mad, even though doug e fresh passed me the mic to sing/shout "mad" into during the cafe de paris released video version. i nearly did a sex wee when they started playing that track

Dunno, but I find the original studio version hilarious. The first lines always make me laugh when the track comes up on a playlist.

It ain't "Kiss" though, you know?

never been to keen on it, always reminds me of the theme of Fresh Prince of Bell-Air

I love the on-line released version ...

funkmunki said:

never been to keen on it, always reminds me of the theme of Fresh Prince of Bell-Air

Prince's version is lacking from the omission of the "Blow ur mind..." refrain from the NPG version. The NPG version sucks because it's not Prince. I wonder why he didn't tack on the refrain to his solo version. When they performed it live it was there.

SchlomoThaHomo said:

Prince's version is lacking from the omission of the "Blow ur mind..." refrain from the NPG version. The NPG version sucks because it's not Prince. I wonder why he didn't tack on the refrain to his solo version. When they performed it live it was there.

Yep. The Paisley Park version has both (the "Blow your mind" refrain + Prince), so it wins, right?

[Edited 4/8/12 12:43pm]

Any version sans Sonny T

olb99 said:

SchlomoThaHomo said:

Prince's version is lacking from the omission of the "Blow ur mind..." refrain from the NPG version. The NPG version sucks because it's not Prince. I wonder why he didn't tack on the refrain to his solo version. When they performed it live it was there.

Yep. The Paisley Park version has both (the "Blow your mind" refrain + Prince), so it wins, right?

[Edited 4/8/12 12:43pm]

I'll have to check my HD for that one. I don't think I've heard it.

Apparently, we'll soon get brand new (i.e. "exclusive") soundboard recordings from 2011. *Yawn*. I'd actually pay to get soundboard recordings of those 1994/95 Paisley Park concerts...

Out of the two studio versons, I prefer the Prince vocals, but wonder why he dispensed with tjhe 'blow your mind' chants that are present in the Sonny T version. An amalgam of the two would be ideal!