So seeing as there's other threads for Go and The Max, why not have one on The Line. It's so fucking good. I can't believe Prince kept it off Lovesexy. This might end up being my favorite Outtake. I've played it like 10 times today it's crazy.

I LOVE THIS SONG! Now that I've stated my opinion of the song (in caps just to be extra obnoxious of course) I just wanted to add that I to can't believe this wasn't on Lovesexy. This is simply amazing! I hear it as replaced by I Wish U Heaven (which I also do love as much as I love this song). I mean if I had to pick between the two, I would pick I Wish U Heaven over this, but Prince should've taken out When 2 R In Love and put The Line in it's place. I get that it fits in Lovesexy better then it did in The Black Album but I don't know, I never could listen to that song and appreciate it knowing that something like I Wish U Heaven was the next song. I usually skipped it just to listen to I Wish U Heaven (if you haven't noticed, thats one of my favorite Prince songs). But The Line is just amazing. I love how he reused that scream in Acknowledge Me and I also love all the solo's in it. This song would be worth the price of a ticket to a Prince show ANYDAY. I mean, I would litterally walk to a show in the rain, snow, wind, or lava (yes Lava) in order to just hear this live. That's how badly The Line has been engraved into my skull.

I know I'm gonna get some hate for this, but I think the Line #1 is the superior track. I think the horns really take away from the guitar riff (which I think is the driving force behind the song).

I prefer version 1 too, but this is still very good - one of his best unreleased songs.

I really like The Line #2. Actually much better than the unfinished one of the basic demo tracks.

I do think it's the storngest track off of the Lovesexy sessions. But it's not commercial!

I love both versions. The new one turns it into a wonderful party song, it's really lively and rich in terms of musical events, a real pleasure to my ears.

Now the thing is that I've had a long-lived, major love affair with the original version, one of my favorite outtakes ever. The original is more intimate, it has this wonderful keyboard sound that has almost disappeared in the second version... I can't see it as "unfinished" because it worked perfectly for me as it was: it's just another version, with a more intimate approach of spirituality (as opposed to the collective, gospel-like, approach of the second one).

So in the end, if Prince is ever to release it, as promised in the Crystal Ball booklet, I hope he releases both versions, because they really are different enough in their vibes to deserve a doucle release. And no matter how much the new one sounds cool to me, the original will always be my favorite, beloved, little girlfriend.

Yes, both versions are really different. Almost two completely different songs. I'm not sure the finished version could fit on the "Lovesexy" album. But it could have been a B-side.

ufoclub said:

I really like The Line #2. Actually much better than the unfinished one of the basic demo tracks.

I do think it's the storngest track off of the Lovesexy sessions. But it's not commercial!

A lot of the songs on that album are not commercial.

ludwig said:

ufoclub said:

I really like The Line #2. Actually much better than the unfinished one of the basic demo tracks.

I do think it's the storngest track off of the Lovesexy sessions. But it's not commercial!

A lot of the songs on that album are not commercial.

I comoletely agree with you. NONE of the songs on the album were commercial for 1988's pop climate. That's why nothing caught on here (despite decent reviews and the push on Alphabet St into airplay until people realized they'd rather here Pump Up the Volume than Prince's new song), and why the album tanked in the U.S.

I remember, in 1988, Alphabet St coming on the speakers at a clothing store at a mall, and I overheard, "This song doesn't sound good. There's nothing good about it. Except for the yeah yeah yeah part."

I feel like the song's stop start mode and non songlike verses "If you don't mind I would like to watch" just turned people off. Not to mention the beat probably didn't sound as wicked as the way beats were beginning to sound on other top 40 hits. It sounded light and midrange heavy.

ufoclub said:

ludwig said:

A lot of the songs on that album are not commercial.

I comoletely agree with you. NONE of the songs on the album were commercial for 1988's pop climate. That's why nothing caught on here (despite decent reviews and the push on Alphabet St into airplay until people realized they'd rather here Pump Up the Volume than Prince's new song), and why the album tanked in the U.S.

I remember, in 1988, Alphabet St coming on the speakers at a clothing store at a mall, and I overheard, "This song doesn't sound good. There's nothing good about it. Except for the yeah yeah yeah part."

I feel like the song's stop start mode and non songlike verses "If you don't mind I would like to watch" just turned people off. Not to mention the beat probably didn't sound as wicked as the way beats were beginning to sound on other top 40 hits. It sounded light and midrange heavy.

I know a few non-fans who LOVE alphabet street and tell me almost everytime they see me, because they know what a big fan I am.

I'm so glad he released lovesexy, because it made me a fan. I really don't care about how it was received by others, to be honest.

ludwig said:

ufoclub said:

I comoletely agree with you. NONE of the songs on the album were commercial for 1988's pop climate. That's why nothing caught on here (despite decent reviews and the push on Alphabet St into airplay until people realized they'd rather here Pump Up the Volume than Prince's new song), and why the album tanked in the U.S.

I remember, in 1988, Alphabet St coming on the speakers at a clothing store at a mall, and I overheard, "This song doesn't sound good. There's nothing good about it. Except for the yeah yeah yeah part."

I feel like the song's stop start mode and non songlike verses "If you don't mind I would like to watch" just turned people off. Not to mention the beat probably didn't sound as wicked as the way beats were beginning to sound on other top 40 hits. It sounded light and midrange heavy.

I know a few non-fans who LOVE alphabet street and tell me almost everytime they see me, because they know what a big fan I am.

I'm so glad he released lovesexy, because it made me a fan. I really don't care about how it was received by others, to be honest.

Well it found general fandom in the UK and Europe. And of course I was a fan (but mostly because of the great interest created by the trail of SOTT and the incredible contrast and rich cohesive mix of The Black Album alongside it).

Nivivrus said:

I LOVE THIS SONG! Now that I've stated my opinion of the song (in caps just to be extra obnoxious of course) I just wanted to add that I to can't believe this wasn't on Lovesexy. This is simply amazing! I hear it as replaced by I Wish U Heaven (which I also do love as much as I love this song). I mean if I had to pick between the two, I would pick I Wish U Heaven over this, but Prince should've taken out When 2 R In Love and put The Line in it's place. I get that it fits in Lovesexy better then it did in The Black Album but I don't know, I never could listen to that song and appreciate it knowing that something like I Wish U Heaven was the next song. I usually skipped it just to listen to I Wish U Heaven (if you haven't noticed, thats one of my favorite Prince songs). But The Line is just amazing. I love how he reused that scream in Acknowledge Me and I also love all the solo's in it. This song would be worth the price of a ticket to a Prince show ANYDAY. I mean, I would litterally walk to a show in the rain, snow, wind, or lava (yes Lava) in order to just hear this live. That's how badly The Line has been engraved into my skull.

Totally agree with you. I never really liked When 2 R in Love on Lovesexy, actually I don't like it that much to start with, bit too cheesy. The Line would have been a much better fit.

BTW, does anybody know who's singing the first verse in The Line? The Vault lists Sheila E and Boni Boyer for vocals. It sounds a bit like Sheila but I didn't think she could sing that well.

I love this song as well shoulda been on LoveSexy!

spooklectric said:

Nivivrus said:

I LOVE THIS SONG! Now that I've stated my opinion of the song (in caps just to be extra obnoxious of course) I just wanted to add that I to can't believe this wasn't on Lovesexy. This is simply amazing! I hear it as replaced by I Wish U Heaven (which I also do love as much as I love this song). I mean if I had to pick between the two, I would pick I Wish U Heaven over this, but Prince should've taken out When 2 R In Love and put The Line in it's place. I get that it fits in Lovesexy better then it did in The Black Album but I don't know, I never could listen to that song and appreciate it knowing that something like I Wish U Heaven was the next song. I usually skipped it just to listen to I Wish U Heaven (if you haven't noticed, thats one of my favorite Prince songs). But The Line is just amazing. I love how he reused that scream in Acknowledge Me and I also love all the solo's in it. This song would be worth the price of a ticket to a Prince show ANYDAY. I mean, I would litterally walk to a show in the rain, snow, wind, or lava (yes Lava) in order to just hear this live. That's how badly The Line has been engraved into my skull.

Totally agree with you. I never really liked When 2 R in Love on Lovesexy, actually I don't like it that much to start with, bit too cheesy. The Line would have been a much better fit.

BTW, does anybody know who's singing the first verse in The Line? The Vault lists Sheila E and Boni Boyer for vocals. It sounds a bit like Sheila but I didn't think she could sing that well.

That's Boni on lead vocals.

This song is so great! So much energy. It would've been a perfect fit for the Lovesexy tour. I appreciated the demo version but I never really loved it as a song until I heard this version. A++!

I prefer this new version. The demo always felt... like a demo! This version feels fully realized and it totally kicks ass. Sheila's multiple drum solos are worth the price of admission.

Freakin' amazing, one of the highlights of the 'new' stuff. Both versions are great IMO for different reasons....

Spinlight said:

I prefer this new version. The demo always felt... like a demo! This version feels fully realized and it totally kicks ass. Sheila's multiple drum solos are worth the price of admission.

Agree. It's such a stupid song that the bare bones original demo-ey version of it always irritated me and left me cold. Agreed completely with Alan Leeds "huh? what's the big deal about this song?"

But hearing it all Lovesexy'd up definitely covers up its flaws with bombast and frenetic energy alone.

Used to hate it. Now I love it.

Also, I have a hard time believing that it was replaced on Lovesexy with I Wish U Heaven. an 8+ minute track replaced with a <3 minute track on a 45 minute LP? doubtful. sounds more like the Lovesexy title track would have replaced it. or that he felt they both fit the same mold, sonically, as tracks on there.

frankly, this could have replaced Dance On or Positivity and I'd probably have a higher opinion of that album, even if in my head it's a little too similar to Lovesexy for them both to be on there.

would have made an awesome b-side for the Lovesexy 12" remix though

[Edited 7/29/12 19:06pm]

I'm confused. I have a version of The Line with Boni Boyer singing, but what is this The Line #2 with Shelia E. Drum solos and things. What was it on?

Luv it!

errant said:

Also, I have a hard time believing that it was replaced on Lovesexy with I Wish U Heaven. an 8+ minute track replaced with a <3 minute track on a 45 minute LP? doubtful. sounds more like the Lovesexy title track would have replaced it. or that he felt they both fit the same mold, sonically, as tracks on there.

It's possible that the album was Dance On > LoveSexy > The Line > Positivity and then when he recorded I Wish U Heaven, he filled up the remainder of time with When 2 R In Love.

Spinlight said:

errant said:

Also, I have a hard time believing that it was replaced on Lovesexy with I Wish U Heaven. an 8+ minute track replaced with a <3 minute track on a 45 minute LP? doubtful. sounds more like the Lovesexy title track would have replaced it. or that he felt they both fit the same mold, sonically, as tracks on there.

It's possible that the album was Dance On > LoveSexy > The Line > Positivity and then when he recorded I Wish U Heaven, he filled up the remainder of time with When 2 R In Love.

hmmm, yeah, could be. If so, I can definitely see why he removed it. Lovesexy & the finished version of The Line fill the same role, sonically at least, if not lyrically, though I can see him melding them into a seemless suite to make it one extra-long jam.

Just so I got this straight (I also just drank a shitfuckton of Scotch):

The Line (#1?) has been on countless boots through the ages...Jewel Box, The Work, Work It 2.0, etc.

And The Line #2 is the new version from Perfect Unreleased Prince, right? My version of Perfect Unreleased only has The Line #2, so I want to make sure I'm not missing something.

My initial impressions of The Line #2 weren't very positive. There's just too much shit going on, which is how I feel about much of Lovesexy actually. But I'll give it more chances. A lot of people on this thread are those whose opinions I respect a lot, so if they're seeing some magic here then I need to listen more.

And drink some more Scotch.

KingSausage said:

Just so I got this straight (I also just drank a shitfuckton of Scotch):

The Line (#1?) has been on countless boots through the ages...Jewel Box, The Work, Work It 2.0, etc.

And The Line #2 is the new version from Perfect Unreleased Prince, right? My version of Perfect Unreleased only has The Line #2, so I want to make sure I'm not missing something.

My initial impressions of The Line #2 weren't very positive. There's just too much shit going on, which is how I feel about much of Lovesexy actually. But I'll give it more chances. A lot of people on this thread are those whose opinions I respect a lot, so if they're seeing some magic here then I need to listen more.

And drink some more Scotch.

Of all the Lovesexy songs with too much shit going on, it's the most coherent to me.

KingSausage said:

Just so I got this straight (I also just drank a shitfuckton of Scotch):

The Line (#1?) has been on countless boots through the ages...Jewel Box, The Work, Work It 2.0, etc.

And The Line #2 is the new version from Perfect Unreleased Prince, right? My version of Perfect Unreleased only has The Line #2, so I want to make sure I'm not missing something.

My initial impressions of The Line #2 weren't very positive. There's just too much shit going on, which is how I feel about much of Lovesexy actually. But I'll give it more chances. A lot of people on this thread are those whose opinions I respect a lot, so if they're seeing some magic here then I need to listen more.

And drink some more Scotch.

If you've imbibed as much scotch as you say and it's not amazing yet, maybe it wasn't meant to be between you two.

KingSausage said:

Just so I got this straight (I also just drank a shitfuckton of Scotch):

The Line (#1?) has been on countless boots through the ages...Jewel Box, The Work, Work It 2.0, etc.

And The Line #2 is the new version from Perfect Unreleased Prince, right? My version of Perfect Unreleased only has The Line #2, so I want to make sure I'm not missing something.

My initial impressions of The Line #2 weren't very positive. There's just too much shit going on, which is how I feel about much of Lovesexy actually. But I'll give it more chances. A lot of people on this thread are those whose opinions I respect a lot, so if they're seeing some magic here then I need to listen more.

And drink some more Scotch.

There is surely too much shit going on, but it kind of works. It just doesn't cover any new ground not already covered in the 6 party songs that were to come before it on the album. It's kinda just one of those songs that go on a trip and you gotta go with it or get off the train.

The finished version of the "Line", has always been in my top 5 five outtakes that I would love to hear the completed version of since I first heard it in 1990. After listening to the finished version i can say a couple things. 1.) I really miss the synth bassline(if that what it is) that runs through it. To me it added a certain darkness, mood and urgencey to the track. The "Partyman"-esque horns are cool but i like I stated I miss the bassline . 2.) I can honestly see why it was left off of "Lovesexy"."Lovesexy flows with the best of his albums and this song is kinda of 180. Maybe that song was what Prince meant when he said that he held back on "Lovesexy". If it was on the album I would kinda see it as the last song or second to last. It reminds me of the Lovesexy spiritual version of "It Gonna Be A Beautiful Night". I don't know if he left it off because he didn't sing on 80% of it, apparently he still has an affiinity towards it (well at least he mentioned it in 98) but i think it would have made a good B-side during the "Lovesexy" tour where more people were aware of how cool the "lovesexy" band was. I would almost compare this to "Dance with the Devil" not musically but just the song itself. Albeit, a really good song, it just doesn't flow with the album. It just kinda stands alone as a track from period ( which kinda means possible B-side material ). 3. I am extremely grateful that this surfaced and I fully enjoy the track. I just wish I could of bought it from Prince(if it was unaltered) instead of winding up as a free download. Thats the real sad point.

Big Chick

"Security Ensuring thee"

BigChick said:

The finished version of the "Line", has always been in my top 5 five outtakes that I would love to hear the completed version of since I first heard it in 1990. After listening to the finished version i can say a couple things. 1.) I really miss the synth bassline(if that what it is) that runs through it. To me it added a certain darkness, mood and urgencey to the track. The "Partyman"-esque horns are cool but i like I stated I miss the bassline . 2.) I can honestly see why it was left off of "Lovesexy"."Lovesexy flows with the best of his albums and this song is kinda of 180. Maybe that song was what Prince meant when he said that he held back on "Lovesexy". If it was on the album I would kinda see it as the last song or second to last. It reminds me of the Lovesexy spiritual version of "It Gonna Be A Beautiful Night". I don't know if he left it off because he didn't sing on 80% of it, apparently he still has an affiinity towards it (well at least he mentioned it in 98) but i think it would have made a good B-side during the "Lovesexy" tour where more people were aware of how cool the "lovesexy" band was. I would almost compare this to "Dance with the Devil" not musically but just the song itself. Albeit, a really good song, it just doesn't flow with the album. It just kinda stands alone as a track from period ( which kinda means possible B-side material ). 3. I am extremely grateful that this surfaced and I fully enjoy the track. I just wish I could of bought it from Prince(if it was unaltered) instead of winding up as a free download. Thats the real sad point.

Big Chick

"Security Ensuring thee"

I'd say it contains the type of energy and joy ("Lovesexy") that the other songs talk about. But this delivers the feeling. It should have been in there on the album towards the end, the swift celebratory passage to Lovesexy heaven. As it is, the album doesn't flow to my ears... Positivity following I Wish U Heaven? Positivity sounds like the Dance With Devil oddball to me, because the song is actually bout Negativity both in lyric and tone. On the other hand, this continues and accelerates Eye No, Alphabet St, and Glam Slam and Lovesexy. Even Dance On has this hyper vibe, even though it's cautionary like SOTT.