Listening to this 1983 outtake I am amazed at the perfection of this recording, it sounds alive full of passion and exciting and the vocals are just beautiful...I love the way he turns on the subtle echo for effect on some of them. Even though the quality is not great of the version available you can hear the quality of the production through it - the technique. I just love that drum programming on it too.

Compare that to Musicology (studio album version) and in comparison sounds so dull and lifeless...I don't know why he kind of changed his production style and technique in the studio as since about 96 regardless of the content, the songs don't sound so alive and vital as they did before. I don't know if using digital techniques or trying to emulate the vacuum R and B sound is to blame or just he doesn't pay as much attention to producing as he does in getting it down on record, but a return to the raw airiness (it's like he just needs to let the songs 'breathe') of his previous recordings would be welcome...i

I know he can do it, hearing him live proves he's still got it....

[Edited 1/24/14 13:23pm]

One of the top 5, if not THE very best Prince outtakes. The lyrics and catchy hooks are amazing. The two studio versions doing the rounds (the 83' and the instrumental from PR) are amazing. I also read (can't remember whether it was Possessed: The Rise and fall of Prince or Prince by Thorne) that he recorded a version of the instrumental with lyrics. It's on the top of my list of unreleased stuff I hope surfaces eventually.

Totally underrated IMO

I don't know of many PR outtakes I don't like

Love Possessed

love the live performances too with Eddie M on sax(?)

^^^ Me too.