I heard that there was a different version of welcome to the dawn released as part of a pre-order offer from some internet bookseller when emancipation came out. Has anyone got this non-acoustic version and is it much different / any good? I love the truth version

There is only one released version.
The 'Borders Books & Music' release you refer to
was the same acoustic version that appears on
'The Truth'.

The only (non-musical) difference is that The Truth album version is on CD - whereas the Borders version is on cassette.

The cassette had a nice cover, other than that it was irrelevant.

On The Holy River cassette single, Welcome 2 The Dawn (Acoustic Version) was stated as "original version from the 4thcoming album The Dawn"

I'm not sure if The Dawn album was complete at that time, or whether it was just a possibility like so many others. I'd love to hear any more information that was 'official' about that, though.

Hi!

The cassette wasn't irrelevant at the time, it was the first release of the track. (It wasn't until later that it was released on "The Truth" album).

Cover is lovely, it's in the style of "The Holy River" video, where Prince is standing at the top of the waterfall.

I don't remember if there was ever any potential tracklistings for "The Dawn" album; does anyone know/remember?

Basically, Prince is full of shit.

Since he found out how to have a croney build a few html pages for him, he has spouted off bullshit about forthcoming projects.

Most of these have not come to fruition, and since he ahs posted ideas based on fleeting whims, coupled with the gagging orders of band members, it is difficult to determine how serious these projects were.

Maybe "The Dawn" as labelled on the cassette was just the name he chose for The Truth that day?