What I wouldn't give to hear Prince play "Father's Song" in his piano shows! It would bring me right back to the movie. I have always loved this song, and unfortunuately it never made it on a record.

.that atlenta concert from 85 is the only one where hes played it right? and that was pretty short...

are there any more known recordings of it?

<drool> If people knew what I would do to hear this song in its entirety... <drool again>

Averett said:

<drool> If people knew what I would do to hear this song in its entirety... <drool again>

I know! I have that Atlanta short version and I even taped a recording from the movie onto a cassette once. But I want a full version on a record PLEASE! At least play it in the new piano shows?!!

I was kind of surprised when I heard John L.Nelson´s "Father´s Song" EP and this song was missing on it even though it was the EP´s title.

As far as I know, that short Atlanta live version is the only known version of Father´s Song...apart from the one he plays in the movie. It´s interesting that he hasn´t played this a bit more often....he has played Venus De Milo, Alexa De Paris, An Honest Man and many more of his classic piano pieces but this one remains one of those very seldom played rare gems.

I love it, wish he´d play it again one day. It´s a perfect song for his current tour.

RufusRawfield said:

.that atlenta concert from 85 is the only one where hes played it right? and that was pretty short...

are there any more known recordings of it?

Not that I´m aware of. Have you looked it up on Princevault?

I have the Purple Rain songbook and "Father's Song" is inlcuded in it. So is "God" So frustrating it never made a B side at least!

I have wanted a studio version of "Father's Song" forever!

Where is this song? i've never heard it.

214 said:

Where is this song? i've never heard it.

It's the piano solo that Prince's Dad plays in Purple Rain. The music is also used in the instrumental part of "Computer Blue." It's a beautiful song and one of my all time favorites, but he never has released it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2-bggpQVjI&ebc=ANyPxKoqJoqhhSVOR-T3Vkf6k9dD5uMBK-BvSuotv5z6Vt-lbNPHq4eGOYAMRbFsQkVtQka4CYvqzZlDsLqJ946S3xNYo9v4HA

In case people need a reminder of the tune.

I taught myself how to play it...it's all we've got for now.... one of the most beautiful songs I know

DMSR said:

What I wouldn't give to hear Prince play "Father's Song" in his piano shows! It would bring me right back to the movie. I have always loved this song, and unfortunuately it never made it on a record.

Awesome idea. It would bring a few audience members to tears.

214 said:

This guy does a nice short version, he even has the black tanktop on from the movie. maybe its Prince?

DMSR said:

This guy does a nice short version, he even has the black tanktop on from the movie. maybe its Prince?

Both versions, the one that you posted and the one that Averett posted, sound really nice and I don´t want to sound like a killjoy but for some reason neither of them gets it right.

Don´t get me wrong, I really like both and respect the talent and effort but why does neither of them make it sound like that brief version in the movie?

I am not a musician so I don´t know about the technique but , after all, all they do is play certain keys in a certain tempo, right? Yet both versions sound different from each other and different compared to how Prince plays it.

I guess both videos will be gone soon because we discussed them here.

...and we suddenly recognize the MUSIC
as his Father's -- the song he played on the piano the night before.
But it's Prince's now, stamped with his own signature.
He's bent at the waist, his back to the audience, alone with his
father's, and his, pain.

Father's Song is an unreleased song recorded on 29 October, 1983 at Prince's Kiowa Trail Home Studio, Chanhassen, MN, USA. It was included as the ninth track on a 7 November, 1983 configuration of Purple Rain. The song appears in the Purple Rain movie, where Prince's character "The Kid" plays the song on piano after discovering his father's sheet music for the song. The main melody was then included as a section in Computer Blue. The song itself, however, remains unreleased. - PrinceVault

Computer Blue:The song was composed by Prince & the Revolution, with credit to his father, John L. Nelson for the guitar solo based on an untitled piano piece by Nelson. Prince titled the piece "Father's Song" and recorded it on piano for the film, though on screen it was portrayed as being played by Prince's on-screen father, actor Clarence Williams III.

iZsaZsa said:

214 said:

Where is this song? i've never heard it.

Thank you.

For what?

214 said:

KoolEaze said:

DMSR said:

This guy does a nice short version, he even has the black tanktop on from the movie. maybe its Prince?

Both versions, the one that you posted and the one that Averett posted, sound really nice and I don´t want to sound like a killjoy but for some reason neither of them gets it right.

Don´t get me wrong, I really like both and respect the talent and effort but why does neither of them make it sound like that brief version in the movie?

I am not a musician so I don´t know about the technique but , after all, all they do is play certain keys in a certain tempo, right? Yet both versions sound different from each other and different compared to how Prince plays it.

I guess both videos will be gone soon because we discussed them here.

No one plays like Prince!

iZsaZsa said:

214 said:

For what?

For getting an answer to my question too.

Ok, you're welcome.

RufusRawfield said:

.that atlenta concert from 85 is the only one where hes played it right? and that was pretty short...

are there any more known recordings of it?

Puple Rush offers Father's Song love if I'm not mistaken:

Purple Rush 3 (disc 3) features a 1:30 minute version and Purple Rush 1 (disc 4) offers a :43 second version.

KoolEaze said:

DMSR said:

This guy does a nice short version, he even has the black tanktop on from the movie. maybe its Prince?

Both versions, the one that you posted and the one that Averett posted, sound really nice and I don´t want to sound like a killjoy but for some reason neither of them gets it right.

Don´t get me wrong, I really like both and respect the talent and effort but why does neither of them make it sound like that brief version in the movie?

I am not a musician so I don´t know about the technique but , after all, all they do is play certain keys in a certain tempo, right? Yet both versions sound different from each other and different compared to how Prince plays it.

I guess both videos will be gone soon because we discussed them here.

I'm curious what your thoughts are regarding the version played in the 1983 Piano Rehearsal that was leaked last year? Fake or authentic, I think the piano skills are pretty fantastic.

I am familiar with most of the piano rehearsals but the one with Father´s Song is unknown to me. I was surprised to see it on the Purple Rush tracklist.

Maybe I have it somewhere, in some folder buried somewhere....have to dig a bit and take a listen.

Or maybe I don´t have it and should get it.

I really have no idea whether I have it or not.

But I do love the Atlanta 85 version on the City Lights CD.