I think it's fantastic. Very surprised by how good this is, and how little I've heard about it in spite of that. Love his guitar tone. Guns blazing on this one for sure. Dude is just awesome on the six string. Love these versions of Bambi and Dolphin. The long songs are, just really good. With most of the 90s releases I have some reservations but this one was completely satisfying beginning to end.

It might be the best thing he did in the era in my opinion.

I don't really know the details surrounding it, but I know there was something crazy going on with its release. And the way it seems like they just ran through it, it makes me really curious about all the jam sessions he has lying around. Like if in his prime he was recording stuff like this everyday, which would make sense with all the rehearsals, and jam sessions, and writing and whatnot.....there's probably more of this stuff hidden away then you could ever realistically listen to.

But it inspired me to make this playlist

Kamasutra overture

Zannalee prelude

Zannalee

The Undertaker

Dolphin

Calhoun Square

Electric Chair

Visions

The Ride

Empty Room

The Grand Progression

Power Fantastic

God (Love Theme) B-Side

Interlude from Dream Factory

All My Dreams

Just My Imagination from Small Club

Best playlist I've ever made. Cass

[Edited 4/9/16 16:01pm]

[Edited 4/9/16 16:01pm]

"Poor Goo" was always a favorite.

There's such an anger, and dismissive tone, in The Undertaker. Dismissive meaning, while in the depths of his fight with WB, he just didn't give a shit anymore. He was going to film, and record, and release whatever he wanted. Obviously a lot of it never got out officially. The Undertaker was meant to have 1000 copies to be released with Guitar Magazine in 1994(/5?). Copies were leaked anyway, and thereby bootlegged. Europe saw a laserdisc and VHS release of the whole thing.

There's some delicious joy I get in knowing that something WB tried to block got out anyway. I have to think that, somewhere in Prince's brain, he's happy it got out too. While he's not getting paid for it, in effect the music won over WB's restrictions on release dates, etc.

Even if he's not, I am. It's a favorite.

masaba said:

I think it's fantastic. Very surprised by how good this is, and how little I've heard about it in spite of that. Love his guitar tone. Guns blazing on this one for sure. Dude is just awesome on the six string. Love these versions of Bambi and Dolphin. The long songs are, just really good. With most of the 90s releases I have some reservations but this one was completely satisfying beginning to end.

https://www.google.com/#safe=off&q=undertaker+site:prince.org

Anyway, you're right...it's excellent. I still regret selling my original disc.

The "New Power Trio"...I love "The Undertaker". The production is great and contains my favorite version of "Bambi".

TrivialPursuit said:

"Poor Goo" was always a favorite.

There's such an anger, and dismissive tone, in The Undertaker. Dismissive meaning, while in the depths of his fight with WB, he just didn't give a shit anymore. He was going to film, and record, and release whatever he wanted. Obviously a lot of it never got out officially. The Undertaker was meant to have 1000 copies to be released with Guitar Magazine in 1994(/5?). Copies were leaked anyway, and thereby bootlegged. Europe saw a laserdisc and VHS release of the whole thing.

There's some delicious joy I get in knowing that something WB tried to block got out anyway. I have to think that, somewhere in Prince's brain, he's happy it got out too. While he's not getting paid for it, in effect the music won over WB's restrictions on release dates, etc.

Even if he's not, I am. It's a favorite.

i think the VHS was an official release, i mean, i got it from a highstreet recordstore.

I really like this version of his song "The Undertaker" (as opposed to the Mavis Staples one)

IstenSzek said:

i think the VHS was an official release, i mean, i got it from a highstreet recordstore.

It was in Europe, I have it too. I think The Sacrifice of Victor VHS came out about the same time. I don't think they ever had an official release in the US.

The best "raw" Prince since Dirty Mind...

Best Prince 'album' of the 90s.

At WB's insistence the official Guitar Magazine discs were rendered unplayable by coating the playable side in shelack. These unplayable discs circulated in the collector's market and some genius figured out it was possible to clean off the shelack. My copy was fixed by using Goo Gone to clean the shelack off. Plays great!!

One of my all-time favorite Prince projects and probably the one I've used the most to convert people to Prince fans. Works especially well on older rock fans. Coupled with the R&RHOF all-star jam, no one can deny the man's skills!

It's really good. It amkes a lot of non fans who think Prince is too pop turn their heads and reconsider.

Shame it didn't get wider release. Only think I hate is the choppy editing and shaky cam (along with the, as usual, stupid and goofy shoe horned "plot" elemetns) of the DVD/VHS. It can induce nausea.

djThunderfunk said:

At WB's insistence the official Guitar Magazine discs were rendered unplayable by coating the playable side in shelack. These unplayable discs circulated in the collector's market and some genius figured out it was possible to clean off the shelack. My copy was fixed by using Goo Gone to clean the shelack off. Plays great!!

One of my all-time favorite Prince projects and probably the one I've used the most to convert people to Prince fans. Works especially well on older rock fans. Coupled with the R&RHOF all-star jam, no one can deny the man's skills!

Poor Goo!

hmmm, i need to hear this in its original configuration. obviously certain songs saw life elsewhere but until this post i've never felt compelled. and if Bambi is better than the album version.... let me get to diggin unless... i've recently learned how to receive" blessings"... aHEM!

[Edited 4/10/16 18:37pm]

djThunderfunk said:

At WB's insistence the official Guitar Magazine discs were rendered unplayable by coating the playable side in shelack. These unplayable discs circulated in the collector's market and some genius figured out it was possible to clean off the shelack. My copy was fixed by using Goo Gone to clean the shelack off. Plays great!!

I still have the coated original CD in my collection.

I never feel the need to make it playable as the full CD audio is available on the "Past Present & Future" SAB 2CD.

TheEnglishGent said:

IstenSzek said:

TrivialPursuit said:

"Poor Goo" was always a favorite.

There's such an anger, and dismissive tone, in The Undertaker. Dismissive meaning, while in the depths of his fight with WB, he just didn't give a shit anymore. He was going to film, and record, and release whatever he wanted. Obviously a lot of it never got out officially. The Undertaker was meant to have 1000 copies to be released with Guitar Magazine in 1994(/5?). Copies were leaked anyway, and thereby bootlegged. Europe saw a laserdisc and VHS release of the whole thing.

There's some delicious joy I get in knowing that something WB tried to block got out anyway. I have to think that, somewhere in Prince's brain, he's happy it got out too. While he's not getting paid for it, in effect the music won over WB's restrictions on release dates, etc.

Even if he's not, I am. It's a favorite.

i think the VHS was an official release, i mean, i got it from a highstreet recordstore.

It was but there were two.

Apparently there was a limited VHS release in December 1993, mail order and/or NPG Stores only, which features the film exactly as on the CD (no edits, no Vanessa Marcil, original Dolphin) with a 36 mn length. It's now extremely rare despite a reported 1000 prints having been sold, so far only one person on the org has ever acknowledged owning a copy and I've never seen a picture of it.

Then there was the edited, more widespread 1995 release thru WB.

There is also a bootleg copy of the film in circulation, which is somewhere between the first and the second (credited to the Symbol not Prince, with V. Marcil AND the original Dolphin).

[Edited 4/11/16 5:03am]

paulludvig said:

djThunderfunk said:

At WB's insistence the official Guitar Magazine discs were rendered unplayable by coating the playable side in shelack. These unplayable discs circulated in the collector's market and some genius figured out it was possible to clean off the shelack. My copy was fixed by using Goo Gone to clean the shelack off. Plays great!!

One of my all-time favorite Prince projects and probably the one I've used the most to convert people to Prince fans. Works especially well on older rock fans. Coupled with the R&RHOF all-star jam, no one can deny the man's skills!

Poor Goo!

BoraBora said:

djThunderfunk said:

At WB's insistence the official Guitar Magazine discs were rendered unplayable by coating the playable side in shelack. These unplayable discs circulated in the collector's market and some genius figured out it was possible to clean off the shelack. My copy was fixed by using Goo Gone to clean the shelack off. Plays great!!

I still have the coated original CD in my collection.

I never feel the need to make it playable as the full CD audio is available on the "Past Present & Future" SAB 2CD.

It's worth alot if it's still shellacked and unplayable, but, it's priceless as a working playable disc.

Just sayin'...

Poor GOO! Da da da! Poor Goo-oo! Da da da!

Add wicked guitar...instant classic!

I still would like a CD of this ish!

Come on P, release the Undertaker!

I remember back in the days when i got a complete copy

finaly.. not some crappy rip

Great album

r there more tracks recorded by the New Power Trio??? i believe they recorded the hendrix cover album...but what else?

luvsexy4all said:

r there more tracks recorded by the New Power Trio??? i believe they recorded the hendrix cover album...but what else?

Hendrix cover album, hunh?

I'd love to hear that!!!!!!!

datdude said:

hmmm, i need to hear this in its original configuration. obviously certain songs saw life elsewhere but until this post i've never felt compelled. and if Bambi is better than the album version.... let me get to diggin unless... i've recently learned how to receive" blessings"... aHEM!

[Edited 4/10/16 18:37pm]

Don't quote me on this because I'm just guessing but it sounds to me like Calhoun Square and Zannalee from the Work It boots are from the same session. Same tone and everything.

masaba said:

datdude said:

hmmm, i need to hear this in its original configuration. obviously certain songs saw life elsewhere but until this post i've never felt compelled. and if Bambi is better than the album version.... let me get to diggin unless... i've recently learned how to receive" blessings"... aHEM!

[Edited 4/10/16 18:37pm]

Don't quote me on this because I'm just guessing but it sounds to me like Calhoun Square and Zannalee from the Work It boots are from the same session. Same tone and everything.

According to Pvault CS was recorded the next day, and Zannallee is from May 1993, i.e. before the Undertaker version.

williamb610 said:

luvsexy4all said:

r there more tracks recorded by the New Power Trio??? i believe they recorded the hendrix cover album...but what else?

Hendrix cover album, hunh?

I'd love to hear that!!!!!!!

the habibi track is supposedly from that

masaba said:

I think it's fantastic. Very surprised by how good this is, and how little I've heard about it in spite of that. Love his guitar tone. Guns blazing on this one for sure. Dude is just awesome on the six string. Love these versions of Bambi and Dolphin. The long songs are, just really good. With most of the 90s releases I have some reservations but this one was completely satisfying beginning to end.

It might be the best thing he did in the era in my opinion.

I don't really know the details surrounding it, but I know there was something crazy going on with its release. And the way it seems like they just ran through it, it makes me really curious about all the jam sessions he has lying around. Like if in his prime he was recording stuff like this everyday, which would make sense with all the rehearsals, and jam sessions, and writing and whatnot.....there's probably more of this stuff hidden away then you could ever realistically listen to.

But it inspired me to make this playlist

Kamasutra overture

Zannalee prelude

Zannalee

The Undertaker

Dolphin

Calhoun Square

Electric Chair

Visions

The Ride

Empty Room

The Grand Progression

Power Fantastic

God (Love Theme) B-Side

Interlude from Dream Factory

All My Dreams

Just My Imagination from Small Club

Best playlist I've ever made. Cass

[Edited 4/9/16 16:01pm]

[Edited 4/9/16 16:01pm]

YES I love this, Im looking forward to listening to it.

The idea that there is so much more unreleased music out there is insane.