Which one do you enjoy listening to more?

For me, it's definitely the film; I'll have it on in the background a lot; it just makes the songs come alive! Never really, really got into the album too much.

Two very different experiences.

The film versions are more accessable to people, initerms of the way they sound. But the albums itself is masterful.

Can't say I've come across a fan that's never really got into the album.

I like both equally but I think that some songs sound much more powerful in the film, for instance If I Was Your Girlfriend and I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man.

That´s why I often listen to the film versions instead of the album versions.

sro100 said:

Which one do you enjoy listening to more?

For me, it's definitely the film; I'll have it on in the background a lot; it just makes the songs come alive! Never really, really got into the album too much.

Free Boot Generation released the audio from the SOTT movie a few years ago. IIRC it was taken from the Canadian dvd release. Having that would save you the need of having the film on in the background.

There is something very airy about the film versions.

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How ICNTTPOYM comes in with the drums is so awesome!

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I love them both but as previously said they are two different experiences. I think the movie doesn't contain performances of all the tracks on the album. I'm sure the Ballad of Dorothy Parker and Starfish and Coffee are missing from the film.

Starrdust505 said:

I love them both but as previously said they are two different experiences. I think the movie doesn't contain performances of all the tracks on the album. I'm sure the Ballad of Dorothy Parker and Starfish and Coffee are missing from the film.

Also missing from the film - Strange Relationship and Adore.

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If I had to choose, give me the album.

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But since I don't, I'm glad I have both because I love them for different reasons.

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Play in the Sunshine live > Play in the Sunshine album

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IGBABN live > IGBABN album

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Title track, ICNTTPOYM, The Cross album > Live

Thanks, how could I have missed SR and Adore! The album and this era is a favourite of mine. I think it is an essential part of his discography.

[Edited 9/21/16 14:35pm]

For me the album.

I loved the movie when it came out and watched it in the cinema, great experience! Much later (mid 00's) I bought the dvd and I just couldn't get into it. This is because most of the film is actually shot in Paisley Park. So most the video images are basically playback performances by Prince and the band. The lipsynching issues make the dvd close to unwatchable for me unfortunately.

The music is great though, which reminds me that I should rip the audio so I can at least enjoy the audio.

funkaholic1972 said:

For me the album.

I loved the movie when it came out and watched it in the cinema, great experience! Much later (mid 00's) I bought the dvd and I just couldn't get into it. This is because most of the film is actually shot in Paisley Park. So most the video images are basically playback performances by Prince and the band. The lipsynching issues make the dvd close to unwatchable for me unfortunately.

The music is great though, which reminds me that I should rip the audio so I can at least enjoy the audio.

The guitar playing non-sync during "Forever in My Life" really threw off some friends of mine.

rainbowchild said:

While I love them both, I prefer the album as well. The concert film is edited in such a way that it's not really a "true concert" film-- it was cut like a compilation of live concert footage and music videos; would have preferred a full concert film from start to finish to better appreciate it.

True. I think it depends on how you view the film whether you see it as a concert or not. When it first came out I didn't like the way the movie cut to the little acting segments, I thought they were a bit lame and all over the place but watching it again more recently, I overlook that and have grown to love the performances and appreciate it a lot more.

bluegangsta said:

Two very different experiences.

The film versions are more accessable to people, initerms of the way they sound. But the albums itself is masterful.

Can't say I've come across a fan that's never really got into the album.

I'd agree. Often times when Prince is in one-man-band mode, the music can sometimes have a tighter or flatter feel (not in a bad way) on record. It's always a more open, reverb-y, and more velvety experience in a concert.

There's a boot called Wonderboy which is a 2-disk set. The first is the SOTT movie. The second is a soundboard SOTT show, including non-SOTT tracks (like "Girls and Boys", etc). They're both great, but there are times when the SOTT album is necessary listening.

Love both of them but my vote goes to the album, Forever In My Life comes alive in the covert version, Play In The Sunshine too, and The Cross but by no means IIWYGF is better live than the studio version, the album version is a masterpiece and live sound a little lame.

TheDigitalGardener said:

sro100 said:

Which one do you enjoy listening to more?

For me, it's definitely the film; I'll have it on in the background a lot; it just makes the songs come alive! Never really, really got into the album too much.

Free Boot Generation released the audio from the SOTT movie a few years ago. IIRC it was taken from the Canadian dvd release. Having that would save you the need of having the film on in the background.

That or simply rip the audio from the DVD, that's what I did with all my Prince DVDs 10 years ago, there r softwares to do that.

I almost wish they did a new version of the film with the most obvious sync problems being edited out. There are maybe 20-30 awkward-looking moments that could be easily replaced with something else, even footage of the audience. When he, say, does an impressive-looking spin, they could just zoom to his hips and legs, so that the head would be missing.

I love the album and the film equally. There's something that I really appreciate about the way the music sounds on the film, even if it's clearly overdubbed. Something about way the drums and the vocals sounding like they belong in a different space than the rest of the music isappealing to me. It probably shouldn't sound so good to my ears, but it does.

novabrkr said:

I almost wish they did a new version of the film with the most obvious sync problems being edited out. There are maybe 20-30 awkward-looking moments that could be easily replaced with something else, even footage of the audience. When he, say, does an impressive-looking spin, they could just zoom to his hips and legs, so that the head would be missing.

I love the album and the film equally. There's something that I really appreciate about the way the music sounds on the film, even if it's clearly overdubbed. Something about way the drums and the vocals sounding like they belong in a different space than the rest of the music isappealing to me. It probably shouldn't sound so good to my ears, but it does.

The 16:9 release has some of those sync problems corrected (like Miko's clapping in the intro of "ICNTTPOYM"). 20-30 seems a bit much, but perhaps. It might be the Canadian or Brazilian release of the film (i always forget which is which and which is better, because one of them sucks). PalladiaTV aired the widescreen versions of PR, UTCM, GB, and SOTT when they came out in a better format. I put the SOTT airing on a DVD. It's around here somewhere. But no one is going to recut the entire film. Magoli directed it well, but the editing did need some re-checks before it was released.

Technically, it's not overdubbed. They were lip-syncing to a live show they already did on tour. But - six of one.

As a sidenote: I don't know if you know this, but there is a lot of video that leaked out years ago from the filming of SOTT. It shows take after take of things like "Housequake" or "Hot Thing", and shows where Prince is messing up (missing a dance step, etc), and stopping and starting over. Much like the interesting yet mundane nature of the "Mountains" shoot. It's still rather fascinating to see Prince's need for perfection, and his energy and zeal in his work ethic. The guy was 29 and on a mission.

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[Edited 9/23/16 9:14am]

Ooooh damn...what a question. I know the album from the back of my hand but I'm gonna have to re-watch the film (unfortunately not the blu-ray...) and return here to answer haha! Thanks! Actually gives me something to do

[Edited 9/23/16 21:33pm]

Definitely the album for me. I enjoy the film, some parts more than others, but do find a lot of the song versions too glossy for my tastes.

As much as I love the visuals I prefer the album to the movie. And I love the 12" of IIWYG the best of all

TrivialPursuit said:

Much prefer the film version of "Housequake" to the album one. Faster is better with that track!

Doozer said:

. Magnoli didn't direct the film. Prince did. . https://en.m.wikipedia.or...mes_(film)

Incorrect. Albert Magnoli has long admitted to ghost directing the film. Prince put his name on it, but Magnoli was the one. He also directed "Batdance" and "Partyman" videos. From his site:

"Magnoli followed with the Lorimar-Columbia feature, American Anthem (1986) and ghost-directed the critically acclaimed concert film, Sign 'O' The Times (1987) starring Prince. Magnoli then began a four-year association with Prince, culminating with Magnoli becoming Prince’s manager and handling his creative affairs. The soundtrack album for Batman (1989) was created during this union, and two #1 videos, "Batdance" and "Partyman" were directed by Magnoli to promote the Batman film and soundtrack."

TrivialPursuit said:

Doozer said:

. . All these years and I never heard the "ghost director" story. Still have my VHS copy of the film from 87, too. Thanks.

Yeah, it was new to me hearing it this year, too. But apparently Prince liked him a lot, especially to pull him into management, and directing other stuff like SOTT, and the Batman videos. Al always seems to have great affection for Prince as well, in interviews.

Hard to choose between the 2. I used to watch the VHS all the time, until the Canadian dvd came out, but I prefer the film version, and the FBG rip from the dvd.

bookwomen said:

As much as I love the visuals I prefer the album to the movie. And I love the 12" of IIWYG the best of all

But the 12" version is the same as the album version, isn´t it?