Which versions do you prefer? And feel free to give your reasons.

For reference, we'll compare the versions across the recent D&P beginings bootleg (27 Novconfiguration) and the versions on Work It 2.0 (and other relevant versions).

Daddy Pop - Album | Beginings
Walk Don't Walk - Album | Beginings
Diamonds and Pearls - Album | Beginings
Cream - Album | Work It 2.0
Willing and Able - Album | Work It 2.0 | Video
Gett Off - Album | Damn Near 20 minutes
Walk Don't Walk - Album | Beginings
Jughead - Album |
Money Don't Matter 2 Night - Album | Beginings
Insatiable - Album | Beginings | Work It 2.0
Live 4 Love - Album | Beginings
Horny Pony - Single | Begingings
Something Funky (This House Comes) - Beginings | Work It 2.0

ufoclub said:

I think the released version of Gett Off is superior to the original limited run 12" mix. Maybe it's because I heard the released one first and really fell for it's thick layers of production. Horny Pony on "beginnings" is interesting, but is so obviously an unfinished track with only drums, bass, and vocals being the initial tracked layers, that I can't consider it to be a real version. I don't remember a demo version or preliminary version of Cream... will have to check it out.

You don't consider it to be a real version? I honestly don't know what that means. It's an early version of the track? Like a demo.

As far as Cream is concerned, there is an early mix circulating that is slightly longer, less edited and features less reverb.

I've never been a fan of the D&P album, so when the beginings boot came along it was like a revelation to me and made me see some of those tracks in a whole new light.

.

By the way, the Gett Off is the damn near 10 mins, not 20.

bluegangsta said:

ufoclub said:

I think the released version of Gett Off is superior to the original limited run 12" mix. Maybe it's because I heard the released one first and really fell for it's thick layers of production. Horny Pony on "beginnings" is interesting, but is so obviously an unfinished track with only drums, bass, and vocals being the initial tracked layers, that I can't consider it to be a real version. I don't remember a demo version or preliminary version of Cream... will have to check it out.

You don't consider it to be a real version? I honestly don't know what that means. It's an early version of the track? Like a demo.

As far as Cream is concerned, there is an early mix circulating that is slightly longer, less edited and features less reverb.

Just my opinion. I don't think it's a demo, I think it's an unfinished demo that he meant to put more instrumentation on. Actually most of those track on "beginnings" fit the category of an unfinished demo, like pre-demo. He's just tracked the rhythm, percussion, and a guide vocal.

Normally the bootleg versions of songs we have collected are finished even if they were changed up or re-recorded, but they were early versions. But he normally put on all the parts that he thought completed the idea (however minimal that might be like the case of "I Wonder")

I'm curious about the demo versions of all the songs that were re-recorded for "Prince". I recently read that it was all re-recorded with a hired engineer but guided by demos he had made in his home studio.

As much as I love Rosie, I have to say it's a joy to hear the version of the title track without her on it. Having Prince's harmonies at the forefront is wonderful.

Militant said:

As much as I love Rosie, I have to say it's a joy to hear the version of the title track without her on it. Having Prince's harmonies at the forefront is wonderful.

I would agree. There have been times where Prince puts other talents up front on an album, and it's a blessing sometimes to get that exposure, but when I listen to a Prince album I want to hear Prince. The one I didn't mind, and it's probably an unpopular opinion, is Sonny T. on stuff like Exodus.

Things like "Beautiful, Loved & Blessed" is a nice little ditty, but it could have been non-Tamar. Put it on her record.

Rosie works well on stuff like "Gett Off" or "Diamonds and Pearls", but seems to distract on songs like "Push" with the quasi-rap section (with is already an overproduced dumpster fire of a song). She blends well into the background on "Daddy Pop", but again pulls away from the joy of "Willing and Able" by taking that pre-chorus. Tony M. totally fucks W&A, IMO. But, even with that said - I'd have to agree that Prince doing the title track solo is rather wonderful. It seems more personal and pleading, that volleying vocal sections back and forth. Some of her ad-libs are nice peppered throughout. But Prince's harmonies is what makes the track stronger.

Militant said:

As much as I love Rosie, I have to say it's a joy to hear the version of the title track without her on it. Having Prince's harmonies at the forefront is wonderful.

same here...

And it should be noted that Rosie Gaines is really in a bad spot lately, from the last I read. She's living in a shelter or otherwise homeless, won't respond to her family's attempts to help her. It sounded like mental illness.

TrivialPursuit said:

SomeSoldier said:

TrivialPursuit said:

And it should be noted that Rosie Gaines is really in a bad spot lately, from the last I read. She's living in a shelter or otherwise homeless, won't respond to her family's attempts to help her. It sounded like mental illness.

Damn, I'm sad to hear that. I have a friend who is in a bit place at the moment and it's really difficult to get to her. I hope she finds the help that she needs.

I meant to post the link earlier: http://prince.org/msg/5/435884 That was a thread from December about her situation.

Just give me whichever versions have less-to-no rapping or Rosie.

Daddy Pop - Album | Beginnings
Walk Don't Walk - Album | Beginings (don't like the hoovering sound on chrous of Beginnings version)
Diamonds and Pearls - Album | Beginings (interesting to hear version without Rosie nonetheless)
Cream - Album | Work It 2.0
Willing and Able - Album | Work It 2.0 | Video (love the Steeles contribution on both video & album versions)
Gett Off - Album | Damn Near 10 minutes (this is a tough one but I like the additional verses on extended versions)
Jughead - Album |
Money Don't Matter 2 Night - Album | Beginings (not much difference, love his backing vox on both)
Insatiable - Album | Beginings | Work It 2.0 (extended versions bit too much cheese)
Live 4 Love - Album | Beginings (like the urgency/guitar on album version)
Horny Pony - Single | Beginnings (never liked this, glad it didn't make album)
Something Funky (This House Comes) - Beginnings | Work It 2.0 (never liked this, glad it didn't make album)

Beginnings version of the title track Diamonds & Pearls is, to me 10 times better, because I prefer to hear Prince vocals not drownd out by Rosie.

D&P is my second favourite Prince album. I haven't heard the alternate versions, but would love 2 hear them.