While getting my collection in order after years, I'm doing some research on a few items (see also http://prince.org/msg/9/441064).

Now for this one here I got more info just today. I thought I'd share this for die-hard collectors.

It's about a mix (kinda medley) of Head, Sexy Dancer, I Wanna Be Your Lover and Controversy. See Discogs:

https://www.discogs.com/P...e/10055076

https://www.discogs.com/P...e/10055027

I own a set of three acetates. One of the first version, two of the second.

Stylewise, the mix sounds like it's a very early one. It's no fade in/fade out medley of snippets. It is one mix.

The story:

I bought the set of three in the late 90s (I guess 1997) via Record Collector from a private seller. In a letter he wrote that it's from late James Hamilton. James Hamilton used to be a music journalist and promoted disco mixing quite a lot. He even did some mixes.

Today, I contacted Denis Blackham who worked at Tape One Studios. He recognised the writing as being of Geoff Pesche, now mastering engineer at Abbey Road Studios.

You are probably correct about them being pre 1982 [..]. [If] It wasn’t anything important, we cut those sort of listening copies every day; either for a new release we were cutting masters for, or something new the label wanted to check out. WEA would have just sent in a tape they would have received from the American office, and asked for one or two acetates, so they could listen to the mixes. (Denis Blackham)

Regarding James Hamilton, whom I've thought to maybe have done the mix himself:

As far James Hamilton being involved, I wouldn’t know, and I think the only way of answering that question is to speak with someone involved with the project at the time, or be able to see the original tape master, which will probably have the engineer’s name on it. (Denis Blackham)

Then, I contacted Geoff Pesche:

That's my writing on the label so I must have cut it.

Our studio manager at Tape One often did editing sessions with James Hamilton.

My guess is that this disc is from one of those sessions.

It is probably one of a kind. (Geoff Pesche)

So, let's add another piece of the puzzle to Prince history. However, I'd still be interested if WEA commissioned a mix that was intended for release. If it's from '81/'82 it might have been to promote 1999.

Interestingly, there's another "Prince Medley" acetate by John Morales on Discogs:

https://www.discogs.com/J...se/6873084

I'll try to get more info on that. Maybe this US one and my UK acetates are related.

I can pretty much guarantee that those mixes are without any label involvement. It was common practice for DJs to make their own mixes and have them run off as acetates to play out - and you're probably right that James Hamilton did them. The UK mixes sound pretty cool!

The US one would be a mix that John Morales did, a pretty legendary remixer. Sunshine Sound wasn't even a proper studio! It was the office of a mastering engineer, Frank Trimarco, who'd offer acetate pressing services. There wouldn't be many run off, and some of them would be sold through specialist stores.

[Edited 4/23/17 7:35am]

jjam said:

I can pretty much guarantee that those mixes are without any label involvement. It was common practice for DJs to make their own mixes and have them run off as acetates to play out - and you're probably right that James Hamilton did them. The UK mixes sound pretty cool!

The US one would be a mix that John Morales did, a pretty legendary remixer. Sunshine Sound wasn't even a proper studio! It was the office of a mastering engineer, Frank Trimarco, who'd offer acetate pressing services. There wouldn't be many run off, and some of them would be sold through specialist stores.

[Edited 4/23/17 7:35am]

Thanks for the info! If I get to know more I'll post it here.