gotta love how the org has already decided that "electric intercourse" is just a demo

recording, what, since it doesn't really sound like they were expecting. nothing can
ever just 'be' on this site. it's like some people just don't want to enjoy something for
what it is and just listen to it for a while, a week, a month, a year. no, we listen once
and decide it's a demo because, well...because what exactly?

all his post 80s stuff is shit to some people, and then they get an unreleased studio
track from the 'ultimate' period and once again: not satisfied, or at least they know
what prince should have done to make it better

As much as I like to have it, I am not feelin this studio version of EI at all. Like others I have a hard time believing this was ever considered for PR. The live versions will forever be THE versions for me.

Moonbeam Levels is much better in its studio form...but vice-versa, I never heard this one live so have nothing to compare it to.

KoolEaze said:

Genesia said:

Studio recording-wise, I have to go with Moonbeam Levels.

The 8/3/83 performance of Electric Intercourse is essential, irreplaceable and...well...electric. But the studio version is less so, IMO. Don't get me wrong - I'm delighted and grateful to have it. But it is not the equal of Moonbeam Levels.

Also, I think Electric Intercourse sounds a lot more 1999 than it does Purple Rain. And I understand why it was shelved in favor of The Beautiful Ones.

Co-sign. I love the live version(s) but for some reason the studio version does not have the same magic, electric feel of the live rendition from the First Ave gig. I can´t really say what it is but something is missing, and as far as unreleased studio versions are concerned, I prefer Moonbeam Levels.

Then again, I listened to Electric Intercourse on crappy computer speakers and maybe I just need to get used to it a bit more but for now I think it is one of those songs that are great as a live version but sound tame as studio versions. I feel the same way about Shhh..., I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man and Days of Wild, or Fury. Great live songs but the studio versions, as much as I like them, pale a bit in comparison.

It could be the dynamic compression used to make it sound more modern and louder. All the subtlety and space Prince used in his mixes have been destroyed in this version. The piano, the drums, synths, and his voice all hit with the same weight. I listened to it on my audio-technicas and it sound tinny and piercing. I'll stick to the live version.

[Edited 4/28/17 13:25pm]

[Edited 4/28/17 13:26pm]

KlyphIsBackAgain said:

Genesia said:

KoolEaze said:

Co-sign. I love the live version(s) but for some reason the studio version does not have the same magic, electric feel of the live rendition from the First Ave gig. I can´t really say what it is but something is missing, and as far as unreleased studio versions are concerned, I prefer Moonbeam Levels.

Then again, I listened to Electric Intercourse on crappy computer speakers and maybe I just need to get used to it a bit more but for now I think it is one of those songs that are great as a live version but sound tame as studio versions. I feel the same way about Shhh..., I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man and Days of Wild, or Fury. Great live songs but the studio versions, as much as I like them, pale a bit in comparison.

As soon as I started reading your post, I thought of Fury. That SNL performance ruined the 3121 track for me.

Great comparison and totally agree.

I'll go with "Electric Intercourse" over "Moonbeam Levels" but "Moonbeam Levels" sounds more like a completely finished idea whereas, to my ears, "Electric Intercourse" sounds more "not fully realized." (Just my opinion) Like most, as much as I love the studio version of "Electric Intercourse" and have been playing it on loop since yesterday, the live version is the bomb and the superior version of the two. Really hoping the whole First Avenue show will eventually get released in high quality on CD & DVD.

Replica said:

Although I enjoy the studio version of EI, I don't think thiso represents what he would do as a finished version. The vocals are a bit messy, even for the most experimental and punkish version of himself. The vocals are competing with each other almost all the way,like if there's more lead vocals going on at the same time, randomly a stopping his climaxes and the piano sounds messed up at places, almost like if this is in the middle of a creative process, where he was going to shave away some of the details that are kinda taking too much attention away from the actual song and core compositions. I believe he felt that he didn't need to finish it, and left it like that. So this is more like a view into his creative process than witnessing a finished version. [Edited 4/28/17 14:33pm] [Edited 4/28/17 14:36pm]

I bet this is a discussion people will be having a lot in the coming years since Prince is no longer here to give future releases his stamp of approval. Also I suspect that a lot of the tracks in the vault are more experimental than the songs he released which could make people question if this is really how Prince intended those songs to sound.

[Edited 4/28/17 14:42pm]

paulludvig said:

Replica said:

Although I enjoy the studio version of EI, I don't think thiso represents what he would do as a finished version. The vocals are a bit messy, even for the most experimental and punkish version of himself. The vocals are competing with each other almost all the way,like if there's more lead vocals going on at the same time, randomly a stopping his climaxes and the piano sounds messed up at places, almost like if this is in the middle of a creative process, where he was going to shave away some of the details that are kinda taking too much attention away from the actual song and core compositions. I believe he felt that he didn't need to finish it, and left it like that. So this is more like a view into his creative process than witnessing a finished version. [Edited 4/28/17 14:33pm] [Edited 4/28/17 14:36pm]

I bet this is a discussion people will be having a lot in the coming years since Prince is no longer here to give future releases his stamp of approval. Also I suspect that a lot of the tracks in the vault are more experimental than the songs he released which could make people question if this is really how Prince intended those songs to sound.

[Edited 4/28/17 14:42pm]

You have a good point, and I'm not saying I know this. It's just alot of stuff happening in the song that indicates this. It kinda sounds like if he was painting a picture and trying out where to place things. Where should I put the climax? What happens with the piano after this? Which of these vocal textures fit the best? Should I just let all of these vocals "lead" for a moment, so that I can decide what works best for this sound that I'm going for? I believe this song is perfect for production studies. This is Prince using his palette, and finding out what works best. But we got our hands on it before he even got the time to finish it. Having studied his production style for many years, you'll starting to hear some of his habits, even when it comes to an original like Prince. Prince was a master at layering and vocal textures. He was great at balancing it also. Even the songs we don't like.

McD said:

KlyphIsBackAgain said:

Open Book is not a demo in the traditional sense. It's more of a guide track, as J. Steele simply recorded her vocals over Prince's music. This is a different situation. First, as I was trying to imply in my other post, being considered for an album does not mean that the song can't be previously recorded, nor does it mean it can't be changed for said album. I don't think anyone is under the impression that THIS particular version of Electric Intercourse was gonna end up on the album anymore than that early version of Baby, I'm A Star was/did. And I'm sorry, there are no indicatins these releases come from bootlegs. Calling Computer Blue the Hallway Speech version is simply a way to let collectors/fans know what version this is. How else would we know which version of the many that have circulated?

Just to clarify a few things... I didn't mean this 'vault' material was coming from bootlegs exactly, just that it appears (especially given some audiophile comments on here) that it may be sourced from the same place as the bootlegs, but I would guess the original copy before degradation. Perhaps the record company have been sitting on tapes of this for 30 years. I may be missing something re:Open Book, but the version I'm referring to wasn't necessarily a guide track. It may have been, can't rule it out, but the J Steele version is a full blown track, not the 'demo' with new vocals. Her version in itself indicates the Prince bootleg was likely only ever a demo. Sonically, it's on another level even if many will prefer the original.

To me the music on the "demo" of Open Book seems to virtually identical to J. Steeles version, except for the occasional drop out of certain instruments in the mix. That's why I don't really think of it as a demo. I think the music is finished, and the vocals are just a guide for J. Steele. Maybe I'm remembering things differently as I haven't listened to Open Book in years.

IstenSzek said:

gotta love how the org has already decided that "electric intercourse" is just a demo

recording, what, since it doesn't really sound like they were expecting. nothing can
ever just 'be' on this site. it's like some people just don't want to enjoy something for
what it is and just listen to it for a while, a week, a month, a year. no, we listen once
and decide it's a demo because, well...because what exactly?

all his post 80s stuff is shit to some people, and then they get an unreleased studio
track from the 'ultimate' period and once again: not satisfied, or at least they know
what prince should have done to make it better

I was blown away with this version and this version actually made me realize that EI is in the movie.

muleFunk said:

IstenSzek said:

gotta love how the org has already decided that "electric intercourse" is just a demo

recording, what, since it doesn't really sound like they were expecting. nothing can
ever just 'be' on this site. it's like some people just don't want to enjoy something for
what it is and just listen to it for a while, a week, a month, a year. no, we listen once
and decide it's a demo because, well...because what exactly?

all his post 80s stuff is shit to some people, and then they get an unreleased studio
track from the 'ultimate' period and once again: not satisfied, or at least they know
what prince should have done to make it better

I was blown away with this version and this version actually made me realize that EI is in the movie.

How so? Where?

EI was intended for the scene where he plays The Beautiful Ones. Is there a scene where EI plays in the background? Like Possessed, which can be heard while Morris is talking with Apollonia?

KoolEaze said:

muleFunk said:

I was blown away with this version and this version actually made me realize that EI is in the movie.

How so? Where?

EI was intended for the scene where he plays The Beautiful Ones. Is there a scene where EI plays in the background? Like Possessed, which can be heard while Morris is talking with Apollonia?

That's what I'd like to know. And it isnt that backwards sounds like shes laughing part either.

IstenSzek said:

Moonbeam said:

Let me say first that I am ecstatic that these are the first two songs to be officially released from the vault. Both are rightly revered as among the very best outtakes Prince has ever said. As for my preference, my username says it all - I think at this point "Moonbeam Levels" is my favorite song of all time. It is cut from that rare cloth from the 80s in which Prince REALLY lets his guard down. These songs ("Old Friends 4 Sale" and apparently "Wally") were usually unreleased. This is pure speculation on my part, but perhaps they were a bit too soul-bearing for Prince to feel comfortable releasing them. "Electric Intercourse" is freaking magic, though. The atmosphere is off the charts!

completely agree with you, and also don't forget the original 1985 version of Empty Room, such great emotion, what a recording.... it beats E.I. and M.L. (and the very short sample of Wally that has leaked) for me

Freek99999 said: