Just started to dig out some of my very old boots; was shocked hearing "Crystal Ball" unreleased version first time in a long while - I forgot about the break with the "purple underground;" and it got me thinking:

What songs were better before they were "finished" and released?

[Edited 8/5/17 11:46am]

Tick Tick Bang

Can't Stop

Come

Endorphinmachine

hmmmm....

top of the dome

We Can Fuck

Xtraloveable

peedub said:

I prefer the Versace experience 'black sweat'.

peedub said:

Several of them have already been mentioned.

We Can Fuck / We Can Funk (DF version) - yeah, both

Extraloveable

Computer Blue (longer versions)
Around The World In A Day

In A Large Room With No Light

Can't Stop This Feeling I Got

Tick, Tick, Bang
Right The Wrong

Soul Sanctuary (I like the rawer early mix more)

I'm divided between the two versions of "Come" (then again, the electronic one doesn't really even qualify as "an unreleased version", as it was included in a TV special).

I think "Eye No" is sheer greatness, but sometimes I prefer "The Ball", an early form of the song over it.

I prefer many of the songs he gave to other artists. Jevetta Steele sings Open Book beautifully, but when I hear it with Prince's vocals, it "takes me to another world".

One unreleased song that stands head and shoulders over what was released has to be Old Friends 4 Sale. I just can't listen to the nonsensical lyrics of the released version. The original (before orchestration) ranks as one of his best for me; the remake sits in the bucket of songs I never want to listen to again.

Doozer said:

soladeo1 said:

Something In The Water (Does Not Compute) (Alternative Version)

I could Never Take the Place of Your Man

Extraloveable

Batdance (a couple of versions)

Vicki's Waiting

Dance Electric

Eggplant

OLD FRIENDS FOR SALE - even though I generally enjoy Fisher's orchestrations, here the orchestration seems to crush this intimate song, with synth lines that are much more eerie and foreboding.

STRANGE RELATIONSHIP - not radically different to the released version, but I prefer the sitar intro, which underlines the, ermm, strangeness.

SOMETHING IN THE WATER - the computer bleeps in the released version seem too disconcerting to me, distracting from the melody (even though that was probably Prince's intent). Also, unfortunately, to convey discord, Prince probably threw out the harmonically warm piano that was found in the unreleased version.

[Edited 8/5/17 20:15pm]

[Edited 8/5/17 20:22pm]

[Edited 8/5/17 20:28pm]

airth said:

I prefer many of the songs he gave to other artists. Jevetta Steele sings Open Book beautifully, but when I hear it with Prince's vocals, it "takes me to another world".

One unreleased song that stands head and shoulders over what was released has to be Old Friends 4 Sale. I just can't listen to the nonsensical lyrics of the released version. The original (before orchestration) ranks as one of his best for me; the remake sits in the bucket of songs I never want to listen to again.

Omg - I never even paid attention to the lyrics of this version, since the orchestration is so wrong. These lyrics are absolutely dreadful.

Take Me With U. The coda is gorgeous! Extralovable too.

rdhull said:

peedub said:

I prefer the Versace experience 'black sweat'.

from the 2006 'versace experience'..it's on bftp 2.0 (maybe elsewhere, too, i dunno).

peedub said:

rdhull said:

from the 2006 'versace experience'..it's on bftp 2.0 (maybe elsewhere, too, i dunno).

Thanks. I need to check that one out again. Just heard it once, liked it but didn't fully compare it to the studio version, and moved on.

christobole said:

OLD FRIENDS FOR SALE - even though I generally enjoy Fisher's orchestrations, here the orchestration seems to crush this intimate song, with synth lines that are much more eerie and foreboding.

STRANGE RELATIONSHIP - not radically different to the released version, but I prefer the sitar intro, which underlines the, ermm, strangeness.

SOMETHING IN THE WATER - the computer bleeps in the released version seem too disconcerting to me, distracting from the melody (even though that was probably Prince's intent). Also, unfortunately, to convey discord, Prince probably threw out the harmonically warm piano that was found in the unreleased version.

[Edited 8/5/17 20:15pm]

[Edited 8/5/17 20:22pm]

[Edited 8/5/17 20:28pm]

That other version was actually recorded a year after the released version.

peedub said:

I prefer the Versace experience 'black sweat'.

Yes, much better version.

Crucial

rdhull said:

NorthC said:

Old Friends 4 Sale

Yes, this one too, I forgot.

Old Friend 4 Sale

Come #1

Endorphine Machine #1

5 Women

Zannalee

Horny Pony

Insatiable

Still Would Stand All Time

Beautiful Strange

Something In The Water

sro100 said: