feeluupp said:

Also available on a limited vinyl release:

The Prince Estate And Warner Bros. Records release original version of ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’

Posted in Artist News, News | Tags: 7-inch, Nothing Compares 2 U, picture discs, Prince, reissue, vinyl
April 19, 2018 | Goldmine1

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New York, NY – April 19, 2018 — The Prince Estate, in collaboration with Warner Bros. Records, has now released the original version of the iconic song “Nothing Compares 2 U”. This previously unreleased version was recorded in 1984, six years before 1990’s classic reimagining by Sinéad O’Connor and before Prince started performing the song live. The track was recorded at the Flying Cloud Drive ‘Warehouse’ in Eden Prairie by Prince’s long-time engineer Susan Rogers, and originally composed, arranged and performed in its entirety by Prince, aside from the backing vocals by Susannah Melvoin and Paul “St. Paul” Peterson. Also featured on the original track is saxophone work by Eric Leeds. The new version of the song will be available to stream, to purchase via digital retailers and as two 7″ vinyl singles (in picture disk and standard black vinyl formats).

As remembered by Michael Howe, long-time industry A&R executive, Prince expert, and the Prince Estate’s official Vault Archivist, “I spotted the 2″ multitrack reel in the Vault some weeks back while doing a 1984-era inventory. After retrieving my jaw from the floor, we took the reel upstairs, analyzed it, put it up on the Studer 24 track machine, and digitized it to 24/192. Even our ‘faders up’ rough mix was compelling enough to indicate that this was something very special indeed.”

Howe continued, “No Prince-penned song performed by another artist has enjoyed more chart success (#1 in 20+ countries) and overall cultural impact than Sinead O’Connor’s 1990 recording, so hearing the song in its original context performed in its entirety by the author makes it particularly noteworthy.”

The song is accompanied by a video featuring never before seen rehearsal footage of Prince & The Revolution practicing their choreography in that same Eden Prairie warehouse during the same summer of 1984. Captured for Prince as a part of his rehearsal process, the footage is presented for the very first time in a video directed by Andrea Gelardin and Ruth Hogben. The video offers a glimpse into Prince’s total commitment to his art and its emotional impact, even when no audience is present. Watch the video HERE.

After the successful launch of the Prince HitNRun online pop-up store last November, the Prince Estate is bringing back the concept (www.PrinceHitNRun.com), where the limited edition, picture disk vinyl will be sold exclusively. In addition to the limited edition picture disk vinyl, fans will also be able to purchase a variety of official Prince merchandise, including pieces that draw from his iconic Dirty Mind and Lovesexy eras. The black vinyl 7″ will be available for pre-order from major physical retailers and will be released on Friday 25th May.

The Prince Estate has also launched a new site for fans to showcase what Prince means to them. Prince2Me (www.Prince2Me.com) is an interactive fan experience that explores what Prince means, individually and collectively to his fans. The Prince Estate has also announced that this will be the first of many online experiences to come, each will shine a new light on his artistry. When fans visit the Prince2Me site they will be able to craft their own message using Prince vocabulary, an array of images and videos provided by the Estate. Once a fan creates their desired message they can share their post across social media and spark the conversation of who Prince is to them. Fans who use Twitter to share their Prince2Me messages using #Prince2Me or #NothingCompares2U will be able to activate an exclusive Prince Love Symbol Twitter emoji:

In addition to the Prince2Me site, the Estate has launched an immersive annotated discography website highlighting the incomparable breadth and depth of Prince’s recorded catalogue. Featuring audio previews, photos, videos, quotes and editorial commentary, the discography site provides a rich platform for fans old and new to immerse themselves in the creative genius of Prince . Visit the discography website here:www.princeestate.com.

The Prince Estate serves to present Prince’s life and work, and celebrate his ground-breaking cultural impact.

Limited Edition 7″ picture disk and black vinyl tracklisting and credits:A. NOTHING COMPARES 2 U (EDIT VERSION) [4:12] B. NOTHING COMPARES 2 U (FULL LENGTH VERSION) [4:40]

So now Warner Brothers is the estate, huh?

feeluupp said:

Also available on a limited vinyl release:

Limited Edition 7″ picture disk and black vinyl tracklisting and credits:A. NOTHING COMPARES 2 U (EDIT VERSION) [4:12] B. NOTHING COMPARES 2 U (FULL LENGTH VERSION) [4:40]

My only complaint lol

How about another song for the b-side? Why give us about a 30 second edit on side A and then the full track on side B? oh, WB lol

Stimpy said:

databank said:

databank said:

Nice version!! It's feels more emotionally resonant to me than the concert version he did later esp with Rosie

I can tell a huge difference between the leaked version from last year or so and this official release so I can't complain about the sound quality

sulls said:

AWESOME! TOTALLY AWESOME!!!

BartVanHemelen said:

.

Hot-damn.

Bart likes it! Now I know it's got to be good.

PurpleSkipper58 said:

I can tell a huge difference between the leaked version from last year or so and this official release so I can't complain about the sound quality

do you mean content or sound quality?

Genesia said:

feeluupp said:

They do... Posted it many times in the numerous threads today.

I am not finding an unbundled picture disc.

It's out 25th May so no need to buy an awful t-shit and 7inch for the rip-off price of $50!

OnlyNDaUsa said:

PurpleSkipper58 said:

I can tell a huge difference between the leaked version from last year or so and this official release so I can't complain about the sound quality

do you mean content or sound quality?

RodeoSchro said:

PurpleSkipper58 said:

OnlyNDaUsa said:

do you mean content or sound quality?

ok I listed to the back to back, then bit by bit, and then one over the other at the same time... and I did not notice any different content.

and unlike "moonbeam levels" the quality difference is abundantly clear...

maceoparker007 said:

All I have to say to that is...just let it be. Also avoid conjecture saying stuff like ‘Prince would have...’ really doesn’t provide any substance to your arguement.

I agree that it wasn't maybe the best argument, not so much in the sense of it being conjecture (thought it is, I won't deny it), but in the sense that I for one advocate the release of any material containing "offensive" lyrics that Prince probably wouldn't have wanted out, so I was bad faith without realizing it. The only difference being that I advocate any material being released as such, not tinkered with in any way, while this video montage has been tinkered with. But OK, let's not assume what Prince would have liked to be done or not with his work after his passing. Fair enough.

.

As for letting it be, no, I don't see why. I tried to be civil and respectful. As the target audience for this product, as people who have devoted large sums of money to collecting Prince official products for decades and/or as archivists who have devoted enormous amounts of unpaid time to building various online or printed databases, I feel we're all entitled to voice our opinions as long as we do it respectfully. My purpose isn't to bitch but to try and help the estate figure out what is the best way to honor Prince's legacy and make their target audience happy all at the same time. They are free to listen or not to, but constructive criticism can't, ever, be bad. Prince has been bitched at on this board for each and every thing he's done in his lifetime, and I've always stood against that because I respected him and his artistic choices immensely, and I don't believe artists are accountable to their audience. But the Estate is not Prince. They are curators and, as such, they should take into consideration what the audience wishes and what experts on the subject advise (and some people here are much better experts than I, it's not about me).

.

I really get upset when certain people here go on and call Prince's family names and stuff. I respect those people and their loss. I just call for a collaborative effort between the Estate, the music industry, hardcore fans/researchers and casual fans.

OnlyNDaUsa said:

PurpleSkipper58 said:

ok I listed to the back to back, then bit by bit, and then one over the other at the same time... and I did not notice any different content.

and unlike "moonbeam levels" the quality difference is abundantly clear...

Are you sure? maybe it was just a low quality file I downloaded a year ago, idk lol

jdcxc said:

Simply Beautiful...open the gates.

Yes, open those gates! I'd rather have a collection on CD for context rather than random single tracks in perpetuity.

I wonder if this will come from the new compilation that was promised for this year.

Naturally, time will tell... as always!

Dear Estate, Thank you very, very much! I enjoy this a lot.

But: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE release this rehearsal footage in its complete form - and with sound!

OnlyNDaUsa said:

but the official one sounds much better

I totally agree! The sound quality is vastly superior compared to the bootleg.

There is a very tiny amount of noise at the very base of the sound near the start of the track but that probably because it was recorded analogue.

PurpleSkipper58 said:

OnlyNDaUsa said:

ok I listed to the back to back, then bit by bit, and then one over the other at the same time... and I did not notice any different content.

and unlike "moonbeam levels" the quality difference is abundantly clear...

Are you sure? maybe it was just a low quality file I downloaded a year ago, idk lol

I was not clear: I mean this official release sounds MUCH better than the bootleg.


I am saying I did not notice any difference in content. (different mix or different vocals or instruments)

and I was comparing this official release (which sounds much better) to the official release of "moonbeam levels" that sounds pretty much identical to the most recent bootlegs.

OnlyNDaUsa said:

PurpleSkipper58 said:

Are you sure? maybe it was just a low quality file I downloaded a year ago, idk lol

I was not clear: I mean this official release sounds MUCH better than the bootleg.


I am saying I did not notice any difference in content. (different mix or different vocals or instruments)

and I was comparing this official release (which sounds much better) to the official release of "moonbeam levels" that sounds pretty much identical to the most recent bootlegs.

I actually just noticed that around 2:15, the line "they'd only remind me of you" sounds a tad different... in the bootleg version, in the left speaker you can hear Prince's background vocal a bit more. The official one not so much. It's not a huge deal I guess, but I just noticed it just now

Just watched/listened. I'm speechless...

Ditto for me.

The Estate should know that I'd be glad to pay $ for more video of rehearsals, the full versions though as opposed to just clips.
I'm sure what they showed us is just the tip of the iceberg of what they have. And I'd love to see it all.
Dvds por favor for the hardcore.

makes me regret having listened to the bootleg of it.

darkroman said:

Genesia said:

I am not finding an unbundled picture disc.

It's out 25th May so no need to buy an awful t-shit and 7inch for the rip-off price of $50!

No. It says the "black vinyl" version will be out May 25. Not the picture disc.

Wow, it's cool , but kind of heavy watching that footage. Especially having just read Duane's book.

NorthC said:

Very cool! Wendy looks great as well.