This show NEEDS TO BE RELEASED ON VIDEO!! This Year on 6.7.2018

Prince And The Revolution
June 7th, 1984
First Avenue Minneapolis, MN

1. Shortberry Strawcake (PA) / Drums check (0’56)
2. 17 Days (5’24)
3. Our Destiny (3’23)
4. Roadhouse Garden (4’45)
5. Interlude (1’20)
6. All Day, All Night (5’42)
7. Free (4’40)
8. Noon Rendezvous (9’02)
9. Erotic City (8’31)
10. Something In The Water (Does Not Compute) (10’10)
11. When Doves Cry (11’37)
12. Happy Birthday Interlude (2’27)
13. Irresistible Bitch (6’07)
14. Possessed (5’48)

Prince celebrated his 26th year with a concert at the famed Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue. Sheila E. had flown in from California along with Prince’s management team. A mobile multi-track recording truck was hired to record this show. The 85-minute set opened with ”17 Days”. It was followed by two new songs, ”Our Destiny,” which went into ”Roadhouse Garden.” ”We’ve got some stuff you’ll recognize and some you won’t,” Prince said before playing another new track, ”All Day, All Night.” Both ”Our Destiny” and ”Roadhouse Garden” remain unreleased, although they were worked on later in 1984 by Wendy and Lisa. The Latter was at one point planned for release on the stillborn 1998/99 Roadhouse Garden project. ”All Day, All Night” surfaced on Jill Jones’ 1987 album, which featured basic tracks pulled from this performance.”Free” finds Prince at the piano accompanied only by Bobby Z. on drums. Prince dedicated ”Noon Rendezvous” to “that little girl over there, that’s Sheila E.” Next on the set-list were ”Erotic City” and a dramatically rearranged version of ”Something In The Water (Does Not Compute).” An extended take on ”When Doves Cry” was followed by an audience-led rendition of ”Happy Birthday”. The b-side ”Irresistible Bitch” and the unreleased ”Possessed” close the show.

Still from video footage of rehearsals at the St. Louis Park warehouse.

Its professionally filmed. On FB someone had a (poor quality) snippet of the performance, eye patch get up and all lol. So there is hope that one day the estate will release it.

rdhull said:

Its professionally filmed. On FB someone had a (poor quality) snippet of the performance, eye patch get up and all lol. So there is hope that one day the estate will release it.

Yes, I've seen that, and made me excited

the white cloud guitar in the background

This CD/performance represents one of the few times that I failed to be happy with what we had because I was disappointed for we didn't get. I've had this boot for years, but I was never able to enjoy it because I was always disappointed that "Erotic City" wasn't a mainstay in the actual Purple Rain Tour. Hearing how wonderful "Erotic City" sounds on this show always made me confused/frustrated that it was not a staple of the PR Tour, especially since we know that it was part of the early rehearsals. Yet, over the years, I've been able to enjoy this show rather than allowing my disappointment of the lacking use of "Erotic City" on the PR Tour ruin this show for me.

1725topp said:

This CD/performance represents one of the few times that I failed to be happy with what we had because I was disappointed for we didn't get. I've had this boot for years, but I was never able to enjoy it because I was always disappointed that "Erotic City" wasn't a mainstay in the actual Purple Rain Tour. Hearing how wonderful "Erotic City" sounds on this show always made me confused/frustrated that it was not a staple of the PR Tour, especially since we know that it was part of the early rehearsals. Yet, over the years, I've been able to enjoy this show rather than allowing my disappointment of the lacking use of "Erotic City" on the PR Tour ruin this show for me.

Yeah... well I was always able to enjoy it, but I too thought 'why wasn't this on the PR tour?' Seems he let Sheila E have it...the song for her show.

Prince did the song with Sheila E and her band at the Ritz September 1984 and December 3rd

Prince & the Revolution did Erotic City on Oct 25, 1984 (after show) 7th St Entry/First Avenue

and during various soundchecks

I think he didnt use EC as it hadnt had the reverance it does now, as it was brand new (hence opening with it by Lovesexy, he knew it was just as important as his regular A sides/catalogue). Plus he had bigger fish to fry in 1984: the PR experience, no matter how heavy the albatross.

doesnt someone have a connection to WB (other than Questlove) to get that unedited rehearsal footage???

luvsexy4all said:

doesnt someone have a connection to WB (other than Questlove) to get that unedited rehearsal footage???

Oh it will likely see the light of day sometime in the future. Just like most of his seminal taped performances. The thing people arent realizing (here on the org at least) is that even if they had 100 releases all ready and primed to go, theyre not going to be all released at once or even close close to each other. They will be fanned out in intervals just like they do with Dylan, Young, etc. Though many of those artsits releases come because things get found by accident and are dusted off etc versus having Princes material all in one place, it would still be bad business to release all of his heralded material, vault and unknown, in abundance. Maybe something once a year or every two years.

OldFriends4Sale said:

1725topp said:

This CD/performance represents one of the few times that I failed to be happy with what we had because I was disappointed for we didn't get. I've had this boot for years, but I was never able to enjoy it because I was always disappointed that "Erotic City" wasn't a mainstay in the actual Purple Rain Tour. Hearing how wonderful "Erotic City" sounds on this show always made me confused/frustrated that it was not a staple of the PR Tour, especially since we know that it was part of the early rehearsals. Yet, over the years, I've been able to enjoy this show rather than allowing my disappointment of the lacking use of "Erotic City" on the PR Tour ruin this show for me.

Yeah... well I was always able to enjoy it, but I too thought 'why wasn't this on the PR tour?' Seems he let Sheila E have it...the song for her show.

Prince did the song with Sheila E and her band at the Ritz September 1984 and December 3rd

Prince & the Revolution did Erotic City on Oct 25, 1984 (after show) 7th St Entry/First Avenue

and during various soundchecks

*

I have a copy of the Shelia E concert in which she performs "Erotic City" and is later joined by Prince on "Love Bizzar." I've had that thing since it was on VHS and eventually converted it to DVD. I found that show at a local Ma and Pa VHS rental store. I rented it so much that the ower eventually ordered me my own copy. VHS rental store...Damn, I'm old. That version of "Erotic City" never moved me as much, maybe because it didn't have Prince, but, of course, their live duet on "Love Bizzar" is wonderful.

Sounds like an excellent performance. Thanks Old, love your threads!

rdhull said:

I think he didnt use EC as it hadnt had the reverance it does now, as it was brand new (hence opening with it by Lovesexy, he knew it was just as important as his regular A sides/catalogue). Plus he had bigger fish to fry in 1984: the PR experience, no matter how heavy the albatross.

*

That sounds plausible, but "Erotic City" was a major B-side on Black radio. I only mention that to say that I didn't know anyone who was a Prince fan who didn't know "Erotic City" as it was a major summer hit, even being played on Soul Train, iirc. By the time he started the Purple Rain Tour in November, if I have my dates correct, it was probably his most famous B-side with his second most famous protegee--The Time, of course, being the first. In fact, now that I remember, there is a review of the opening shows of the tour in Detroit, and a reporter mentions one fan yelling "Play 'Erotic City' muthafucker!" While I thought that was very rude when I read it, I did agree with the fan's sentiment.

1725topp said:

rdhull said:

I think he didnt use EC as it hadnt had the reverance it does now, as it was brand new (hence opening with it by Lovesexy, he knew it was just as important as his regular A sides/catalogue). Plus he had bigger fish to fry in 1984: the PR experience, no matter how heavy the albatross.

*

That sounds plausible, but "Erotic City" was a major B-side on Black radio. I only mention that to say that I didn't know anyone who was a Prince fan who didn't know "Erotic City" as it was a major summer hit, even being played on Soul Train, iirc. By the time he started the Purple Rain Tour in November, if I have my dates correct, it was probably his most famous B-side with his second most famous protegee--The Time, of course, being the first. In fact, now that I remember, there is a review of the opening shows of the tour in Detroit, and a reporter mentions one fan yelling "Play 'Erotic City' muthafucker!" While I thought that was very rude when I read it, I did agree with the fan's sentiment.

I agree by Nobember it was well known and had been played by rnb stations that summer. I done forgot lol. Hey, that review was by Greg Tate and the dude was calling him the f word "play Erotic City you fa**ot muther!"..Ill post it for you, the review is a trip and a half (from Record magazine).

Can I post the yt link of the snippet from the actual show with eye patch and not the rehearsal? are we allowed?

rdhull said:

1725topp said:

*

That sounds plausible, but "Erotic City" was a major B-side on Black radio. I only mention that to say that I didn't know anyone who was a Prince fan who didn't know "Erotic City" as it was a major summer hit, even being played on Soul Train, iirc. By the time he started the Purple Rain Tour in November, if I have my dates correct, it was probably his most famous B-side with his second most famous protegee--The Time, of course, being the first. In fact, now that I remember, there is a review of the opening shows of the tour in Detroit, and a reporter mentions one fan yelling "Play 'Erotic City' muthafucker!" While I thought that was very rude when I read it, I did agree with the fan's sentiment.

I agree by Nobember it was well known and had been played by rnb stations that summer. I done forgot lol. Hey, that review was by Greg Tate and the dude was calling him the f word "play Erotic City you fa**ot muther!"..Ill post it for you, the review is a trip and a half (from Record magazine).

1725stopp here's an excerpt you were probably talking about

" No one I talked to in Detroit gave me an adequate explanation for why so many bloods chose to miss out on presumably the biggest concert event of the year. Unlike the Michael Jackson fandango, it wasn’t because of ticket prices or venue: $17.50 was tops in the first balcony and Joe Louis Arena is in the heart of downtown Detroit. The answer may lie in a combination of factors. Some said it’s because us black folks are notorious for waiting until the day of the show to cop tickets (though in my hometown of Washington, D.C., the brothers and sisters bought 130,000 seats in six hours for Prince’s mid-November shows there). Others I talked to said they’d seen him seven or eight times already and didn’t feel pressed to catch him this time around. Still others professed that while Prince had made his bones with Detroit’s hardcore funk crowd, the ratio of rockers to funk numbers on Purple Rainjust plain turned the mugs off; maybe even cost him some of his black audience. It’s a mystery to me just what the real deal is far as this racial imbroglio goes, but I do know that before he came back for his encore that first night, bloods were screaming at the top of their lungs for Prince-funk like “Erotic City,” “Lady Cab Driver” and Irresistible Bitch.” One brother in fact wanted to hear the latter so bad he got to hurling obscenities at Prince—as in “Play Irresistible Bitch’ you bitch, you faggot mutha!” Listening to Detroit’s black radio stations, however, you didn’t get any sense that he’d lost a black audience: flipping from station to station you could hear “Erotic City” non-stop, like it was damn near on a city wide tape loop. And in fact one local deejay of reknown, “The Electrifying Mojo,” nightly devoted his entire graveyard shift to nothing but the music of Prince, with maybe a little Time, Sheila E., Apollonia 6 thrown in to relieve the routine of radioactive splendor"

love2thenines2003 said:

1725topp said:

rdhull said:

I think he didnt use EC as it hadnt had the reverance it does now, as it was brand new (hence opening with it by Lovesexy, he knew it was just as important as his regular A sides/catalogue).

.

Do you seriously not understand the concept of the Lovesexy Tour?

.

Plus he had bigger fish to fry in 1984: the PR experience, no matter how heavy the albatross.

.

Dude, he played "Possessed" on the concert that was broadcast to the world. Which was unreleased until 2017. Which was preceded by "Irrsessistable Bitch" and followed by "How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore".

BartVanHemelen said:

rdhull said:

rdhull said:

I agree by Nobember it was well known and had been played by rnb stations that summer. I done forgot lol. Hey, that review was by Greg Tate and the dude was calling him the f word "play Erotic City you fa**ot muther!"..Ill post it for you, the review is a trip and a half (from Record magazine).

1725stopp here's an excerpt you were probably talking about

" No one I talked to in Detroit gave me an adequate explanation for why so many bloods chose to miss out on presumably the biggest concert event of the year. Unlike the Michael Jackson fandango, it wasn’t because of ticket prices or venue: $17.50 was tops in the first balcony and Joe Louis Arena is in the heart of downtown Detroit. The answer may lie in a combination of factors. Some said it’s because us black folks are notorious for waiting until the day of the show to cop tickets (though in my hometown of Washington, D.C., the brothers and sisters bought 130,000 seats in six hours for Prince’s mid-November shows there). Others I talked to said they’d seen him seven or eight times already and didn’t feel pressed to catch him this time around. Still others professed that while Prince had made his bones with Detroit’s hardcore funk crowd, the ratio of rockers to funk numbers on Purple Rainjust plain turned the mugs off; maybe even cost him some of his black audience. It’s a mystery to me just what the real deal is far as this racial imbroglio goes, but I do know that before he came back for his encore that first night, bloods were screaming at the top of their lungs for Prince-funk like “Erotic City,” “Lady Cab Driver” and Irresistible Bitch.” One brother in fact wanted to hear the latter so bad he got to hurling obscenities at Prince—as in “Play Irresistible Bitch’ you bitch, you faggot mutha!” Listening to Detroit’s black radio stations, however, you didn’t get any sense that he’d lost a black audience: flipping from station to station you could hear “Erotic City” non-stop, like it was damn near on a city wide tape loop. And in fact one local deejay of reknown, “The Electrifying Mojo,” nightly devoted his entire graveyard shift to nothing but the music of Prince, with maybe a little Time, Sheila E., Apollonia 6 thrown in to relieve the routine of radioactive splendor"

*

Yes, that's it. I had forgotten that it was written by Greg Tate. I think that was the beginning of the splintering of Prince's black following for a while, and I'm being overly general and sweeping. But, there was the feeling by some--not me--from Purple Rain through Parade that Prince was openly chasing the white audience and forgetting his black audience. We've debated that too many times on this site so I'm not raising it for another debate. But, like we've all said before, Prince has made some brilliant choices about what songs to include and not include on albums and during live shows, and he's made some puzzling choices. Still, Purple Rain was, of course, a great tour.

purplefam99 said:

1725topp said:

*

That sounds plausible, but "Erotic City" was a major B-side on Black radio. I only mention that to say that I didn't know anyone who was a Prince fan who didn't know "Erotic City" as it was a major summer hit, even being played on Soul Train, iirc. By the time he started the Purple Rain Tour in November, if I have my dates correct, it was probably his most famous B-side with his second most famous protegee--The Time, of course, being the first. In fact, now that I remember, there is a review of the opening shows of the tour in Detroit, and a reporter mentions one fan yelling "Play 'Erotic City' muthafucker!" While I thought that was very rude when I read it, I did agree with the fan's sentiment.

I agree 1725, it was all over Black radio. I remember trying to get my cassette player to catch it without the dj’s intro!!! And dude if your old well you have company. My husband was a manger of VHS rental store back when we were first dating. I believe I mentioned to you before how he was religious about using separate machine for rewinding the vhs tapes. And head cleaners gheez!!! And also His beloved Copy of Blade Runner on laser disc!! All is well cause “all my purple life...”. It just the best song to me!!

*

Yes, laser disc, I was so mad that I could not afford the laser disc versions of any of the movies that I wanted. That damn laser disc player was just too expensive. And, please, stop making me remember all those times I failed to record the hot new song on the radio by using the cassette player. And, damn those DJs for talking over the beginning and the end of the songs, messing up my mix tape. Now, let me see if I can find my red corvette vhs rewinding machine. I'm sure I can get something for it on ebay.

purplefam99 said:

I agree 1725, it was all over Black radio. I remember trying to get my cassette player to catch it without the dj’s intro!!! And dude if your old well you have company. My husband was a manger of VHS rental store back when we were first dating. I believe I mentioned to you before how he was religious about using separate machine for rewinding the vhs tapes. And head cleaners gheez!!! And also His beloved Copy of Blade Runner on laser disc!! All is well cause “all my purple life...”. It just the best song to me!!

You're taking me back!!! And when the tape part got pulled out or bent, I remember winding it back with my pen in the cassette hole, just repeating in my mind "please don't be broke!" "please don't be broke!"

SayItsJustADream said:

purplefam99 said:

I agree 1725, it was all over Black radio. I remember trying to get my cassette player to catch it without the dj’s intro!!! And dude if your old well you have company. My husband was a manger of VHS rental store back when we were first dating. I believe I mentioned to you before how he was religious about using separate machine for rewinding the vhs tapes. And head cleaners gheez!!! And also His beloved Copy of Blade Runner on laser disc!! All is well cause “all my purple life...”. It just the best song to me!!

You're taking me back!!! And when the tape part got pulled out or bent, I remember winding it back with my pen in the cassette hole, just repeating in my mind "please don't be broke!" "please don't be broke!"

Or the medical-like surgery if the tape broke you'd cut some masking tape to the exact wdith to a nub to splice together. You were really fucked if the pressure metal piece actually broke from the cassette though.

rdhull said:

SayItsJustADream said:

You're taking me back!!! And when the tape part got pulled out or bent, I remember winding it back with my pen in the cassette hole, just repeating in my mind "please don't be broke!" "please don't be broke!"

Or the medical-like surgery if the tape broke you'd cut some masking tape to the exact wdith to a nub to splice together. You were really fucked if the pressure metal piece actually broke from the cassette though.

Uh huh! Exactly...!