Biggs31 said:

So bootlegs and conversations about Dream Factory usually concentrate on the July configuration but rarely the original configuration from April. But the SOTT super deluxe edition allows us to approximate that April configuration... and it's great! It captures everything that's great about the Revolution at that time and hangs together just as well if not better than the later versions. What do you guys think? The track listing is: Visions Dream Factory Wonderful Day The Ballad of Dorothy Parker Big Tall Wall (version 1) And That Says What? Strange Relationship (original version) Teacher, Teacher Starfish & Coffee A Place In Heaven (Prince vocal) Sexual Suicide

Biggs31 said:

Yeah, I think April would have felt quite thin - not complex enough to feel like a worthy artistic successor to Parade... But the June config is extraordinary.

This configuration w/All My Dreams would have been a cool release if issued along with the Camille project. One more introspective/introverted the other more extroverted

I put together the April configuration together as soon as I got the set. (I'd never bothered trying before with varying quality boots.) I'm enjoying it a lot - although ending with Sexual Suicide seems so strange. I added a couple of bonus tracks at the end from the same period just for my own pleasure: Eggplant (Prince Vocal), Everbody Wants What They Don't Got and Blanche.

Perhaps Duane T's forthcoming book will shed more light on the different configurations (hope so). I always thought the double LP July config of Dream Factory must have been seriously considered for release - considering the thought that went into to sequencing and track segues. But would love to hear the real story. Someone involved must know more - the Revolution's memories seem a bit unreliable!

[Edited 10/2/20 2:21am]

I think it's definately a WIP - Wonderful Day and Teacher, Teacher have placeholder written all over them and I've never been a fan of Big Tall Wall, although the earlier version is surely more interesting than the later.

.

None of the configurations are perfect in my mind - We lose great band tracks like Power Fantastic and IALRWNL by the final known configuration which I think is moving too close to SOTT. For playlists I prefer a mixture so that it's as removed from SOTT as possible just to make it its own thing for listening purposes.

To me, its the June configuration that represents the bands final album. It's also the only one to be mastered, so that pretty much nails it.

The April configuration seems like a proto version, much like the draft cut of Parade or Purple Rain.

The July configuration seems be be the sstart of the process of Prince deconstructing the band album and replacing band efforts with his newly recorded solo material. That configuration was never finalised or mastered.

The June version feels like a completed album. It flows, and it feels like the natural growth of Wendy and lisa's input that started on ATWIAD, grew on Parade and peaked on Dream Factory. Although I have all three configured, my goto is alway the June one.

No strong enough.

emesem said:

Dream Factory without All My Dreams is not Dream Factory. June track list is the definitive one for me.

That's just what I was thinking.

NouveauDance said:

I think it's definately a WIP - Wonderful Day and Teacher, Teacher have placeholder written all over them and I've never been a fan of Big Tall Wall, although the earlier version is surely more interesting than the later.

.

None of the configurations are perfect in my mind - We lose great band tracks like Power Fantastic and IALRWNL by the final known configuration which I think is moving too close to SOTT. For playlists I prefer a mixture so that it's as removed from SOTT as possible just to make it its own thing for listening purposes.

You're always knocking Wonderful Day, IT'S A GREAT SONG. Now we know that for a "work in progress" Wonderful Day itself went through a fair amount of work.

The supposed 1985 'Strange Relationship' from SOTT: SDE is a frankenmix containing some elements left over from Pettibone's remix in its latter portions, including tracks without Prince or W/L involvement.

.

[Edited 10/14/20 2:15am]

and a very good Frankenmix it is too

jaawwnn said:

You're always knocking Wonderful Day, IT'S A GREAT SONG. Now we know that for a "work in progress" Wonderful Day itself went through a fair amount of work.

You're keeping a better track of my opinion on WD than I am that's for sure! By WIP, I was referring to the April configuration of the album as per the thread title subject, not any particular song on that configuration.

NouveauDance said:

jaawwnn said:

You're always knocking Wonderful Day, IT'S A GREAT SONG. Now we know that for a "work in progress" Wonderful Day itself went through a fair amount of work.

You're keeping a better track of my opinion on WD than I am that's for sure! By WIP, I was referring to the April configuration of the album as per the thread title subject, not any particular song on that configuration.

eye am watching you, AND YOUR OPINIONS

jaawwnn said:

eye am watching you, AND YOUR OPINIONS

ah Ok, that good to know it was mastered

SquirrelMeat said:

To me, its the June configuration that represents the bands final album. It's also the only one to be mastered, so that pretty much nails it.

The April configuration seems like a proto version, much like the draft cut of Parade or Purple Rain.

The July configuration seems be be the sstart of the process of Prince deconstructing the band album and replacing band efforts with his newly recorded solo material. That configuration was never finalised or mastered.

The June version feels like a completed album. It flows, and it feels like the natural growth of Wendy and lisa's input that started on ATWIAD, grew on Parade and peaked on Dream Factory. Although I have all three configured, my goto is alway the June one.

I don't think any configuration of Dream Factory or Crystal Ball would have worked.

Dream Factory would have been a step down from Parade, and Crystal Ball was all over the place (don't get me wrong - I love the songs but not the "album"). I think WB did Prince a huge favor in having him whittle down CB into SOTT.

Se7en said:

I don't think any configuration of Dream Factory or Crystal Ball would have worked.

Dream Factory would have been a step down from Parade, and Crystal Ball was all over the place (don't get me wrong - I love the songs but not the "album"). I think WB did Prince a huge favor in having him whittle down CB into SOTT.

Yeah, same. There's another Prince & the Revolution album in there for sure but none of the configs work fully for me. The June config is pretty good though.

[Edited 10/14/20 7:53am]

Biggs31 said:

jaawwnn said:

NouveauDance said:

I think it's definately a WIP - Wonderful Day and Teacher, Teacher have placeholder written all over them and I've never been a fan of Big Tall Wall, although the earlier version is surely more interesting than the later.

.

None of the configurations are perfect in my mind - We lose great band tracks like Power Fantastic and IALRWNL by the final known configuration which I think is moving too close to SOTT. For playlists I prefer a mixture so that it's as removed from SOTT as possible just to make it its own thing for listening purposes.

You're always knocking Wonderful Day, IT'S A GREAT SONG. Now we know that for a "work in progress" Wonderful Day itself went through a fair amount of work.

I'm with you great energy nice lyrics and great delivering, I love that song.

imprimis said:

The supposed 1985 'Strange Relationship' from SOTT: SDE is a frankenmix containing some elements left over from Pettibone's remix in its latter portions, including tracks without Prince or W/L involvement.

.

[Edited 10/14/20 2:15am]

Really? so it's not the version Prince left behind?