tab32792 said:

Where do the other alleged configurations even come from? I’ve only considered Susan Rogers handwritten note the only known track listing. I like the album but ain’t no hits on it. Definitely more of his avant-garde stuff. Cool but not for me. One album of that was enough

Yes this is a good question, i've always assumed internal tapes that those in the know have seen but I don't actually know for sure. I'm not really a fan of any of the tracklists in their entirety, but I use bits of them for flow ideas.

[Edited 10/9/20 9:24am]

It would be nice if in Tudahl's upcomming book would set this all straight. I suspect you are right. It probably was just a quick WIP and didnt really get to the final sequencing phase but then again Prince worked so fast that it might have been ready to go but those that said he'd probably would have added one last minute "hit" are likely right.

tab32792 said:

That’s what I meant. Outside of that one from Susan, Dream Factory was never a test pressed album or a cassette tape sequence. There’s no evidence at all of it other than that Susan Rogers handwritten track list but that’s common for him to draw up or write up such a thing. This myth is being promoted heavily by journalists, the estate and even fans. He was highly productive and prolific during this time and recorded a lot but never made a planned album. Between promoting the movie promoting parade rehearsing and recording he never even mentioned a new prince and the Revolution album following parade as far as I know.

Lol that’s the thing. I ain’t mad or saying it wasn’t an idea. All I’m saying is where is the proof? Folks can make whatever playlists they want. We know Camille was test pressed. We know crystal ball was an official track listing handed fo Warner’s. We’ve also seen the cassette tapes. I’m glad we’re getting it all. It’s the narrative that the estate, journalists and fans are playing up that’s the issue.

artwork/painting made for the album

playlist configurations

already incorporating 'This is what it's like in the Dream Factory oooh oh' on the Parade tour

OldFriends4Sale said:

That artwork was from early 86. It was for the single at best. There’s no way that would ever be an album cover. Only official proof of a configuration that we know of is the June handwritten track list from Susan. I’ve never heard or seen anything on the other 2 configurations. Nor have we ever seen a cassette or test pressing handed into WB; unlike Camille and CB.

It was certainly an idea but never actualized

tab32792 said:

Lol that’s the thing. I ain’t mad or saying it wasn’t an idea. All I’m saying is where is the proof? Folks can make whatever playlists they want. We know Camille was test pressed. We know crystal ball was an official track listing handed fo Warner’s. We’ve also seen the cassette tapes. I’m glad we’re getting it all. It’s the narrative that the estate, journalists and fans are playing up that’s the issue.

I suppose how I think of it is: there's definitely space in 1986 for the next Prince & the Revolution album that they were working on, it was never finished. There is some, not much, but some evidence that it was going to be called Dream Factory and we have some tentative tracklists. It should be on the record that the title and the tracklists are speculative/incomplete/working titles, but if you're at the point where you care about the tracklists of proposed unreleased records... well you're probably reading prince.org.

[Edited 10/9/20 9:55am]

bluefish said:

I'm putting together a hybrid version of the Dream Factory album that incorporates tracks from all 3 known configurations, but omits tracks that were released in some form on SOTT (even alternate versions). Here's my tracklist and sources:

1. Visions (SOTT Deluxe, but with chopped off first note restored from bootleg)
2. Dream Factory (bootleg version, since CB '98 version is too loud; includes "Welcome 2 Holly Rock" segue)
3. Wonderful Day (SOTT Deluxe)
4. Big Tall Wall [version 1] (SOTT Deluxe)
5. Train (SOTT Deluxe)
6. And That Says What? (SOTT Deluxe)
7. Teacher, Teacher (SOTT Deluxe)
8. Colors (SOTT Deluxe)
9. In a Large Room with No Light (SOTT Deluxe)
10. Nevaeh Ni Ecalp A (SOTT Deluxe)
11. Sexual Suicide (bootleg version, since CB '98 version is too loud)
12. Crystal Ball (bootleg version, since CB '98 version is too loud)
13. Power Fantastic (Hits version with SOTT Deluxe intro tacked on)
14. Last Heart (bootleg version, since CB '98 version is too loud)
15. Witness 4 the Prosecution [version 1] (SOTT Deluxe)
16. Movie Star (bootleg version, since CB '98 version is too loud and has Jam of the Year sample)
17. A Place in Heaven [Lisa vocal] (SOTT Deluxe)
18. All My Dreams (SOTT Deluxe)

Thoughts?

Out of interest, how long is it, and in your mind is it a CD or are there vinyl breaks?

Any playlist i've been making i've mostly been using streaming but that has serious limitations (as per all your notes for not using CB 98 tracks or missing segues)

OldFriends4Sale said:

already incorporating 'This is what it's like in the Dream Factory oooh oh' on the Parade tour

That one was just throwing shade at St. Paul.

"St Paul - PUNK OF THE MONTH"

jaawwnn said:

bluefish said:

I'm putting together a hybrid version of the Dream Factory album that incorporates tracks from all 3 known configurations, but omits tracks that were released in some form on SOTT (even alternate versions). Here's my tracklist and sources:

1. Visions (SOTT Deluxe, but with chopped off first note restored from bootleg)
2. Dream Factory (bootleg version, since CB '98 version is too loud; includes "Welcome 2 Holly Rock" segue)
3. Wonderful Day (SOTT Deluxe)
4. Big Tall Wall [version 1] (SOTT Deluxe)
5. Train (SOTT Deluxe)
6. And That Says What? (SOTT Deluxe)
7. Teacher, Teacher (SOTT Deluxe)
8. Colors (SOTT Deluxe)
9. In a Large Room with No Light (SOTT Deluxe)
10. Nevaeh Ni Ecalp A (SOTT Deluxe)
11. Sexual Suicide (bootleg version, since CB '98 version is too loud)
12. Crystal Ball (bootleg version, since CB '98 version is too loud)
13. Power Fantastic (Hits version with SOTT Deluxe intro tacked on)
14. Last Heart (bootleg version, since CB '98 version is too loud)
15. Witness 4 the Prosecution [version 1] (SOTT Deluxe)
16. Movie Star (bootleg version, since CB '98 version is too loud and has Jam of the Year sample)
17. A Place in Heaven [Lisa vocal] (SOTT Deluxe)
18. All My Dreams (SOTT Deluxe)

Thoughts?

Out of interest, how long is it, and in your mind is it a CD or are there vinyl breaks?

Any playlist i've been making i've mostly been using streaming but that has serious limitations (as per all your notes for not using CB 98 tracks or missing segues)

I see it as a CD. It's 1 hour, 14 minutes, and 45 seconds -- an ideal CD length.

I have to admit I feel spoiled with all the super deluxe tracks. There’s so much there I don’t have time for it all, and the order of the tracks is a little frustrating. Jumping between bands and projects.
Has anyone rearranged it, to be Revolution tracks (Dream Factory), Crystal Ball, then other extra tracks?
.
I’m not sure why they included Prince’s demo tracks for songs intended for other artists in this set. They feel out of place (Although obviously nice to hear!!)

james said:

It is a good thing that you are apoiled and still taking time to digest all that is there. Much better than being bored already (which some people are and were around this time with 1999 SDE).

One thing I noticed with the outtakes is that Prince moved faster than his release schedule could manage even when it came to his style of music. The fact you can have a song like When The Dawn... (which sounds very 1982-1983 to me) next to Cocoa Boys which feels very Black Album/Lovesexy next to Crucial which feels very Dream Factory/Cb can be jarring!

That being said, SOTT and Dream Factory and Crystal Ball are all still the same album. They contain most of the same songs and flow, scaled up with more or down. But you always find Sign, Dorothy Parker, It, Starfish, Strange Relationship, etc.

I don't think it's too necessary to split those playlists any further because Prince worked on Sign o the Times until February 1987 so any of that stuff on the set is reasonably likely to be on the album.

As for the stuff he did for Bonnie etc being on there... They don't seem out of place to me. Emotional Pump and the Bonnie songs all sound very split between SOTT and Lovesexy eras sound wise (with songs like Be's Like That bridging the gap) and then Big Tall Wall 2 could've fit perfectly on Lovesexy. So I love the vibe transition - you get the full spectrum from Parade-esque Revolution vibes to his cold digital funk at the end.