Although Graffiti Bridge may not be one of Prince's most popular albums (and has its fair share of flaws), when you consider how long it existed as a concept and the many wonderful songs that relate to it, I think this could be one of Prince's greatest box sets.

The original idea for 'Graffiti Bridge' came about in 1987 while Prince was on the 'Sign O' The Times' tour. At least three draft scripts are known to exist (one written out by hand and two typed). To my knowledge none of these scripts are circulating in their entirety, however several pages of both the typed scripts (dated September 1987 and December 1987) were scanned and uploaded to auction sites. Between these scripts and additional info offered on PrinceVault we have a good idea of what songs were intended for this version of the film.

Lovesexy interrupted development, however after the tour concluded Prince briefly returned to Graffiti Bridge. It isn't clear whether he still intended on pursuing it as film. A 'Graffiti Bridge' album was sequenced on 25th September 1988, however this album appeared to evolve into the unreleased 'Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic' album (with several of the same tracks appearing on both). It may be that Prince had abandoned the film by 1988, and only intended on moving forward with it as a concept album. Whether or not Prince had abandoned the film entirely, I think there is enough Graffiti Bridge DNA in Rave to warrant inclusion of the Rave tracks on a Graffiti Bridge Super Deluxe. I'd also argue that since Batman shares DNA with Rave (with the songs ‘Rave’ and ‘We Got The Power’ being sampled on ‘Batdance’, and ‘Vicki Waiting’ being a evolution of ‘Anna Waiting’), I'd suggest it would also be worth including Batman's one outtake 'Dance With The Devil'.

Then we get to Graffiti Bridge in its final form. There are many songs from this film which exist in early / alternate forms, in addition to other related songs that we're possibly considered for the film. There are also the songs that appeared in the film on manuscript papers, rather than being performed.

Since a good chunk of these songs are not in circulation and we do not have accurate running time information, I'm not going to propose an exact sequence. However I will list songs that I suggest should be considered for such a project along with some additional ideas.

Proposal for 'Graffiti Bridge: Super Deluxe Edition'

CD1: The Album (LP 1&2)

01. Can’t Stop This Feeling I Got (4:24)

02. New Power Generation (3:39)

03. Release It - The Time (3:54)

04. The Question Of U (4:00)

05. Elephants & Flowers (3:54)

06. Round And Round - Tevin Campbell (3:55)

07. We Can Funk - George Clinton and Prince (5:28)

08. Joy In Repetition (4:53)

09. Love Machine - The Time (3:34)

10. Tick, Tick, Bang (3:30)

11. Shake! - The Time (4:01)

12. Thieves In The Temple (3:20)

13. The Latest Fashion - The Time with Prince (4:02)

14. Melody Cool - Mavis Staples (3:39)

15. Still Would Stand All Time (5:23)

16. Graffiti Bridge (3:51)

17. New Power Generation (Pt. II) (2:57)

CD2: The Singles, Promo and More (LP 3&4)

A1. Thieves In The Temple (Remix)

A2. Thieves In The House Mix

A3. Temple House Dub

B1. New Power Generation (full version)

B2. Melody Cool (Extended Remix) (Mavis Staples)

C1. N.P.G. (Funky Weapon Remix)

C2. T.C.’s Rap (featuring T.C. Ellis)

C3. Brother With A Purpose (featuring Tony Mosley)

C4. Get Off

C5. The Lubricated Lady

D1. Loveleft, Loveright

D2. Segue

D3. Ooh Bee Shoo Bee Doo Koo Shoo Ooh (Previously Unreleased)

D4. My Tree (Previously Unreleased)

D5. A Positive Place (Previously Unreleased)

D6. Play (Previously Unreleased)

D7. Heaven Is Keeping Score (Previously Unreleased)

For the singles, rather than included mixes from the associated artists (The Time, Tevin & Mavis) and the 'Part II' edits, I instead suggest including the complete version of the song 'New Power Generation'. I was under the impression that this track was available on a rare single / promo CD, however I can't see any information about this on PrinceVault, so it may be unreleased. I would also suggest that it would make the singles portion of the box set more interesting if it included the omitted portion of the NPG maxi single. I have checked the running time here and this should fit comfortably onto the above configuration.

The Vault I, II & III (CDs 3-5, LPs 5-10)

I can't suggest an exact sequence without all of the relevant date and running time information, however I think it would be great if the discs were categorised as follows:

CD 3 (LP 5&6): Graffiti Bridge '87 era

CD 4 (LP 7&8): Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic '88 era

CD 5 (LP 9&10): Graffiti Bridge '89-90 era

Early recordings and alternate version (Pre 1987)

Tick Tick Bang (Summer 1981)

Girl O' My Dreams (June 1986)

Can't Stop This Felling I Got (June 1986)

We Can Funk (June 1986)

Data Bank (June 1986)

Joy In Repetition (with full intro) (17 July 1986)

'Girl O' My Dreams' being a track later performed by TC Ellis and 'Data Bank' being re-recorded by The Time in '89, so I think they just about qualify for a 'Graffiti Bridge' release.

Songs mentioned (or reported to have been included) in the 1987 drafts

Graffiti Bridge (original lyrics) (11 July 1987)

Melody Cool (Prince vocal) (early July 1988)

Everything Could Be So Fine (1 September 1987)

Ruthie Washington Jet Blues (1 September 1987)

Billie Holiday (10 September 1988?)

Stimulation (10 September 1987)

The Grand Progression (early version) (21 September 1987)

Camille (22 September 1987)

Beatown (22 September 1987)

U (6 October 1987)

Bloody Mouth (4 November 1987)

XYZ (Unkown date)

Cool 1990 (Unkown)

NB: I don't know whether it was ever recorded, but if a version of 'Born Free' exists being performed by Dr. Fink I'd like to see that included as a hidden bonus track.

Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic Tracks

If I Had A Harem (Spring 1988)

Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic (full length original mix) (12 June 1988)

God Is Alive (12 June 1988)

Elephants & Flowers (alternate lyrics) (6 October 1988)

The Voice Inside (25 October 1988)

Am I Without U? (3 - 18 October 1988)

Still Would Stand All Time (original solo mix) (6 October 1988)

Good Judy Girlfriend (Late 1988 - Early 1989)

Big House (Early October 1988)

We Got The Power AKA. Dance With Power (Dance With Soul) (15 October 1988)

All of the above tracks are reported to have appeared in various sequences of the album, with the possible exceptions of 'Big House' & 'We Got The Power' which were believed to have been at least considered (https://princevault.com/i..._Fantastic).

Anna Fantastic & Batman Tracks

Anna Waiting (December 1988)

Fantasia Erotica (feat. Anna Fantastic) (5 January 1989)

Dance With The Devil (February 1989)

Graffiti Bridge alternate mixes and other considered tracks

Love Machine (Prince vocal with alternate lyrics) (August 1989)

Soul Psychodelicide '89 (October 1989)

The Question Of U (Full orchestra version) (March 1990)

We Can Funk (extended version) (1989-1990)

The Grand Progression (finished mix with drums by Michael B) (Late 1989)

Number 1 (by Robin Power) (9 July 1990)

We Can Funk (George Clinton remix) (1989-1990)

Soul Psychodelicide (George Clinton remix) (1990)

Other songs that appeared in the film (on paper)

The Spiritual World (1989 assumed)

Love Is Everywhere (possibly recorded in June 1988 or in October 1988)

Robin Power Sessions

Power From Above (May 1990)

Powerline (May 1990)

Some additional tracks recorded between 1987 - 1989 to fill space where needed...

I Believe I Love U (Mid 1987)

No Changes (9 July 1987)

I Believe I Love U (piano demo recorded between 11 and 18 July 1987)

If I Love U 2 Nite (13 July 1987)

The Sex Of It (29 July 1987)

Cool Love (1 May 1988)

The Rock That Keeps Rolling (9 - 14 September 1988)

Come Back 2 Me (29 September 1988)

Lust U Always (updated version) (1988)

CD 6&7: Live Concert (LP 11&12)

After Show, Het Paard Van Troje, The Hague, 19 August 1988

Instrumental In G

D.M.S.R.

Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)

People Without

Housequake

Blues In C / Down Home Blues / Kansas City

Cold Sweat

Forever In My Life

Still Would Stand All Time

I'll Take You There

Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic

As we know, Prince didn't tour Graffiti Bridge, however he did perform 'Still Would Stand All Time' and 'Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic' at the legendary "Small Club" after show. I think this would be a fantastic opportunity to get it officially released.

DVD: Nude Tour Live In Tokyo 1990

Bonus Content: Music videos plus deleted numbers & scenes from the 'Graffiti Bridge' movie.

So, what are your thoughts? Would Graffiti Bridge Super Deluxe be a good idea or a bad idea? Has this proposed content changed your mind about the idea? Would you approach this box set differently?

Edit to fix line breaks

[Edited 5/19/21 16:27pm]

Say what you want about Graffiti Bridge and all the uncessary filler from the other artists, but if you took out everything else out and just kept:

We Can Funk

Elephats & Flowers

Joy in Repetition

Thieves in the Temple

The Question of U

That's a hell of an album with only those 5 songs.

feeluupp said:

Say what you want about Graffiti Bridge and all the uncessary filler from the other artists, but if you took out everything else out and just kept:

We Can Funk

Elephats & Flowers

Joy in Repetition

Thieves in the Temple

The Question of U

That's a hell of an album with only those 5 songs.

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Well, not to mention that all the so-called "unnecessary filler" you refer to is actually by Prince, just featuring guest vocalists.

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Of which there are some absolutely KILLER songs: "Round and Round" was a hit for a good reason, "Love Machine" is awesome, "Melody Cool" is a highlight on the album.

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Of the non-Prince lead vocals, for my money only ONE feels like filler to be honest and that would be "Shake!" (poor choice for a single). The Maxi-single of "Shake" has a few good remixes.

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GB is such a tremendous album. "Still Would Stand All Time" happens to be my personal fave, but I haven't tired of the entire record over the course of 31 years.

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Great list !

I'd love to hear a Graffiti Bridge Super deluxe Box set. I think it has the content to be one of the greatest.

Given the amount of material recorded for the GB project, i'd suggest to keep some of the songs for a Batman SDE. At least, Big House, We Got The Power, Dance With the Devil & basically all the RUTJF tracks.

Hopefully we'll live long enough to hear this one

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Great and nice list.

But i'm affraid it'll never happen.

By the way, this :

"CD 6&7: Live Concert (LP 11&12)

After Show, Het Paard Van Troje, The Hague, 19 August 1988

Instrumental In G

D.M.S.R.

Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)

People Without

Housequake

Blues In C / Down Home Blues / Kansas City

Cold Sweat

Forever In My Life

Still Would Stand All Time

I'll Take You There

Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic"

...belongs to the ''LOVESEXY'', without a doubt.

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Don't forget the piano piece Bridge of Graffiti

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I'm very interested in the 1987-88 songs that were planned for the Prince Madonna Cat Lovesexy band Bridge of Graffiti/Graffiti Bridge script.

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That list you compiled feels like a 'wrap up the 80s' set lol

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I would definately be interested in this GB deluxe if they did it

I want this too, for the potential it offers.

It'll be interesting how they handle it though. Up to now every SD has been the story of "another success, a huge HIT with tons of great music!" but at some point they'll have to make a switch to "OK, this was a disaster, and a lot of this music is embarassing, but if you squint there's some good stuff too!"

Having experienced this era and knowing the eras that followed it, "Graffiti Bridge" is probably the beginning of the first era in which I lose interest in the unreleased stuff.

vainandy said:

I would love this too. Pound for pound, GB has my Top 4 or 5 favourite Prince songs of all time.

Just for this:

Joy In Repetition (with full intro) (17 July 1986)

SantanaMaitreya said:

One glaring omission: The "Thieves in The Temple" acoustic demo.

Honestly, they should just name it Prince: 1989 or something like that. Graffiti Bridge is poisoned as a release but there's so much great material that's spread out over multiple very close eras.

CD 1:

Batman (Remastered)

CD 2:
Graffiti Bridge (recompiled Prince vocals only - no real point to re-release this one in its original form)

CD 3:
Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic (as originally complied)

Then like you said remixes, singles, vault tracks from all three eras. There's so much material, I would forgo the live concert portion of the Super Deluxe concept.

Do a cheap 3-disc release like Purple Rain: Deluxe and then let the rest fly with a big boxset.

Musze said:

One glaring omission: The "Thieves in The Temple" acoustic demo.

Also the remix of Batdance with Big Daddy Kane that was rejected by Warner.

[Edited 5/20/21 12:16pm]

They should hire you as a consultant. Really.

Musze said:

Vannormal said:

FrankieCoco1 said:

Back on the subject of a GB, I don’t listen to the album in full often. This and the Symbol album, at the time of release seemed a few songs too many at once (same for Emancipation). But I happened to be listening to it over the last couple of days and it’s a really solid album, even the associated artist stuff. I’d welcome a deluxe or super deluxe.

Yes it's a very solid album. I wish there was a configuration of just the Prince material however.

Milty2 said:

Yes it's a very solid album. I wish there was a configuration of just the Prince material however.

Graffiti Abridged.

olb99 said:

They should hire you as a consultant. Really.

God bless you Olb99.

And thanks for all the feedback and comments and suggestions everyone. Please keep them coming.