Mike Batt

Prince's recording of my song "If You Were A Sailboat", which I wrote for Katie Melua, of whom Prince was a big fan. He sang three of my songs for her ("Closest Thing To Crazy", "Nine Million Bicycles" and this one). Before recording it he asked me if he could change "If you were a cowboy" to "If you were a gypsy" to fit the male POV better. I agreed, but when I approved the final version that he sent (as here) he snuck in "If you were a Witness" for "if you were a preacher"!!! (He was a Jehovah's Witness). I hadn't noticed that! I'm sure he wouldn't mind my posting it now, so the world can hear it. Very nice of him to ask permission to make that word change.

https://youtu.be/6H_FiRdbtcU

[Edited 5/8/22 1:49am]

love2thenines2003 said:

One listen and I'm hooked. Roll on the 20,000 other songs he recorded!

<3

WOW ! Love it, great to hear his beautiful voice.

oh it's so good and nice and beautiful to hear his voice again on a 'new' song.

the production reminds me a little of Reflection by way of Dreamin' About U.

such a nice little gift

thank you to mr Batt for sharing this with us

Wow, this is great.

It's a really good song. So good makes me wanna sail on a yacht, a Roman Abrahamovic kind of yacht.

Seriously whenever P does covers I'm blown away.

^ I think all round, the org is probably the quietest it's been. It hit its peak audience btw on October 9th 2004.

love2thenines2003 said:

Mike Batt

Prince's recording of my song "If You Were A Sailboat", which I wrote for Katie Melua, of whom Prince was a big fan. He sang three of my songs for her ("Closest Thing To Crazy", "Nine Million Bicycles" and this one). Before recording it he asked me if he could change "If you were a cowboy" to "If you were a gypsy" to fit the male POV better. I agreed, but when I approved the final version that he sent (as here) he snuck in "If you were a Witness" for "if you were a preacher"!!! (He was a Jehovah's Witness). I hadn't noticed that! I'm sure he wouldn't mind my posting it now, so the world can hear it. Very nice of him to ask permission to make that word change.

https://youtu.be/6H_FiRdbtcU

[Edited 5/8/22 1:49am]

Thanks for sharing this. When did he record it?

lurker316 said:

lurker316 said:

love2thenines2003 said:

Mike Batt

Prince's recording of my song "If You Were A Sailboat", which I wrote for Katie Melua, of whom Prince was a big fan. He sang three of my songs for her ("Closest Thing To Crazy", "Nine Million Bicycles" and this one). Before recording it he asked me if he could change "If you were a cowboy" to "If you were a gypsy" to fit the male POV better. I agreed, but when I approved the final version that he sent (as here) he snuck in "If you were a Witness" for "if you were a preacher"!!! (He was a Jehovah's Witness). I hadn't noticed that! I'm sure he wouldn't mind my posting it now, so the world can hear it. Very nice of him to ask permission to make that word change.

https://youtu.be/6H_FiRdbtcU

[Edited 5/8/22 1:49am]

Thanks for sharing this. When did he record it?

-

Princevault says "believed" to have been recorded between 2007-09.

They also say he recorded 9m Bycycles and The Closest Thing To crazy at the same time, which is incorrect. He sang those two live (along with IYWAS) but he only recorded a studio version of IYWAS.

So probably an educated guess on their part re: the date

LoveGalore said:

lurker316 said:

Thanks for sharing this. When did he record it?

It's from the JW era.

Yes, I saw that, but was hoping for something a bit more specific.

Scififilmnerd's Chronological Recording Index lists it as 2008. I wonder if that's just an educated guess.

[Edited 5/8/22 17:20pm]

Very cool. I wonder if Prince had these in mind for a project?

Milty2 said:

Very cool. I wonder if Prince had these in mind for a project?

-

Unlikely. According to Mr Batt this was the only 1 of the 3 he recorded a studio version of, and sent it to him for his approval as he changed it up a bit and wanted to perform it that way live

Revolution81 said:

Milty2 said:

Very cool. I wonder if Prince had these in mind for a project?

-

Unlikely. According to Mr Batt this was the only 1 of the 3 he recorded a studio version of, and sent it to him for his approval as he changed it up a bit and wanted to perform it that way live

Yes I read that at the top of the thread.

Thank you for the link and story. Much appreciated.

-

Is it just me or is the drum beat a bit weird...

i love the overall vibe of the song - as a demo feel

but somehow it also feels understated and too sweet as if it lacks some punch

nice to hear this 'pretty' song, but not all that memorable.

Good to have it though.

Milty2 said:

Revolution81 said:

-

Unlikely. According to Mr Batt this was the only 1 of the 3 he recorded a studio version of, and sent it to him for his approval as he changed it up a bit and wanted to perform it that way live

Yes I read that at the top of the thread.

-

The description at the top is poorly worded. It gives the impression Prince recorded all 3 songs in the studio. The other two were only perfromed live, if you knew that you wouldnt have pondered that question

https://twitter.com/Mike_...2702299141

https://twitter.com/Mike_...1741492224

Revolution81 said:

lurker316 said:

Thanks for sharing this. When did he record it?

-

Princevault says "believed" to have been recorded between 2007-09.

They also say he recorded 9m Bycycles and The Closest Thing To crazy at the same time, which is incorrect. He sang those two live (along with IYWAS) but he only recorded a studio version of IYWAS.

So probably an educated guess on their part re: the date

It definitiely sounds like Musicology-LotusFlow3r era Prince! Somebody here previously said it sounds in the same vein as Reflection, which I totally agree with. It's such a beautiful, calming, dreamy cover - I feel it's gunna be on repeat for DAYS <3

Vannormal said:

Thank you for the link and story. Much appreciated.

-

Is it just me or is the drum beat a bit weird...

i love the overall vibe of the song - as a demo feel

but somehow it also feels understated and too sweet as if it lacks some punch

nice to hear this 'pretty' song, but not all that memorable.

Good to have it though.

To me, it sounds like a rough mixdown - meaning, not much care has been put into the overall balance of instruments or effects (reverb, limiting, ect). This seems esspecially evident, given howloud the vocal is in the begining.

Overall, this is a great track that I haven't stopped listening to today. A truely lovely surprise.

Revolution81 said:

Milty2 said:

Yes I read that at the top of the thread.

-

The description at the top is poorly worded. It gives the impression Prince recorded all 3 songs in the studio. The other two were only perfromed live, if you knew that you wouldnt have pondered that question

https://twitter.com/Mike_...2702299141

https://twitter.com/Mike_...1741492224

My question is legitimate. It doesn't say which songs were sung live. All it says is that Prince sang three of his songs. It's reasonable to wonder if there are studio recordings of the other two and if they were intended or not for a project. And I have no need to go to twitter.

Revolution81 said:

love2thenines2003 said: