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Thread started 01/11/23 3:17pm

LoveGalore

What was 1999 before it was 1999?

I'm kind of surprised the SDE doesn't touch on this, but as we all know this album was not conceptualized as 1999. The original title track was something different and WB requested a radio friendly flagship single.

So, what was it then? I can see the album opening with Possessed. I could even see the album being called Possessed, following Dirty Mind and Controversy.

Thoughts?
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Reply #1 posted 01/11/23 4:14pm

lustmealways

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Wasn't it Turn It Up

What a weak title track that would've been, though it still absolutely bangs cock.

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Reply #2 posted 01/11/23 4:16pm

funkbabyandthe
babysitters

Evil warners! Making prince come up with a new name and song!

razz
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Reply #3 posted 01/11/23 4:54pm

LoveGalore

lustmealways said:

Wasn't it Turn It Up



What a weak title track that would've been, though it still absolutely bangs cock.



Yes I do recall Turn It Up was the last opening track now that you mention it.

But could this actually be what he called the album? I hope not. And tbh, Possessed sounds good with LRC coming after it. TIU into LRC is jarring af! So glad he changed that.

So if not Possessed or Turn It Up... What the hell other song on there feels like it could've been the title track? I guess DMSR or Delirious could work but..... It doesn't sound right, coming after title tracks like Dirty Mind and Controversy.
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Reply #4 posted 01/12/23 12:44am

JorisE73

LoveGalore said:

lustmealways said:

Wasn't it Turn It Up

What a weak title track that would've been, though it still absolutely bangs cock.

Yes I do recall Turn It Up was the last opening track now that you mention it. But could this actually be what he called the album? I hope not. And tbh, Possessed sounds good with LRC coming after it. TIU into LRC is jarring af! So glad he changed that. So if not Possessed or Turn It Up... What the hell other song on there feels like it could've been the title track? I guess DMSR or Delirious could work but........ It doesn't sound right, coming after title tracks like Dirty Mind and Controversy.



Wasn't Moonbeam Levels replacxed by LRC at the last moment? Maybe that could have worked.

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Reply #5 posted 01/12/23 1:50am

funkbabyandthe
babysitters

i think Free replaced moonbeam levels.

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Reply #6 posted 01/12/23 2:11am

JorisE73

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

i think Free replaced moonbeam levels.


ah ok

[Edited 1/12/23 2:19am]

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Reply #7 posted 01/12/23 2:43am

EnglishGent2

LoveGalore said:

What the hell other song on there feels like it could've been the title track?


International Lover.

The orger formerly known as https://prince.org/profil...nglishGent
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Reply #8 posted 01/12/23 3:37am

LoveGalore

EnglishGent2 said:



LoveGalore said:


What the hell other song on there feels like it could've been the title track?


International Lover.



Honestly, I could see it!

Prince seemed pretty fascinated with that song (at least until Temptation came along). Given it's origins, it's kinda weird that he did find it so captivating! But it could certainly carry the record that way.
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Reply #9 posted 01/12/23 7:11am

purplethunder3
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1998... nuts lol

"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." --Plato

https://youtu.be/CVwv9LZMah0
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Reply #10 posted 01/12/23 11:22am

TrivialPursuit

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funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

i think Free replaced moonbeam levels.


That is incorrect. I long suspected that, but it's since been proven that "Moonbean Levels" was never on any configuration of 1999. It was simply recorded during the 1999 sessions. It was also considered for multiple albums after that.

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #11 posted 01/12/23 11:58am

PurpleColossus

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TrivialPursuit said:

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

i think Free replaced moonbeam levels.


That is incorrect. I long suspected that, but it's since been proven that "Moonbean Levels" was never on any configuration of 1999. It was simply recorded during the 1999 sessions. It was also considered for multiple albums after that.

Ah really? That's interesting, I thought that as well. I think the track would have probably worked on 1999, I'm not so sure on other albums. Although...had Prince released an album in 1983, Moonbeam Levels sounds like it could have fit nicely on it.

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Reply #12 posted 01/12/23 12:57pm

TrivialPursuit

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PurpleColossus said:

TrivialPursuit said:


That is incorrect. I long suspected that, but it's since been proven that "Moonbean Levels" was never on any configuration of 1999. It was simply recorded during the 1999 sessions. It was also considered for multiple albums after that.

Ah really? That's interesting, I thought that as well. I think the track would have probably worked on 1999, I'm not so sure on other albums. Although...had Prince released an album in 1983, Moonbeam Levels sounds like it could have fit nicely on it.


Totally agree, and for years I thought it was there instead of "Free." And honestly, I think it's a stronger song than "Free." It's one of my all time favorite outtakes from any era.

I don't know how well it would've fit on anything after ATWIAD, though. I can see it being reworked a tad for the Purple Rain movie (which it was considered for), or ATWIAD, but the aural aesthetic separates after that.

But can't you just hear those rainy footsteps leading into the opening drum beats of "Moonbeam Levels" instead of "Free?" Perfectly natural.

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #13 posted 01/12/23 4:03pm

PurpleColossus

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TrivialPursuit said:

PurpleColossus said:

Ah really? That's interesting, I thought that as well. I think the track would have probably worked on 1999, I'm not so sure on other albums. Although...had Prince released an album in 1983, Moonbeam Levels sounds like it could have fit nicely on it.


Totally agree, and for years I thought it was there instead of "Free." And honestly, I think it's a stronger song than "Free." It's one of my all time favorite outtakes from any era.

I don't know how well it would've fit on anything after ATWIAD, though. I can see it being reworked a tad for the Purple Rain movie (which it was considered for), or ATWIAD, but the aural aesthetic separates after that.

But can't you just hear those rainy footsteps leading into the opening drum beats of "Moonbeam Levels" instead of "Free?" Perfectly natural.

Yep, agreed. Even though I love that epic Prince scream on "Free", I also prefer Moonbeam Levels, it would be very natural fit. That's also true that Prince could have reworked the track for other albums as well. He definitely had that ability to change older tracks to fit a future album's style - as seen with "Bold Generation" to "New Power Generation".

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Reply #14 posted 01/13/23 1:16am

JorisE73

TrivialPursuit said:

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

i think Free replaced moonbeam levels.


That is incorrect. I long suspected that, but it's since been proven that "Moonbean Levels" was never on any configuration of 1999. It was simply recorded during the 1999 sessions. It was also considered for multiple albums after that.


I remember back in the day that configs of Purple Rain, Parade and Crystal Ball were detailed with Moonbeam Levels on them that everyone thought and decided was fake until it was confirmed to be real considering the source who shared it. So it seem sPrince really wanted this song released, I wonder if it also was considered on configs of later albums after 'Rave '89'.

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Reply #15 posted 01/13/23 8:07am

rudeboy4711

JorisE73 said:



TrivialPursuit said:




funkbabyandthebabysitters said:


i think Free replaced moonbeam levels.




That is incorrect. I long suspected that, but it's since been proven that "Moonbean Levels" was never on any configuration of 1999. It was simply recorded during the 1999 sessions. It was also considered for multiple albums after that.




I remember back in the day that configs of Purple Rain, Parade and Crystal Ball were detailed with Moonbeam Levels on them that everyone thought and decided was fake until it was confirmed to be real considering the source who shared it. So it seem sPrince really wanted this song released, I wonder if it also was considered on configs of later albums after 'Rave '89'.



I tried listening to a made up 89 Rave track list including Moonbeam Levels but it sticks out like a sore thumb… what I wonder is if it was reworked/re-recorded by the time Prince considered it for the ‘89 Rave album… kind of like what he would end up doing with other songs from the era like New Power (Bold) Generation or Tick Tick Bang.
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Reply #16 posted 01/13/23 2:23pm

TrivialPursuit

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JorisE73 said:

TrivialPursuit said:


That is incorrect. I long suspected that, but it's since been proven that "Moonbean Levels" was never on any configuration of 1999. It was simply recorded during the 1999 sessions. It was also considered for multiple albums after that.


I remember back in the day that configs of Purple Rain, Parade and Crystal Ball were detailed with Moonbeam Levels on them that everyone thought and decided was fake until it was confirmed to be real considering the source who shared it. So it seem sPrince really wanted this song released, I wonder if it also was considered on configs of later albums after 'Rave '89'.


It could've been a stellar B-side for "Take Me With U."

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #17 posted 01/13/23 7:08pm

paraded

"Purple Music"

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Reply #18 posted 01/14/23 4:46pm

nayroo2002

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paraded said:

"Purple Music"

Yeah, but then the next album would be 'Let's Go Crazy'?

"Whatever skin we're in
we all need 2 b friends"
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