For Neon Telephone I quite enjoy the stripped back version as well, letting the instrumental shine

For me, regarding The Dance Electric my favorite version of it of course, is the extended version with Wendy and Lisa's contributions and overdubs

WOW

There are just too many versions of too many songs

I prefer the radio edit of "Alphabet St." to the other versions.

It's a perfectly compact pop-funk punch in under 3 minutes!

On the other hand, the 12" version of "America" never gets old for me!

Prince's version of "Train" and "Neon Telephone" are the best. But I do love Mavis's vocal on the former.

I'd agree that the longer "America" is just great. But that 30 minute take on "I Would Die 4 U" gets too fucking weird at some point.

It would seem that the First Avenue version of "Electric Intercourse" feels superior since the album version we've heard seems to fade in the background a bit.

While I love the strings on "Old Friends 4 Sale," there is something less grandiose and more moody and introspective about the version without them. It feels more like a lament without them.

Prince's version of "Strange Relationship" is better than the earlier Wendy and Lisa version. And frankly that First Avenue version from 4 Those of U On Valium rivals the album cut.

The early version of "Forever In My Life" sorta eeks out the album for me. Barely. Only because it's more melodic, and we can hear all those elements from the SOTT movie in that early version.

I made a thread quite a few months ago about using all edited or 7" versions for a more compact 1999 album. The only stand outs being "Free," "Something In The Water" and "Lady Cab Driver" which did not have edits. I listen to that shortened version a lot and it just moves along faster. The energy stays up.

Free (Edit)

Lady Cab Driver (Edit)

You can still make it shorter, TP!

"Edits" edit...

[Edited 8/1/23 9:06am]

nayroo2002 said:

Free (Edit)

Lady Cab Driver (Edit)

You can still make it shorter, TP!

"Edits" edit...

[Edited 8/1/23 9:06am]

Nah, "Free" should be heard in full.

I'd say the 1987 minimalist version of "Big Tall Wall" is the best. "Less is more" as they always say... And that's the beauty of it.

[Edited 8/1/23 16:56pm]

I prefer my personal "edit" of "Free", where I immediately hit the track skip button after the first couple secs.

TrivialPursuit said:

I made a thread quite a few months ago about using all edited or 7" versions for a more compact 1999 album. The only stand outs being "Free," "Something In The Water" and "Lady Cab Driver" which did not have edits. I listen to that shortened version a lot and it just moves along faster. The energy stays up.

Yes, the non-filler version, possibly your best re-edit concept record yet.

1999 stands alone as the like the only double LP in history that somehow gets none of the requisite "filler" critiques, probably because all the filler is inserted in the form of extendo jams that could have ended at the 4 minute mark instead of the 12 minute mark. It has always substantially lowered any potential ratings I could give that album, because although most of the tracks have a cool concept to start, by the end it's like Mitch Hedberg's pancakes rant. You start out hype beyond belief then by the end you're sick of them.

"Automatic" being the perfect example. Every time I put it on until like the 4th minute I'm like oh this is great wtf, then another 4 minutes later I'm like uhhhhhhh.

[Edited 8/1/23 19:00pm]

"Van Gogh" - Prince original demo, NO horns version.

[Edited 8/1/23 19:04pm]

WhisperingDandelions said:

"Van Gogh" - Prince original demo, NO horns version.

[Edited 8/1/23 19:04pm]

out of all this songs with missed potential in his catalog this is one of the biggest imo. absolute pop mastery, and could've very easily been a hit for him or another artist around that time. such a great track. i don't know who wrote what on it, but it didn't get the exposure it deserved...

edit: listening to the original "love is" track from st. victor - if p made his version sound the way it does, he's responsible for making it as fantastic as it is cause the original is trite and generic by comparison IMO.

[Edited 8/1/23 19:48pm]

WhisperingDandelions said:

Joy In Repetition with long drums intro

We Can Funk 'miko' version

U Gonna C Me the piano and voice version

When She Comes the W2A version

When She Comes -- HNR2 version
7 -- acoustic version
Come -- Glam Slam Ulyses version

WhisperingDandelions said:

Yes, the non-filler version, possibly your best re-edit concept record yet.

1999 stands alone as the like the only double LP in history that somehow gets none of the requisite "filler" critiques, probably because all the filler is inserted in the form of extendo jams that could have ended at the 4 minute mark instead of the 12 minute mark.

For the record, I don't think anything on 1999 is filler. There's a freedom and balls-to-the-wall approach to it. But if I wanna get through the album in full before something comes up and interrupts me, the edited playlist works out well.

I sit while working, so when I'm done with an album, it's always a good time to get up and move. I'd be down for a while with 1999 otherwise. haha

lurker316 said:

When She Comes -- HNR2 version
7 -- acoustic version
Come -- Glam Slam Ulyses version

all these !

+ Reflection (acoustic with Wendy)

lurker316 said:

Come -- Glam Slam Ulyses version

So which one is the "techno" or dance version from The Beautiful Experience?

When I remixed Come Again, I used one that was similar to the album version, which a few production differences. The boot I had cuts off before it ends, so after it goes through a break down and sorta comes back to the main hook (around 9:30), I segued from the boot version to the album version. So it's a blend of the two, but mostly the bootleg version. I don't think the bootleg version repeats "come" throughout.

I like TBE version. It's really danceable and crazy, but would not fit on the album.

TrivialPursuit said:

lurker316 said:

Come -- Glam Slam Ulyses version

So which one is the "techno" or dance version from The Beautiful Experience?

When I remixed Come Again, I used one that was similar to the album version, which a few production differences. The boot I had cuts off before it ends, so after it goes through a break down and sorta comes back to the main hook (around 9:30), I segued from the boot version to the album version. So it's a blend of the two, but mostly the bootleg version. I don't think the bootleg version repeats "come" throughout.

I like TBE version. It's really danceable and crazy, but would not fit on the album.

I like the TBE version as well, but I prefer the GSU version. To me, they're both 100 times better than the album version. They both use the same vocal track, but their music tracks are entirely different. The GSU version is organic with live instruments. Some people call it the rock version because of the opening drum flourish and guitars, but I don't think it's rock. It's bass if funky as hell. And obvious the TBE version is more of an electronic dance version.

WhisperingDandelions said:

I prefer my personal "edit" of "Free", where I immediately hit the track skip button after the first couple secs.

TrivialPursuit said:

I made a thread quite a few months ago about using all edited or 7" versions for a more compact 1999 album. The only stand outs being "Free," "Something In The Water" and "Lady Cab Driver" which did not have edits. I listen to that shortened version a lot and it just moves along faster. The energy stays up.

Yes, the non-filler version, possibly your best re-edit concept record yet.

1999 stands alone as the like the only double LP in history that somehow gets none of the requisite "filler" critiques, probably because all the filler is inserted in the form of extendo jams that could have ended at the 4 minute mark instead of the 12 minute mark. It has always substantially lowered any potential ratings I could give that album, because although most of the tracks have a cool concept to start, by the end it's like Mitch Hedberg's pancakes rant. You start out hype beyond belief then by the end you're sick of them.

"Automatic" being the perfect example. Every time I put it on until like the 4th minute I'm like oh this is great wtf, then another 4 minutes later I'm like uhhhhhhh.

[Edited 8/1/23 19:00pm]

I love Free and think it's one of the best songs on 1999.

The only song on 1999 I consider filler is Automatic. I sometimes listen to it, but usually skip it.

PJMcGee said:

WhisperingDandelions said:

I prefer my personal "edit" of "Free", where I immediately hit the track skip button after the first couple secs.

Yes, the non-filler version, possibly your best re-edit concept record yet.

1999 stands alone as the like the only double LP in history that somehow gets none of the requisite "filler" critiques, probably because all the filler is inserted in the form of extendo jams that could have ended at the 4 minute mark instead of the 12 minute mark. It has always substantially lowered any potential ratings I could give that album, because although most of the tracks have a cool concept to start, by the end it's like Mitch Hedberg's pancakes rant. You start out hype beyond belief then by the end you're sick of them.

"Automatic" being the perfect example. Every time I put it on until like the 4th minute I'm like oh this is great wtf, then another 4 minutes later I'm like uhhhhhhh.

[Edited 8/1/23 19:00pm]

This is so strange to me. Do you also hate his 12" singles? That's all 1999 is, an album of 12"s. It might be what I like most about Prince. Extended versions of songs that are actually more song, not just some DJ futzing around. Sure, there are some 12"s that meander (America, Mountains), but 1999's songs are pretty tight.

The one man band set-up meanders. It's also a bit self-indulgent. Prince is inherently self-indulgent anyway but when he's just going off on layered tracks for 20 minutes it's literal masturbation on recoord.

I like maybe 1-3 extended version 12'' singles, usually the ones that switch it up significantly like that crazy bassline that comes in the second half of "Little Red Corvette" extended.

Otherwise with the "fake" robo beats and barrage of synths, yeah, they tend to meander. The stuff with the full band like "I Would Die 4 U" extended, "Computer Blue" extended isn't as bad, but they don't exactly add such unbelievable layers of amazing that weren't contained in the shorter versions.

And it's not an aversion to long songs. I love a lot of classical/modernist pieces and had an art proggy-rock-esque phase for a bit. It's the one-man robo beats.... not to mention he's kind of working in a pop-"popular music" paradigm the majority of the time, and that format just works better short and sweet. Like "Hey Jude" would be one of my least favorite Beatles songs because the extra extendo 9 minutes of "naaaa-na na na naaaa"s detract to the song more than they enhance.

Leave 'em wanting more not less. There's not one track on 1999 over 4 1/2 minutes that really needs to be over 4 1/2 minutes. My enjoyment would be greatly enhanced by those parameters, whereas if he chopped all those songs in half probably none of you who love the extended jams would complain the songs are "ruined" by being shorter. Nobody's gonna whine if "Automatic" fades out before the 5 min mark in an alternate reality... It wouldn't "ruin" any song on this album.

[Edited 8/2/23 19:02pm]

lurker316 said:

TrivialPursuit said:

So which one is the "techno" or dance version from The Beautiful Experience?

When I remixed Come Again, I used one that was similar to the album version, which a few production differences. The boot I had cuts off before it ends, so after it goes through a break down and sorta comes back to the main hook (around 9:30), I segued from the boot version to the album version. So it's a blend of the two, but mostly the bootleg version. I don't think the bootleg version repeats "come" throughout.

I like TBE version. It's really danceable and crazy, but would not fit on the album.

I like the TBE version as well, but I prefer the GSU version. To me, they're both 100 times better than the album version. They both use the same vocal track, but their music tracks are entirely different. The GSU version is organic with live instruments. Some people call it the rock version because of the opening drum flourish and guitars, but I don't think it's rock. It's bass if funky as hell. And obvious the TBE version is more of an electronic dance version.

Yes, I prefer the GSU version. It's on the 10,000 Wallpaper boot and segues superbly into Endorphinmachine. That live NPG sound was unbeatable to me

WhisperingDandelions said:

PJMcGee said:

WhisperingDandelions said: This is so strange to me. Do you also hate his 12" singles? That's all 1999 is, an album of 12"s. It might be what I like most about Prince. Extended versions of songs that are actually more song, not just some DJ futzing around. Sure, there are some 12"s that meander (America, Mountains), but 1999's songs are pretty tight.

The one man band set-up meanders. It's also a bit self-indulgent. Prince is inherently self-indulgent anyway but when he's just going off on layered tracks for 20 minutes it's literal masturbation on recoord.

I like maybe 1-3 extended version 12'' singles, usually the ones that switch it up significantly like that crazy bassline that comes in the second half of "Little Red Corvette" extended.

Otherwise with the "fake" robo beats and barrage of synths, yeah, they tend to meander. The stuff with the full band like "I Would Die 4 U" extended, "Computer Blue" extended isn't as bad, but they don't exactly add such unbelievable layers of amazing that weren't contained in the shorter versions.

And it's not an aversion to long songs. I love a lot of classical/modernist pieces and had an art proggy-rock-esque phase for a bit. It's the one-man robo beats.... not to mention he's kind of working in a pop-"popular music" paradigm the majority of the time, and that format just works better short and sweet. Like "Hey Jude" would be one of my least favorite Beatles songs because the extra extendo 9 minutes of "naaaa-na na na naaaa"s detract to the song more than they enhance.

Leave 'em wanting more not less. There's not one track on 1999 over 4 1/2 minutes that really needs to be over 4 1/2 minutes. My enjoyment would be greatly enhanced by those parameters, whereas if he chopped all those songs in half probably none of you who love the extended jams would complain the songs are "ruined" by being shorter. Nobody's gonna whine if "Automatic" fades out before the 5 min mark in an alternate reality... It wouldn't "ruin" any song on this album.

[Edited 8/2/23 19:02pm]

I get what you're saying and I generally agree. Obviously the songs that are more monotonous throughout their 6 to 7 minute length can grow old, while the songs that evolve and change are more engaging. That's hard to argue with. But I think a lot of Prince 12-inches are comprised of mulitple changes and sections that keep them interesting. For instance:

Computer Blue Hallway Speech
Kiss Extended
La, La, La, He, He, Hee
I Wish U Heaven Parts 2 & 3
Theives in the Temple

For me, the good, but admittedly monotonous, 12-inches include: I Would Die 4 U, She's Always in My Hair, Mountains Extended and Batfance (Vicki and Bat mixes).

PJMcGee said:

Wow, a Prince fan that doesn't like his 12" singles or his electronic beats or his one-man band songs, which is the majority of his catalog. Now I've heard everything.

Coming from the person who thinks that the 12inch of Mountains meanders. Mmm.

WhisperingDandelions said:

PJMcGee said:

WhisperingDandelions said: This is so strange to me. Do you also hate his 12" singles? That's all 1999 is, an album of 12"s. It might be what I like most about Prince. Extended versions of songs that are actually more song, not just some DJ futzing around. Sure, there are some 12"s that meander (America, Mountains), but 1999's songs are pretty tight.

The one man band set-up meanders. It's also a bit self-indulgent. Prince is inherently self-indulgent anyway but when he's just going off on layered tracks for 20 minutes it's literal masturbation on recoord.

I like maybe 1-3 extended version 12'' singles, usually the ones that switch it up significantly like that crazy bassline that comes in the second half of "Little Red Corvette" extended.

Otherwise with the "fake" robo beats and barrage of synths, yeah, they tend to meander. The stuff with the full band like "I Would Die 4 U" extended, "Computer Blue" extended isn't as bad, but they don't exactly add such unbelievable layers of amazing that weren't contained in the shorter versions.

And it's not an aversion to long songs. I love a lot of classical/modernist pieces and had an art proggy-rock-esque phase for a bit. It's the one-man robo beats.... not to mention he's kind of working in a pop-"popular music" paradigm the majority of the time, and that format just works better short and sweet. Like "Hey Jude" would be one of my least favorite Beatles songs because the extra extendo 9 minutes of "naaaa-na na na naaaa"s detract to the song more than they enhance.

Leave 'em wanting more not less. There's not one track on 1999 over 4 1/2 minutes that really needs to be over 4 1/2 minutes. My enjoyment would be greatly enhanced by those parameters, whereas if he chopped all those songs in half probably none of you who love the extended jams would complain the songs are "ruined" by being shorter. Nobody's gonna whine if "Automatic" fades out before the 5 min mark in an alternate reality... It wouldn't "ruin" any song on this album.

[Edited 8/2/23 19:02pm]

I don't understand your strange language

thisisreece said:

When Eye Lay My Hands on You - live Montreux 2009. It’s phenomenal. You could easily be convinced it is one of the key songs of his canon - a Joy in Repetition or If I was Your Girlfriend in hiding. It commands the same off-kilter, slightly eerie hypnotic almost-grandiose (insert more adjectives here) astmophere of those songs. The bendy dual act his guitar and vocal perform is simply stunning. It’s such a bold rendition of the song and a really brazen way to jumpstart the Montreux shows. If there was a studio version of this imagining (I so wish he had recreated it for Lotusflower the same way he recreated The Dance for 3121) it would probably be my favourite post-2000 song of his. [Edited 8/3/23 8:38am]

Agreed. The live version from Montreaux is fantastic.

The studio version on The Chocolate Invasion isn't bad, but it's not on the same level. He made it when he was in his plastic production phase. If he'd remade it for Lotusflower, that would have been great.

mb71 said:

It's funny that "The Work, Pt.1" has two versions.

I like the first one.

PJMcGee said:

mb71 said:

Coming from the person who thinks that the 12inch of Mountains meanders. Mmm.

Maybe meanders is the wrong word for that one. I don't know. I haven't played it a ton.

Yeah, give it another try.
I guess I'm bias in a way, as I think that the Mountains 12inch is among the best he's done.