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Thread started 05/25/25 8:46pm

nirforward

Best stories behind the making of Prince songs

Help Needed!
Im compiling a radio special for June 7th, and this time i wanna focus on cool stories "behind the scenes" about the "making of" prince songs.

I will obviously address some of the usual suspects: when doves cry - the omission of bass. Kiss snatched from mazarati. Wally of course. probably both NC2U and empty room.
Will also tell the story of "sometimes it snows in april", "Purple Rain"'s evolution...
Also Billy Jack Bitch is a good tale...

But I love those small anecdotes behind smaller tunes like "you're all i want" he gave to peggy on tape for her birthday.
Or how Hayes told about him recording Face Down after a vicious newspaper article.
The scandalous Honey jar myth. Etc.

So...what are those best stories im forgetting? (best stories not necessarily mean best songs).


Thanks!!

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Reply #1 posted 05/25/25 9:23pm

FrankieCoco1

I like the story of 1999 that Bobby Z has told about being in ‘the south’ on the 1999 tour. They stop at a hotel that has HBO and the group sit and watch a film about Nostradamus. Prince writes the song 1999, which he plays a tape at the next day’s rehearsal.

By trawling through old issues of HBO tv guides, I helped Prince Vault to narrow down the likely writing date to mid-end February 1999.

https://princevault.com/i...title=1999
There may or may not be something coming!
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Reply #2 posted 05/25/25 9:58pm

nirforward

FrankieCoco1 said:

I like the story of 1999 that Bobby Z has told about being in ‘the south’ on the 1999 tour. They stop at a hotel that has HBO and the group sit and watch a film about Nostradamus. Prince writes the song 1999, which he plays a tape at the next day’s rehearsal. By trawling through old issues of HBO tv guides, I helped Prince Vault to narrow down the likely writing date to mid-end February 1999. https://princevault.com/i...title=1999


thanks that's a great one i forgot all about ♥

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Reply #3 posted 05/26/25 2:21am

MinnneapolisFu
nk

-

POP LIFE--

There is a lyric that goes".....was it a boy when ya wanted a girl?".......that is about Big Chick Huntsberry, former bodyguard for Prince, who had like 5 daughters and then a boy. Big Chick was expecting another daughter but got a son.

I heard story at one of the first celebrations I think.

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Reply #4 posted 05/26/25 7:39am

nirforward

MinnneapolisFunk said:

-

POP LIFE--

There is a lyric that goes".....was it a boy when ya wanted a girl?".......that is about Big Chick Huntsberry, former bodyguard for Prince, who had like 5 daughters and then a boy. Big Chick was expecting another daughter but got a son.

I heard story at one of the first celebrations I think.

for real? no way cool
i always thought of this as a sexual reference

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Reply #5 posted 05/26/25 12:53pm

antonb

My favourite is Susan Roger’s talking about the making of the Dorothy Parker song. Very interesting!
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Reply #6 posted 05/26/25 3:56pm

Chas218

Susannah Melvoin's story about "Starfish & Coffee," and how the real quote was "Starfish and Pee Pee."

https://bit.ly/3HclVCh

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Reply #7 posted 05/27/25 12:48am

lurker316

avatar


Prince wrote "Better with Time" after bumping into Kristen Scott Thomas at a party. It's about her.





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Reply #8 posted 05/27/25 9:57am

puzzledabalone

FrankieCoco1 said:

I like the story of 1999 that Bobby Z has told about being in ‘the south’ on the 1999 tour. They stop at a hotel that has HBO and the group sit and watch a film about Nostradamus. Prince writes the song 1999, which he plays a tape at the next day’s rehearsal. By trawling through old issues of HBO tv guides, I helped Prince Vault to narrow down the likely writing date to mid-end February 1999. https://princevault.com/i...title=1999

I totally agree with you

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