Could anyone tell me which album this original is on by Prince/The Family?
Also is it available to buy on CD?
And finally, is the rest of the album any good? What's the story behind it?
Mark

The song is on The Family's self-titled 1985 album. You can find a lile bit more information here:

http://www.allmusic.com/c...17gjlr86ip

As for the quality of the music, I personally like it quite a lot. You might know already "Mutiny" as Prince has performed it live more than once... maybe "High fashion", too.

The Family's only album, entitled 'The Family' was released on August 19th, 1985, and featured the following tracks:

1. High Fashion
2. Mutiny
3. The Screams of Passion
4. Yes
5. River Run Dry
6. Nothing Compares 2 U
7. Susannah's Pajamas
8. Desire

All compositions are by Prince, except 4 and 7 (Prince and Eric Leeds), and 5 (Bobby Z). As with other 'side' projects, Prince credited some of the compositions to other band members on the album liner notes.

The album was recorded the previous year and was largely a Prince solo effort musically, bar some guitar and saxophone, and the distinctive string arrangements added by Clare Fischer. Vocals from the band members were added, with Paul (St Paul) Peterson's vocals virtually copying Prince's originals.

The band evolved from the final The Time line-up, and Prince is said to have been aiming at securing pop hits in the market occupied by the likes of Duran Duran.

The album, however, was given little to no marketing support, and single releases failed to make their mark. Prince was busy on 'Under the Cherry Moon' when Paul Peterson expected support to take the music live. Peterson quit and the band folded.

Original recordings of Prince performing most of the tracks circulate but have never been released officially. The Family's album has long been deleted but vinyl and CD versions sometimes appear on the likes of Ebay.

The first official Prince version of Nothing Compares 2 U on CD was released on 'The Hits' as a duet with Rosie Gaines.
.
[This message was edited Tue Jun 3 6:07:35 PDT 2003 by langebleu]

It's a good album, very 80's !

Worth getting just for Mutiny.

There is a Japanese import of this CD.I have seen it in Tower Records but this was several years ago.Amazingly,my favorite song is a track which Prince didn't write,"River Run Dry".

Family's version is growing on me.

but P & Rosie or Sinead win 4 me.

DavidEye said:

A very expensive Japanese import... the last one I saw had a £150.00 price tag on it...


.

I love this album and I prefer the Family's version of this song. I have never liked Sinead's version of that song and I can barely endure Prince and Rosie's version.

i finally heard some of this album last night and i LOVED NC2U and i think it was Susannah's Pajamas - it was extremely funky.
i'd love to get it.

A few months back I bought this cd for 13 euro's, new. In a recordstore where no prince fans ever came, cause I also bought Madhouse 16 cd for 16 euro's. 1 euro is comparable to 1 dollar, so I was one very lucky person that day.

I have a copy of it on tape because someone was nice enough to send it to me in 1996! I had the original tape from the mid 80's but due to me letting a school mate borrow it, then listen to him singing the songs in school for weeks after without giving it back, well you know the deal...story told.

I loved it then and when I play it now I still love it. The tape copy is worn out but it is still kickin' it live!

stymie said:

I like The Family's version better also and I was not happy when Sinead's version took off like it did. The Family should have gotten much more props for their work. Prince & Rosie's version...well...It's good.

SisterGirl said:

I thought I was the only one! Thank you!

My fav versions in this order:

1. The Family
2. Sinead
3. P & Rosie (unfortunately)


What about Screams of Passion...that's my fav on the album!

giotto said:

The last one I saw had £195.

Although it's worth it for High Fashion. (I love little rich girls)

CAMILLE4U said:

Makes me glad I bought the original vinyl and CD versions when they were released. I can recall visiting record stores in the Uk at the time and wondering whether I should bother buying some of these things because they might turn out to be half-rate products I wouldn't like, and I'd regret the purchases until next pay day ... but 18 years later ...

I like the album. Susannah's pajamas is still one of my favorites. Their version of Nothing Compares 2 U is the first one I heard and personally I like it and Sinead's version better than Prince's.

PsychedelicMama said:

I find new reasons to love you guys all the time! I still love Screams of Passion, heck, I love every song on that album.

My fav is river run dry, I have my original copy still on vinyl.

butterfli25 said:

Me, too! I love this thread!

i do not like this version at all. river run dry and mutiny are great though!

'High Fashion' is such a great, funky tune!!!

PsychedelicMama said:

Mine are:

1. P & Rosie (for the "cuz I'm willing, uh-uh," part. They're blowin'!)

2. The Family (St. Paul's singing was understated & Eric Leeds' playing just gives me chills.)

3. ONA...L version (Prince seems to find new ways to phrase the words. His delivery's really tight. And, Candy...)

4. Sinead (In spite of the Beatlesque treatment she gives to "but I'm willing to give it another try..."), I find most of her singing on here really stilted and sterile.

I have to say, I think the lyrics to Nothing Compares 2 U' are definitely up there in the Prince Top 5 (you could also include 'The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker', If I Was Your Girlfriend' and 'Adore').

Beautiful, beautiful words to this song. It really shows the tender, sensitive side to Prince.

I think in Europe it's still quite easy to get at least a vinyl copy of this tune. I saw the album a lot of times in several wrecka stows and it wasn't that expensive.

Question...does David Z. really produce albums or is it really Prince telling David how to produce it? The reason I ask is because most of the David Z. productions or arrangements I've heard all sound like Prince's productions. WTF?
[This message was edited Wed Jun 4 7:29:48 PDT 2003 by okaypimpn]

There's also a live version sung by Paul Peterson, the singer in The Family, and featuring Eric Leeds, also in The Family. It was released on a 1998 album called "Live At The Quest" by The Minneapolis All Stars, which also features live versions of 'High Fashion', 'Mutiny' and Madhouse's '17'.

Also, in early 2002, on Paul Peterson's website, there was an mp3 download of 'Nothing Compares 2 U (Remix)', which was basically The Family version, but featured full instrumentation, including bass and drums.

ThreadBare said:


2. The Family (St. Paul's singing was understated & Eric Leeds' playing just gives me chills.)
___

Yes!! I love when I really listen to his solo (I play sax as well, not very good though) how I can hear him finger the keys on the sax before he plays the note. Very good recording.

-TBone

langebleu said:

bastard


.

giotto said:

Sorry