which songs are better in the studio than when he does them live? id have to say that kiss doesnt really sound right live compared to the one on the LP, same for when doves cry. i think this is partly to do with the emphasis on production that those songs have - i.e. unless prince peforms them with the drum machine or something (like on the purple rain tour for when doves cry), they never sound quite right. same for all the critics love u...

sometimes i think its just that the new arrangments dont always work out that well.

2 that spring 2 mind R If I was Ur girlfriend and U Got the Look.

Concur on IIWYG, WDC, and Kiss (although the outro on Kiss rocks).

But, the U Got the Look Lovesexy rehearsal bootleg version is incredible.

I actually was a bit disappointed in Family Name as well although the rest of the TRC songs were better live.

I always thought that When Doves Cry was better in studio than live

LaMont said:

I agree with ya, however..U heard the live version from Tokyo 1990? Its fantastic with that rhythm guitar.

U Got The Look! I remember him playing that on the loveseXy tour, and it was a MESS. It was so fast i thought he and the band were on amphetemines!

He wisely dropped it soon after.

2 be fair though - it sounded kinda ok on the Rave DVD.

But I just dont think it's a song that ever comes across right. It's just kinda screwy.
[This message was edited Mon Sep 22 13:41:13 PDT 2003 by bananacologne]

*wheeeee Edit*
[This message was edited Mon Sep 22 13:42:48 PDT 2003 by bananacologne]

JDINTERACTIVE said:

Tokyo 199o was definitely the best live version of When Doves Cry...

Girls & Boys

The guitar hook is too upfront live, where as it's drowned out by everything else, especially the the keyboard line on the studio version.

1999

Prince tracks usually gain quality when performed live, so there are very few tracks that didn't benefit of a concert rendition. I can think of Glam Slam , that was always hevily edited in concert, or Batdance, which was mainly a playback

Not that the live versions are bad, but the studio version of The Everlasting Now is better than any live version I've heard. Same with TRC...although I enjoy the live versions as well.

thirstinhowlVIII said:

The version of "kiss" on Birthday parade is brilliant!
"all the critics" on "Dance 2 the beat" is my favourite live-track!

I would have to agree with you guys concerning "When Doves Cry" and "Kiss".The studio versions are superior to the live versions of these songs.And most of you will disagree with me,but I actually prefer the studio version of "Days Of Wild" instead of the live version that made it onto 'Crystal Ball'.

DavidEye said:

I certainly dont. I think the version on Crystal Ball is the worst Ive heard.

The Everlasting Now (so much funkier on record)
IFIWYG

Romance1600 said:

Are u high? Listen to Girls & Boys from 4 Those of U on Valium or any of the SOTT shows. Those live versions kick some major behind!

divo02 said:

No WAY!!! The Everalsting Now is a definite highligh of the ONAL shows imo. The live version has so much energy they create lightening on the stage.

JDINTERACTIVE said:

As u guys can probably tell, I think Prince and his songs live are, 99% of the time, better live...including When Doves Cry, Kiss, Family Name, U Got The Look, & Glam Slam. I think the only ones that didn't work for me are If I Was Your Girlfriend & I Wish U Heaven (the 1st part). His vocals on Heaven were barely audible on that one.

i think one of the main reasons WDC sounds below par live is that there is that there is no break between the verses and chorus.
damn, he musta been outta breath afta that!

Pagey said:

I have those shows, and what I said still stands.

I don't like the guitar hook being so in the foreground, whether Prince likes it that way or not - I like the studio version where it is on a more level mixing with the other instruments.

I truly think that all of the TRC songs benefit greatly when they are played live... Family Name, Everlasting Now, TRC, The Work...all of them have added punch and are embellished quite a bit.

Pagey said:

if i was... on the 87 tour sounds great to me. i wish u heaven is ok, though it sometimes goes on too long. if i was your... was sounding tired on the jam of the year shows though. not all of princes songs sound good live though, sorry.

all the critics sounded like ska, in a bad way, when he did it on the ONA tour in london last time. and alphabet st. sounded like turgid bar room blues at the same show, rather than the nicely- rough blues demo ive heard on bootlegs.

when doves cry sounded good on the purple rain tour but after that, it was way a bit 'overloaded' with instruments and new embellishments (or something) on the sott and lovesexy tours. i havnet heard it from the nude tour though. 1999 sounded cool back on the 1982 tour and PR 1984 tour, but after that (maybe it was the horns that did it) it didnt sound quite right.

on one hand, i would love for prince's songs to translate to a simple traditional band lineup so he doesnt have to get out the same old (dated?) drum machine every time he performs them. but maybe its just the arrangements, im not sure, but they seem to sound that good when he does that. im sure theres ways of getting around it though - the artists that remake his stuff seem to do ok.

(hope im not being too technical/critical!)

When Doves Cry
U Got The Look
Kiss
Pink Cashmere
Most Beautiful Girl In The World

ThataintFunky said:

forgot one:
When Doves Cry on NUDE-TOUR IN TOKYO
that's a good live-version

IMO the songs that don't work live are the ones where effects only possible in the studio are used.
I cite IIWYG- lead vocals speeded up, background vocals slowed down, keyboards recorded backwards. Also somehow the conflict and pain I feel in that song never came through on live versions.
Adore- Works best with the multi tracked vocals

JDINTERACTIVE said:

I am shocked!! I love the version of If I was your Girlfriend on the SOTT vid. Its proper Bo! The extra guitars and stuff
[This message was edited Fri Sep 26 6:22:54 PDT 2003 by ladymisskat]

well,
i thought "take me wit'you" sounded'ted good live, and "purple rain"

Romance1600 said:

agree with ya, Romance 1600!