As Prince fans,we are all familiar with his many unreleased albums and cancelled projects.There was the 'Dream Factory' album,the 'Camille' album,and numerous other albums that never saw the light of day.I love hearing about cancelled projects,and what could have been.For example,what would have happened if 'The Black Album' had been released,as planned,in December 1987? Would it have been a success? Would we still have gotten the 'Lovesexy' album in '88?

As I was pondering these questions,I began to think about other artists and their unreleased albums that are,presumably,collecting dust in the vaults somewhere.I made a list of some unreleased albums that I know about (and hope to obtain someday...lol...).I hope these albums get "set free" someday.


***Marvin Gaye 'Love Man'(1979)---Marvin's 1978 album 'Here,My Dear' was a commercial failure,and he felt pressure to come up with a hit.The result was an unreleased album called 'Love Man'.He wanted to reestablish his commercial prowess.Rick James---with his highly erotic,fabulously orchestrated funk---had become Motown's biggest star and Gaye was jealous.Teddy Pendergrass was another star who worried Marvin."Then there's this new cat",said Gaye,"that people in the industry are talking about,Prince.Doesn't he know I'M supposed to be the only Prince? They say he's sexy and has a high voice that sounds like mine.All these boys are romancing my fans,and I don't like it.I'm getting my fans back.I'm doing a straight-ahead make-out party album".
The album was scheduled to come out in the fall of 1979,but it remains unreleased to this day.Listeners did get to hear the first single,"Ego Trippin Out",which Motown released as a single on September 28,1979.Here is the full tracklist for the album: "Ego Trippin Out","Life's A Game of Give and Take","Life Is Now In Session","I Offer You Nothing But Love","Just Because You're So Pretty","Dance N'Be Happy","Funk Me,Funk Me,Funk Me",and "A Lover's Plea".


***Santana 'Serpents And Doves'(1996)---When Carlos Santana hooked up with Clive Davis and signed to Arista Records in 1999,he had a new album already completed and ready to go.But Davis convinced him to cancel the album,and they began working on what became the 14-million selling 'Supernatural' CD.The rejected album,titled 'Serpents And Doves' was recorded in 1996-97,and it is said to be a "real" Santana album,without all the superstar collaborations.Here's the full tracklist: "The Call/Kenya","Angelica","Serpents & Doves","Day Of Celebration","Harmonious Convergence","Love","Ba Bella","Interplanetary Party","Children Of The Light","When You're In Love","Ya Yo Me Cure","Feel The Spirit".


***The Ohio Players 'Jam'(1977)---In the 70s,these guys were an incredibly funky band,know for spirited live shows.So,why was this live album cancelled??

***The Commodores (first album) (1973)---In the Motown vaults,there sits an unreleased Commodores album recorded in 1973.This would have been their official debut album,but it was never released.A few tracks from it,"Are You Happy" and "Don't You Be Worried" can be found on their 2-CD Anthology from 1994.(In 1974,the Commodores released their debut album 'Machine Gun',but I still want the "rejected" debut.)


***Chaka Khan 'Dare You To Love Me'(1996)---Just before Chaka left Warner Bros,she recorded a final album that remains unreleased.Those who have heard it say it is one of her strongest albums ever.It was produced by David Gamson and MeShell Ndege'Ocello.Several tracks were released on her hits compilation: "Never Miss The Water","Every Little Thing","Everywhere".Other tracks include "Pain","Miles Blowin","Love Me Still" and the title track.


***Stevie Wonder 'People Move,Human Plays'(1983)---If you'll recall,Stevie didn't release a new album in 1983.But,he did record one,titled 'People Move,Human Plays',and Motown even scheduled a tentative release date.Not much is known about this album,but it's likely that a few tracks made it onto Wonder's 1984 project,the 'Woman In Red' movie soundtrack.


***Donna Summer 'I'm A Rainbow'(1981)---In the summer of 1981,Donna and her producers (Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte) recorded an 18-track,double album that was supposed to come out in the fall.When Summer took the completed album(titled 'I'm A Rainbow') to David Geffen (Geffen Records),he decided to cancel the album!! Instead,he brought in mega-producer Quincy Jones,forcing Summer to start over and record a new album with him as her producer.In 1982,fans got to hear a track from the rejected album,"Highway Runner",which appeared on the "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" movie soundtrack.A year later,another song "Romeo" appeared on the "Flashdance" soundtrack.
In 1996,almost 15 years later,the 'I'm A Rainbow' album was finally released on Polygram Records.The entire 2-album set is now available on one CD.Highlights include the slick, New Wave-ish "A Runner With The Pack",the soulful ballad "Sweet Emotion" and a stunning rendition of "Don't Cry For Me Argentina".

Not to mention Milli Vanilli's second album...oh wait...it's still lost...tragic indeed :*****(

there's also "Smile" by "The Beach Boys in 1968.u can find songs on "Smiley Smile" (1968 or 1969...), but its far from the original album. the legend says that when they recorded a song called "Fire" (that supposed to be a masterpiece), there was a real fire in town... Brian Wilson decided to left the album unreleased...it was the beginning of the end for Brian Wilson's brain...

I forgot all about the Beach Boy's 'Smile' album!! Do you guys know of any other lost albums?

Of course there's always Wendy & Lisa's unreleased ZTT album "Friendly Fire".

...and what about the "first Archtung Baby album" by U2 ?
they said that the tapes were stolen and then re-recordered the entire album, but i think they said that bcuz they wanted 2 change their musical direction...what do u think?

Don't forget the greatest of them all..."Smile" by Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys. The music on this often bootleged but never released is AMAZING...Brian is probably the worlds most underrated composer.

jackmitz said:

...as i said 3 post b4 !
agree with u about Brian Wilson !!!!


maybe Prince is in music what Orson Welles is in movie...a master with a lot of stuff left unreleased....

DavidEye said:

The Ohio Players Jam was finally released some 10 or 15 odd yrs. later but I couldn't figure out why it was cancelled in the 1st place because they were at their peak in 77 and a live force to be reckoned with!

Wendy and Lisa's Friendly Fire..

recorded with Trevor Horn after the success of Seal's second selftitled album... Worked on for over 5 years but finally dropped by Wendy and Lisa.

Both parties considered releasing the album after the critical success of Girlbros., but opted not to. W&L stated on their site that they felt the songs had been arranged,re-arranged and arranged so much that the life-force of the songs were drained...

Ive Got a Big Bowl of Cherries and All Night are to tracks that were included on Girlbros that were intended for Friendly Fire.

i though friendly fire was average. no where near eroica.

what about the unreleased albums by tears for fears, black or u2. should melon have had a general release?

GREAT topic DavidEye!
I would be very happy to hear the lost Cure album of 1994 and an album of covers by Eurythmics from 1985. What about Top from David Bowie?

SquirrelMeat said:

im sure wendy and lisa agree..hence them *not* allowing the release of the album....

Moonbeam said:

HOLY SHIT!
ok i have tons of boots from the cure, and never heard anything about an album recorded/scheduled for release in '94. wild mood swings of '96 was such a disappointment.... moonbeam, any info?

alx

micorison requesting radio silence...
[This message was edited Fri May 3 11:30:56 PDT 2002 by micorison]

smokeverbs said:

Not much, unfortunately. My brother knows a lot more about it than I do. However, imagine "Burn" and "Purple Haze" on an album full of similarly toned songs? I agree about "Wild Mood Swings" being a disaster, but "BloodFlowers" kicks my ass every time I hear it.

Also, keep in mind that the lineup changed between Wish and Wild Mood Swings (surprise, surprise). Apparently, it just got scrapped. What boots do you have? I have a few myself- .

Other lost albums that I know about...


***Dave Matthews Band---A few years ago,they recorded an entire album,then scrapped it and called in a new producer.The cancelled tracks,known as the "LillyWhite sessions" (I think),may still surface someday.

***The Mary Jane Girls(untitled third album,1986)---By the mid-80s,Rick James was feuding with Motown.He was getting ready to leave the label,and wanted to take the Mary Jane Girls with him.So,this created a "tug-of-war" situation,and as a result,the groups' third album (which James wrote and produced in 1986) was never released.It's a pity,because they were a successful group,with their first two albums both reaching gold status.

***Stephanie Mills (1976 album)---In 1976,Earth Wind and Fire vocalist Philip Bailey produced an album for the young Stephanie Mills.Motown never released it.

FUNKADELIC's "lost" album BY WAY OF THE DRUM which was supposed to come out on MCA in '89. Some tracks have shown up on GEORGE CLINTON's FAMILY SERIES or just got remixed into subsequent tracks on later Clinton projects. Tracks would've been:

Nosebleed
Sunshine Of Your Love
Beware Of Freaks Bearing Gifts
Ya Da Da Da (with Trey Lewd)
By Way Of The Drum
All Eyes Right
Some Freshadelic
Intuition

LOL MCA thought it was too rockish and techno. This was at the dismantling of Clinton's empire and the label wanted a bonafide hit. I actually have this complete session, but the mix is bad and muffled. Some god stuff on there, if the master can be remixed

DavidEye said:

actually, dave mathews band is in the studio finishing up this album..they have decided to release it after all...

Some other "lost" albums that I forgot to mention...


***Tower Of Power 'Dinosaur Tracks'(1982)---In 1981,Tower Of Power signed a new contract with Warner Bros (after spending a few years at Columbia Records).But,they were going through alot of personal problems which resulted in their 1982 album being shelved.These recordings,known as the "Dinosaur Tracks" were said to be less than fantastic.One song,"Simple As That" was later recorded by Huey Lewis.(For a brief time in 1999,the album was finally available as a limited-edition CD from Rhino Records).

***The Bee Gees 'A Kick In The Head Is Worth Eight In The Pants'(1974)---In the summer of 1973,a new Bee Gees single called "Wouldn't I Be Someone" was released.It was the first single from their album 'A Kick In The Head...'.However,the album was rejected by their label (Atlantic Records).Instead,they were paired with famed producer Arif Mardin and recorded the 'Main Course' album,which was released in 1975 and became a huge hit.Other songs from the cancelled album include "Elisa" and "King & Country";both of these,along with "Wouldn't I Be Someone" can be found on their 4-CD box set.

***Rick James 'Kickin'(1990)---At the end of the 80s,Rick James was without a record deal.That didn't stop him from recording new music,though.Throughout 1989 and 1990,he recorded an entire album called 'Kickin',which remains unreleased to this day.Four songs from this album---"Down By Law","Serious Love","Divine Love" and a remake of Norman Connor's atmospheric "You Are My Starship"---can be found on the 1994 2-CD hits compilation 'Bustin Out: The Best Of Rick James" (issued by Motown).

SkletonKee said:

Hey thanks for the info! Apparently,those rejected tracks are what their fans REALLY wanna hear.

man, anything - ANYTHING - recorded by donna summer and produced by giorgio moroder should be available for mass worship and booty-shaking. "on the radio" is a masterpiece greatest hits collection.

david bowie once said he and brian eno were at a disco in berlin when they heard "i feel love" for the first time, and bowie freaked out and said "THIS IS THE FUTURE OF MUSIC!!!"

i love that story - it cracks me up. but you gotta admit, that's an intense song.

Moonbeam said:

SO !! I talked with my freind, who manages the local record store here in town, and he said that Purple Haze came off a Jimi Hendrix remake compilation...
But what is this talk of 1994 lost album?? im a huge cure fan...and ive never heard of it !!!

vi

Bee Gees - A kick in the head is worth eight in the pants,

i SO want to hear this album,
on a positive note, their entire back catalogue is to be remastered sometime in the near future (2004/5) and about time too, rumoured to include outtakes/bonus tracks.

Maybe they'll release this as well (much doubt tho').

As I'm writing this the lyric above reads "You've got an ass like i've never seen, and the ride is so smooth...."

How true. (Ha!)

"Black Gold" by Jimi Hendrix. The people in charge of his estate say there are currently no plans to release any of it.

Moonbeam said:

not a whole bunch... i'm too poor to buy a lot of boots,

a show from 12-12-79

most of the b-sides from 80-2001

lost wishes

the bloodflowers demos (all instrumental, excellent)

the hard rock live show from 2000

miscellanious things dl'ed from websites that don't exist anymore

looking for the july 2000 show at pine knob here in detroit (have to look at my stub for the date) ... i was at that show so it would be neat to have a boot of it, cuz i was also at one of the shows at the palace in '92 that was used on the live album "show"

alx

smokeverbs said:

I was at that show too! It was June 10, 2000! Actually, I do have a BloodFlowers boot, but it isn't the Detroit show. It's called "Last Day At the Greek" and was recorded on May 31, 2000 in Los Angeles.

Moonbeam said:

yes june 10, i almost died when they played "plainsong", while my girlfriend was pissed that they didn't play "just like heaven" (didn't bother me! that song is played out). you we're there? where are you from? anyway that was the best cure show i've ever been to (although july 18th '92 ran a close second.)

i liked "burn" ...

what did you think of the two new songs from the hits collection? i hate the new version of just say yes (the demo is much, much cooler) but signal to noise is an instant classic.

sorry i'm rambling on, i don't know anyone else who digs the cure.

later

alx