I wasn't going to do a Prince post at this point originally, but someone I know was asking for rarities and this post was almost ready, so here it is.
I jokingly call myself a recovering Prince fan. Like a recovering addict, you're never fully recovered, and like some addicts I have an occasional relapse. Now, you may say there is a big difference between ruining your life with drugs and alcohol and buying Prince stuff, but it can be so easy to throw myself into his stuff that it can be similarly dangerous. Luckily, most of the stuff I'm interested doesn't cost anything as it's his unreleased stuff. That isn't to say that I don't care for his released recordings, but I've always found so much more depth in his unreleased stuff. Even if it isn't the greatest material, the unreleased stuff comes with so much added history and so many more questions than you'd ever get with his standard releases.
I usually like to post complete unreleased albums on the blog, but since Prince has so much unreleased material I thought it would be better to post a sampler of sorts from his back catalogue of vault stuff. The first disc focuses on songs that haven't been released in any form officially, while the second disc is dedicated to alternate versions and songs given to other performers. Read on for info on each individual track. Also, you should probably get these quickly as who knows how long they may remain online, especially with Prince's famous reputation for disliking bootlegs.
Prince - The Unheard
Disc 1:01 We Can Work It Out
This is one of those songs I'm sure Prince thought was long gone. It was recorded shortly after signing with Warner Brothers records in the late seventies. After his ridiculous falling out with them in the mid-nineties, it's all the more entertaining, especially the explosion at the end.
02 Broken
This was recorded around the Dirty Mind era.
03 Turn It Up
This has been called a 1999 outtake although it's probably more likely from the Controversy era. There is a version of this track that ends about 3 minutes in and another that picks up where that one ends, but this version features both parts and is the complete version of the song.
04 Moonbeam Levels
From the 1999 era.
05 Wonderful Ass
My favorite unreleased Prince song! This was recorded with Wendy & Lisa for possible inclusion on the Dream Factory album which eventually became Sign O' The Times. It's a crime that this never came out officially.
06 Schoolyard
This was a leftover from Diamonds and Pearls with good reason. It's a really good song but how do you think you're gonna get lyrics about a 14 and 15 year old getting high and screwing past the censors?
07 Others Here With Us
This was recorded during the Parade sessions and was actually included in an early configuration of the album. Really, REALLY creepy track. It's obvious as hell why it didn't get released, but that doesn't mean it's not excellent.
08 Rebirth Of The Flesh
Recorded as Camille, this track was originally set to open the Camille album, then the Crystal Ball album, then dropped entirely when that mutated into Sign O' The Times. It's the only track from the Camille album that hasn't seen an official release in one way or another. Well, that's not entirely true, as there was a live rehearsal released online via the NPG Music Club from the Sign O' The Times era touring band, but it's simply not the same thing.
09 We Got The Power
This was recorded around the Batman era. Whether it was created specifically for Batman or it's genesis was prior to Prince's commencing work for the film is unknown, but it's a funky track and was definitely considered for the film at one point. There is an early cut of the Batman trailer that features a portion of this song in the background.
10 Possessed (Instrumental Version)
You may have heard a small portion of this in the background of the Purple Rain movie, but the full track has never seen official release. There is also a vocal version of Possessed but it's an almost entirely different song which was at one point offered to James Brown. This is more for those wanting to dance than those needing the funk.
11 God Is Alive
This was recorded around the Batman era but may have been intended for Graffiti Bridge early on. Mavis Staples shares vocal duties here.
12 Work That Fat
I don't know much about this, other than it must not have been a serious day in the studio. I'd say this is the cousin of Bob George from the Black Album.
13 Lisa
Recorded around 1980 during the Dirty Mind period, this song is about Lisa Coleman, ex-member of the Revolution, Wendy's better half of Wendy & Lisa and an ex-romantic interest or you know who.
14 Dance With The Devil
This was intended for the Batman soundtrack. It was actually included in an early cut of the film which is where this track comes from. It sounds like it was meant for the end of the film, judging by the voice samples featured towards the end.
15 All My Dreams
Like Others Here With Us, this was also recorded for Parade and was included in an early version of the album. It almost made release on Dream Factory, but since that didn't happen this one just disappeared into the nothing. Really great, kinda-psychedelic track which should definitely have been released.
Disc 2:01 Computer Blue (Full Length Rough Mix)
This is the infamous, 10 minute plus, original version of Computer Blue. This features way more of Wendy & Lisa getting weird and Prince telling a rather odd story about a hallway. There is another version of this floating around in slightly better sound quality, but it's missing the hallway speech and most of Wendy & Lisa's stuff, so this is the version I chose to go with. On the other hand, the version without the speech has guitar feedback that sounds like outtakes from Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music.
02 Train
This was recorded initially for the Dream Factory album but was eventually given to Mavis Staples. The percussion track is made to sound like an actual train. I know that's pretty standard stuff these days, but in 1987/1987 this was pretty special.
03 G-Spot (1983 Reference Vocal)
This was initially meant for Vanity 6's second album, but when that didn't happen it sat in the vault for a few years until it ended up on Jill Jones' self-titled album. This version is very much of the Purple Rain era. Also, there are unmixed recordings of the synths and bass line circulating, just in case you wanted to make your own unreleased Prince song.
04 Feel U Up (1980 Demo)
05 Irresistible Bitch (1980 Demo)
These two go together. Don't know why Prince recorded them like this, but here they are. Feel U Up isn't too different from the finished version other than the vocals being ridiculously low in the mix, but Irresistible Bitch is very different. I LOVE the released version of Irresistible Bitch but this version is quite fun too.
06 Data Bank (Dream Factory era Version)
This is a rather funky workout recorded with the Revolution. You can hear Prince calling out for Lisa and the horns throughout. Prince later gave this to The Time whose version is almost completely different. I prefer this version.
07 Alphabet St. (Remix)
This was at one point probably considered for release alongside the released 12" remix of Alphabet St. I have no idea what this one would have been named but it should have came out cause it's a damn good remix!
08 Tick, Tick, Bang! (1980 Demo)
The essence of the Dirty Mind era! Way dirtier than the version that was released years later on Graffiti Bridge, this one is way punkier and nastier than many might have expected, that is unless you've listened to Dirty Mind. This song would fit perfectly right next to Sister!
09 The Ball
This was originally part of the Crystal Ball album which later became Sign O' The Times. It segued into Joy In Repetition. If the melody sounds familiar, that's because it's the same as Eye No from Lovesexy. Prince apparently liked the work enough to keep the basic tracks but record new vocals. Even the outro on Eye No is exactly the same as the one here and the intro to Joy In Repetition on Graffiti Bridge.
10 Batdance (Original Version)
This is the original, longer and uncensored version of Batdance. It features a few parts not in the finished version. In my opinion it's far superior to it's released counterpart, much in part due to it's length.
11 We Can Funk (Full Length Graffiti Bridge Version)
This version is most likely closer to the original version of the song circa 1983. Long, funky and over 10 minutes. Enjoy!
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