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In 1983, Prince was already an established artist: albums like Dirty Mind (1980), Controversy (1981), and 1999 (1982) had achieved good commercial success and, more importantly, had demonstrated his incredible musical qualities, positioning him in the soul-funky genre that made him the natural heir of James Brown.
However, Prince was more than what the great albums such as those mentioned and those that followed (1984 was the year of Purple Rain) could represent: he was a complete musician and played exceptionally well.
This is a home recording, a bootleg, with imperfect sound, but it's more than good enough as is.
When I listen to Cold Coffee & Cocaine, for example, a completely unreleased track (I, who possess many unreleased/bootleg recordings of the fairy, had never heard this piece!), I literally jump: hearing how Prince manages to connect an incredible voice, between highs, falsettos, and baritone tones, to the rapid notes of the piano, perfectly interwoven with vocal acrobatics, is truly good for the heart and ears. The piece is a splendid, fast R&B, decisive with piano flights with a Jazz flavor: practically in five minutes, that's all there is, the best of music.
Why the Butterflies is another unreleased track (I had never heard this one either) of excellent quality: Prince plays the piano and keeps time with the tap of his foot on the floor, crafting a piece strongly inspired by jazz-blues. A tormented voice, between highs and lows interrupted by very hypnotic piano notes that give the track a vaguely psychedelic flavor. I think if Prince had tackled this piece on the guitar, it would have produced some genius akin to Syd Barrett, who, I don't know how, I hear echoing in this song.
Wednesday is the other unreleased track, less complete, seems more like an introduction, but it is noteworthy for the sweetness of Prince's piano and voice.
The other pieces are remakes or covers.
I'll highlight A Case of You by Joni Mitchell: the original is a wonderful piece, a folk gem; here, in Prince's hands, with the piano in place of the acoustic guitar, it becomes a gem with an almost gospel flavor and reveals the inspiration for Purple Rain that comes directly from this melodic line.
Among the remakes, we hear the same Purple Rain in an embryonic version (it will be released about a year later): a minute and twenty-five seconds of pure musical joy.
17 Days (B-side of When Doves Cry), sounds fast, to my mind a soul/R&B better than the quality pop of the original.
Strange Relationship will be published many years later (Sign o' the Times, 1987) in a pop form with Prince's guitar standing out as much as it is brilliantly kept behind the other instruments. Here, the piece sounds very blues and sounds good.
International Lover was published in the beautiful 1999 and was, in my opinion, the masterpiece of that album, with its jazz and almost prog digressions at times. It is presented as a beautiful piano ballad, much less ambitious than the original, but very enjoyable.
The album finally contains Mary Don't You Weep, an old traditional spiritual, in execution, both vocally and pianistically, in line with the exceptional nature of this album.
If you don't know Prince, this album is not suitable to get to know him.
To those who know him, however, I highly recommend it, as further proof of the brilliance of one of the greatest musicians of the last century and certainly, given the poor health of music nowadays, of the current century.
Tracklist and Lyrics
02 Purple Rain (01:27)
I never meant to cause you any sorrow
I never meant to cause you any pain
I only wanted one time to see you laughing
I only want to see you laughing in the purple rain
purple rain, purple rain
purple rain, purple rain
purple rain, purple rain
I only want to see you bathing in the purple rain
I never wanted to be your weekend lover
I only wanted to be some kind of friend
baby I could never steal you from another
it's such a shame our friendship had to end
purple rain, purple rain
purple rain, purple rain
purple rain, purple rain
I only want to see you underneath the purple rain
honey, I know, I know, I know times are changing
it's time we all reach out for something new, that means you too
you say you want a leader,
but you can't seem to make up your mind
I think you better close it
and let me guide you into the purple rain
purple rain, purple rain
purple rain, purple rain
purple rain, purple rain
I only want to see you, only want to see you
in the purple rain
03 A Case Of You (01:41)
A case of you
Just before our love got lost you said
I am as constant as a northern star
And I said, constant in the darkness
Wheres that at?
If you want me Ill be in the bar
On the back of a cartoon coaster
In the blue tv screen light
I drew a map of canada
Oh canada
And your face sketched on it twice
Oh you are in my blood like holy wine
Oh and you taste so bitter but you taste so sweet
Oh I could drink a case of you
I could drink a case of you darling
And I would still be on my feet
Oh Id still be on my feet
Oh I am a lonely painter
I live in a box of paints
Im frightened by the devil
And Im drawn to those ones that aint afraid
I remember that time that you told me, you said
Love is touching souls
Surely you touched mine
Cause part of you pours out of me
In these lines from time to time
Oh you are in my blood like holy wine
And you taste so bitter but you taste so sweet
Oh I could drink a case of you
I could drink a case of you darling
Still Id be on my feet
And still be on my feet
I met a woman
She had a mouth like yours
She knew your life
She knew your devils and your deeds
And she said
Color go to him, stay with him if you can
Oh but be prepared to bleed
Oh but you are in my blood youre my holy wine
Oh and you taste so bitter, bitter and so sweet
Oh I could drink a case of you darling
Still Id be on my feet
Id still be on my feet
Mmmmmmm
05 Strange Relationship (02:39)
I guess you know me well, I don't like winter
But I seem to get a kick out of doing you cold
Oh, what the hell, you always surrender
What's this strange relationship that we hold on to?
Baby I just can't stand to see you happy
More than that I hate to see you sad
Honey if you left me I just might do something rash
What's this strange relationship? (ship, ship, ship)
I came and took your love, I took your body
I took all the self respect you ever had
I took you for a ride and baby I'm sorry
The more you love me sugar, the more it makes me mad
Baby I just can't stand to see you happy
More than that I hate to see you sad
Honey if you left me I just might do something rash
What's this strange relationship? (ship, ship, ship)
Isn't it a shame this ain't a movie
Then you could rewrite my every line
I'll take all the blame, yo baby I'm sorry
But I didn't like the way you were, so I had to make you mine
Baby I just can't stand to see you happy
More than that I hate to see you sad
Honey if you left me I just might do something rash
What's this strange relationship? (ship, ship, ship)
Mmmmm, my strange relationship
Can't live with you, can't live without you
That's all about..
Do you know? (strange relationship)
I think you and I got a (strange relationship)
What's this strange relationship?
Yeah, yeah [repeated to fade]
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