Prince/MN,USA 1987 Rehearsals Soundboard Edition

With the Revolution having disbanded and the album “Sign O’ The Times” nearing completion, Prince began rehearsals with his new band in a warehouse on Washington Avenue in January 1987. This first rehearsal recording, presented here in a superb soundboard recording, is a stunning example of the band’s early rehearsals. The album was still incomplete, so it’s surprising to hear the three-disc “Crystal Ball” set in mind. What’s even more remarkable is the nearly complete live version! The songs performed are incredibly rare and hot! First of all, this live version deserves applause. It’s “Crystal Ball”! It feels like a fully-formed live version, solid and gorgeous, with more vivid effects than the studio version. It’s simply stunning. The horn phrasing on “U Got The Look” is quite different, giving it the feel of an early live arrangement. The midsection, in particular, features a completely different horn section, making it a particularly interesting version. “Rebrith of the Flesh” is a live version that’s even better, with a new arrangement and a funky feel. The crisp, shimmering cutting is especially cool. “Play in the Sunshine” is performed with a serious tone, and the horn phrases are subtly different, giving it a feel of early days. The heavyweight “Housequake,” with its well-connected yet somewhat laid-back groove, also evokes a certain early feeling. And then there’s the jaw-dropping live version of “Starfish & Coffee”! Eric and the horns are irresistible, bucolic. With a slight change in Prince’s melody, this is an incredible version that will bring you to tears. “Slow Love” is a 15-minute long performance, and the slow jazz in the second half is so cool! I’ve never heard anything like it, even at an after-show! The quirky yet very funky jam of “It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night” mixes in a variety of elements, including the chorus from “Superfunkycalifragisexy,” “Mutiny,” (a little bit) “America,” a dog barking sample, and innovative guitar chops. “I’ll Take You There” is also a very gospel-esque performance, with everyone except Bonnie Boyer on vocals. The second half is a masterpiece, with Prince’s ambient guitar and electric vibes evolving into a psychedelic ensemble. This is followed by a short but intensely funky jam of Graham Central Station’s “Tell Me What It Is.” “Hair” then unfolds solidly and groovily. Instead of horns, cool keyboards take center stage, which is also deeply moving. The second half takes a different funk turn, where Prince summons the horns and plays unheard phrases, evolving into earthy jazz-funk and creating an unpredictable jam. The mix of playful and serious, with the guitar timbre emanating from a quiet backing track, is professional and never sloppy. Then there’s a live version of “Crystal Ball,” another wonderful performance, seemingly testing the blend of horn parts from Jill Jones’s “For Love.” Then “Crystal Ball” is played again, but fades out midway through. The fact that they were experimenting with a live version of “Crystal Ball” is simply mind-blowing, and I find myself listening to it over and over again. It’s the best rehearsal of the last 25 years. 1987-01-14 Rehearsals | Washington Avenue Warehouse | Edina MN | USA Disc 1 : 01. Crystal Ball #1 incl. For Love (Instrumental) – Lines [11:14] 02. U Got The Look [04:51] 03. Rebirth Of The Flesh [04:00] 04. Play In The Sunshine [04:49] 05. Housequake [04:49] 06. Starfish And Coffee [03:14] 07. Slow Love [15:52] Disc 2 : 01. It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night #1 (Instrumental) incl. Superfunkycalifragisexy (Chant) – Mutiny – For The Love Of Money (Chant)[07:07] 02. It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night #2 (Slowed Down) incl. Planet Rock (Chant) – Superfunkycalifragisexy (Chant) [06:19] 03. I’ll Take You There [07’02] 04. Tell Me What It Is incl. I Need A Man (Instrumental) [01:53] 05. Hair [05:26] 06. Guitar Improvisation incl. The Cross (Intro Chord) [04:47] 07. Crystal Ball #2 incl. For Love (Instrumental) – Lines [11:51] 08. Crystal Ball #3 incl. For Love (Instrumental) – Lines [04:36] Musicians : Prince | Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Drums Sheila E. | Drums, Vocals Levi Seacer Jr. | Bass Miko Weaver | Guitar Dr. Fink | Keyboards Boni Boyer | Keyboards, Vocals Eric Leeds | Saxophone Atlanta Bliss | Trumpet Cat | Dance, Backing Vocals Wally Safford | Backing Vocals, Dance Greg Brooks | Backing Vocals, Dance Soundboard Recording