Difference between revisions of "Album: Crystal Ball 1986"
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|next album = Album: Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic | |next album = Album: Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic | ||
|next album link = [[Album: Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic|Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic]] | |next album link = [[Album: Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic|Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic]] | ||
− | |introduction = '''Crystal Ball''' is an unreleased triple-album by [[Prince]] (although planned for release under the pseudonym [[Alias: Camille|Camille]], | + | |introduction = '''Crystal Ball''' is an unreleased triple-album by [[Prince]] (although planned for release under the pseudonym [[Alias: Camille|Camille]]), and was compiled on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/November 30|30 November 1986]], using tracks from the abandoned [[Album: Dream Factory|Dream Factory]] and [[Album: Camille|Camille]] albums which had been worked on earlier in the year. Other than the title track, it is entirely different to the 1998 triple-CD release [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]]. |
− | The late 1986 | + | The late 1986 project was submitted to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Bros._Records Warner Bros.] for release, but they felt the album would be more effective if condensed; seven of the tracks were removed, and with some additions and variations, the work eventually evolved into [[Prince]]’s next album release (under his own name), [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]]. The differences are substantial enough, however, that the album deserves its own entry here. |
− | The [[Album: Camille|Camille]] album sequence, compiled only | + | The [[Album: Camille|Camille]] album sequence, compiled only three and a half weeks earlier than the only known configuration of '''Crystal Ball''', and since both shared the artist credit [[Alias: Camille|Camille]], '''Crystal Ball''' can be seen as an extension of the original [[Album: Camille|Camille]] album. Seven of the eight tracks on [[Album: Camille|Camille]] were included on '''Crystal Ball''': [[Rebirth Of The Flesh]], [[Housequake]], [[If I Was Your Girlfriend]], [[Rockhard In A Funky Place]], [[Strange Relationship]], [[Shockadelica]] and [[Good Love]]. Only [[Feel U Up]] was not included. |
− | These would have all been included in the same form as planned for the [[Album: Camille|Camille]] album. In addition, several tracks from the [[Album: Dream Factory|Dream Factory]] album were included: [[The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker]], [[It]], [[Starfish And Coffee]], [[Slow Love]], [[Hot Thing]], [[Crystal Ball]], [[I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man]], [[Sign O’ The Times]] and [[The Cross]]. | + | These seven tracks would have all been included in the same form, and therefor same length as planned for the [[Album: Camille|Camille]] album. In addition, several tracks from the [[Album: Dream Factory|Dream Factory]] album were included: [[The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker]], [[It]], [[Starfish And Coffee]], [[Slow Love]], [[Hot Thing]], [[Crystal Ball]], [[I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man]], [[Sign O’ The Times]] and [[The Cross]]. |
− | The album includes a few tracks not included on either previous project: [[Joy In Repetition]] (recorded in mid-July 1986), [[The Ball]] (recorded in late July 1986), [[Forever In My Life]] (recorded in early August 1986), [[It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night]] (recorded live in late August 1986, but only worked on in the studio in late November 1986), [[Adore]] (for this album still with the title ''Adore (Until The End Of Time'') and [[Play In The Sunshine]] (both recorded in late November 1986, after the | + | The album includes a few tracks not included on either previous project: [[Joy In Repetition]] (recorded in mid-July 1986), [[The Ball]] (recorded in late July 1986), [[Forever In My Life]] (recorded in early August 1986), [[It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night]] (recorded live in late August 1986, but only worked on in the studio in late November 1986), [[Adore]] (for this album still with the title ''Adore (Until The End Of Time'') and [[Play In The Sunshine]] (both recorded in late November 1986, after the [[Album: Camille|Camille]] album was shelved). |
− | Unlike the [[Album: Dream Factory|Dream Factory]] album, which | + | Unlike the [[Album: Dream Factory|Dream Factory]] album, which included alternate, unreleased versions of many tracks, all tracks would have been included in the same form as released on [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]], with some minor exceptions: [[If I Was Your Girlfriend]] omitted the prelude, which was recorded at a later date (the version began in the same way as the single edit, with the drum on the 'two' beat); additionally, [[Play In The Sunshine]] segued differently from [[Rebirth Of The Flesh]] than it does from [[Sign O’ The Times]] on its official release. |
The album features [[Prince]] in disguise as [[Alias: Camille|Camille]] on all vocals and instruments, with saxophone by [[Eric Leeds]] and trumpet by [[Atlanta Bliss]] on some tracks. [[Wendy Melvoin]], [[Lisa Coleman]] and [[Susannah Melvoin]] also appear on several tracks, although [[Wendy Melvoin]] and [[Lisa Coleman]]’s contributions were somewhat buried in the mix after their departure from [[Prince]]’s band. The full [[Prince and the Revolution|Revolution]] band appears on the track [[It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night]], which uses a live recording by the band as its basis. And also features [[Sheila E.]] and [[Jill Jones]]. | The album features [[Prince]] in disguise as [[Alias: Camille|Camille]] on all vocals and instruments, with saxophone by [[Eric Leeds]] and trumpet by [[Atlanta Bliss]] on some tracks. [[Wendy Melvoin]], [[Lisa Coleman]] and [[Susannah Melvoin]] also appear on several tracks, although [[Wendy Melvoin]] and [[Lisa Coleman]]’s contributions were somewhat buried in the mix after their departure from [[Prince]]’s band. The full [[Prince and the Revolution|Revolution]] band appears on the track [[It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night]], which uses a live recording by the band as its basis. And also features [[Sheila E.]] and [[Jill Jones]]. | ||
− | [[Prince]] is thought to have questioned the order of the album’s final two tracks. It has been believed that the final side at some point was also sequenced [[The Cross]] / [[Adore]] / [[It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night]], The j-card of the Bernie Grundman Mastering in-house cassette indeed shows this order, but this seems a typo on there as the sequence on the actual tape is the same as eventually released on the album [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]]. However, the actual reel of the master tape to that album has a handwritten sticker on it that reverses the tracks, even when they’re written on the sticker of its box as released on the album. It’s possibly that the same tape was used for side 6 of '''Crystal Ball''' in and side 4 of [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]], prompting the error on the j-card of the Bernie Grundman Mastering in-house cassette. Of note is that [[Adore]] was listed as ''Adore ( | + | [[Prince]] is thought to have questioned the order of the album’s final two tracks. It has been believed that the final side at some point was also sequenced [[The Cross]] / [[Adore]] / [[It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night]], The j-card of the Bernie Grundman Mastering in-house cassette indeed shows this order, but this seems a typo on there as the sequence on the actual tape is the same as eventually released on the album [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]]. However, the actual reel of the master tape to that album has a handwritten sticker on it that reverses the tracks, even when they’re written on the sticker of its box as released on the album. It’s possibly that the same tape was used for side 6 of '''Crystal Ball''' in and side 4 of [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]], prompting the error on the j-card of the Bernie Grundman Mastering in-house cassette. Of note is that [[Adore]] was listed as ''Adore (Until The End Of Time''), using the song’s first lyric as a parenthetical title for the track. |
− | When the project was developed into [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]] (in late December 1986), 15 of the 22 tracks were kept | + | When the project was developed into [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]] (in late December 1986), 15 of the 22 tracks were kept; only [[U Got The Look]] was a new addition, recorded in late December 1986. |
All of the remaining tracks have since been released elsewhere, however. [[Shockadelica]] was released as the b-side of [[Single: If I Was Your Girlfriend|If I Was Your Girlfriend]] in 1987 (the version included on '''Crystal Ball''' was released as [[Shockadelica]] (Extended Version) on the 12" release). [[Good Love]] was available in the same form on the [[Album: Bright Lights, Big City|Bright Lights, Big City]] movie soundtrack in 1988. | All of the remaining tracks have since been released elsewhere, however. [[Shockadelica]] was released as the b-side of [[Single: If I Was Your Girlfriend|If I Was Your Girlfriend]] in 1987 (the version included on '''Crystal Ball''' was released as [[Shockadelica]] (Extended Version) on the 12" release). [[Good Love]] was available in the same form on the [[Album: Bright Lights, Big City|Bright Lights, Big City]] movie soundtrack in 1988. | ||
− | [[Joy In Repetition]] was released on [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]] in 1990 (keeping the opening segue, but coming from [[We Can Funk]] instead of [[The Ball]]). [[Rockhard In A Funky Place]] was planned for release on [[Album: The Black Album|'' | + | [[Joy In Repetition]] was released on [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]] in 1990 (keeping the opening segue, but coming from [[We Can Funk]] instead of [[The Ball]]). [[Rockhard In A Funky Place]] was planned for release on [[Album: The Black Album|''"The Black Album"'']] in 1987, but finally received an official release in the same form with [[Album: The Black Album|''"The Black Album"'']] in 1994. |
− | [[Crystal Ball]] was released in the same form as the title track of the 1998 triple-album of previously-unreleased tracks [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] | + | [[Crystal Ball]] was released in the same form as the title track of the 1998 triple-album of previously-unreleased tracks [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]]. |
+ | [[Rebirth Of The Flesh]] was released in a live rehearsal form by the [[NPG Music Club]] in 2001, and its original studio rendition was released on the [[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe Edition'']] in 2020, albeit not in the version with the coda segueing into [[Housequake]] (on [[Album: Camille|Camille]]) / [[Play In The Sunshine]] (on [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]]). | ||
+ | [[The Ball]] was reworked as [[File:Eye88.png|link=Eye No]][[Eye No| No]] (released on [[Album: Lovesexy|Lovesexy]] in 1988) and later included in its original form on the [[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe Edition'']] in 2020. | ||
− | Nothing is known about whether an album cover or other artwork was designed for '''Crystal Ball''' | + | Nothing is known about whether an album cover or other artwork was designed for '''Crystal Ball'''. |
<br> | <br> | ||
|format = LP | |format = LP | ||
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*Side 4: | *Side 4: | ||
# <b>[[The Ball]]</b> (4:22) | # <b>[[The Ball]]</b> (4:22) | ||
− | # <b>[[Joy In Repetition]] | + | # <b>[[Joy In Repetition]] (4:59)</b> |
− | # <b>[[Strange Relationship]] </b>(4:04) | + | # <b>[[Strange Relationship]]</b>(4:04) |
# <b>[[I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man]]</b> (6:21) | # <b>[[I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man]]</b> (6:21) | ||
*Side 5: | *Side 5: | ||
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# <b>[[The Cross]]</b> (4:46) | # <b>[[The Cross]]</b> (4:46) | ||
# <b>[[It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night]]</b> (8:59) <small><sup>3</sup> </small> | # <b>[[It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night]]</b> (8:59) <small><sup>3</sup> </small> | ||
− | # <b>[[Adore|Adore (Until The End Of Time)]] </b>(6:29) | + | # <b>[[Adore|Adore (Until The End Of Time)]]</b>(6:29) |
|credits = All songs written by [[Prince]] (to be credited to [[Alias: Camille|Camille]]) except where noted. | |credits = All songs written by [[Prince]] (to be credited to [[Alias: Camille|Camille]]) except where noted. | ||
|* comment = <small><sup>1</sup> </small> Lyrics written by [[Prince]] and [[Susannah Melvoin]]<br> | |* comment = <small><sup>1</sup> </small> Lyrics written by [[Prince]] and [[Susannah Melvoin]]<br> | ||
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}} | }} | ||
|trivia = | |trivia = | ||
− | |alternative = | + | |alternative = |
+ | {{Alternative| | ||
+ | |format = Album | ||
+ | |config = | ||
+ | * <u>'''25 November 1986 configuration'''</u><br> | ||
+ | *Side 1 | ||
+ | # <b>[[Rebirth Of The Flesh]]</b> | ||
+ | # <b>[[Housequake]]</b> | ||
+ | # <b>[[Train]]</b> | ||
+ | # <b>[[The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker]]</b> | ||
+ | *Side 2 | ||
+ | # <b>[[It]]</b> | ||
+ | # <b>[[Starfish And Coffee]]</b> | ||
+ | # <b>[[Slow Love]]</b> | ||
+ | # <b>[[Hot Thing]]</b> | ||
+ | *Side 3 | ||
+ | # <b>[[Crystal Ball]]</b> | ||
+ | # <b>[[If I Was Your Girlfriend]]</b> | ||
+ | # <b>[[Rockhard In A Funky Place]]</b> | ||
+ | # <b>[[Moonbeam Levels]]</b> | ||
+ | *Side 4 | ||
+ | # <b>[[The Ball]]</b> | ||
+ | # <b>[[Joy In Repetition]]</b> | ||
+ | # <b>[[Strange Relationship]]</b> | ||
+ | # <b>[[I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man]]</b> | ||
+ | *Side 5 | ||
+ | # <b>[[Shockadelica]]</b> | ||
+ | # <b>[[Good Love]]</b> | ||
+ | # <b>[[Forever In My Life]]</b> | ||
+ | # <b>[[Sign O’ The Times]]</b> | ||
+ | *Side 6 | ||
+ | # <b>[[The Cross]]</b> | ||
+ | # <b>[[Adore|Adore (Until The End Of Time)]]</b> | ||
+ | # <b>[[It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night]]</b> | ||
+ | <small> Rest of the songs assumed to be the other eleven titles on the album, but their sequence is unknown. track-length is occasionally different, but tentative</small> | ||
+ | }} | ||
|references = [[Book:_The_Vault|'''The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince''']] ''by Per Nilsen & jooZt Mattheij, with the UPTOWN Staff'' (Uptown, 2004) | |references = [[Book:_The_Vault|'''The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince''']] ''by Per Nilsen & jooZt Mattheij, with the UPTOWN Staff'' (Uptown, 2004) | ||
|categories = [[Category:1986]][[Category:Unreleased Albums]] | |categories = [[Category:1986]][[Category:Unreleased Albums]] | ||
}} | }} |
Revision as of 18:37, 10 August 2021
1986: Camille ◄ | Unreleased Albums (Prince) |
Unreleased Albums (Related Artists) |
► 1989: Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic |
Crystal Ball |
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Additional Information
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1986 Camille |
Unreleased Albums (Prince) |
Unreleased Albums (Related Artists) |
1989 Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic |