Difference between revisions of "Album: Crystal Ball 1986"

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|previous album        = Album: Camille
 
|previous album        = Album: Camille
 
|previous album link    = [[Album: Camille|Camille]]
 
|previous album link    = [[Album: Camille|Camille]]
−
|next year              = 1989
+
|next year              = 1986
−
|next album            = Album: Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic
+
|next album            = Album: Untitled Live Album (1986)
−
|next album link        = [[Album: Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic|Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic]]
+
|next album link        = [[Album: Untitled Live Album (1986)|''Untitled Live Album (1986)'']]
−
|introduction          = '''Crystal Ball''' is an unreleased triple-album by [[Prince]] (although planned for release under the pseudonym [[Alias: Camille|Camille]]), which in early stages was also considered to be its title.  It as compiled on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/November 30|30 November 1986]], by expending the considered, but unreleased 8-track single album [[Album: Camille|Camille]] with tracks from the earlier also abandoned [[Album: Dream Factory|Dream Factory]] album. Other than its title track, it is entirely different to the 1998 triple-CD release [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]].  
+
|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 triple-album 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 to a double or even single album; seven of the tracks were removed, and with some additions and variations, the work eventually evolved into [[Prince]]’s next album release (eventually 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 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 25 days before the '''Crystal Ball''' triple album as submitted to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Bros._Records Warner Bros.], shares seven of the eight tracks with '''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).  
+
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 initial [[Album: Camille|Camille]] album was shelved).  
+
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 initially included alternate versions of tracks, later released in different form, most tracks would have been included on '''Crystal Ball''' in the same form as eventually released on [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]]. there were some minor exceptions, however: [[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.  
+
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 (until the end of time)'', using the song’s first lyric as a parenthetical title for the track.  
+
[[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, when they’re written on the original sticker on the same box box in the sequence they were released on the album.  
  
−
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 from '''Crystal Ball'''; only [[U Got The Look]] was a new addition, recorded in late December 1986.
+
It’s possible that the same tape was used for side 6 of '''Crystal Ball''' 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; 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.  
Line 33: Line 35:
 
[[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.  
 
[[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]], [[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]], finally, 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.
+
[[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'''. It is likely it did not get to that stage after [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Bros._Records Warner Bros.] declined to release it in that form.  
+
Nothing is known about whether an album cover or other artwork was designed for '''Crystal Ball'''.
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
|format                = LP
 
|format                = LP
Line 55: Line 59:
 
*Side 4:
 
*Side 4:
 
# <b>[[The Ball]]</b> (4:22)
 
# <b>[[The Ball]]</b> (4:22)
−
# <b>[[Joy In Repetition]] </b>(4:59)
+
# <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:
Line 66: Line 70:
 
# <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>&nbsp; </small>
 
# <b>[[It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night]]</b> (8:59) <small><sup>3</sup>&nbsp; </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>&nbsp; </small> Lyrics written by [[Prince]] and [[Susannah Melvoin]]<br>
 
|* comment              = <small><sup>1</sup>&nbsp; </small> Lyrics written by [[Prince]] and [[Susannah Melvoin]]<br>
 
<small><sup>2</sup>&nbsp; </small> Lyrics written by [[Prince]] and Carole Davis<br>
 
<small><sup>2</sup>&nbsp; </small> Lyrics written by [[Prince]] and Carole Davis<br>
−
<small><sup>3</sup>&nbsp; </small> Music written by [[Prince]] and [[Eric Leeds]]<br>
+
<small><sup>3</sup>&nbsp; </small> Music written by [[Prince]], [[Dr. Fink]] and [[Eric Leeds]]<br>
−
<small><sup>4</sup>&nbsp; </small> Music written by [[Prince]], [[Dr. Fink]] and [[Eric Leeds]]<br>
+
<!-- <small><sup>4</sup>&nbsp; </small> Music written by [[Prince]] and [[Eric Leeds]]<br> -->
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
<!-------PERSONNEL ------->
 
<!-------PERSONNEL ------->
Line 103: Line 107:
 
|see also              =
 
|see also              =
 
{{SeeAlso|
 
{{SeeAlso|
−
|item1  = [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times<br>(album)]]
+
|item1  = [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]]<br>(Album)
 
|image1  = [[File:sott.jpg|60px|link=Album: Sign O’ The Times]]
 
|image1  = [[File:sott.jpg|60px|link=Album: Sign O’ The Times]]
−
|item2  = [[Album: Camille|Camille<br>(unreleased album)]]
+
|item2  = [[Album: Camille|Camille]]<br>(Unreleased album)
 
|image2  = [[File:CAMILLE_1.jpg|60px|link=Album: Camille]]
 
|image2  = [[File:CAMILLE_1.jpg|60px|link=Album: Camille]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
|trivia                =  
 
|trivia                =  
−
|alternative            =  
+
|alternative            =
−
|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)  
+
{{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> Songs on sides 4, 5 and 6  are assumed to be as the final configuration, but their sequence is unconfirmed. For all tracks the length might occasionally differ from what would be the final configuration.</small>
 +
}}
 +
|references            = ''[[Book:_The_Vault|The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004)]]''  
 +
* ''[https://www.duanetudahl.com/prince-book Prince and the Parade/Sign O’ The Times Era Studio Sessions 1985 and 1986, Duane Tudahl (2021)]''
 +
 
 
|categories            = [[Category:1986]][[Category:Unreleased Albums]]
 
|categories            = [[Category:1986]][[Category:Unreleased Albums]]
 
}}
 
}}

Latest revision as of 06:19, 19 April 2023

1986: Unreleased project.png Camille ◄ Unreleased Albums
(Prince) 		Unreleased Albums
(Related Artists) 		► 1986: Unreleased project.png Untitled Live Album (1986)
Crystal Ball
Unreleased project.png

Album details

Intended Release Date: Early 1987
Label(s): Paisley Park Records / Warner Bros. (assumed)
Studio(s): Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA; Galpin Blvd Home Studio, Chanhassen, MN, USA; Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, CA, USA; Kiowa Trail Home Studio, Chanhassen, MN, USA; Washington Avenue Warehouse, Edina, MN, USA; Le Zénith, Paris, France

See also

Sign O’ The Times
(Album) 		Camille
(Unreleased album)
Sott.jpg CAMILLE 1.jpg

Alternate Album Configuration

  • 25 November 1986 configuration
  • Side 1
  1. Rebirth Of The Flesh
  2. Housequake
  3. Train
  4. The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker
  • Side 2
  1. It
  2. Starfish And Coffee
  3. Slow Love
  4. Hot Thing
  • Side 3
  1. Crystal Ball
  2. If I Was Your Girlfriend
  3. Rockhard In A Funky Place
  4. Moonbeam Levels
  • Side 4
  1. The Ball
  2. Joy In Repetition
  3. Strange Relationship
  4. I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man
  • Side 5
  1. Shockadelica
  2. Good Love
  3. Forever In My Life
  4. Sign O’ The Times
  • Side 6
  1. The Cross
  2. Adore (Until The End Of Time)
  3. It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night

Songs on sides 4, 5 and 6 are assumed to be as the final configuration, but their sequence is unconfirmed. For all tracks the length might occasionally differ from what would be the final configuration.

Crystal Ball is an unreleased triple-album by Prince (although planned for release under the pseudonym Camille), and was compiled on 30 November 1986, using tracks from the abandoned Dream Factory and 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 Crystal Ball.

The late 1986 project was submitted to 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), Sign O’ The Times. The differences are substantial enough, however, that the album deserves its own entry here.

The 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 Camille, Crystal Ball can be seen as an extension of the original Camille album. Seven of the eight tracks on 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 seven tracks would have all been included in the same form, and therefor same length as planned for the Camille album. In addition, several tracks from the 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 Camille album was shelved).

Unlike the Dream Factory album, which included alternate, unreleased versions of many tracks, all tracks would have been included in the same form as released on 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 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 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 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, when they’re written on the original sticker on the same box box in the sequence they were released on the album.

It’s possible that the same tape was used for side 6 of Crystal Ball and side 4 of 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 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 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 Bright Lights, Big City movie soundtrack in 1988.

Joy In Repetition was released on 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 “The Black Album” in 1987, but finally received an official release in the same form with “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 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 Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition in 2020, albeit not in the version with the coda segueing into Housequake (on Camille) / Play In The Sunshine (on Crystal Ball). The Ball was reworked as Eye88.png No (released on Lovesexy in 1988) and later included in its original form on the 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.



Track listing
LP
  • Side 1:
  1. Rebirth Of The Flesh (4:54)
  2. Play In The Sunshine (5:05)
  3. Housequake (4:34)
  4. The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker (4:04)
  • Side 2:
  1. It (5:10)
  2. Starfish And Coffee (2:51) 1 
  3. Slow Love (4:18) 2 
  4. Hot Thing (5:39)
  • Side 3:
  1. Crystal Ball (10:22)
  2. If I Was Your Girlfriend (4:47)  (omits the ‘street vendor/Wedding March’ intro)
  3. Rockhard In A Funky Place (4:30) 3 
  • Side 4:
  1. The Ball (4:22)
  2. Joy In Repetition (4:59)
  3. Strange Relationship(4:04)
  4. I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (6:21)
  • Side 5:
  1. Shockadelica (6:12)
  2. Good Love (5:11)
  3. Forever In My Life (3:38)
  4. Sign O’ The Times (4:51)
  • Side 6:
  1. The Cross (4:46)
  2. It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night (8:59) 3 
  3. Adore (Until The End Of Time) (6:29)

All songs written by Prince (to be credited to Camille) except where noted.
1  Lyrics written by Prince and Susannah Melvoin
2  Lyrics written by Prince and Carole Davis
3  Music written by Prince, Dr. Fink and Eric Leeds



Personnel
Musicians


Production


 
Additional Information
Trivia
References
Unreleased project.png 1986
Camille 		Unreleased Albums
(Prince) 		Unreleased Albums
(Related Artists) 		1986
Untitled Live Album (1986) 		Unreleased project.png
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