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 = | + | |next year = 1986 |
− | |next album = Album: | + | |next album = Album: Untitled Live Album (1986) |
− | |next album link = [[Album: | + | |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]]), | + | |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, | + | [[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 | + | 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. | ||
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[[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]] | + | [[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> | ||
<small><sup>2</sup> </small> Lyrics written by [[Prince]] and Carole Davis<br> | <small><sup>2</sup> </small> Lyrics written by [[Prince]] and Carole Davis<br> | ||
− | <small><sup>3</sup> </small> Music written by [[Prince]] and [[Eric Leeds]]<br> | + | <small><sup>3</sup> </small> Music written by [[Prince]], [[Dr. Fink]] and [[Eric Leeds]]<br> |
− | <small><sup>4</sup> </small> Music written by [[Prince | + | <!-- <small><sup>4</sup> </small> Music written by [[Prince]] and [[Eric Leeds]]<br> --> |
<br> | <br> | ||
<!-------PERSONNEL -------> | <!-------PERSONNEL -------> | ||
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|see also = | |see also = | ||
{{SeeAlso| | {{SeeAlso| | ||
− | |item1 = [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times<br>( | + | |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>( | + | |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| | + | {{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: Camille ◄ | Unreleased Albums (Prince) |
Unreleased Albums (Related Artists) |
► 1986: Untitled Live Album (1986) |
Crystal Ball |
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Additional Information
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1986 Camille |
Unreleased Albums (Prince) |
Unreleased Albums (Related Artists) |
1986 Untitled Live Album (1986) |