Difference between revisions of "Computer Blue"

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{{song-2|
 
{{song-2|
 
|song name                = Computer Blue
 
|song name                = Computer Blue
|single image              = [[File:Purplerain.jpg|100px|link=Album: Purple Rain]] <br><small> from the album [[Album: Purple Rain|Purple Rain]]</small>
+
|single image              = [[File:Purplerain.jpg|100px|link=Album: Purple Rain]] <br><small> from the album [[Album: Purple Rain|Purple Rain]]  
 
|performer                = [[Prince and the Revolution]]
 
|performer                = [[Prince and the Revolution]]
|first released            = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/June 25|25 June, 1984]] - [[Album: Purple Rain|Purple Rain]] album
+
|first released            = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/June 25|25 June 1984]] - [[Album: Purple Rain|Purple Rain]] album
|album(s)                  = [[Album: Purple Rain|Purple Rain]]
+
|album(s)                  = [[Album: Purple Rain|Purple Rain]]  <br>
 +
[[Album: Purple Rain Deluxe|Purple Rain ''Deluxe'']] <br>
 +
[[Album: Prince And The Revolution: Live|Prince And The Revolution: Live]]
 
|writer(s)                = [[John L. Nelson]], [[Lisa Coleman]], [[Wendy Melvoin]] and [[Prince]]
 
|writer(s)                = [[John L. Nelson]], [[Lisa Coleman]], [[Wendy Melvoin]] and [[Prince]]
 
|producer(s)              = [[Prince]] (credited to [[Prince and the Revolution]])
 
|producer(s)              = [[Prince]] (credited to [[Prince and the Revolution]])
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|introduction              = '''Computer Blue''' is the fourth track on [[Prince]]'s sixth album [[Album: Purple Rain|Purple Rain]], the first album to be credited to [[Prince and the Revolution]]. The song also features in the movie [[Film: Purple Rain|Purple Rain]].
 
|introduction              = '''Computer Blue''' is the fourth track on [[Prince]]'s sixth album [[Album: Purple Rain|Purple Rain]], the first album to be credited to [[Prince and the Revolution]]. The song also features in the movie [[Film: Purple Rain|Purple Rain]].
  
Before a studio recording was made, [[Prince and the Revolution]] recorded the song live on [[03_August, 1983|3 August, 1983]] at [[First Avenue]], Minneapolis, MN, USA (during the same concert where [[I Would Die 4 U]], [[Baby I'm A Star]] and [[Purple Rain]] were also recorded).  
+
Before a studio recording was made, [[Prince and the Revolution]] recorded the song live on [[03_August 1983|3 August 1983]] at [[First Avenue]] in Minneapolis, Minnesota (during the same concert where [[I Would Die 4 U]], [[Baby I'm A Star]] and [[Purple Rain]] were also recorded).  
  
Later in August, 1983, a studio version was recorded at The [[St. Louis Park Warehouse]], St. Louis Park, MN, USA, with the full [[Prince and the Revolution|Revolution]], before at least three other versions were recorded on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/August_15|15 August, 1983]] at [[Sunset Sound]], Hollywood, CA, USA, with only [[Wendy Melvoin]] and [[Lisa Coleman]] participating (during the same set of sessions that produced [[Let's Go Crazy]]).  
+
On [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/August 8|8 August 1983]] (five days after its live-recording at [[First Avenue|First Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota]], a day after [[Let's Go Crazy]]) a studio version was recorded at [[The Warehouse]] in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, with [[The Revolution]] (a day after [[Let's Go Crazy]]). The track was then further worked on on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/August_15|15 August 1983]] at [[Sunset Sound]] in Hollywood, California, with only [[Wendy Melvoin]] and [[Lisa Coleman]] participating.  
  
These versions would be edited down for the album. They are largely similar at the beginning and end of the song - differences are noticeable in the middle of the track. A longer version of the track was included as the third track on the [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/November_7|7 November, 1983]] and [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/March_23|23 March, 1984]] configurations of the album, but this was edited down for the final [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/April 14|14 April, 1984]] configuration to make room for the inclusion of [[Take Me With U]].
+
The song, ultimately clocking in at over 14 minutes would be edited down for the album. It remained largely similar at the beginning and end of the song - differences are noticeable in the middle of the track. A longer version of the track was included as the third track on the [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/November_7|7 November 1983]] and [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/March_23|23 March 1984]] configurations of the album, but this was edited down for the final [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/April 14|14 April 1984]] configuration to make room for the inclusion of [[Take Me With U]].
  
All recorded versions of the song contain a segment of the track [[Father's Song]] during one of the instrumental breaks. It is likely that [[John L. Nelson]]'s credit on the track comes from this inclusion.
+
A slightly edited down version from the longest as the song got, omitting only guitar feedback at the beginning and end was released as '''Computer Blue ('Hallway Speech' Version)''' as the third track on the  ''From The Vault & Previously Unreleased'' disc of the [[Album: Purple Rain Deluxe|Purple Rain ''Deluxe'']] album in 2017.
 +
 
 +
The song contains a segment of the track [[Father's Song]] during one of the instrumental breaks. It is likely that [[John L. Nelson]]'s credit on the track comes from this inclusion. The composition [[Father's Song]] however was not yet recorded as a separate song when '''Computer Blue''' was conceived.
 
|recording info            =
 
|recording info            =
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = [[03_August, 1983|3 August, 1983]]
+
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/August 3|3 August 1983]]
|studio                    = [[First Avenue|First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, USA]]
+
|studio                    = [[First Avenue|First Avenue<br>Minneapolis, MN USA]]
 
|additional info          = Live recording
 
|additional info          = Live recording
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = August, 1983
+
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/August_8|8 August 1983]]
|studio                    = [[St. Louis Park Warehouse]], St. Louis Park, MN, USA
+
|studio                    = [[The Warehouse]],<br>St. Louis Park, MN, USA
|additional info          = Initial tracking of first version
+
|additional info          = Basic tracking
 +
}}
 +
{{RecordingLine|
 +
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/August_15|15 August 1983]]-[[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/August_19|19 August 1983]]; [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/August_20|20 August 1983]]; [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/August_29|29 August 1983]]-[[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/August_31|31 August 1983]]
 +
|studio                    = [[Sunset Sound]] - Studio 3,<br>Hollywood, CA, USA
 +
|additional info          = Overdubs
 +
}}
 +
{{RecordingLine|
 +
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/March 21|21 March 1984]]-[[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/March 22|22 March 1984]]
 +
|studio                    = [[Sunset Sound]] - Studio 3,<br>Hollywood, CA, USA
 +
|additional info          = Edit/Crossfade
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/August_15|15 August, 1983]]
+
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/April_14|14 April 1984]]-[[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/March 22|22 March 1984]]
|studio                    = [[Sunset Sound]], Hollywood, CA, USA
+
|studio                    = [[Sunset Sound]] - Studio 3,<br>Hollywood, CA, USA
|additional info          = Initial tracking of re-recording
+
|additional info          = Edit
 
}}
 
}}
 
|recording personnel      =
 
|recording personnel      =
 
*[[Prince]] - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
 
*[[Prince]] - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
 
*[[Lisa Coleman]] - keyboards and vocals
 
*[[Lisa Coleman]] - keyboards and vocals
*[[Wendy Melvoin|Wendy]] - guitars and vocals
+
*[[Wendy Melvoin]] - guitars and vocals
*[[Bobby Z.]] - drums and percussion <small>(credited, but on unreleased version only)</small>
+
*[[Bobby Z.]] - drums and percussion  
*[[Brown Mark]] - bass guitar and vocals <small>(credited, but on unreleased version only)</small>
+
*[[Brown Mark]] - bass guitar and vocals  
*[[Matt Fink]] - keyboards and vocals <small>(credited, but on unreleased version only)</small>
+
*[[Matt Fink]] - keyboards and vocals  
 +
<hr>
 +
*[[Susan Rogers]] - engineer (Warehouse)
 +
* [[Peggy McCreary]] - engineer (Sunset)
 +
* [[David Leonard]] - engineer (Sunset)
 +
 
 
|released versions        =
 
|released versions        =
 
{{Songchart|
 
{{Songchart|
Line 52: Line 71:
 
|5=  
 
|5=  
 
}}
 
}}
 +
{{Songline|
 +
|1= '''Computer Blue'''
 +
|2= 3:59
 +
|3= [[Album: Purple Rain Deluxe|Purple Rain ''Deluxe'']] <br>
 +
|4=
 +
|5= Remastered 2015
 +
}}
 +
{{Songline|
 +
|1= '''Computer Blue''' ('Hallway Speech' Version)
 +
|2= 12:19
 +
|3= [[Album: Purple Rain Deluxe|Purple Rain ''Deluxe'' (From The Vault & Previously Unreleased)]]<br>
 +
|4=
 +
|5= 'Hallway Speech' title was attributed for this release
 +
}}
 +
{{Songline|
 +
|1= '''Computer Blue'''
 +
|2= 4:15
 +
|3= [[Album: Prince And The Revolution: Live|Prince And The Revolution: Live]]
 +
|4= Live
 +
|5= [[30_March 1985|30 March 1985, Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY, USA]]
 +
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
|video versions            =  
 
|video versions            =  
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|1= '''Computer Blue'''  
 
|1= '''Computer Blue'''  
 
|2= 4:30
 
|2= 4:30
|3= [[Home_Video:_Double_Live| Prince And The Revolution: Live]] VHS/laserdisc
+
|3= [[Home_Video: Double_Live| Prince And The Revolution: Live]] VHS/laserdisc<br>
 +
[[Album: Purple Rain Deluxe|Purple Rain ''Deluxe'' – Live at the Carrier Dome (DVD)]]
 
|4= Live
 
|4= Live
|5= [[30_March,_1985|30 March, 1985, Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY, USA]]
+
|5= [[30_March 1985|30 March 1985, Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY, USA]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
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|1= '''Computer Blue'''
 
|1= '''Computer Blue'''
 
|2= Live recording
 
|2= Live recording
|3= [[03_August, 1983|3 August, 1983, First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, USA]]
+
|3= [[03_August 1983|3 August 1983, First Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Unreleasedline|
 
{{Unreleasedline|
 
|1= '''Computer Blue'''
 
|1= '''Computer Blue'''
 
|2= Studio
 
|2= Studio
|3= Full band recording at [[St. Louis Park Warehouse]], St. Louis Park, MN, USA
+
|3= Full band recording at [[The Warehouse]] in St. Louis Park, Minnesota
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Unreleasedline|
 
{{Unreleasedline|
 
|1= '''Computer Blue'''
 
|1= '''Computer Blue'''
 
|2= Studio
 
|2= Studio
|3= With [[Wendy Melvoin]] and [[Lisa Coleman]] at [[Sunset Sound]], Hollywood, CA, USA
+
|3= Overdubbed with [[Wendy Melvoin]] and [[Lisa Coleman]] at [[Sunset Sound]] in Hollywood, California
}}
+
{{Unreleasedline|
+
|1= '''Computer Blue'''
+
|2= Studio
+
|3= With [[Wendy Melvoin]] and [[Lisa Coleman]] at [[Sunset Sound]], Hollywood, CA, USA
+
}}
+
{{Unreleasedline|
+
|1= '''Computer Blue'''
+
|2= Studio
+
|3= With [[Wendy Melvoin]] and [[Lisa Coleman]] at [[Sunset Sound]], Hollywood, CA, USA
+
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
Line 101: Line 132:
 
|sampled in                =
 
|sampled in                =
 
|broadcasts, streaming    =  
 
|broadcasts, streaming    =  
|first live appearance    = [[03_August, 1983|3 August, 1983, First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, USA]]
+
|first live appearance    = [[03_August 1983|3 August 1983: First Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota]]<br>
 +
* [[28 May 2006|28 May 2006: Club 3121 Empire Ballroom, Las Vegas, NV, USA]] <small> (during acoustic guitar set) </small>; [[20 March 2014-am|20 March 2014 (show 2): The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA, USA]] <small> (interpolation in [[Something In The Water (Does Not Compute)]]) </small>
 
|performed regularly on    = [[Purple Rain Tour]]
 
|performed regularly on    = [[Purple Rain Tour]]
 
* [[Hit N Run Tour 00-01|Hit N Run Tour]]
 
* [[Hit N Run Tour 00-01|Hit N Run Tour]]
Line 108: Line 140:
 
|trivia                    =  
 
|trivia                    =  
 
|see also                  = [[Album: Purple Rain|Purple Rain]] album
 
|see also                  = [[Album: Purple Rain|Purple Rain]] album
|references                = ''[[Book:_The_Vault|The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004)]]''
+
* [[Album: Purple Rain Deluxe|Purple Rain ''Deluxe'']]
 +
|references                = ''[[Book: The_Vault|The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004)]]''
 +
* ''[https://www.amazon.com/Prince-Purple-Rain-Studio-Sessions/dp/1538114623/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8 Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions 1983 and 1984 (Expanded Edition, paperback), Duane Tudahl (2018)]''
 +
 
 
|categories                = [[Category:1984]][[Category:Released Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Songs (Prince and the Revolution)]][[Category:Recorded 1983]]
 
|categories                = [[Category:1984]][[Category:Released Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Songs (Prince and the Revolution)]][[Category:Recorded 1983]]
 
}}
 
}}

Revision as of 18:19, 3 July 2020

Compassion   < < < Non-Prince Songs All Prince Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Condition Of The Heart
Computer Blue

Purplerain.jpg
from the album Purple Rain
Song details
Performer: Prince and the Revolution
First Released: 25 June 1984 - Purple Rain album
Album(s): Purple Rain

Purple Rain Deluxe
Prince And The Revolution: Live

Writer(s): John L. Nelson, Lisa Coleman, Wendy Melvoin and Prince
Producer(s): Prince (credited to Prince and the Revolution)
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
Performed regularly on tour:
Performed occasionally in shows:

Computer Blue is the fourth track on Prince's sixth album Purple Rain, the first album to be credited to Prince and the Revolution. The song also features in the movie Purple Rain.

Before a studio recording was made, Prince and the Revolution recorded the song live on 3 August 1983 at First Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota (during the same concert where I Would Die 4 U, Baby I'm A Star and Purple Rain were also recorded).

On 8 August 1983 (five days after its live-recording at First Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota, a day after Let's Go Crazy) a studio version was recorded at The Warehouse in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, with The Revolution (a day after Let's Go Crazy). The track was then further worked on on 15 August 1983 at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California, with only Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman participating.

The song, ultimately clocking in at over 14 minutes would be edited down for the album. It remained largely similar at the beginning and end of the song - differences are noticeable in the middle of the track. A longer version of the track was included as the third track on the 7 November 1983 and 23 March 1984 configurations of the album, but this was edited down for the final 14 April 1984 configuration to make room for the inclusion of Take Me With U.

A slightly edited down version from the longest as the song got, omitting only guitar feedback at the beginning and end was released as Computer Blue ('Hallway Speech' Version) as the third track on the From The Vault & Previously Unreleased disc of the Purple Rain Deluxe album in 2017.

The song contains a segment of the track Father's Song during one of the instrumental breaks. It is likely that John L. Nelson's credit on the track comes from this inclusion. The composition Father's Song however was not yet recorded as a separate song when Computer Blue was conceived.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
3 August 1983 First Avenue
Minneapolis, MN USA
Live recording
8 August 1983 The Warehouse,
St. Louis Park, MN, USA
Basic tracking
15 August 1983-19 August 1983; 20 August 1983; 29 August 1983-31 August 1983 Sunset Sound - Studio 3,
Hollywood, CA, USA
Overdubs
21 March 1984-22 March 1984 Sunset Sound - Studio 3,
Hollywood, CA, USA
Edit/Crossfade
14 April 1984-22 March 1984 Sunset Sound - Studio 3,
Hollywood, CA, USA
Edit
Recording Personnel


Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Computer Blue 3:59 Purple Rain

Strange Tales From The Rain promo

Studio
Computer Blue 3:59 Purple Rain Deluxe
Remastered 2015
Computer Blue ('Hallway Speech' Version) 12:19 Purple Rain Deluxe (From The Vault & Previously Unreleased)
'Hallway Speech' title was attributed for this release
Computer Blue 4:15 Prince And The Revolution: Live Live 30 March 1985, Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY, USA
Video Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Computer Blue 4:30 Prince And The Revolution: Live VHS/laserdisc

Purple Rain Deluxe – Live at the Carrier Dome (DVD)

Live 30 March 1985, Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY, USA


Unreleased Versions
Title Version Additional Info
Computer Blue Live recording 3 August 1983, First Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Computer Blue Studio Full band recording at The Warehouse in St. Louis Park, Minnesota
Computer Blue Studio Overdubbed with Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California
 
Additional Information

See also Trivia


References
Compassion   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Condition Of The Heart