Difference between revisions of "Crucial"

From Prince Vault
Jump to: navigation, search
(One intermediate revision by one other user not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:
 
|song name                = Crucial
 
|song name                = Crucial
 
|album image              = [[File:Crystalball_album.png|100px|link=Album: Crystal Ball]] <br><small> from the album [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] </small>  
 
|album image              = [[File:Crystalball_album.png|100px|link=Album: Crystal Ball]] <br><small> from the album [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] </small>  
|single image              = [[File:sottDeluxe.jpg|100px|link= Album: Sign O' The Times Deluxe|Sign O' The Times ''Super Deluxe'']]<br><small> from the album <br>[[Album: Sign O' The Times Deluxe|Sign O' The Times ''Super Deluxe Edition'']]
+
|single image              = [[File:sottDeluxe.jpg|100px|link= Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe'']]<br><small> from the album <br>[[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe'']]
 
|performer                = [[Prince]]
 
|performer                = [[Prince]]
 
|first released            = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/January 29|29 January 1998]] - [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] album
 
|first released            = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/January 29|29 January 1998]] - [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] album
 
|album(s)                  = [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]]
 
|album(s)                  = [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]]
[[Album: Sign O' The Times Deluxe|Sign O' The Times ''Super Deluxe Edition'']]
+
[[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe'']]
 
|writer(s)                = [[Prince]]
 
|writer(s)                = [[Prince]]
 
|producer(s)              = [[Prince]]
 
|producer(s)              = [[Prince]]
 
|previous song            = [[Cross The Line]]
 
|previous song            = [[Cross The Line]]
 
|next song                = [[Crystal Ball]]
 
|next song                = [[Crystal Ball]]
|introduction              = '''Crucial''' is the fifth track on the second disc of [[Prince]]'s 20th album [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] (his fourth using the name [[File: SymbolSmallerBlue.png|link=Alias: Symbol]]). The album is not clearly divided between [[Prince]] tracks and [[File: SymbolSmallerBlue.png|link=Alias: Symbol]] tracks, but the liner notes' discussion of this track state “All instruments and vocals by [[Prince]]”
+
|introduction              = '''Crucial''' is the fifth track on the second disc of [[Prince]]’s 20th album [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] (his fourth using the name [[File: SymbolSmallerBlue.png|link=Alias: Symbol]]). The album is not clearly divided between [[Prince]] tracks and [[File: SymbolSmallerBlue.png|link=Alias: Symbol]] tracks, but the liner notes' discussion of this track state “All instruments and vocals by [[Prince]]”
  
Basic tracking took place on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/September 13|13 September 1986]] at [[Prince]]'s [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]] in Chanhassen, Minnesota (four days after the end of the [[Parade Tour]] in Japan, the day before recording [[The Cocoa Boys]]). Two days later [[Prince]] worked further on the song recording almost completely new lyrics for it.
+
Basic tracking took place on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/September 13|13 September 1986]] at [[Prince]]’s [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]] in Chanhassen, Minnesota (four days after the end of the [[Parade Tour]] in Japan, the day before recording [[The Cocoa Boys]]). Two days later [[Prince]] worked further on the song recording almost completely new lyrics for it.
  
[[Eric Leeds]] added a saxophone part on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/November_8|8 November 1986]], at [[Sunset Sound]] in Hollywood, California, at [[Prince]]'s request, but when [[Prince]] heard it, he let [[Eric Leeds|Leeds]] know that the main saxophone solo was in the place where the guitar solo would be, so the saxophone solo was discarded. [[Eric Leeds|Leeds]] then recorded a different sax part the next day
+
[[Eric Leeds]] added a saxophone part on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/November_8|8 November 1986]], at [[Sunset Sound]] in Hollywood, California, at [[Prince]]’s request, but when [[Prince]] heard it, he let [[Eric Leeds|Leeds]] know that the main saxophone solo was in place of the guitar solo, so the saxophone solo was discarded. [[Eric Leeds|Leeds]] then recorded a different sax part the next day.
  
The song was written specifically for the planned musical [[Musical: The Dawn|The Dawn]], which was ultimately abandoned, and the song was never intended for any of [[Prince]]'s many late-1986 album projects (although the album notes in [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] state that it was intended for [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]] and was replaced by [[Adore]]). The title is mentioned in an early 1987 draft of what would become [[Film: Graffiti Bridge| Graffiti Bridge]]
+
The song was written specifically for the planned musical [[Musical: The Dawn|The Dawn]], which was ultimately abandoned, and the song was never intended for any of [[Prince]]’s many late-1986 album projects (although the album notes in [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] state that it was intended for [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]] and was replaced by [[Adore]]). The title is mentioned in an early 1987 draft of what would become [[Film: Graffiti Bridge| Graffiti Bridge]].
  
 
It is believed that the version used for release on [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] was edited in 1997, although this has not been confirmed.
 
It is believed that the version used for release on [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] was edited in 1997, although this has not been confirmed.
  
The original lyrics version (with the later [[Clare Fischer]] arrangement) was released on [[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe'']] in September 2020
+
The original lyrics version (with the later [[Clare Fischer]] arrangement) was released on [[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe'']] in September 2020.
  
 
|recording info            =
 
|recording info            =
Line 60: Line 60:
 
{{Songline|
 
{{Songline|
 
|1= '''[[Crucial]] (Alternate Lyrics Version)'''|2= 6:14
 
|1= '''[[Crucial]] (Alternate Lyrics Version)'''|2= 6:14
|3= [[Album: Sign O' The Times Deluxe|Sign O' The Times ''Super Deluxe Edition'']]|4= Studio|5= }}
+
|3= [[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe'']]|4= Studio|5= }}
 
}}
 
}}
 
|unreleased versions      =  
 
|unreleased versions      =  
Line 82: Line 82:
 
|3= Longer recording with some vocal and musical mixing differences, and lengthy guitar solo
 
|3= Longer recording with some vocal and musical mixing differences, and lengthy guitar solo
 
}}
 
}}
{{Unreleasedline|
+
<!-- {{Unreleasedline|
 
|1= '''Crucial'''
 
|1= '''Crucial'''
 
|2= Studio
 
|2= Studio
 
|3= Version with [[Susannah Melvoin]] singing lead
 
|3= Version with [[Susannah Melvoin]] singing lead
}}
+
}} -->
 
{{Unreleasedline|
 
{{Unreleasedline|
 
|1= '''Crucial'''
 
|1= '''Crucial'''
Line 101: Line 101:
 
|performed occasionally in = none
 
|performed occasionally in = none
 
|trivia                    =  
 
|trivia                    =  
|see also                  = [[Album: Sign O' The Times Deluxe|Sign O' The Times ''Super Deluxe Edition'']] album
+
|see also                  = [[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe'']] album
 
*[[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] album
 
*[[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] album
 
*[[Album:_Crystal_Ball_1986|Crystal Ball]] unreleased album
 
*[[Album:_Crystal_Ball_1986|Crystal Ball]] unreleased album

Revision as of 16:48, 23 September 2020

Cross The Line   < < < Non-Prince Songs All Prince Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Crystal Ball
Crucial

Crystalball album.png
from the album Crystal Ball
Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe
from the album
Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe
Song details
Performer: Prince
First Released: 29 January 1998 - Crystal Ball album
Album(s): Crystal Ball

Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe

Writer(s): Prince
Producer(s): Prince
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
Performed regularly on tour:
  • none
Performed occasionally in shows:
  • none

Crucial is the fifth track on the second disc of Prince’s 20th album Crystal Ball (his fourth using the name SymbolSmallerBlue.png). The album is not clearly divided between Prince tracks and SymbolSmallerBlue.png tracks, but the liner notes' discussion of this track state “All instruments and vocals by Prince

Basic tracking took place on 13 September 1986 at Prince’s Galpin Blvd Home Studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota (four days after the end of the Parade Tour in Japan, the day before recording The Cocoa Boys). Two days later Prince worked further on the song recording almost completely new lyrics for it.

Eric Leeds added a saxophone part on 8 November 1986, at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California, at Prince’s request, but when Prince heard it, he let Leeds know that the main saxophone solo was in place of the guitar solo, so the saxophone solo was discarded. Leeds then recorded a different sax part the next day.

The song was written specifically for the planned musical The Dawn, which was ultimately abandoned, and the song was never intended for any of Prince’s many late-1986 album projects (although the album notes in Crystal Ball state that it was intended for Sign O’ The Times and was replaced by Adore). The title is mentioned in an early 1987 draft of what would become Graffiti Bridge.

It is believed that the version used for release on Crystal Ball was edited in 1997, although this has not been confirmed.

The original lyrics version (with the later Clare Fischer arrangement) was released on Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe in September 2020.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
13 September 1986 Galpin Blvd Home Studio,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Basic tracking
15 September 1986 Galpin Blvd Home Studio,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
vocal overdubs with largely new lyrics
8 & 9 November 1986 Sunset Sound,
Hollywood, CA, USA
Saxophone overdubs by Eric Leeds
January 1987 Mad Hatter Studios
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Orchestra overdubs by Clare Fischer
Recording Personnel

Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Crucial 5:05 Crystal Ball Studio
Crucial (Alternate Lyrics Version) 6:14 Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Studio


Unreleased Versions
Title Version Additional Info
Crucial Original version before saxophone and guitar solo overdubs
Crucial Studio Longer recording with some vocal and musical mixing differences, and lengthy saxophone solo by Eric Leeds
Crucial Studio Longer recording with some vocal and musical mixing differences, and lengthy guitar solo
Crucial Studio Version with Clare Fischer Orchestra overdubs (possibly the same as above)
 
Additional Information

See also Trivia


References
Cross The Line   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Crystal Ball