Mia Bocca

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Mia Bocca

Jilljones album.jpg
from the album Jill Jones
Miabocca single.jpg
single art for Mia Bocca
Song details
Performer: Jill Jones
First Released: 6 April 1987 - Mia Bocca single
Album(s): Jill Jones
Writer(s): Prince (credited to Prince and Jill Jones)
Producer(s): David Z. and Jill Jones
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
  • This track is not believed to have been performed live by Prince.
Performed regularly on tour:
  • none
Performed occasionally in shows:
  • none

Mia Bocca is the first track on Jill Jones’s first and only Paisley Park Records album Jill Jones. Shortly before the album’s release, Mia Bocca was released as the album’s first single, containing two remixes of the track. Although Jill Jones shared official writing credits, the song was written solely by Prince.

Basic tracking for Prince’s original version probably took place in Spring 1983, most likely at Prince’s Kiowa Trail Home Studio in Chanhassen, MN, USA. It was the only song title mentioned in the earliest incarnation of the script for Purple Rain (then titled 'Dreams'), but was omitted once Albert Magnoli rewrote the script into Purple Rain. Jill Jones recorded her vocals for it in late July 1983, in the first sessions of Susan Rogers recording something for Prince.

In early November 1983 the song was possibly worked on further. Clare Fischer’s horn and string arrangement was added sometime in December 1985 or January 1986. Prince mixed then mixed the song on 30 January 1986 at Sunset Sound in Hollywood.

While David Z. and Jill Jones are listed as producers of the song, the only musicians known to have contributed to the track beyond Prince and Jill Jones are Clare Fischer’s orchestra, commissioned by Prince. The full album version of the track opens with a version of Baby, You’re A Trip (as "Intro (Baby, You’re A Trip)") - see the entry for that song for recording details.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
Mid-1983 (estimate) Kiowa Trail Home Studio,
Chanhassen, MN, USA (assumed)
Tracking
Late July 1983 Kiowa Trail Home Studio,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Jill Jones vocal overdub
6 November 1983 (estimate) Kiowa Trail Home Studio,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Overdubs, mix (assumed)
December 1985 or January 1986 (assumed) Monterey Sound Studios,
Glendale, CA, USA (assumed)
Orchestra overdubs
7 January 1986 Sunset Sound - Studio 3,
Hollywood, CA, USA (assumed)
Mix Under The Cherry Moon film version
28 January 1986 Sunset Sound - Studio 3,
Hollywood, CA, USA
Mix, crossfades, adding Baby, You’re A Trip intro
22 February 1986 Sunset Sound - Studio 3,
Hollywood, CA, USA
Remix
Recording Personnel


Jill Jones version

Orchestral Players:
  • Cello - Fred Seykora, James Arkatov, Mary Louise Zeyen, Raphael Kramer
  • Double Bass - Arni Egilson, David Stone
  • French Horn - David Duke, James Thatcher, Joseph Meyer, Marny Johnson
  • Trombone - Charles Loper, Garnett Brown, Morris Repass
  • Trumpet - Bob Bryant, Robert Findley, Hal Espinosa, Ray Brown
  • Tuba - Tommy Johnson
  • Viola - Alan DeVreitch, Jorge Moraga, Margot MacLaine, Myer Bello, Norm Forrest, Pam Goldsmith
  • Violin - Betty Moor, Bill Hybel, Don Palmer, Edward Green, Francine Walsh, Henry Ferber, Irma Neumann, Isabelle Daskoff, Janice Gover, Karen Jones, Pam Gates, Pat Johnson, Robert Sushel, Ron Folsom, Terry Schoenburn, William Hymanson
  • Woodwind - Arni Egilson, Bob Tricarico, David Edwards, Dick Mitchell, Gary Foster, Joe Soldo, John Lowe


Unreleased version

  • Prince - all vocals and instruments (assumed)

Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Intro (Baby, You’re A Trip) - Mia Bocca 7:21 Jill Jones Studio Includes Intro (Baby, You’re A Trip) album intro
Mia Bocca (Edit) 3:48 Mia Bocca single Edit
Mia Bocca (Edit) 5:24 Mia Bocca promo single Album Edit
Mia Bocca (Extended Version) 6:04 Mia Bocca single Extended version Additional production and remix by Arthur Baker
Mia Bocca (Dub Version) 5:48 Mia Bocca single Remix Additional production and remix by Arthur Baker
Video Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Mia Boca 3:25 Under The Cherry Moon DVD Studio See Under The Cherry Moon cues for details
Mia Bocca 4:31 Promotional release only Promo video Includes Intro (Baby, You’re A Trip) intro; see Mia Bocca video for details


Unreleased Versions
Title Version Additional Info
Mia Bocca Studio 1983 version
Mia Bocca Studio version with Jill Jones vocals, but not orchestra overdubs
 
Additional Information

See also Trivia

  • "Mia Bocca" is Italian for "My mouth".

References
Menstrual Cycle   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Midnight Blues