The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker: Difference between revisions

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{{song-2|
{{song|
|song name                = The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker
|song name                = The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker
|single image              = [[File:sott.jpg|100px|link=Album: Sign O' The Times]]<br><small> from the album [[Album: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]]  
|album image              = [[File:sott.jpg|100px|link= Album: Sign O’ The Times]] <br><small> from the album<br> [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]] </small>
|single image              = [[File:sottDeluxe.jpg|100px|link= Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe Edition'']]<br><small> from the album <br>[[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe Edition'']]</small>
|performer                = [[Prince]]
|performer                = [[Prince]]
|first released            = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/March 30|30 March 1987]] - [[Album: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]] album
|first released            = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/March 30|30 March 1987]] - [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]] album
|album(s)                  = [[Album: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]]<br>
|album(s)                  = [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]]<br>
[[Album:_One_Nite_Alone..._The_Aftershow:_It_Ain't_Over|One Nite Alone... The Aftershow: It Ain't Over]]
[[Album:_One_Nite_Alone..._The_Aftershow:_It_Ain’t_Over|One Nite Alone... The Aftershow: It Ain’t Over]]<br>
[[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Deluxe Edition'' and ''Super Deluxe Edition'']]
|writer(s)                = [[Prince]]
|writer(s)                = [[Prince]]
|producer(s)              = [[Prince]]
|producer(s)              = [[Prince]]
|previous song            = [[Eye No|The Ball]]
|previous song            = [[The Ball]]
|next song                = [[Baltimore]]
|next song                = [[Balloon]]
|introduction              = '''The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker''' is the fourth track on the first disc of [[Prince]]'s ninth album [[Album: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]]. In 2002, a live version was included as the seventh track on the live release [[Album: One Nite Alone... The Aftershow: It Ain't Over|One Nite Alone... The Aftershow: It Ain't Over]] (titled only '''Dorothy Parker''').
|introduction              = '''The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker''' is the fourth track on the first disc of [[Prince]]’s ninth album [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]].  
Basic tracking took place on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/March 13|13 March 1986]] at [[Prince]]’s [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]] in Chanhassen, Minnesota (six days before [[And How]] and [[Power Fantastic]]). It was the first track he recorded in his newly installed home studio.  


Initial tracking took place on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/March 15|15 March 1986]] at [[Prince]]'s [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]], Chanhassen, MN, USA (four days before [[And How]] and [[Power Fantastic]]). It was the first track he recorded in his newly installed home studio.  
The track was initially included as the fourth track on a late April 1986 configuration of [[Album: Dream Factory|Dream Factory]], and as the album expanded, it was kept as the fourth track on the first disc on the [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/June 3|3 June 1986]] and [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July 18|18 July 1986]] configurations. It was kept for inclusion as the fourth track on the first disc as the album developed into the triple-album [[Album: Crystal Ball 1986|Crystal Ball]] on the [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/November 30|30 November 1986]] configuration, which was eventually pared down and became [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]].  


The track was initially included as the fourth track on a late April 1986 configuration of [[Album: Dream Factory|Dream Factory]], and as the album expanded, it was kept as the fourth track on the first disc on the [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/June 3|3 June 1986]] and [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July 18|18 July 1986]] configurations. It was kept for inclusion as the fourth track on the first disc as the album developed into the triple-album [[Album: Crystal Ball 1986|Crystal Ball]] on the [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/November 30|30 November 1986]] configuration, which was eventually pared down and became [[Album: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]].  
[[Single: The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker|The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker]] was planned as a single release also (likely as the album’s fifth commercial single), but this release was abandoned.


[[Single: The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker|The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker]] was planned as a single release also (likely as the album's fifth commercial single), but this release was abandoned.
The whole song sounds somewhat dull and murky because of a technical problem. The console for the newly built home studio arrived from Los Angeles as a skeleton, with the wires hanging out and all the parts in boxes. Everything was hooked up, but no music was run through the console before recording commenced. While installing there was a loss of power in the house. The console had one power supply for the positive side and another for the negative side and, unbeknown to technician [[Susan Rogers]], one of the power supplies didn’t come back up. [[Susan Rogers|Rogers]] noticed the music sounding flat, but didn’t want to ask [[Prince]] to stop recording. It was only after the day long recording session that Rogers discovered the cause of the problem. However [[Prince]] professed to like the recording.


The whole song sounds somewhat dull and murky because of a technical problem. The console for the newly built home studio arrived from Los Angeles as a skeleton, with the wires hanging out and all the parts in boxes. Everything was hooked up, but there was never any music ran through the console, before recording commenced. While installing there was a loss of power in the house. The console had one power supply for the positive side and another for the negative side, and unbeknown to technician [[Susan Rogers]] one of the power supplies didn’t come back up. [[Susan Rogers|Rogers]] noticed the music sounding flat, but didn’t want to ask [[Prince]] to stop recording so thing could be checked out. Not until after the day long recording session Rogers found out what the problem was. However [[Prince]] professed to like the recording.
[[Eric Leeds]] added a saxophone part to the song which was discarded. The song was also sent to [[Clare Fischer]] for his input and an elaborate horn arrangement was recorded, but [[Prince]] ended up not using it.
 
The song’s title seemingly refers to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Parker Dorothy Parker], an American writer and poet, born 1893, "best known for her wit, wisecracks, and sharp eye for 20th century urban foibles", but this was unintentional. [[Prince]] wrote the song following a dream he had. He must have heard the name somewhere, but allegedly when asked at the time, it appeared that he did not know about the writer Dorothy Parker.


[[Eric Leeds]] added a saxophone part to the song which was discarded. The song was also sent to [[Clare Fischer]] for his input and an elaborate horn arrangement was recorded, but [[Prince]] ended up not using it.
The song also references [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joni_Mitchell Joni Mitchell]’s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help_Me_(Joni_Mitchell_song) Help Me] ("Help me, I think I’m falling in love again") from her 1974 album [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_and_Spark Court And Spark] (also released as a single in 1974).


The song's title seemingly refers to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Parker Dorothy Parker], an American writer and poet, born 1893, "best known for her wit, wisecracks, and sharp eye for 20th century urban foibles", but this was unintentional. [[Prince]] wrote the song following a dream he had. He must have heard the name somewhere, but allegedly when asked at the time, it appeared he did not know about the writer Dorothy Parker.
In 2002, a live version was included as the seventh track on the live release [[Album: One Nite Alone... The Aftershow: It Ain’t Over|One Nite Alone... The Aftershow: It Ain’t Over]] (titled only '''Dorothy Parker'''). The version with [[Eric Leeds]] overdub was released in September 2020 as the eighth track of ''Vault Tracks part 1'', one of the discs with previously unreleased tracks included with the [[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe Edition'']].


The song also references [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joni_Mitchell Joni Mitchell]'s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help_Me_(Joni_Mitchell_song) Help Me] ("Help me, I think I'm falling in love again") from her 1974 album [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_and_Spark Court And Spark] (also released as a single in 1974).
|recording info            =
|recording info            =
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/March 13|13 March 1986]]
|studio                    = [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]],<br>Chanhassen, MN, USA
|additional info          = Tracking
}}
{{RecordingLine|
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/March 15|15 March 1986]]
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/March 15|15 March 1986]]
|studio                    = [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]], Chanhassen, MN, USA
|studio                    = [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]],<br>Chanhassen, MN, USA (assumed)
|additional info          = Initial tracking
|additional info          = Overdubs, mix
}}
}}
{{RecordingLine|
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = Late March 1986
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/April 15|15 April 1986]]
|studio                    = [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]], Chanhassen, MN, USA (assumed)
|studio                    = [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]],<br>Chanhassen, MN, USA
|additional info          = Saxophone overdubs by [[Eric Leeds]]
|additional info          = Overdubs, including saxophone ([[Eric Leeds]]), mix
}}
}}
{{RecordingLine|
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = June 1986
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/April 17|17]] & [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/April 18|18 April 1986]]
|studio                    = [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_Way_Recording Ocean Way Recording], Hollywood, CA, USA
|studio                    = [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]],<br>Chanhassen, MN, USA
|additional info          = Mix (17th); crossfading (18th)
}}
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/June 4|4]] or [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/June 5|5 June 1986]]
|studio                    = [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]],<br>Chanhassen, MN, USA
|additional info          = Mix
}}
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/June 23|23 June 1986]]
|studio                    = [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_Way_Recording Ocean Way Recording],<br>Hollywood, CA, USA
|additional info          = Orchestral overdubs by [[Clare Fischer]] orchestra
|additional info          = Orchestral overdubs by [[Clare Fischer]] orchestra
}}
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/June 25|25 June 1986]] <small>(estimate)</small>
|studio                    = [[Washington Avenue Warehouse]],<br>Edina, MN, USA
|additional info          = Orchestral mix
}}
}}
|recording personnel      =
|recording personnel      =
Line 46: Line 70:
*[[Susannah Melvoin]] - background vocals
*[[Susannah Melvoin]] - background vocals
<br>
<br>
'''Unreleased version'''
'''Horn overdub version'''
*[[Prince]] - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
*[[Prince]] - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
*[[Susannah Melvoin]] - background vocals
*[[Susannah Melvoin]] - background vocals
*[[Eric Leeds]] - saxophone
*[[Eric Leeds]] - saxophone
<br>
'''Claire Fischer overdub version'''
*[[Prince]] - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
*[[Susannah Melvoin]] - background vocals
*Unknown [[Clare Fischer]] Orchestra horn section - horns
*Unknown [[Clare Fischer]] Orchestra horn section - horns
|released versions        =
|released versions        =
Line 57: Line 85:
|1= '''The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker'''
|1= '''The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker'''
|2= 4:04
|2= 4:04
|3= [[Album: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]]
|3= [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]]
|4= Studio
|4= Studio
|5=  
|5=  
}}
{{Songline|
|1= '''The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker'''
|2= 4:04
|3= [[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Deluxe Edition'' and ''Super Deluxe Edition'']]
|4= Studio
|5= Remastered in 2020
}}
}}
{{Songline|
{{Songline|
|1= '''Dorothy Parker'''
|1= '''Dorothy Parker'''
|2= 6:16
|2= 6:16
|3= [[Album: One Nite Alone... The Aftershow: It Ain't Over|One Nite Alone... The Aftershow: It Ain't Over]]
|3= [[Album: One Nite Alone... The Aftershow: It Ain’t Over|One Nite Alone... The Aftershow: It Ain’t Over]]
|4= Live
|4= Live
|5= [[21_April 2002-am|21 April 2002 (a.m.): House Of Blues Sunset Strip, West Hollywood, CA, USA]]
|5= [[21_April 2002-am|21 April 2002 (a.m.): House Of Blues Sunset Strip, West Hollywood, CA, USA]]
}}
{{Songline|
|1= '''[[The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker]] (With Horns) '''
|2= 4:56
|3= [[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe Edition'']]
|4= Studio
|5= Includes [[Eric Leeds]] horn overdubs
}}
}}
}}
}}
Line 112: Line 154:
|1= '''The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker'''
|1= '''The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker'''
|2= Studio
|2= Studio
|3= Includes saxophone overdubs by [[Eric Leeds]], removed for release
|3= longer version, as released on [[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe| Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe Edition'']], but without the sax overdub
}}
}}
{{Unreleasedline|
{{Unreleasedline|
|1= '''The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker'''
|1= '''The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker'''
|2= Studio
|2= Studio
|3= Includes saxophone overdubs by [[Eric Leeds]] and orchestral horn overdubs by [[Clare Fischer]], removed for release
|3= Includes orchestral (brass) arrangement by [[Clare Fischer]], not used in any released version
}}
{{Unreleasedline|
|1= '''The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker'''
|2= Extended version
|3= Extended version planned for 12" single release
}}
}}
}}
}}
Line 134: Line 171:
|performed occasionally in = [[All Concerts#1987|1987]] <small>(including [[Four]])</small>, [[All Concerts#1988|1988]] <small>(including [[Four]])</small>, [[All Concerts#1997|1997]], [[All Concerts#1998|1998]], [[All Concerts#1999|1999]], [[All Concerts#2000|2000]] <small>(including [[Four]])</small>, [[All Concerts#2001|2001]] <small>(including [[Four]])</small>, [[All Concerts#2002|2002]], [[All Concerts#2007|2007]], [[All Concerts#2011|2011]], [[All Concerts#2012|2012]], [[All Concerts#2014|2014]], [[All Concerts#2015|2015]] <small>(including [[Four]])</small>, [[All Concerts#2016|2016]]  <small>''(solo piano, including [[Four]])</small>)''  
|performed occasionally in = [[All Concerts#1987|1987]] <small>(including [[Four]])</small>, [[All Concerts#1988|1988]] <small>(including [[Four]])</small>, [[All Concerts#1997|1997]], [[All Concerts#1998|1998]], [[All Concerts#1999|1999]], [[All Concerts#2000|2000]] <small>(including [[Four]])</small>, [[All Concerts#2001|2001]] <small>(including [[Four]])</small>, [[All Concerts#2002|2002]], [[All Concerts#2007|2007]], [[All Concerts#2011|2011]], [[All Concerts#2012|2012]], [[All Concerts#2014|2014]], [[All Concerts#2015|2015]] <small>(including [[Four]])</small>, [[All Concerts#2016|2016]]  <small>''(solo piano, including [[Four]])</small>)''  
|trivia                    =  
|trivia                    =  
|see also                  = [[Album: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]] album
|see also                  = [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]] album
*[[Album: Dream Factory|Dream Factory]] unreleased album
*[[Album: Dream Factory|Dream Factory]] unreleased album
*[[Album: Crystal Ball 1986|Crystal Ball]] unreleased album
*[[Album: Crystal Ball 1986|Crystal Ball]] unreleased album
*[[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Deluxe Edition'' and ''Super Deluxe Edition'']] album
*[[Single: The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker|The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker]] unreleased single
*[[Single: The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker|The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker]] unreleased single
|references                = ''[[Book:_The_Vault|The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004)]] ''
|references                = ''[[Book:_The_Vault|The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004)]] ''
* '' [[Book: Prince - Dancemusicsexromance - The First Decade (Fire Fly)]] ''
* '' [[Book: Prince - Dancemusicsexromance - The First Decade (Fire Fly)]] ''
|categories                = [[Category:1987]][[Category:Released Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Recorded 1986]]
* ''[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:2020]][[Category:Recorded 1986]][[Category:Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Released Songs (Prince)]]
}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT: Ballad Of Dorothy Parker (The)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT: Ballad Of Dorothy Parker (The)}}

Latest revision as of 09:21, 10 October 2024

The Ball   < < < Non-Prince Songs All Prince Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Balloon
The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker

from the album
Sign O’ The Times 		Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition
from the album
Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition
Song details
Performer: Prince
First Released: 30 March 1987 - Sign O’ The Times album
Album(s): Sign O’ The Times

One Nite Alone... The Aftershow: It Ain’t Over
Sign O’ The Times Deluxe Edition and Super Deluxe Edition

Writer(s): Prince
Producer(s): Prince
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
Performed regularly on tour:
Performed occasionally in shows:

The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker is the fourth track on the first disc of Prince’s ninth album Sign O’ The Times. Basic tracking took place on 13 March 1986 at Prince’s Galpin Blvd Home Studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota (six days before And How and Power Fantastic). It was the first track he recorded in his newly installed home studio.

The track was initially included as the fourth track on a late April 1986 configuration of Dream Factory, and as the album expanded, it was kept as the fourth track on the first disc on the 3 June 1986 and 18 July 1986 configurations. It was kept for inclusion as the fourth track on the first disc as the album developed into the triple-album Crystal Ball on the 30 November 1986 configuration, which was eventually pared down and became Sign O’ The Times.

The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker was planned as a single release also (likely as the album’s fifth commercial single), but this release was abandoned.

The whole song sounds somewhat dull and murky because of a technical problem. The console for the newly built home studio arrived from Los Angeles as a skeleton, with the wires hanging out and all the parts in boxes. Everything was hooked up, but no music was run through the console before recording commenced. While installing there was a loss of power in the house. The console had one power supply for the positive side and another for the negative side and, unbeknown to technician Susan Rogers, one of the power supplies didn’t come back up. Rogers noticed the music sounding flat, but didn’t want to ask Prince to stop recording. It was only after the day long recording session that Rogers discovered the cause of the problem. However Prince professed to like the recording.

Eric Leeds added a saxophone part to the song which was discarded. The song was also sent to Clare Fischer for his input and an elaborate horn arrangement was recorded, but Prince ended up not using it.

The song’s title seemingly refers to Dorothy Parker, an American writer and poet, born 1893, "best known for her wit, wisecracks, and sharp eye for 20th century urban foibles", but this was unintentional. Prince wrote the song following a dream he had. He must have heard the name somewhere, but allegedly when asked at the time, it appeared that he did not know about the writer Dorothy Parker.

The song also references Joni Mitchell’s Help Me ("Help me, I think I’m falling in love again") from her 1974 album Court And Spark (also released as a single in 1974).

In 2002, a live version was included as the seventh track on the live release One Nite Alone... The Aftershow: It Ain’t Over (titled only Dorothy Parker). The version with Eric Leeds overdub was released in September 2020 as the eighth track of Vault Tracks part 1, one of the discs with previously unreleased tracks included with the Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
13 March 1986 Galpin Blvd Home Studio,
Chanhassen, MN, USA 		Tracking
15 March 1986 Galpin Blvd Home Studio,
Chanhassen, MN, USA (assumed) 		Overdubs, mix
15 April 1986 Galpin Blvd Home Studio,
Chanhassen, MN, USA 		Overdubs, including saxophone (Eric Leeds), mix
17 & 18 April 1986 Galpin Blvd Home Studio,
Chanhassen, MN, USA 		Mix (17th); crossfading (18th)
4 or 5 June 1986 Galpin Blvd Home Studio,
Chanhassen, MN, USA 		Mix
23 June 1986 Ocean Way Recording,
Hollywood, CA, USA 		Orchestral overdubs by Clare Fischer orchestra
25 June 1986 (estimate) Washington Avenue Warehouse,
Edina, MN, USA 		Orchestral mix
Recording Personnel

Released version


Horn overdub version


Claire Fischer overdub version


Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker 4:04 Sign O’ The Times Studio
The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker 4:04 Sign O’ The Times Deluxe Edition and Super Deluxe Edition Studio Remastered in 2020
Dorothy Parker 6:16 One Nite Alone... The Aftershow: It Ain’t Over Live 21 April 2002 (a.m.): House Of Blues Sunset Strip, West Hollywood, CA, USA
The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker (With Horns) 4:56 Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition Studio Includes Eric Leeds horn overdubs
Video Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker 3:53 NPG Music Club Edition # 4 .mov download Live 4 May 2001 (mat.), The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, NBC Studio 3, Burbank, CA, USA; includes Four (uncredited)
Sampled, Referred to, Quoted in...
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Letitgo (Sherm Stick Edit) 5:42 Letitgo single Remix Contains looped samples from The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker; remix by J-Sw!ft
Letitgo ((-)Sherm Stick Edit) 5:42 Letitgo single Remix Instrumental version of Letitgo (Sherm Stick Edit); contains looped samples from The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker; remix by J-Sw!ft
Unreleased Versions
Title Version Additional Info
The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker Studio longer version, as released on Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition, but without the sax overdub
The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker Studio Includes orchestral (brass) arrangement by Clare Fischer, not used in any released version
 
Additional Information
See also Trivia
References
The Ball   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Balloon
Retrieved from "https://princevault.com/index.php?title=The_Ballad_Of_Dorothy_Parker&oldid=251740"