I Wonder U

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I Wonder U

from the album Parade Song details Performer: Prince and the Revolution First Released: 31 March 1986 - Parade album Album(s): Parade Writer(s): Prince (credited to Prince and the Revolution) Producer(s): Prince (credited to Prince and the Revolution) Live Appearances First and last live appearance: 3 March 1986: First Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 9 September 1986: Yokohama Stadium (横浜スタジアム), Yokohama, Japan Performed regularly on tour: Parade Tour Performed occasionally in shows: 1986

I Wonder U is the third track on Prince’s eighth album Parade, the third to be credited to Prince and the Revolution. The track also is also played in Prince’s second feature film, Under The Cherry Moon. Lead vocals are sung by Wendy Melvoin, marking the first time lead vocals were not sung by Prince on a Prince/Prince and the Revolution album. Basic tracking of the track took place on 17 April 1985 at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California, with Prince recording the drum track in sequence of Wendy’s Parade, New Position, I Wonder U and Under The Cherry Moon, all in one take. He then layered other instruments over all four tracks. The song was initially recorded with Prince and Wendy Melvoin both singing lead and Lisa Coleman doing a harmony background vocal. That version was placed on an early configuration of Parade (before it even had that title), compiled on 1 May 1985. The song was sent to Clare Fischer in June 1985 for his input. Fischer did two different orchestral arrangements; one with full orchestration and, after a later request of Prince, one with only 'flute family' orchestration, much like the finally released version. These versions had Prince’s lead vocal mixed in loudest, mostly obscuring Wendy’s vocals. Before release Prince then omitted his own voice, so that Wendy was now singing the lead. Clare Fischer’s full orchestration arrangement remains unreleased although Prince did use some of it as incidental music in Under The Cherry Moon. Recording Information Recording Sessions Date Studio Additional info 17 April 1985 - 19 April 1985 Sunset Sound - Studio 3, Hollywood, CA, USA Tracking (17th), overdubs (18th), overdubs and mix (19th) 22 April 1985 Sunset Sound - Studio 3, Hollywood, CA, USA Vocal overdubs by Wendy and Lisa and mix 24 June 1985 Monterey Sound Studios, Glendale, CA Orchestra recording by Clare Fischer 11 or 12 November 1985 (estimate) Advision Studios, London, England Mix (Wendy & Lisa with Prince) 18 November 1985 (estimate) Pumacrest Mobile Recording Unit (from Advision Studios) in Nice, France Mix (Wendy & Lisa, probably with Prince) 16 & 17 December 1985 Sunset Sound - Studio 3, Hollywood, CA, USA Strings only mix (16th), Instrumental mix (17th) 27 January 1986 Sunset Sound - Studio 3, Hollywood, CA, USA Orchestra only mix for Under The Cherry Moon (Susan Rogers, sans Prince) Recording Personnel Wendy Melvoin - lead vocals Prince - all instruments, except where noted Lisa Coleman - background vocals Orchestral Players: Violins - Isabelle Daskoff, Francine Walsh, Mari Botnik, Pam Gates, Janice Gower, Karen Jones, Betty Moor, Irma Neumann, Assa Drori, Bill Hymanson, Oscar Chasow, Ron Clark, Henry Ferber, Erne Granat, Ed Green, Bill Hybel, Reggie Hill, Pat Johnson, Don Palmer, Sheldon Sanov, Joe Schonbrun, Terry Schonbrun and Harold Wolf Violas - Pam Goldsmith, Margot Maclaine, Carol Mukagawa, Myer Bello, Alan Deverich, Norman Forrest, Alan Harshman, Jorge Moraga and David Stock Cellos - Jim Arkatoff, Ray Kelley, Ray Kramer and Fred Seykora Basses - Chuck Dominico and Arni Egilsson. Woodwinds - Gene Cipriano, Don Ashworth, John Clarke, Dave Edwards, Gary Foster, Jim Kanter, John Lowe, Dick Mitchell, Jack Nimitz, Joe Soldo and Bob Tricarico Trumpets - Ray Brown, Rich Cooper, Bob Findley, Larry Ford, Bob O’Donnell and Al Vizutti Trombones - Garnett Brown, Charles Loper, Morris Repass and Bill Watrous French Horns - Marni Johnson, David Duke, Joe Myer, Brian O’Connor, Calvin Smith and Jim Thatcher Tuba - Tommy Johnson Tympani and percussion - Brent Fischer Versions Released Versions Title Length Released Version Additional info I Wonder U 1:40 Parade Studio I Wonder U 2:46 NPG Ahdio Show # 4 mp3 (not available as a separate track) Live 31 August 1986, Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, West Germany Video Versions Title Length Released Version Additional info I Wonder U 1:32 Under The Cherry Moon film Studio Part of version with Clare Fischer orchestral overdubs. Released on VHS and DVD. Jonathan On The Phone 1:25 Under The Cherry Moon film Studio See Under The Cherry Moon cues for details Unreleased Versions Title Version Additional Info I Wonder U Studio 1985 recording, before orchestral overdubs, Prince & Wendy Melvoin lead vocals I Wonder U Studio Version with full orchestration, Prince lead vocals I Wonder U Studio Version with orchestral overdubs like released version, Prince lead vocals I Wonder U Studio Strings only mix I Wonder U Studio Instrumental mix

Additional Information See also Trivia Parade album Under The Cherry Moon movie This song marks the first time lead vocals were not sung by Prince on a Prince/Prince and the Revolution album. References The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004) Prince and the Parade/Sign O’ The Times Era Studio Sessions 1985 and 1986, Duane Tudahl (2021)

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