Crystal Ball: Difference between revisions

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{{song-2|
{{song|
|song name                = Crystal Ball
|song name                = Crystal Ball
|single 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 Edition'']]<br><small> from the album <br>[[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe Edition'']]
|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'']]
|writer(s)                = [[Prince]]
|writer(s)                = [[Prince]]
|producer(s)              = [[Prince]]
|producer(s)              = [[Prince]]
|previous song            = [[Crucial]]
|previous song            = [[Crucial]]
|next song                = [[Crystal City Cry]]
|next song                = [[Crystal City Cry]]
|introduction              = '''Crystal Ball''' is the first track on the first 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 discuss "[[Prince]]" making this track, and says "all other noizes are made by [[Prince]]", so it is credited to [[Prince]] in this entry.
|introduction              = '''Crystal Ball''' is the first track on the first disc of [[Prince]]’s 20th album [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] (his fourth using the name [[File: SymbolSmallerBlue.png|link=Alias: Symbol]]). In 2020, an edit of the track was released as the fifteenth 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'']].


Initial tracking took place on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/April_17|17 April 1986]] at [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]], Chanhassen, MN, USA (two days after band overdubs on [[Witness 4 The Prosecution]] and the recording of [[Visions]], both without [[Prince]], and three days before recording [[Starfish And Coffee]]). Although this track was not included on a late April 1986 configuration of the aborted album [[Album: Dream Factory|Dream Factory]], a full length version without [[Clare Fischer]]'s contribution was included, on the [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/June 3|3 June 1986]] configuration and again on the [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July 18|18 July 1986]] configuration, now omitting a minute and a half of the intro that was obsolete as in this incarnation without orchestration it was only a beat of the left channel.  In late November 1986, [[Prince]] began to compile the [[Album:_Crystal_Ball_1986|Crystal Ball]] triple LP (completely separate from the 1998 release of the same name), and [[Crystal Ball]] was included as the first track on the third side of the album in its [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/November 30|30 November 1986]] configuration. This was the version with the [[Clare Fischer]] orchestration added, but edited down by a minute from the previous version.  In the days preceding the release of [[Album: Emancipation|Emancipation]] in 1996, [[thedawn.com]] teased the next release, [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] as a 3CD set of previously-unreleased material, so it was assumed immediately that [[Crystal Ball]] would be included. The version featured on the release is identical to the version that was to be on the [[Album:_Crystal_Ball_1986|Crystal Ball]] 3-LP release from 1986.
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 discuss "[[Prince]]" making this track, and says "all other noises are made by [[Prince]]", so it is credited to [[Prince]] in this entry.
 
Basic tracking took place on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/April_17|17 April 1986]] at [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]] in Chanhassen, Minnesota (two days after band overdubs on [[Witness 4 The Prosecution]] and the recording of [[Visions]], both without [[Prince]], and three days before recording [[Starfish And Coffee]]). On [[16 May 1983-1|16 May 1983]] Prince had already incorporated the lyrics to what would become '''Crystal Ball''' in a jam at the [[16 May 1983-1|3rd annual Minnesota Music Awards]].
 
Although this track was not included on a late April 1986 configuration of the aborted album [[Album: Dream Factory|Dream Factory]], a full length version without [[Clare Fischer]]’s contribution was included on the [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/June 3|3 June 1986]] configuration and again on the [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July 18|18 July 1986]] configuration, now omitting a minute and a half of the intro that was obsolete as in this incarnation without orchestration it was only a beat of the left channel.   
 
In late November 1986, [[Prince]] began to compile the [[Album:_Crystal_Ball_1986|Crystal Ball]] triple LP (completely separate from the 1998 release of the same name), and [[Crystal Ball]] was included as the first track on the third side of the album in its [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/November 30|30 November 1986]] configuration. This was the version with the [[Clare Fischer]] orchestration added, but edited down by a minute from the previous version.   
 
In the days preceding the release of [[Album: Emancipation|Emancipation]] in 1996, [[thedawn.com]] teased the next release, [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] as a 3CD set of previously-unreleased material, so it was assumed immediately that [[Crystal Ball]] would be included.  
 
The version featured on 1998 [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] is identical to the version that was to be on the [[Album:_Crystal_Ball_1986|Crystal Ball]] 3-LP release from 1986.
|recording info            =
|recording info            =
{{RecordingLine|
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/April_17|17 April 1986]]
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/April_17|17 April 1986]]
|studio                    = [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]], Chanhassen, MN, USA
|studio                    = [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]],<br>Chanhassen, MN, USA
|additional info          = Initial tracking
|additional info          = Tracking, mix
}}
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = June 1986
|studio                    = [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]],<br>Chanhassen, MN, USA
|additional info          = Overdubs, mix, edits
}}
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/August_5|5 August 1986]]
|studio                    = [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_Way_Recording Ocean Way Recording],<br>Hollywood, CA, USA
|additional info          = Orchestral overdubs by [[Clare Fischer]]’s orchestra
}}
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/August_7|7 August 1986]] <small>(estimate)</small>
|studio                    = [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]],<br>Chanhassen, MN, USA
|additional info          = Orchestral, mix, editing
}}
}}
{{RecordingLine|
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/August_4|4 August 1986]]
|date                      = August 1986
|studio                    = Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, CA, USA
|studio                    = [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]],<br>Chanhassen, MN, USA
|additional info          = Orchestral overdubs by [[Clare Fischer]]'s orchestra
|additional info          = Editing, Mix for 7" version
}}
}}
|recording personnel      =  
|recording personnel      =  
<br>
*[[Prince]] - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
*[[Prince]] - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
*[[Susannah Melvoin]] - background vocals
*[[Susannah Melvoin]] - background vocals
Line 36: Line 62:
|2= 10:28
|2= 10:28
|3= [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]]
|3= [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]]
|4= Studio
|5=
}}
{{Songline|
|1= '''[[Crystal Ball]] (7″ Mix)'''
|2= 3:29
|3= [[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe Edition'']]
|4= Studio
|4= Studio
|5=  
|5=  
Line 68: Line 101:
|line =
|line =
{{Songline|
{{Songline|
|1= '''The Future'''
|1= '''[[The Future]]'''
|2= 4:07
|2= 4:07
|3= [[Album: Batman|Batman]]
|3= [[Album: Batman|Batman]]
|4= Studio
|4= Studio
|5=  
|5= String sample; See [[The Future]] for more details
}}
{{Songline|
|1= '''[[Push]]'''
|2= 5:52
|3= [[Album: Diamonds And Pearls|Diamonds And Pearls]]
|4= Studio
|5= (likely) String sample; See [[Push]] for more details
<!-- }}
{{Songline|
|1= '''[[Violet The Organ Grinder]]'''
|2= 4:59
|3= [[Single: Gett Off|Gett Off]] single
|4= Studio
|5= String sample; See [[Violet The Organ Grinder]] for more details
}}
{{Songline|
|1= '''[[Paris 1798430]]'''
|2= 3:36
|3= [[Album: I’m Ready|I’m Ready]]
|4= Studio
|5= String sample; See [[Paris 1798430]] for more details
}}
{{Songline|
|1= '''[[Days Of Wild]]'''
|2= 9:18
|3= [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]]
|4= Live
|5= String sample; See [[Days Of Wild]] for more details -->
}}
}}
{{Songline|
{{Songline|
|1= '''Intermission'''
|1= '''[[Intermission]]'''
|2= n/a
|2= n/a
|3= n/a
|3= n/a
|4= Studio  
|4= Studio  
|5= There have been no audio-only releases of this track.  
|5= String sample; See [[Intermission]] for more details. There have been no audio-only releases of this track.
}}
}}
}}
}}
Line 85: Line 146:
|video versions            =  
|video versions            =  
|broadcasts, streaming    =
|broadcasts, streaming    =
|first live appearance    = This track is not believed to have been performed live by [[Prince]]
|first live appearance    = [[16 May 1983-1|16 May 1983: Carlton Celebrity Room, Bloomington, MN, USA]]
|performed regularly on    = none
|performed regularly on    = none
|performed occasionally in = none
|performed occasionally in = none
|trivia                    =  
|trivia                    =  
|see also                  = [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] album
|see also                  = [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] 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 ''Super Deluxe Edition'']] album
|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)]] ''
|categories                = [[Category:1998]][[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:1998]][[Category:Recorded 1986]][[Category:Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Released Songs (Prince)]]
}}
}}

Latest revision as of 11:58, 18 January 2025

Crucial   < < < Non-Prince Songs All Prince Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Crystal City Cry
Crystal Ball

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

Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition

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

Crystal Ball is the first track on the first disc of Prince’s 20th album Crystal Ball (his fourth using the name ). In 2020, an edit of the track was released as the fifteenth track of Vault Tracks part 1, one of the discs with previously unreleased tracks included with the Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition.

The album is not clearly divided between Prince tracks and tracks, but the liner notes' discussion of this track discuss "Prince" making this track, and says "all other noises are made by Prince", so it is credited to Prince in this entry.

Basic tracking took place on 17 April 1986 at Galpin Blvd Home Studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota (two days after band overdubs on Witness 4 The Prosecution and the recording of Visions, both without Prince, and three days before recording Starfish And Coffee). On 16 May 1983 Prince had already incorporated the lyrics to what would become Crystal Ball in a jam at the 3rd annual Minnesota Music Awards.

Although this track was not included on a late April 1986 configuration of the aborted album Dream Factory, a full length version without Clare Fischer’s contribution was included on the 3 June 1986 configuration and again on the 18 July 1986 configuration, now omitting a minute and a half of the intro that was obsolete as in this incarnation without orchestration it was only a beat of the left channel.

In late November 1986, Prince began to compile the Crystal Ball triple LP (completely separate from the 1998 release of the same name), and Crystal Ball was included as the first track on the third side of the album in its 30 November 1986 configuration. This was the version with the Clare Fischer orchestration added, but edited down by a minute from the previous version.

In the days preceding the release of Emancipation in 1996, thedawn.com teased the next release, Crystal Ball as a 3CD set of previously-unreleased material, so it was assumed immediately that Crystal Ball would be included.

The version featured on 1998 Crystal Ball is identical to the version that was to be on the Crystal Ball 3-LP release from 1986.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
17 April 1986 Galpin Blvd Home Studio,
Chanhassen, MN, USA 		Tracking, mix
June 1986 Galpin Blvd Home Studio,
Chanhassen, MN, USA 		Overdubs, mix, edits
5 August 1986 Ocean Way Recording,
Hollywood, CA, USA 		Orchestral overdubs by Clare Fischer’s orchestra
7 August 1986 (estimate) Galpin Blvd Home Studio,
Chanhassen, MN, USA 		Orchestral, mix, editing
August 1986 Galpin Blvd Home Studio,
Chanhassen, MN, USA 		Editing, Mix for 7" version
Recording Personnel



Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Crystal Ball 10:28 Crystal Ball Studio
Crystal Ball (7″ Mix) 3:29 Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition Studio


Sampled, Referred to, Quoted in...
Title Length Released Version Additional info
The Future 4:07 Batman Studio String sample; See The Future for more details
Push 5:52 Diamonds And Pearls Studio (likely) String sample; See Push for more details
Intermission n/a n/a Studio String sample; See Intermission for more details. There have been no audio-only releases of this track.
Unreleased Versions
Title Version Additional Info
Crystal Ball Studio Original full length version without Clare Fischer orchestra, as placed on the 3 June 1986 configuration of Dream Factory
Crystal Ball Studio Version with a minute and a half of intro missing, still without Clare Fischer orchestra, as placed on the 18 July 1986 configuration of Dream Factory
Crystal Ball Studio Full length version with Clare Fischer orchestra.
 
Additional Information
See also Trivia
References
Crucial   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Crystal City Cry
Retrieved from "https://princevault.com/index.php?title=Crystal_Ball&oldid=254192"