Billy Jack Bitch

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Billy Jack Bitch

from the album The Gold Experience Song details Performer: First Released: 26 September 1995 - The Gold Experience album Album(s): The Gold Experience The Versace Experience (Prelude 2 Gold) Writer(s): Prince (as ) and Michael B. Nelson Producer(s): Prince (as ) Live Appearances First and last live appearance: 2 November 1993 (a.m.): Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA 18 February 1996: Neal S. Blaisdell Center (Arena), Honolulu, Hawaii, USA Performed regularly on tour: The Ultimate Live Experience (as part of medley of Billy Jack Bitch / Hate U / 319) Japan '96 (as part of medley of Billy Jack Bitch / Hate U / 319) Performed occasionally in shows: 1993, 1994, 1995

Billy Jack Bitch is the 15th track (tenth song) on Prince's 17th album The Gold Experience, the first album to be credited to . Basic tracking took place in late October 1993, at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota (in the same set of sessions as 319, Strawberries and Gold). The track's chorus features background vocals by American singer-songwriter Lenny Kravitz (who was not credited on the release as he was on a different record label), marking their only known studio collaboration to have been released. The horns on the song play the track New Dell Inn by the Hornheadz (unreleased at the time, but released on their 1994 album Hornheads). New Dell Inn was written by Michael B. Nelson, who he is credited on Billy Jack Bitch as co-author and for "horn arrangement". During a recording session with the Hornheadz on other tracks (most likely 319 or Strawberries, although this is unconfirmed), while tapes were changed, the Hornheadz played their New Dell Inn as well as their arrangement of Thelonius Monk's 1944 composition Well You Needn't (also later released on their 1994 album Hornheads). Prince liked the arrangements, and later had them repeat those two as well as other horn parts for Billy Jack Bitch; both were contained on the original full-length version which remains unreleased, but only the New Dell Inn part ended up on the track. The track also has a looped sample from Lyin' Ass Bitch by Fishbone (from their 1985 Fishbone EP). The studio version of the song was premiered at a party at Glam Slam in Minneapolis, Minnesota on 16 March 1994 (along with Hate U, Days Of Wild, Now and a remix of Pope, hours after recording Letitgo). Billy Jack Bitch was included as the 15th track (ninth song) on March 1994, and May 1994, configurations of The Gold Experience, before being included as the tenth song on a later 1994 configuration. The 13 October 1994, configuration included Billy Jack Bitch as the 18th track (eleventh song), before the track Days Of Wild was removed from the album for release. The track is designed as retaliation again Minneapolis gossip columnist C.J. (full name Cheryl Johnson), who regularly wrote negative articles about Prince/. Recording Information Recording Sessions Date Studio Additional info Late October 1993 Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA Basic tracking Recording Personnel Prince (as ) - all vocals and instruments, except where noted Michael B. - drums Sonny T. - bass guitar Tommy Barbarella - keyboards Mr. Hayes - keyboards Lenny Kravitz - background vocals (uncredited) Michael B. Nelson - trombone (credited as "New Power Generation Hornz") Kathy Jensen - baritone saxophone (credited as "New Power Generation Hornz") Brian Gallagher - tenor saxophone (credited as "New Power Generation Hornz") Dave Jensen - trumpet (credited as "New Power Generation Hornz") Steve Strand - trumpet (credited as "New Power Generation Hornz") Versions Released Versions Title Length Released Version Additional info Billy Jack Bitch 5:32 The Gold Experience Studio Billy Jack Bitch 2:31 The Versace Experience (Prelude 2 Gold) Edit Broadcasts/streaming (only) Title Length Released Version Additional info Billy Jack Bitch ?:?? Live awards TV performance Lip-synch 30 January 1995, 22nd annual American Music Awards, Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California; as part of lip-synched medley of Billy Jack Bitch / Hate U / 319 Billy Jack Bitch ?:?? Live TV performance Live 5 March 1995 (mat.), The Sunday Show, Wembley Arena, London, England Unreleased Versions Title Version Additional Info Billy Jack Bitch Studio Full recording, containing Well You Needn't horn part, edited for release

Additional Information See also Trivia The Gold Experience album References The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004) http://www.hornheads.com/cd_hornheads.php Muziq # 15, July 2008

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