Crucial: Difference between revisions

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{{song-2|
{{song|
|song name                = Crucial
|song name                = Crucial
|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'']]<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
Line 9: Line 10:
|previous song            = [[Cross The Line]]
|previous song            = [[Cross The Line]]
|next song                = [[Crystal Ball]]
|next song                = [[Crystal Ball]]
|introduction              = '''Crucial''' is the fifth track on the second 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 state "All instruments and vocals by [[Prince]]", so it is credited to [[Prince]] in this entry.
|introduction              = '''Crucial''' is the fifth track on the second 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 state “All instruments and vocals by [[Prince]]”


Basic tracking took place on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/September 13|13 September 1986]] at [[Prince]]’s [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]] in Chanhassen, Minnesota (four days after the end of the [[Parade Tour]] in Japan, the day before recording [[The Cocoa Boys]]); this version missed the guitar solo.  
Basic tracking took place on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/September 13|13 September 1986]] at [[Prince]]'s [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]] in Chanhassen, Minnesota (four days after the end of the [[Parade Tour]] in Japan, the day before recording [[The Cocoa Boys]]). Two days later [[Prince]] worked further on the song recording almost completely new lyrics for it.


[[Eric Leeds]] added a saxophone part on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/November_6|6 November 1986]] (the day after sequencing the [[Album: Camille|Camille]] album), at [[Sunset Sound]] in Hollywood, California, at [[Prince]]’s request, but when [[Prince]] heard it, he let [[Eric Leeds|Leeds]] know that the main saxophone solo was in the place where the guitar solo would be, so the saxophone solo was discarded when [[Prince]] recorded the guitar solo in early-to-mid November, at [[Sunset Sound]].
[[Eric Leeds]] added a saxophone part on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/November_8|8 November 1986]], at [[Sunset Sound]] in Hollywood, California, at [[Prince]]'s request, but when [[Prince]] heard it, he let [[Eric Leeds|Leeds]] know that the main saxophone solo was in the place where the guitar solo would be, so the saxophone solo was discarded. [[Eric Leeds|Leeds]] then recorded a different sax part the next day


The song was written specifically for the planned musical [[Musical: The Dawn|The Dawn/Dream Factory]], which was ultimately abandoned, and the song was never intended for any of [[Prince]]’s many late-1986 album projects (although the album notes in [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] state that it was intended for [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]] and was replaced by [[Adore]]).  
The song was written specifically for the planned musical [[Musical: The Dawn|The Dawn]], which was ultimately abandoned, and the song was never intended for any of [[Prince]]'s many late-1986 album projects (although the album notes in [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] state that it was intended for [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]] and was replaced by [[Adore]]). The title is mentioned in an early 1987 draft of what would become [[Film: Graffiti Bridge| Graffiti Bridge]]


It is believed that the version used for release on [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] was edited in 1997, although this has not been confirmed.
It is believed that the version used for release on [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] was edited in 1997, although this has not been confirmed.
The original lyrics version (with the later [[Clare Fischer]] arrangement) was released on [[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe'']] in September 2020
|recording info            =
|recording info            =
{{RecordingLine|
{{RecordingLine|
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}}
}}
{{RecordingLine|
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/November_6|6 November 1986]]
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/September 15|15 September 1986]]
|studio                    = [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]],<br>Chanhassen, MN, USA
|additional info          = vocal overdubs with largely new lyrics
}}
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/November 8|8]] & [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/November_9|9 November 1986]]
|studio                    = [[Sunset Sound]],<br>Hollywood, CA, USA
|studio                    = [[Sunset Sound]],<br>Hollywood, CA, USA
|additional info          = Saxophone overdubs by [[Eric Leeds]]
|additional info          = Saxophone overdubs by [[Eric Leeds]]
}}
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = Early-to-mid November 1986
|studio                    = [[Sunset Sound]],<br>Hollywood, CA, USA (assumed)
|additional info          = Guitar solo overdub
}}
}}
{{RecordingLine|
{{RecordingLine|
Line 39: Line 43:
|additional info          = Orchestra overdubs by [[Clare Fischer]]
|additional info          = Orchestra overdubs by [[Clare Fischer]]
}}
}}
|recording personnel      =  
|recording personnel      =  
*[[Prince]] - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
*[[Prince]] - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
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|5=  
|5=  
}}
}}
{{Songline|
|1= '''[[Crucial]] (Alternate Lyrics Version)'''|2= 6:14
|3= [[Album: Sign O' The Times Deluxe|Sign O' The Times ''Super Deluxe Edition'']]|4= Studio|5= }}
}}
}}
|unreleased versions      =  
|unreleased versions      =  
Line 76: Line 84:
|1= '''Crucial'''
|1= '''Crucial'''
|2= Studio
|2= Studio
|3= Version with [[Susannah Melvoin]] singing lead
|3= Version with [[Susannah Melvoin]] singing lead
}}
}}
{{Unreleasedline|
{{Unreleasedline|
Line 93: Line 101:
|trivia                    =  
|trivia                    =  
|see also                  = [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] album
|see also                  = [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] album
* [[Musical: The Dawn|The Dawn/Dream Factory]] musical
*[[Album:_Crystal_Ball_1986|Crystal Ball]] unreleased album
*[[Album: Sign O' The Times Deluxe|Sign O' The Times ''Super Deluxe Edition'']] album
*[[Musical: The Dawn|The Dawn]] musical
|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]]
|categories                = [[Category:1998]][[Category:Released Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Recorded 1986]]
}}
}}

Revision as of 17:11, 22 September 2020

Cross The Line   < < < Non-Prince Songs All Prince Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Crystal Ball
Crucial

from the album Crystal Ball 		Sign O' The Times Super Deluxe
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
Writer(s): Prince
Producer(s): Prince
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
Performed regularly on tour:
  • none
Performed occasionally in shows:
  • none

Crucial is the fifth track on the second disc of Prince's 20th album Crystal Ball (his fourth using the name ). The album is not clearly divided between Prince tracks and tracks, but the liner notes' discussion of this track state “All instruments and vocals by Prince”

Basic tracking took place on 13 September 1986 at Prince's Galpin Blvd Home Studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota (four days after the end of the Parade Tour in Japan, the day before recording The Cocoa Boys). Two days later Prince worked further on the song recording almost completely new lyrics for it.

Eric Leeds added a saxophone part on 8 November 1986, at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California, at Prince's request, but when Prince heard it, he let Leeds know that the main saxophone solo was in the place where the guitar solo would be, so the saxophone solo was discarded. Leeds then recorded a different sax part the next day

The song was written specifically for the planned musical The Dawn, which was ultimately abandoned, and the song was never intended for any of Prince's many late-1986 album projects (although the album notes in Crystal Ball state that it was intended for Sign O’ The Times and was replaced by Adore). The title is mentioned in an early 1987 draft of what would become Graffiti Bridge

It is believed that the version used for release on Crystal Ball was edited in 1997, although this has not been confirmed.

The original lyrics version (with the later Clare Fischer arrangement) was released on Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe in September 2020


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
13 September 1986 Galpin Blvd Home Studio,
Chanhassen, MN, USA 		Basic tracking
15 September 1986 Galpin Blvd Home Studio,
Chanhassen, MN, USA 		vocal overdubs with largely new lyrics
8 & 9 November 1986 Sunset Sound,
Hollywood, CA, USA 		Saxophone overdubs by Eric Leeds
January 1987 Mad Hatter Studios
Los Angeles, CA, USA 		Orchestra overdubs by Clare Fischer
Recording Personnel

Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Crucial 5:05 Crystal Ball Studio
Crucial (Alternate Lyrics Version) 6:14 Sign O' The Times Super Deluxe Edition Studio


Unreleased Versions
Title Version Additional Info
Crucial Original version before saxophone and guitar solo overdubs
Crucial Studio Longer recording with some vocal and musical mixing differences, and lengthy saxophone solo by Eric Leeds
Crucial Studio Longer recording with some vocal and musical mixing differences, and lengthy guitar solo
Crucial Studio Version with Susannah Melvoin singing lead
Crucial Studio Version with Clare Fischer Orchestra overdubs (possibly the same as above)
 
Additional Information
See also Trivia
References
Cross The Line   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Crystal Ball
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