Power Fantastic

Pour Me A Cup   < < <

Non-Prince Songs

All Prince Songs

Unreleased Songs

> > >   Power From Above

Power Fantastic

included on The Hits / The B-Sides from the album Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition Song details Performer: Prince and the Revolution First Released: 14 September 1993 - The Hits / The B-Sides album Album(s): The Hits / The B-Sides Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition Writer(s): Prince, Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman (credited to Prince) Producer(s): Prince Live Appearances First and last live appearance: 23 June 2002 (a.m.): Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA 11 May 2011: Troubadour: Hollywood, CA, USA Performed regularly on tour: none Performed occasionally in shows: 2002, 2009, 2011

Power Fantastic is the 20th and final track (second of two previously-unreleased tracks) on The B-Sides compilation (included as the third and final disc on The Hits / The B-Sides). The song was based on a instrumental composition by Wendy & Lisa called Carousel, recorded by them in June 1985. After Prince wrote lyrics for the song and came up with a vocal melody the track was re-recorded live on 19 March 1986 (the same day as And How) at Prince’s Galpin Blvd Home Studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota, during the the first session that yielded material for the Dream Factory album. Prince first recorded a rough vocal guiding the band through the song and later in the same session mixed an instrumental and a version where he re-recorded his vocal (this version was released on The Hits / The B-Sides). The song was not included on the initial, late April configuration of the Dream Factory album, but was included on a configuration made on 3 June 1986, before being removed again for the July configuration. The instrumental intro to the song was removed when the track was placed on The Hits / The B-Sides in 1993. The song was mentioned in an early draft (from October 1987) of Graffiti Bridge, but it is not known if the song was re-recorded however. In this version of the script, Power Fantastic was supposed to be sung by the character "Ruthie Washington", who Prince hoped would be played by Madonna. It was not included on any known configuration of the Graffiti Bridge album. In September 2020, the initial take (labeled Power Fantastic (Live In Studio)) with Prince guide vocal and instructions, and preserving the original intro, was released as the tenth 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 27 June 1985 The Complex Studios, Los Angeles, CA, USA Tracking of Carousel (Wendy & Lisa, sans Prince) 21 July 1985 Washington Avenue Warehouse, Edina, MN, USA Mix of Carousel (Wendy & Lisa, sans Prince) 19 March 1986 Galpin Blvd Home Studio, Chanhassen, MN, USA Tracking Recording Personnel Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted Wendy Melvoin - guitar Lisa Coleman - keyboards Bobby Z. - drums Eric Leeds - flute Atlanta Bliss - trumpet Versions Released Versions Title Length Released Version Additional info Power Fantastic 4:45 The Hits / The B-Sides Studio Power Fantastic (Live In Studio) 7:18 Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition Studio including Prince rough vocal and directing the band Unreleased Versions Title Version Additional Info Power Fantastic Studio Includes instrumental intro removed for inclusion on The Hits / The B-Sides

Additional Information See also Trivia The Hits / The B-Sides album Dream Factory album Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition album Wendy & Lisa names were left off the credits on the initial release on The Hits / The B-Sides, and the song was initially registered at ASCAP as a Prince solo composition. However this was corrected in September 1993. The Hits / The B-Sides liner notes incorrectly state that this song was recorded at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota. The released mix of the Live In Studio version was done by Niko Bolas specifically for the Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition release. It was made to replicate the original mix from the time the song was initially tracked, as much as possible. So even when a slightly different mix of this track might exist, the now released version is not considered a true alternate mix of the track. 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) Prince Graffiti Bridge Script with Handwritten Notes Auction

Pour Me A Cup   < < <

All Songs

Unreleased Songs

> > >   Power From Above