Difference between revisions of "Album: Dream Factory"

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It was only in mid-March 1986, however, that he embarked fully on the album, when [[Prince]] started working using a new home studio in his house, known as the [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]], Chanhassen, MN, USA. Recorded there from mid-March to mid-April 1986, were [[The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker]], [[Power Fantastic]], [[And How]], [[A Place In Heaven]], [[Movie Star]] and [[Witness 4 The Prosecution]]. [[And That Says What?]] was recorded during the same sessions, but at the [[Washington Avenue Warehouse]], Edina, MN, USA. In mid-April, [[Crystal Ball]], [[Starfish And Coffee]], [[Big Tall Wall]] and [[Visions]] were recorded.  
 
It was only in mid-March 1986, however, that he embarked fully on the album, when [[Prince]] started working using a new home studio in his house, known as the [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]], Chanhassen, MN, USA. Recorded there from mid-March to mid-April 1986, were [[The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker]], [[Power Fantastic]], [[And How]], [[A Place In Heaven]], [[Movie Star]] and [[Witness 4 The Prosecution]]. [[And That Says What?]] was recorded during the same sessions, but at the [[Washington Avenue Warehouse]], Edina, MN, USA. In mid-April, [[Crystal Ball]], [[Starfish And Coffee]], [[Big Tall Wall]] and [[Visions]] were recorded.  
  
A tentative configuration of the '''Dream Factory''' album was compiled in late April 1986, containing eleven tracks. Work continued in early May, however, with the recording of [[In A Large Room With No Light]] and [[It]], and a new double LP configuration containing 19 tracks was compiled, dated [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/June_3|3 June 1986]]. The album was mastered in early June, but [[Prince]] still didn’t consider it a final version, and continued work on the album. [[Slow Love]] was recorded the following day. By mid-June, [[Prince]] was considering working on a Broadway musical, referred to both as [[Musical: The Dawn|Dream Factory]] and [[Musical: The Dawn|The Dawn]], and it is possible that there was some overlap between the projects, but the musical was ultimately abandoned.
+
An initial configuration of the '''Dream Factory''' album was compiled in late April 1986, containing eleven tracks. Work continued in early May, however, with the recording of [[In A Large Room With No Light]] and [[It]], and a new double LP configuration containing 19 tracks was compiled, dated [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/June_3|3 June 1986]]. The album was mastered in early June, but [[Prince]] still didn’t consider it a final version, and continued work on the album. [[Slow Love]] was recorded the following day. By mid-June, [[Prince]] was considering working on a Broadway musical, referred to both as [[Musical: The Dawn|Dream Factory]] and [[Musical: The Dawn|The Dawn]], and it is possible that there was some overlap between the projects, but the musical was ultimately abandoned.
  
In early July 1986, [[Prince]] recorded [[Train]] for the album, and in mid-July, he recorded [[The Cross]] and [[Sign O’ The Times]], and revamped the 1982 track [[I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man]] to complete the album. The final double LP configuration containing 18 tracks was compiled on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July 18|18 July 1986]]. When [[Wendy Melvoin]] and [[Lisa Coleman]] told [[Prince]] they wanted to leave his band in late July, however, the album was abandoned. [[Prince]] instead decided to eliminate most of the [[Prince and the Revolution|Revolution]]’s input on tracks and to expand on the project by incorporating other tracks recorded later in 1986, resulting in the three-disc set [[Album: Crystal Ball 1986|Crystal Ball]] (which eventually was pared down to become [[Prince]]’s next officially released album, [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]]).
+
In early July 1986, [[Prince]] recorded [[Train]] for the album, and in mid-July, he recorded [[The Cross]] and [[Sign O’ The Times]], and revamped the 1982 track [[I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man]] to complete the album. The final double LP configuration containing 18 tracks was compiled on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July 18|18 July 1986]]. Sometimes after the project was abandoned and [[Prince]] decided to eliminate most of the [[Prince and the Revolution|Revolution]]’s input on tracks and to expand on the project by incorporating other tracks recorded later in 1986, resulting in the three-disc set [[Album: Crystal Ball 1986|Crystal Ball]] (which eventually was pared down to become [[Prince]]’s next officially released album, [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]]).
  
 
Although many of the tracks were solo recordings by [[Prince]], several include other members of [[Prince and the Revolution|the Revolution]].
 
Although many of the tracks were solo recordings by [[Prince]], several include other members of [[Prince and the Revolution|the Revolution]].
  
All of the tracks considered for the '''Dream Factory''' album have been released in one form or another. [[The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker]], [[Strange Relationship]], [[Starfish And Coffee]], [[It]], [[Slow Love]], [[I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man]], [[Sign O’ The Times]] and [[The Cross]] were all included on the [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]] album. [[Train]] was released by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples Mavis Staples] in 1989 on her album [[Album: Time Waits For No One|Time Waits For No One]] ([[Prince]]’s version was included on the [[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|''Deluxe'']] edition of the [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]] album in 2020.
+
All of the tracks considered for the '''Dream Factory''' album have been released in one form or another. [[The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker]], [[Strange Relationship]], [[Starfish And Coffee]], [[It]], [[Slow Love]], [[I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man]], [[Sign O’ The Times]] and [[The Cross]] were all included on the [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]] album. [[Train]] was released by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples Mavis Staples] in 1989 on her album [[Album: Time Waits For No One|Time Waits For No One]] ([[Prince]]’s version was included on the [[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|''Deluxe Edition'']] edition of the [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]] album in 2020).
  
[[Power Fantastic]] was released (in edited form) in 1993 on [[Album: The Hits / The B-Sides|The B-Sides]] compilation (included as the third and final disc on [[Album: The Hits / The B-Sides|The Hits / The B-Sides]]). [[Dream Factory]], [[Sexual Suicide]], [[Last Heart]], [[Movie Star]] and [[Crystal Ball]] were eventually released on the 1998 compilation [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]]. A re-recorded version of [[In A Large Room With No Light]] was streamed online in 2009, but was not officially released. [[Visions]] remains unreleased as a [[Prince]]-related track, but was released (now renamed '''Minneapolis #1''') by [[Wendy Melvoin|Wendy]] & [[Lisa Coleman|Lisa]] in 1990 as the first track on a limited edition bonus CD included with their third album ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eroica_(album) Eroica]''. It was later included on the [[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe'']] set in 2020 as were [[Wonderful Day]], [[Big Tall Wall]], [[And That Says What?]], [[A Place In Heaven]], [[Witness 4 The Prosecution]], [[All My Dreams]], [[Colors]] and [[A Place In Heaven|Nevaeh Ni Ecalp A]] and [[Teacher, Teacher]] (The 1982 version of [[Teacher, Teacher]] was also released in 2019 on the ''Deluxe'' edition of the [[Album: 1999 Deluxe|1999]] album).  
+
[[Power Fantastic]] was released (in edited form) in 1993 on [[Album: The Hits / The B-Sides|The B-Sides]] compilation (included as the third and final disc on [[Album: The Hits / The B-Sides|The Hits / The B-Sides]]). [[Dream Factory]], [[Sexual Suicide]], [[Last Heart]], [[Movie Star]] and [[Crystal Ball]] were eventually released on the 1998 compilation [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]]. A re-recorded version of [[In A Large Room With No Light]] was streamed online in 2009, but was not officially released. [[Visions]] remains unreleased as a [[Prince]]-related track, but was released (now renamed '''Minneapolis #1''') by [[Wendy Melvoin|Wendy]] & [[Lisa Coleman|Lisa]] in 1990 as the first track on a limited edition bonus CD included with their third album ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eroica_(album) Eroica]''. It was later included on the [[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe Edition'']] set in 2020 as were [[Wonderful Day]] (two versions different from the '''Dream Factory''' album), [[Big Tall Wall]], [[And That Says What?]], [[A Place In Heaven]], [[Witness 4 The Prosecution]], [[All My Dreams]], [[Colors]] and [[A Place In Heaven|Nevaeh Ni Ecalp A]] and [[Teacher, Teacher]] (The 1982 version of [[Teacher, Teacher]] was also released in 2019 on the ''Deluxe Edition'' edition of the [[Album: 1999 Deluxe|1999]] album). Only the segue (including a bit of [[A Place In Heaven|Nevaeh Ni Ecalp A]]) preceding [[Dream Factory]] remains unreleased.
  
  
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*Side 1:
 
*Side 1:
 
# <b>[[Visions]]</b> <small><sup>1</sup>&nbsp; </small>
 
# <b>[[Visions]]</b> <small><sup>1</sup>&nbsp; </small>
# <b>[[Dream Factory]]</b> <small> (preceded by [[A Place In Heaven|Nevaeh Ni Ecalp A]], not listed as such) </small>
+
# <b>[[Dream Factory]]</b> <small> (preceded by a segue including a bit of [[A Place In Heaven|Nevaeh Ni Ecalp A]]) </small>
# <b>[[Train]]</b> <small>(different version than released)</small>
+
# <b>[[Train]]</b>
 
# <b>[[The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker]]</b>
 
# <b>[[The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker]]</b>
 
# <b>[[It]]</b>
 
# <b>[[It]]</b>
 
*Side 2:
 
*Side 2:
# <b>[[Strange Relationship]]</b> <small>(different version than released)</small>
+
# <b>[[Strange Relationship]]</b> <small>(an edit of the version released on [[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe Edition'']] in 2020)</small>
 
# <b>[[Slow Love]] </b> <small><sup>2</sup>&nbsp; </small>
 
# <b>[[Slow Love]] </b> <small><sup>2</sup>&nbsp; </small>
 
# <b>[[Starfish And Coffee]]</b> <small><sup>3</sup>&nbsp;</small><small>(omits the alarm clock intro) </small>
 
# <b>[[Starfish And Coffee]]</b> <small><sup>3</sup>&nbsp;</small><small>(omits the alarm clock intro) </small>
# <b>[[Colors]]</b> <small><sup>4</sup>&nbsp; </small>
+
# <b>[[Colors]]</b> <small><sup>4</sup>&nbsp;</small>
# <b>[[I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man]]</b> <small>(different version than released)</small>
+
# <b>[[I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man]]</b> <small>(different version than released on [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]] in 1987)</small>
 
*Side 3:
 
*Side 3:
 
# <b>[[Sign O’ The Times]]</b> <small>(version released as edit on the single [[Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]])</small>
 
# <b>[[Sign O’ The Times]]</b> <small>(version released as edit on the single [[Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]])</small>
# <b>[[Crystal Ball]]</b>
+
# <b>[[Crystal Ball]]</b> <small>(different version than released on [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] in 1998)</small>
 
# <b>[[A Place In Heaven]] </b><small>([[Lisa Coleman]] lead vox)</small>
 
# <b>[[A Place In Heaven]] </b><small>([[Lisa Coleman]] lead vox)</small>
 
*Side 4:
 
*Side 4:
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|musicians              = <small>''NB: There are no official credits for this album. Credits below are taken from official releases and recording information (where known). Credits will be updated if and when new information becomes available''</small>
 
|musicians              = <small>''NB: There are no official credits for this album. Credits below are taken from official releases and recording information (where known). Credits will be updated if and when new information becomes available''</small>
 
*[[Prince]] - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
 
*[[Prince]] - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
*[[Lisa Coleman]] - piano on [[Visions]] and [[Power Fantastic]], co-lead vocals and piano on [[Wonderful Day]] <small>(April & June configurations)</small>, keyboards on [[And That Says What?]] (assumed) <small>(April configuration)</small>, (Fairlight sample) sitar and wooden flute on [[Strange Relationship]], (Fairlight sample) sitar and vocals on [[Teacher, Teacher]] <small>(April & June configurations)</small>, lead vocals on [[A Place In Heaven]] and [[A Place In Heaven|Nevaeh Ni Ecalp A]] <small>Final configuration only)</small>, background vocals on [[Sexual Suicide]] <small>(April & June configurations)</small>and [[Crystal Ball]], piano and vocals on [[In A Large Room With No Light]], organ and background vocals on [[Witness 4 The Prosecution]], keyboards and vocals on [[All My Dreams]], background vocals on [[Slow Love]].
+
*[[Lisa Coleman]] - piano on [[Visions]] and [[Power Fantastic]] and [[And That Says What?]] (assumed) <small>(April configuration)</small>, co-lead vocals and piano on [[Wonderful Day]] <small>(April & June configurations)</small>, keyboards on , (Fairlight sample) sitar and wooden flute on [[Strange Relationship]], (Fairlight sample) sitar and vocals on [[Teacher, Teacher]] <small>(April & June configurations)</small>, lead vocals on [[A Place In Heaven]] and [[A Place In Heaven|Nevaeh Ni Ecalp A]] <small>(Final configuration only)</small>, background vocals on [[Sexual Suicide]] <small>(April & June configurations)</small> and [[Crystal Ball]], piano and vocals on [[In A Large Room With No Light]], organ and background vocals on [[Witness 4 The Prosecution]], vocals on [[All My Dreams]], background vocals on [[Slow Love]].
*[[Susannah Melvoin]] - background vocals on [[Dream Factory]], [[The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker]], [[In A Large Room With No Light]] <small>(June configuration)</small>, [[Crystal Ball]], [[Last Heart]] <small>(June & July configurations)</small>and [[Witness 4 The Prosecution]], spoken vocals on [[Movie Star]] (assumed) <small>July configuration)</small>
+
*[[Susannah Melvoin]] - background vocals on [[Dream Factory]], [[The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker]], [[In A Large Room With No Light]] <small>(June configuration)</small>, [[Crystal Ball]], [[Last Heart]] <small> (June & July configurations)</small> and [[Witness 4 The Prosecution]], spoken vocals on [[Movie Star]] (assumed) <small>(July configuration)</small>
*[[Wendy Melvoin]] - co-lead vocals and guitar on [[Wonderful Day]] <small>(April & June configurations)</small>, guitar on [[And That Says What?]] <small>(April configuration)</small>(assumed) and [[Power Fantastic]] <small>(June configuration)</small>, tamborine and congas on [[Strange Relationship]], vocals on [[Teacher, Teacher]] <small>(April & June configurations)</small>, background vocals on [[Sexual Suicide]] <small>(April & June configurations)</small>, guitar on [[Colors]], guitar and vocals on [[In A Large Room With No Light]] <small>(June configuration) </small>, [[Witness 4 The Prosecution]] and [[Slow Love]], guitar (unconfirmed) and vocals on [[All My Dreams]]
+
*[[Wendy Melvoin]] - co-lead vocals and guitar on [[Wonderful Day]] <small>(April & June configurations)</small>, guitar on [[Power Fantastic]] <small>(June configuration)</small>, tamborine and congas on [[Strange Relationship]], vocals on [[Teacher, Teacher]] <small>(April & June configurations)</small>, background vocals on [[Sexual Suicide]] <small>(April & June configurations)</small>, guitar on [[Colors]], guitar and vocals on [[In A Large Room With No Light]] <small>(June configuration) </small>, [[Witness 4 The Prosecution]] and [[Slow Love]], vocals on [[All My Dreams]]
*[[Bobby Z.]] - drums on [[And That Says What?]] <small>(April configuration)</small> (uncertain involvement) and [[Power Fantastic]] <small>June configuration)</small> (uncertain involvement)
+
*[[Bobby Z.]] - drums on [[Power Fantastic]] <small>(June configuration)</small>
*[[Brown Mark]] - bass guitar on [[And That Says What?]] <small>(April configuration)</small>(uncertain involvement) and [[Power Fantastic]] <small>(June configuration)</small>(uncertain involvement)
+
*[[Matt Fink]] - keyboards on [[And That Says What?]] <small>(April configuration)</small>
*[[Eric Leeds]] - saxophone or flute on [[And That Says What?]] <small>(April configuration)</small> (specific instrument uncertain), saxophone on [[Sexual Suicide]] <small>(April & June configurations)</small>, [[In A Large Room With No Light]] <small>(June configurations</small>, [[Last Heart]], <small>(June & final configurations)</small> [[Witness 4 The Prosecution]], [[Train]] and [[Slow Love]], flute on [[Power Fantastic]] <small>(June configuration)</small>
+
*[[Eric Leeds]] - saxophone on [[And That Says What?]] <small>(April configuration)</small>, [[Sexual Suicide]] <small>(April & June configurations)</small>, [[In A Large Room With No Light]] <small>(June configuration)</small>, [[Last Heart]]<small>(June & final configurations)</small>, [[Witness 4 The Prosecution]], [[Train]], [[Slow Love]] and [[Big Tall Wall]] <small>(April configuration)</small> (assumed), flute on [[Power Fantastic]] <small>(June configuration)</small>
 
*[[Sheila E.]] - drums, percussion and vocals on [[In A Large Room With No Light]] <small>(June configuration)</small>
 
*[[Sheila E.]] - drums, percussion and vocals on [[In A Large Room With No Light]] <small>(June configuration)</small>
 
*[[Levi Seacer, Jr.]] - bass guitar on [[In A Large Room With No Light]] <small>(June configuration)</small>
 
*[[Levi Seacer, Jr.]] - bass guitar on [[In A Large Room With No Light]] <small>(June configuration)</small>
*[[Atlanta Bliss]] - trumpet on [[In A Large Room With No Light]] <small>(June configuration)</small>, [[Power Fantastic]] <small>(June configuration)</small>, [[Train]] and [[Slow Love]]
+
*[[Atlanta Bliss]] - trumpet on [[In A Large Room With No Light]] <small>(June configuration)</small>, [[Power Fantastic]] <small>(June configuration)</small>, [[Train]], [[Slow Love]] and [[Big Tall Wall]] <small>(April configuration)</small> (assumed)
 
*Norbert Satchell - saxophone on [[In A Large Room With No Light]] <small>(June configuration)</small>
 
*Norbert Satchell - saxophone on [[In A Large Room With No Light]] <small>(June configuration)</small>
*[[Clare Fischer]] - string arrangements on [[Crystal Ball]]
+
*[[Clare Fischer]] - string arrangements on [[Slow Love]]
 
*Unidentified female - spoken vocals on [[Movie Star]]
 
*Unidentified female - spoken vocals on [[Movie Star]]
 
|production            = [[Prince]] - producer
 
|production            = [[Prince]] - producer
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:; Side 1:
 
:; Side 1:
 
:# <b>[[Visions]]</b>
 
:# <b>[[Visions]]</b>
:# <b>[[Dream Factory]]</b>
+
:# <b>[[Dream Factory]]</b> <small> (possibly preceded by a segue including a bit of [[A Place In Heaven|Nevaeh Ni Ecalp A]]) </small>
:# <b>[[Wonderful Day]]</b>
+
:# <b>[[Wonderful Day]]</b> <small> ([[Wendy Melvoin|Wendy]] & [[Lisa Coleman|Lisa]]’s version, different from the two versions released on [[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe Edition'']] in 2020)</small>
 
:# <b>[[The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker]]</b>
 
:# <b>[[The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker]]</b>
 
:# <b>[[Big Tall Wall]]</b>
 
:# <b>[[Big Tall Wall]]</b>
 
:# <b>[[And That Says What?]]</b>
 
:# <b>[[And That Says What?]]</b>
 
:; Side 2:
 
:; Side 2:
:# <b>[[Strange Relationship]]</b> <small>(different version than released)</small>
+
:# <b>[[Strange Relationship]]</b> <small>(possibly the version released on [[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe Edition'']] in 2020)</small>
 
:# <b>[[Teacher, Teacher]]</b>
 
:# <b>[[Teacher, Teacher]]</b>
 
:# <b>[[Starfish And Coffee]]</b> <small>(omits alarm clock intro) </small>
 
:# <b>[[Starfish And Coffee]]</b> <small>(omits alarm clock intro) </small>
 
:# <b>[[A Place In Heaven]]</b>
 
:# <b>[[A Place In Heaven]]</b>
:# <b>[[Sexual Suicide]]</b> <small>(different version than released)</small>
+
:# <b>[[Sexual Suicide]]</b> <small>(slightly different mix from version released on [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] in 1998)</small>
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
* '''<u>3 June 1986 configuration</u>'''
 
* '''<u>3 June 1986 configuration</u>'''
 
:; Side 1:
 
:; Side 1:
 
:# <b>[[Visions]] </b>
 
:# <b>[[Visions]] </b>
:# <b>[[Dream Factory]]</b>
+
:# <b>[[Dream Factory]]</b> <small> (possibly preceded by a segue including a bit of [[A Place In Heaven|Nevaeh Ni Ecalp A]]) </small>
:# <b>[[Wonderful Day]]</b>
+
:# <b>[[Wonderful Day]]</b> <small> ([[Wendy Melvoin|Wendy]] & [[Lisa Coleman|Lisa]]’s version, different from the two versions released on [[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe Edition'']] in 2020)</small>
 
:# <b>[[The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker]]</b>
 
:# <b>[[The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker]]</b>
 
:# <b>[[It]]</b>
 
:# <b>[[It]]</b>
 
:; Side 2:
 
:; Side 2:
:# <b>[[Strange Relationship]]</b> <small>(different version than released)</small>
+
:# <b>[[Strange Relationship]]</b> <small>(possibly an edit of the version released on [[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe Edition'']] in 2020)</small>
 
:# <b>[[Teacher, Teacher]]</b>
 
:# <b>[[Teacher, Teacher]]</b>
 
:# <b>[[Starfish And Coffee]] </b><small>(omits alarm clock intro) </small>
 
:# <b>[[Starfish And Coffee]] </b><small>(omits alarm clock intro) </small>
:# <b>[[Colors]] </b>
+
:# <b>[[Colors|Wendy]]</b> <small>(released as [[Colors]] on [[Album: Sign O’ The Times Deluxe|Sign O’ The Times ''Super Deluxe Edition'']] in 2020)</small>
 
:# <b>[[In A Large Room With No Light]]</b>
 
:# <b>[[In A Large Room With No Light]]</b>
 
:# <b>[[A Place In Heaven|Nevaeh Ni Ecalp A]]</b>
 
:# <b>[[A Place In Heaven|Nevaeh Ni Ecalp A]]</b>
:# <b>[[Sexual Suicide]]</b>
+
:# <b>[[Sexual Suicide]]</b> <small>(slightly different mix from version released on [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] in 1998)</small>
 
:; Side 3:
 
:; Side 3:
:# <b>[[Crystal Ball]]</b>
+
:# <b>[[Crystal Ball]]</b> <small>(different version than released on [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]] in 1998)</small>
 
:# <b>[[Power Fantastic]]</b>
 
:# <b>[[Power Fantastic]]</b>
 
:; Side 4:
 
:; Side 4:

Revision as of 18:57, 18 October 2020

1981: Unreleased project.png The Second Coming Unreleased Albums
(Prince)
Unreleased Albums
(Related Artists)
1986: Unreleased project.png Camille
Dream Factory

Unreleased project.png

Album details


Intended Release Date: Mid 1986
Label(s): Paisley Park Records / Warner Bros. (assumed)
Studio(s): Kiowa Trail Home Studio, Chanhassen, MN, USA; Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA; Galpin Blvd Home Studio, Chanhassen, MN, USA; Washington Avenue Warehouse, Edina, MN, USA

See also


Sign O’ The Times
(album)
Crystal Ball
(unreleased album)
Sott.jpg Unreleased project.png

Alternate Album Configuration


  • Late April 1986 configuration
Side 1
  1. Visions
  2. Dream Factory (possibly preceded by a segue including a bit of Nevaeh Ni Ecalp A)
  3. Wonderful Day (Wendy & Lisa’s version, different from the two versions released on Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition in 2020)
  4. The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker
  5. Big Tall Wall
  6. And That Says What?
Side 2
  1. Strange Relationship (possibly the version released on Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition in 2020)
  2. Teacher, Teacher
  3. Starfish And Coffee (omits alarm clock intro)
  4. A Place In Heaven
  5. Sexual Suicide (slightly different mix from version released on Crystal Ball in 1998)


  • 3 June 1986 configuration
Side 1
  1. Visions
  2. Dream Factory (possibly preceded by a segue including a bit of Nevaeh Ni Ecalp A)
  3. Wonderful Day (Wendy & Lisa’s version, different from the two versions released on Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition in 2020)
  4. The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker
  5. It
Side 2
  1. Strange Relationship (possibly an edit of the version released on Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition in 2020)
  2. Teacher, Teacher
  3. Starfish And Coffee (omits alarm clock intro)
  4. Wendy (released as Colors on Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition in 2020)
  5. In A Large Room With No Light
  6. Nevaeh Ni Ecalp A
  7. Sexual Suicide (slightly different mix from version released on Crystal Ball in 1998)
Side 3
  1. Crystal Ball (different version than released on Crystal Ball in 1998)
  2. Power Fantastic
Side 4
  1. Last Heart
  2. Witness 4 The Prosecution
  3. Movie Star
  4. A Place In Heaven
  5. All My Dreams
Dream Factory is an unreleased album by Prince and the Revolution, planned for release following their third (and ultimately final) album Parade. There are three known configurations of the album, dated late April 1986, 3 June 1986, and 18 July 1986.

Strange Relationship, Teacher, Teacher and I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man were the earliest recordings included on the album, originally recorded in Summer 1982. Dream Factory was recorded in December 1985, but Prince hadn’t yet decided on the album, as he was unsure of how he would proceed following Parade, which was not yet released. By January 1986, however, Prince proceeded with further work on an album, recording Last Heart and Wonderful Day.

It was only in mid-March 1986, however, that he embarked fully on the album, when Prince started working using a new home studio in his house, known as the Galpin Blvd Home Studio, Chanhassen, MN, USA. Recorded there from mid-March to mid-April 1986, were The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker, Power Fantastic, And How, A Place In Heaven, Movie Star and Witness 4 The Prosecution. And That Says What? was recorded during the same sessions, but at the Washington Avenue Warehouse, Edina, MN, USA. In mid-April, Crystal Ball, Starfish And Coffee, Big Tall Wall and Visions were recorded.

An initial configuration of the Dream Factory album was compiled in late April 1986, containing eleven tracks. Work continued in early May, however, with the recording of In A Large Room With No Light and It, and a new double LP configuration containing 19 tracks was compiled, dated 3 June 1986. The album was mastered in early June, but Prince still didn’t consider it a final version, and continued work on the album. Slow Love was recorded the following day. By mid-June, Prince was considering working on a Broadway musical, referred to both as Dream Factory and The Dawn, and it is possible that there was some overlap between the projects, but the musical was ultimately abandoned.

In early July 1986, Prince recorded Train for the album, and in mid-July, he recorded The Cross and Sign O’ The Times, and revamped the 1982 track I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man to complete the album. The final double LP configuration containing 18 tracks was compiled on 18 July 1986. Sometimes after the project was abandoned and Prince decided to eliminate most of the Revolution’s input on tracks and to expand on the project by incorporating other tracks recorded later in 1986, resulting in the three-disc set Crystal Ball (which eventually was pared down to become Prince’s next officially released album, Sign O’ The Times).

Although many of the tracks were solo recordings by Prince, several include other members of the Revolution.

All of the tracks considered for the Dream Factory album have been released in one form or another. The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker, Strange Relationship, Starfish And Coffee, It, Slow Love, I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man, Sign O’ The Times and The Cross were all included on the Sign O’ The Times album. Train was released by Mavis Staples in 1989 on her album Time Waits For No One (Prince’s version was included on the Deluxe Edition edition of the Sign O’ The Times album in 2020).

Power Fantastic was released (in edited form) in 1993 on The B-Sides compilation (included as the third and final disc on The Hits / The B-Sides). Dream Factory, Sexual Suicide, Last Heart, Movie Star and Crystal Ball were eventually released on the 1998 compilation Crystal Ball. A re-recorded version of In A Large Room With No Light was streamed online in 2009, but was not officially released. Visions remains unreleased as a Prince-related track, but was released (now renamed Minneapolis #1) by Wendy & Lisa in 1990 as the first track on a limited edition bonus CD included with their third album Eroica. It was later included on the Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition set in 2020 as were Wonderful Day (two versions different from the Dream Factory album), Big Tall Wall, And That Says What?, A Place In Heaven, Witness 4 The Prosecution, All My Dreams, Colors and Nevaeh Ni Ecalp A and Teacher, Teacher (The 1982 version of Teacher, Teacher was also released in 2019 on the Deluxe Edition edition of the 1999 album). Only the segue (including a bit of Nevaeh Ni Ecalp A) preceding Dream Factory remains unreleased.


It was long believed work on the packaging for the album had not yet been worked on at the time the project was abandoned, but in 2017 Susannah Melvoin showed color pencil sketches she made in 1986 of what was an idea for an album cover. The cover depicts sort of a time-warp flash surrounded by a an array of flowers and a border of little hearts. In the 'flash' we see a female figure (Susannah herself) holding open a door to the ‘Dream Factory’ with a rainbow at the bottom, a sun, moon, stars, clouds, balloons and drapes. Interestingly the album cover in this sketch is attributed to The Flesh rather than Prince and the Revolution.



Track listing
LP
  • 18 July 1986 configuration
  • Side 1:
  1. Visions 1 
  2. Dream Factory (preceded by a segue including a bit of Nevaeh Ni Ecalp A)
  3. Train
  4. The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker
  5. It
  • Side 2:
  1. Strange Relationship (an edit of the version released on Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition in 2020)
  2. Slow Love 2 
  3. Starfish And Coffee 3 (omits the alarm clock intro)
  4. Colors 4 
  5. I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (different version than released on Sign O’ The Times in 1987)
  • Side 3:
  1. Sign O’ The Times (version released as edit on the single Sign O’ The Times)
  2. Crystal Ball (different version than released on Crystal Ball in 1998)
  3. A Place In Heaven (Lisa Coleman lead vox)
  • Side 4:
  1. Last Heart
  2. Witness 4 The Prosecution
  3. Movie Star
  4. The Cross
  5. All My Dreams

All tracks written by Prince, except where noted
1  Written by Lisa Coleman
2  Lyrics written by Prince and Carole Davis
3  Lyrics written by Prince and Susannah Melvoin
4  Written by Wendy Melvoin



Personnel
Musicians


Production
  • Prince - producer
  • Other production details unknown


 
Additional Information

Trivia


References
Unreleased project.png 1981
The Second Coming
Unreleased Albums
(Prince)
Unreleased Albums
(Related Artists)
1986
Camille
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