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Baby Knows is the twelfth track (tenth song) on Prince’s 23rd album Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic (his sixth using the name  ), and, around the same time as the album’s release, Baby Knows was available as a promotional release in Holland only.
Even though engineer H.M. Buff has stated that the song was recorded "around Newpower Soul", basic tracking was done in late June or early July 1999, at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota (during the same session as Don’t Say No). The track was mixed in late July 1999, at Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY, USA. The song reuses some musical ideas from a jam recorded with Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman, David Coleman and Bobby Z. on 30 December 1983 at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California.
Maceo Parker’s saxophone overdubs were likely recorded in late 1999 or early 2000 at Paisley Park Studios. The track features American rock/country singer Sheryl Crow on co-lead vocals and harmonica. At the time of recording, Prince would often ’return the favor' to a guest artist by appearing on a track on their next album; this did not happen with Sheryl Crow, and it is unknown if they recorded another track for her own use which remains unreleased.
The track also features Michael B. on drums - one of his first appearances since the 1993-1996 New Power Generation was disbanded in early 1996, and his last until 3121 was released in 2006.
An extended version (perhaps simply the original version before editing) was included as the ninth track on the 2001 companion album Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic. A version using the same instrumental basic tracks with overdubbed saxophone by Maceo Parker was released as a hidden bonus track on his 2000 album Dial M-A-C-E-O (it is included here as Prince (as ) was involved directly).
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Recording Information
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Recording Sessions
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| Date
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Studio
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Additional info
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| Late June - early July 1999
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Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
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Tracking
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| Late July 1999
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Electric Lady Studios,
New York, NY, USA
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Mixing
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| September 1999
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Dan’s House Of Love,
New York, NY, USA
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Saxophone overdub by Maceo Parker
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Recording Personnel
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 version
Maceo Parker version
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Versions
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Released Versions
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Video Versions
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Broadcasts/streaming (only)
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| Title
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Length
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Released
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Version
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Additional info
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| Baby Knows
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T.B.C.
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Live performance TV broadcast
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Live
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17 November 1999 (mat.), Nulle Part Ailleurs, Studios Canal+, Paris, France
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| Baby Knows
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T.B.C.
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Delayed performance TV broadcast
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Live
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18 November 1999 (mat.), Top Of The Pops, Elstree Centre, Borehamwood, England
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| Baby Knows
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T.B.C.
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Delayed performance TV broadcast
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Live
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19 November 1999 (mat.), TFI Friday, Riverside Studios, London, England
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| Baby Knows
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T.B.C.
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Live performance TV broadcast
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Live
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20 November 1999, The Apocalypse Tube, Tyne Tees Studio 5, Newcastle, England
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| Baby Knows
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T.B.C.
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Delayed performance TV broadcast
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Live
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22 November 1999, Séptimo, Estudios El Álamo, El Álamo, Spain; broadcast 9 August 2000
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| Baby Knows
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T.B.C.
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Live performance TV broadcast
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Live
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25 November 1999, Harald Schmidt Show, Studio 449, Cologne, Germany
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| Baby Knows
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T.B.C.
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Delayed performance TV broadcast
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Live
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21 December 1999, Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA (rehearsal, sans audience) ; broadcast 29 December 1999
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