Billy Jack Bitch

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Billy   < < < Non-Prince Songs All Prince Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   The Bird
Billy Jack Bitch

Thegoldexperience.jpg
from the album The Gold Experience
Song details
Performer: SymbolSmallerBlue.png
First Released: 26 September, 1995 - The Gold Experience album
Album(s): The Gold Experience
Writer(s): Prince (as SymbolSmallerBlue.png) and Michael B. Nelson
Producer(s): Prince (as SymbolSmallerBlue.png)
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
Performed regularly on tour:
Performed occasionally in shows:

Billy Jack Bitch is the 15th track (tenth song) on Prince's 17th album The Gold Experience, the first album to be credited to SymbolSmallerBlue.png.

Initial tracking took place in late October, 1993, at Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA (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 are comprised of 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, he is credited on Billy Jack Bitch as co-author and "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, Minneapolis, MN, USA on 16 March, 1994 (along with EyeBlue.png 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/SymbolSmallerBlue.png.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
Late October, 1993 Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA Initial tracking
Recording Personnel

Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Billy Jack Bitch 5:32 The Gold Experience Studio
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, CA, USA; as part of lip-synched medley of Billy Jack Bitch / EyeBlue.png 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


References
Billy   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   The Bird