Computer Blue is the fourth track on Prince's sixth album Purple Rain, the first album to be credited to Prince and the Revolution. The song also features in the movie Purple Rain.
Before a studio recording was made, Prince and the Revolution recorded the song live on 3 August 1983 at First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, USA (during the same concert where I Would Die 4 U, Baby I'm A Star and Purple Rain were also recorded).
Later in August 1983, a studio version was recorded at The Highway 7 Warehouse, St. Louis Park, MN, USA, with the full Revolution, before at least three other versions were recorded on 15 August 1983 at Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA, with only Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman participating (during the same set of sessions that produced Let's Go Crazy).
These versions would be edited down for the album. They are largely similar at the beginning and end of the song - differences are noticeable in the middle of the track. A longer version of the track was included as the third track on the 7 November 1983 and 23 March 1984 configurations of the album, but this was edited down for the final 14 April 1984 configuration to make room for the inclusion of Take Me With U.
All recorded versions of the song contain a segment of the track Father's Song during one of the instrumental breaks. It is likely that John L. Nelson's credit on the track comes from this inclusion.
|
|
Versions
|
Released Versions
|
|
Video Versions
|
|
Unreleased Versions
|
Title
|
Version
|
Additional Info
|
Computer Blue
|
Live recording
|
3 August 1983, First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, USA
|
Computer Blue
|
Studio
|
Full band recording at Highway 7 Warehouse, St. Louis Park, MN, USA
|
Computer Blue
|
Studio
|
With Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman at Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA
|
Computer Blue
|
Studio
|
With Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman at Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA
|
Computer Blue
|
Studio
|
With Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman at Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA
|
|
|