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Let’s Go Crazy is the first track on Prince’s sixth album Purple Rain, the first album to be credited to Prince and the Revolution. One month after the album’s release, Let’s Go Crazy was released as the album’s second single, becoming his second US number one single (following When Doves Cry). The track is also featured in the movie Purple Rain.
The basic idea for the song/riff (that according to Prince photographer and friend Allen Beaulieu was something he came up with while jamming with Prince in the fall of 1982) was committed to tape in a session on 18 May 1983 at the Kiowa Trail Home Studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
Before a proper studio recording was made, Prince and the Revolution recorded the song live on 3 August 1983 at First Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota (at the same concert where I Would Die 4 U, Baby I’m A Star and Purple Rain were also recorded).
Basic tracking of the version released on Purple Rain, took place on 7 August 1983 (four days after its live-recording at First Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota, a day before Computer Blue) at the The Warehouse in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. This version would be edited down for the album (the full version was released on the 12" version of the single).
In 1993, the track was included as the eighth track on Prince’s first compilation album The Hits 1 (also included as the first disc of The Hits / The B-Sides).
In 2001, the track was included as the fifth track on the compilation album The Very Best Of Prince.
In 2006, the Special Dance Mix (in fact the non-edited, full length track) was included as the first track on the second disc of the compilation album Ultimate.
On 31 March 2013 a slowed down, 6:37 studio rehearsal of Let’s Go Crazy was streamed on Madison Dubé Vimeo account and promoted by 3rdEyeGirl Twitter account.
The full-length version was included as the first 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.
The Special Dance Mix was included as the seventh track on the first disc of an early configuration of the compilation album Ultimate before the album was reworked for release.
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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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| 18 May 1983
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Kiowa Trail Home Studio,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
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Basic idea/ demo recording
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| 3 August 1983
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First Avenue,
Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Live recording
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| 7 August 1983
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The Warehouse,
St. Louis Park, MN, USA
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Tracking
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| 22 March 1984
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Sunset Sound,
Hollywood, CA, USA
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Edits
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| 5 June 1984
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Sunset Sound,
Hollywood, CA, USA
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Edits cross-fading for 7"
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Recording Personnel
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Versions
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Released Versions
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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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| Let’s Go Crazy
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4:39
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Purple Rain
Let’s Go Crazy promo
Prince Sampler promotional album
Nothing Compares 2 Him promotional album
The Hits 1
The Hits / The B-Sides
My Name Was Prince promotional album
The Very Best Of Prince
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Studio
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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4:39
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Purple Rain Deluxe Edition and Deluxe Expanded Edition
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Studio
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Remastered 2015
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| Let’s Go Crazy (Edit)
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3:46
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Let’s Go Crazy single
When Doves Cry Back To Back Hits re-release single
4Ever
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Edit
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Alternate beginning, with shortened 'Dearly beloved' speech a.k.a. 7" Single Edit
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| Let’s Go Crazy (Special Dance Mix)
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7:35
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Let’s Go Crazy single
Strange Tales From The Rain promotional album
His Majesty’s Pop Life
Ultimate
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Extended version
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Original version, before album edit was made
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| Let’s Go Crazy (7" Single Edit)
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3:46
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Purple Rain Deluxe Expanded Edition - Single Edits & B-Sides
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Edit
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Alternate beginning, with shortened 'Dearly beloved' speech a.k.a. Edit. Remastered 2017
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| Let’s Go Crazy (Special Dance Mix)
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7:35
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Purple Rain Deluxe Expanded Edition - Single Edits & B-Sides
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Extended version
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Original version, before album edit was made. Remastered 2017
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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6:03
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Prince And The Revolution: Live
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Live
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30 March 1985, Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY, USA
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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6:03
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Prince And The Revolution: Live (2022 re-release)
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Live
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30 March 1985, Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY, USA. Remastered
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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2:39
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NPG Ahdio # 9 mp3 (not available as a separate track)
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Live
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26 March 1993, Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY, USA
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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6:10
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Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition
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Live
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20 June 1987: Stadion de Galgenwaard, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Video Versions
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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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| Let’s Go Crazy
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?:??
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Purple Rain film
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Studio
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Extended version. Released on VHS and DVD.
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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4:30
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Purple Rain 20th Anniversary DVD
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Promo video
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See Let’s Go Crazy video for more details
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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5:30
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Prince And The Revolution: Live VHS/laserdisc
Purple Rain Deluxe Expanded Edition – Live at the Carrier Dome (DVD)
Prince And The Revolution: Live (2022 re-release)
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Live
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30 March 1985, Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY, USA
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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5:32
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Lovesexy Live 1 VHS
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Live
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9 September 1988, Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, West Germany
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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.2:22
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Rave Un2 the Year 2000 VHS/DVD
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Live
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18 December 1999, Paisley Park, Chanhassen, MN, USA
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| BRIT Awards
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12:20
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NPG Music Club WMA download
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Live
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15 February 2006 2006 BRIT Awards, Earls Court, London, England; part of medley containing Te Amo Corazón / Fury / Purple Rain / Let’s Go Crazy
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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T.B.C.
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Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition DVD
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Live
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31 December 1987: Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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?:??
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Welcome 2 America Deluxe edition
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Live
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28 April 2011, The Forum, Inglewood, CA, USA
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| Let’s Go Crazy / Baby I’m A Star / Push (Medley) (Special Olympics 1991 Soundcheck)
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?:??
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Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition blu-ray
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Live
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20 July 1991, Special Olympics, The Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN
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| Let’s Go Crazy / Baby I’m A Star / Push (Medley) (Special Olympics 1991)
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?:??
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Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition blu-ray
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Live
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20 July 1991, Special Olympics, The Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN
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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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| Let’s Go Crazy
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T.B.C.
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Delayed concert TV broadcast
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Live
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19 January 1991 (a.m.), Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; includes Hey! Bo Diddley interpolation
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| Let’s Go Crazy / Baby I’m A Star
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6:01
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Live performance TV broadcast
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Live
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20 July 1991, Special Olympics, The Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota; intro only (0:26)
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| Diamonds And Pearls / Let’s Go Crazy
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.2:20
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Live performance TV broadcast
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Live
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4 September 1991, Arsenio Hall Show, Paramount Studios, Hollywood, CA, USA; Diamonds And Pearls intro only (first aired on 9 September 1991)
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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3:02
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Delayed live recording radio broadcast
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Live
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02 August 1993, Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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0:18
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Delayed lip-sync TV broadcast
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Studio
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28 October 1996: Muppets Tonight, Raleigh Studios, Hollywood, California, USA; lip-sync over brief clip of the song
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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1:18
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Live awards performance TV broadcast
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Live
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8 February 2004, 46th annual Grammy Awards Ceremony, Staples Center, Los Angeles, California; as part of medley with Beyoncé
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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3:06
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Delayed awards show performance TV broadcast
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Live
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15 March 2004 19th Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony, Waldorf Astoria, New York, NY, USA as part of medley
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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.2:27
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Live performance TV broadcast
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Live
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16 June 2006, Good Morning America, Bryant Park, New York, NY, USA
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| The Superbowl
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11:52
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Lotusflow3r.com video stream
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Live medley
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4 February 2007, Dolphins Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL, USA; medley of We Will Rock You / Let’s Go Crazy / 1999 intro / Baby I’m A Star / Proud Mary / All Along The Watchtower / The Best Of U / Purple Rain
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| Let’s Go Crazy Reloaded
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6:37
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3rdEyeGirl’s YouTube account
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Rehearsal
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March 2013, Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota (assumed); includes Frankenstein interpolation
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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6:04
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Live awards performance TV broadcast
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Live
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19 May 2013, MGM Grand Garden Arena , Las Vegas, NV, USA; includes Frankenstein interpolation, and medley with Fixurlifeup
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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6:19
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3rdEye TV Show # 17 concert video stream
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Live
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15 July 2013, Auditorium Stravinksi, Montreux, Switzerland; includes Frankenstein interpolation
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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4:18
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3rdEye TV Show # 18 concert video stream
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Live
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4 August 2013 Skeppsholmen, Stockholm, Sweden; includes Frankenstein interpolation
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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5:48
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3rdEye TV Show # 19 concert video stream
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Live
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7 August 2013, Dyrehaven - Bøgescenen, Skanderborg, Denmark; includes Frankenstein interpolation
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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5:28
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3rdEye TV Show # 20 concert video stream
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Live
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11 August 2013 (show 2): Paradiso, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; includes Frankenstein interpolation
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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6:02
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3rdEyeGirl’s YouTube account
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Live
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7 August 2013 , Dyrehaven - Bøgescenen, Skanderborg, Denmark; includes Frankenstein interpolation
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| Let’s Go Crazy (excerpt)
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1:40
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3rdEyeGirl’s YouTube account
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Live
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19 Oct. 2013, Chanhassen, MN, USA
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| Let’s Go Crazy (excerpt)
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1:07
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3rdEyeGirl’s YouTube account
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Live
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22 February 2014, Manchester Academy 1, Manchester, England
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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6:25
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3rdEyeGirl’s YouTube account
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Live
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22 February 2014, Manchester Academy 1, Manchester, England; includes Frankenstein interpolation
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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6:29
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Live concert online stream
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Live
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10 May 2015, Baltimore, MN, USA, Royal Farms Arena; includes Frankenstein interpolation
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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6:11
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89.3 The Current Crazy 2 Cool broadcast
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Live
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1 June 2014, Le Zénith, Paris, France (2nd show); includes Frankenstein interpolation
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| Let’s Go Crazy
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6:11
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Tidal Crazy 2 Cool video stream
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Live
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1 June 2014, Le Zénith, Paris, France (2nd show); includes Frankenstein interpolation
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Sampled, Referred to, Quoted in...
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Unreleased Versions
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