Life Can Be So Nice

From Prince Vault
Jump to: navigation, search
Letter 4 Miles   < < < Non-Prince Songs All Prince Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Life Is So Neat
Life Can Be So Nice

Parade.jpg
from the album Parade
Song details
Performer: Prince and the Revolution
First Released: 31 March 1986 - Parade album
Album(s): Parade
Writer(s): Prince (credited to Prince and the Revolution)
Producer(s): Prince (credited to Prince and the Revolution)
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
Performed regularly on tour:
Performed occasionally in shows:

Life Can Be So Nice is the sixth track on Prince’s eighth album Parade, the third to be credited to Prince and the Revolution. The track is also played in Prince’s second feature film, Under The Cherry Moon.

Basic tracking in the studio only took place on 16 April 1985 at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California (the day before Wendy’s Parade, New Position, I Wonder U and Under The Cherry Moon, the same day as Lemon Cake). Clare Fischer arranged and recorded orchestration for the song in early July 1985 at Monterey Sound Studios in Glendale, California, but Prince chose to use the track without orchestration for the release on Parade.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
17 April 1985
(session started on the 16th; tracking of Life Can Be So Nice in the a.m. of the 17th.
Sunset Sound - Studio 3,
Hollywood, CA, USA
Tracking, mix
20 April 1985 Sunset Sound - Studio 3,
Hollywood, CA, USA
Possible overdubs, mix
22 April 1985 Sunset Sound - Studio 3
Hollywood, CA, USA
Vocal overdubs, mix, instrumental mix
23 June 1985 Sunset Sound - Studio 3
Hollywood, CA, USA
(Likely) vocal overdubs. mix
3 July 1985 Monterey Sound Studios,
Glendale, CA, USA
Orchestra recording by Clare Fischer
25 July 1985 Washington Avenue Warehouse,
Edina, MN, USA
Orchestra mix, possible tracking, overdubs, mix for extended version
14 or 15 November 1985 (estimate) Advision Studios,
London, England
Mix (Wendy & Lisa, probably with Prince)
16 December 1985 Sunset Sound - Studio 3,
Hollywood, CA, USA
Mix, strings only mix
27 January 1986 Sunset Sound - Studio 3,
Hollywood, CA, USA
Orchestra only mix for Under The Cherry Moon (Susan Rogers, sans Prince)
Recording Personnel

Parade version


Unreleased version

Orchestral Players:
  • Violins - Isabelle Daskoff, Francine Walsh, Mari Botnik, Pam Gates, Janice Gower, Karen Jones, Betty Moor, Irma Neumann, Assa Drori, Bill Hymanson, Oscar Chasow, Ron Clark, Henry Ferber, Erne Granat, Ed Green, Bill Hybel, Reggie Hill, Pat Johnson, Don Palmer, Sheldon Sanov, Joe Schonbrun, Terry Schonbrun and Harold Wolf
  • Violas - Pam Goldsmith, Margot Maclaine, Carol Mukagawa, Myer Bello, Alan Deverich, Norman Forrest, Alan Harshman, Jorge Moraga and David Stock
  • Cellos - Jim Arkatoff, Ray Kelley, Ray Kramer and Fred Seykora
  • Basses - Chuck Dominico and Arni Egilsson.
  • Woodwinds - Gene Cipriano, Don Ashworth, John Clarke, Dave Edwards, Gary Foster, Jim Kanter, John Lowe, Dick Mitchell, Jack Nimitz, Joe Soldo and Bob Tricarico
  • Trumpets - Ray Brown, Rich Cooper, Bob Findley, Larry Ford, Bob O’Donnell and Al Vizutti
  • Trombones - Garnett Brown, Charles Loper, Morris Repass and Bill Watrous
  • French Horns - Marni Johnson, David Duke, Joe Myer, Brian O’Connor, Calvin Smith and Jim Thatcher
  • Tuba - Tommy Johnson
  • Tympani and percussion - Brent Fischer

Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Life Can Be So Nice 3:12 Parade Studio
Broadcasts/streaming (only)
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Life Can Be So Nice T.B.C. Live concert TV broadcast Live 7 June 1986, Cobo Arena, Detroit, MI, USA
Unreleased Versions
Title Version Additional Info
Life Can Be So Nice Studio Instrumental version
Life Can Be So Nice Studio Track with unused orchestral overdubs
Life Can Be So Nice Studio Strings only mix
 
Additional Information

See also Trivia


References
Letter 4 Miles   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Life Is So Neat