|
|
Line 14: |
Line 14: |
| |introduction = '''Melody Cool''' is the 14th track on [[Prince]]'s twelfth album [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]] (the first and only track on the album to be credited to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples Mavis Staples]), and, around a month after the album's release, [[Single: Melody Cool|Melody Cool]] was released as as the album's third single (the only single from the album credited to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples Mavis Staples]). The extended version of the track was also included on the European CD single of [[Single: New Power Generation|New Power Generation]] by [[Prince]], the album's fourth single. The track is also featured in the movie [[Film: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]]. In 1993, it was also included in a slightly different mix as the seventh track on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples Mavis Staples]' second [[Paisley Park Records]] album [[Album: The Voice|The Voice]] (included as the twelfth track on the 1995 [[NPG Records]] re-release). | | |introduction = '''Melody Cool''' is the 14th track on [[Prince]]'s twelfth album [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]] (the first and only track on the album to be credited to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples Mavis Staples]), and, around a month after the album's release, [[Single: Melody Cool|Melody Cool]] was released as as the album's third single (the only single from the album credited to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples Mavis Staples]). The extended version of the track was also included on the European CD single of [[Single: New Power Generation|New Power Generation]] by [[Prince]], the album's fourth single. The track is also featured in the movie [[Film: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]]. In 1993, it was also included in a slightly different mix as the seventh track on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples Mavis Staples]' second [[Paisley Park Records]] album [[Album: The Voice|The Voice]] (included as the twelfth track on the 1995 [[NPG Records]] re-release). |
| | | |
− | While specific recording dates are not known, basic tracking took place in July 1987 at [[Paisley Park Studios]], Chanhassen, Minnesota, during the first recording sessions to take place there (during the same set of sessions as [[No Changes]], [[Graffiti Bridge]] and a re-recording of [[If I Love U 2 Nite|If I Love You Tonight]], now titled [[If I Love U 2 Nite]]). '''Melody Cool''' marks the earliest recording from [[Paisley Park Studios]] to be released, therefore, although [[Prince]]'s original vocals were replaced by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples Mavis Staples]. The original 1987 version also featured some lyrical differences, and the song was sung from a third-person perspective ("they call her Melody Cool"). This original version was included as the eighth track on a [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/September 25|25 September 1988]] configuration of [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]]. It was also included on a configuration of the [[Album: Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic|Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic]] album, dated [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/October 27|27 October 1988]] (segueing from [[The Voice Inside]]), but was removed for the late 1988 - early 1989 configuration. It was included as the eleventh track on a late 1989 configuration of [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]]. At some point, most likely in late 1989, [[Prince]] recorded a guide vocal for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples Mavis Staples], using the first-person perspective of the lyrics for her to overdub; it is likely that further musical changes took place on the track at the same time. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples Mavis Staples] recorded vocal overdubs onto the track in late 1989 or early 1990, and the track in its released form was included as the 13th track on a 1990 configuration of the album. The track switched places with [[The Latest Fashion]] to become the 14th track on the final release. | + | While specific recording dates are not known, basic tracking took place in July 1987 at [[Paisley Park Studios]] in Chanhassen, Minnesota, during the first recording sessions to take place there (during the same set of sessions as [[No Changes]], [[Graffiti Bridge]] and a re-recording of [[If I Love U 2 Nite|If I Love You Tonight]], now titled [[If I Love U 2 Nite]]). '''Melody Cool''' marks the earliest recording from [[Paisley Park Studios]] to be released, therefore, although [[Prince]]'s original vocals were replaced by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples Mavis Staples]. The original 1987 version also featured some lyrical differences, and the song was sung from a third-person perspective ("they call her Melody Cool"). This original version was included as the eighth track on a [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/September 25|25 September 1988]] configuration of [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]]. It was also included on a configuration of the [[Album: Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic|Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic]] album, dated [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/October 27|27 October 1988]] (segueing from [[The Voice Inside]]), but was removed for the late 1988 - early 1989 configuration. It was included as the eleventh track on a late 1989 configuration of [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]]. At some point, most likely in late 1989, [[Prince]] recorded a guide vocal for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples Mavis Staples], using the first-person perspective of the lyrics for her to overdub; it is likely that further musical changes took place on the track at the same time. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples Mavis Staples] recorded vocal overdubs onto the track in late 1989 or early 1990, and the track in its released form was included as the 13th track on a 1990 configuration of the album. The track switched places with [[The Latest Fashion]] to become the 14th track on the final release. |
| | | |
| The movie [[Film: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]] was developed starting in September 1987, indicating that the character ''Melody Cool'' in the movie, played by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples Mavis Staples], was conceived to some degree before the movie itself. | | The movie [[Film: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]] was developed starting in September 1987, indicating that the character ''Melody Cool'' in the movie, played by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples Mavis Staples], was conceived to some degree before the movie itself. |
Melody Cool is the 14th track on Prince's twelfth album Graffiti Bridge (the first and only track on the album to be credited to Mavis Staples), and, around a month after the album's release, Melody Cool was released as as the album's third single (the only single from the album credited to Mavis Staples). The extended version of the track was also included on the European CD single of New Power Generation by Prince, the album's fourth single. The track is also featured in the movie Graffiti Bridge. In 1993, it was also included in a slightly different mix as the seventh track on Mavis Staples' second Paisley Park Records album The Voice (included as the twelfth track on the 1995 NPG Records re-release).
While specific recording dates are not known, basic tracking took place in July 1987 at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota, during the first recording sessions to take place there (during the same set of sessions as No Changes, Graffiti Bridge and a re-recording of If I Love You Tonight, now titled If I Love U 2 Nite). Melody Cool marks the earliest recording from Paisley Park Studios to be released, therefore, although Prince's original vocals were replaced by Mavis Staples. The original 1987 version also featured some lyrical differences, and the song was sung from a third-person perspective ("they call her Melody Cool"). This original version was included as the eighth track on a 25 September 1988 configuration of Graffiti Bridge. It was also included on a configuration of the Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic album, dated 27 October 1988 (segueing from The Voice Inside), but was removed for the late 1988 - early 1989 configuration. It was included as the eleventh track on a late 1989 configuration of Graffiti Bridge. At some point, most likely in late 1989, Prince recorded a guide vocal for Mavis Staples, using the first-person perspective of the lyrics for her to overdub; it is likely that further musical changes took place on the track at the same time. Mavis Staples recorded vocal overdubs onto the track in late 1989 or early 1990, and the track in its released form was included as the 13th track on a 1990 configuration of the album. The track switched places with The Latest Fashion to become the 14th track on the final release.
The movie Graffiti Bridge was developed starting in September 1987, indicating that the character Melody Cool in the movie, played by Mavis Staples, was conceived to some degree before the movie itself.
|
|
Recording Information
|
Recording Sessions
|
Date
|
Studio
|
Additional info
|
July 1987
|
Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA
|
Basic tracking
|
Late 1989
|
Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA
|
Prince guide vocal recording and additional recording
|
Late 1989 - early 1990
|
Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA
|
Mavis Staples vocal overdubs
|
Recording Personnel
|
Released version
Unreleased version
- Prince - all vocals and instruments
|
|
Versions
|
Released Versions
|
|
Unreleased Versions
|
Title
|
Version
|
Additional Info
|
Melody Cool
|
Studio
|
Original 1987 version with Prince vocals
|
Melody Cool
|
Studio
|
Late 1989 version with Prince guide vocals; shorter than released
|
Melody Cool
|
Studio
|
1989 version with Mavis Staples vocal overdubs; includes extended spoken part edited for release
|
|
|