Merci For The Speed Of A Mad Clown In Summer

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Merci For The Speed Of A Mad Clown In Summer

from the album Romance 1600 Song details Performer: Sheila E. First Released: 26 August 1985 - Romance 1600 album Album(s): Romance 1600 Writer(s): Sheila E. Producer(s): Prince (credited to Sheila E.) Live Appearances First and last live appearance: This track is not believed to have been performed live by Prince except a horn interpolation (played by Eddie M.) during America on 23 February 1985: The Forum, Inglewood, CA, USA Performed regularly on tour: see Trivia Performed occasionally in shows: none

Merci For The Speed Of A Mad Clown In Summer is an instrumental featured as the seventh track on Sheila E.’s second album Romance 1600. Prince did not write this song, but plays uncredited keyboards on it. Basic tracking took place on 20 January 1985 at 5th Floor Recording Studio, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA . At this point the track was still known as Small Grey Monkey. Overdubs took place on the 23rd, and 24th, also at 5th Floor Recording Studio. The introduction is a sound effect (titled Carnival Midway) from Jac Holzman’s Authentic Sound Effects Volume 1 (1960, Elektra Records) sound library. The track also contains an interpolation of Julius Fučík’s 1897 composition Entrance Of The Gladiators. Recording Information Recording Sessions Date Studio Additional info 20 January 1985 5th Floor Recording Studio, Cincinnati, OH, USA Tracking, overdubs, mix 23 &24 January 1985 5th Floor Recording Studio, Cincinnati, OH, USA overdubs, mix (23rd); edits, mix (24th) 24 January 1985 5th Floor Recording Studio, Cincinnati, OH, USA overdubs Recording Personnel Released version Sheila E. - vocals, bass, bongos, congas, drums, guitar, keyboards, percussion (credits given for full album - instrument credits may not be accurate for this track) Prince - keyboards (uncredited) Eddie M. - saxophone Karl Perazzo - drums, bongos (uncredited) Benny Rietveld - bass guitar (uncredited) Susie Davis - keyboards (uncredited) Unreleased version (Small Grey Monkey) Sheila E. - lead vocals, bass, bongos, congas, drums, guitar, keyboards, percussion (assumed) Prince - keyboards Eddie M. - saxophone Karl Perazzo - drums, bongos Benny Rietveld - bass guitar Susie Davis - keyboards Versions Released Versions Title Length Released Version Additional info Merci For The Speed Of A Mad Clown In Summer 2:47 Romance 1600 Studio Video Versions Title Length Released Version Additional info Merci For The Speed Of A Mad Clown In Summer 06:45 Sheila E.: Live Romance 1600 VHS/laserdisc Live 8 March 1986, Warfield Theater, San Francisco, CA Unreleased Versions Title Version Additional Info Small Grey Monkey Studio Initial takes with vocals by Sheila E. (later replaced by saxophone on the released version) Small Grey Monkey Studio Overdubs on one of the intial takes (5-minute version) Merci For The Speed Of A Mad Clown In Summer Studio Same as released without sound effects

Additional Information See also Trivia Romance 1600 album Sheila E. The live version by Sheila E. and her band of Merci For The Speed Of A Mad Clown In Summer included in the Home-Video Live In Romance 1600 contains an arrangement (not included on the album version) that was later used on the Lovesexy Tour during the Jack U Off / It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) / Twelve portion. Merci For The Speed Of A Mad Clown In Summer seems to have inspired both 2 Nigs United 4 West Compton (bass line) and Ten And ½. References The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004) Prince and the Parade/Sign O’ The Times Era Studio Sessions 1985 and 1986, Duane Tudahl (2021)

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