Power Fantastic

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Power Fantastic

Thehitsthebsides.jpg
included on The Hits / The B-Sides
Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition
from the album
Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition
Song details
Performer: Prince and the Revolution
First Released: 14 September 1993 - The Hits / The B-Sides album
Album(s): The Hits / The B-Sides

Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition

Writer(s): Prince, Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman (credited to Prince)
Producer(s): Prince
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
Performed regularly on tour:
  • none
Performed occasionally in shows:

Power Fantastic is the 20th and final track (second of two previously-unreleased tracks) on The B-Sides compilation (included as the third and final disc on The Hits / The B-Sides).

The song was based on a instrumental composition by Wendy & Lisa called Carousel, recorded by them in June 1985.

After Prince wrote lyrics for the song and came up with a vocal melody the track was re-recorded live on 19 March 1986 (the same day as And How) at Prince’s Galpin Blvd Home Studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota, during the the first session that yielded material for the Dream Factory album. Prince first recorded a rough vocal guiding the band through the song and later in the same session mixed an instrumental and a version where he re-recorded his vocal (this version was released on The Hits / The B-Sides).

The song was not included on the initial, late April configuration of the Dream Factory album, but was included on a configuration made on 3 June 1986, before being removed again for the July configuration. The instrumental intro to the song was removed when the track was placed on The Hits / The B-Sides in 1993.

The song was mentioned in an early draft (from October 1987) of Graffiti Bridge, but it is not known if the song was re-recorded however. In this version of the script, Power Fantastic was supposed to be sung by the character "Ruthie Washington", who Prince hoped would be played by Madonna. It was not included on any known configuration of the Graffiti Bridge album.

In September 2020, the initial take (labeled Power Fantastic (Live In Studio)) with Prince guide vocal and instructions, and preserving the original intro, was released as the tenth track of Vault Tracks part 1, one of the discs with previously unreleased tracks included with the Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
27 June 1985 The Complex Studios,
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Tracking of Carousel (Wendy & Lisa, sans Prince)
21 July 1985 Washington Avenue Warehouse, Edina, MN, USA Mix of Carousel (Wendy & Lisa, sans Prince)
19 March 1986 Galpin Blvd Home Studio,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Tracking
Recording Personnel

Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Power Fantastic 4:45 The Hits / The B-Sides Studio
Power Fantastic (Live In Studio) 7:18 Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition Studio including Prince rough vocal and directing the band


Unreleased Versions
Title Version Additional Info
Power Fantastic Studio Includes instrumental intro removed for inclusion on The Hits / The B-Sides
 
Additional Information

See also Trivia

  • Wendy & Lisa names were left off the credits on the initial release on The Hits / The B-Sides, and the song was initially registered at ASCAP as a Prince solo composition. However this was corrected in September 1993.

The Hits / The B-Sides liner notes incorrectly state that this song was recorded at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota.

  • The released mix of the Live In Studio version was done by Niko Bolas specifically for the Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition release. It was made to replicate the original mix from the time the song was initially tracked, as much as possible. So even when a slightly different mix of this track might exist, the now released version is not considered a true alternate mix of the track.

References
Pour Me A Cup   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Power From Above