River Run Dry

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River Run Dry


from the album The Family
Song details
Performer: The Family
First Released: 12 August 1985 - The Family album
Album(s): The Family
Writer(s): Bobby Z.
Producer(s): Prince (credited to David Z. Rivkin and The Family)
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
  • The song was performed by The Family during the band’s one and only show at the First Avenue on 13 August 1985. Although Prince had overseen the rehearsals and was most likely in attendance that night, he did not appear on stage.
Performed regularly on tour:
  • none
Performed occasionally in shows:
  • none

River Run Dry is the sixth track on The Family’s first and only album The Family. The song was written by Bobby Z., but Prince performed all of the instruments, other than Clare Fischer’s string orchestration.

Bobby Z. had originally written and demoed the track in late 1983 (with him on drums and Dr. Fink on keyboards). Basic tracking for the recording for The Family version took place on 5 August 1984 (on the same day as Yes – initially titled Lisa), at the Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

The track is notable as the first song sent by Prince to Clare Fischer for orchestral overdubs. Prince was so happy with the results that he sent other tracks from the album also, and Prince worked with Clare Fischer occasionally ever since, until the orchestrator’s death in 2012.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
Late 1983 Studio information needed,
MN, USA
Tracking (Bobby Z. version - no Prince input)
5 August 1984 Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse,
Eden Prairie, MN, USA
Tracking (The Family version)
October 1984 (estimate) Monterey Studios,
Glendale, CA, USA
Clare Fischer Orchestral overdubs
Recording Personnel

Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
River Run Dry 3:31 The Family Studio



 
Additional Information

See also Trivia

  • Bobby Z. released his own version of the song (rerecorded in 1988 or 1989 with The Steeles) on his eponymous titled album 'Bobby Z.' in 1989.

References
Rescue Me   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Rock Steady