Merci For The Speed Of A Mad Clown In Summer

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Merci For The Speed Of A Mad Clown In Summer

Romance1600 album.jpg
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:
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)


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


References
Mama Feelgood   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Mind Of J