Difference between revisions of "The Ladder"

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|previous song            = [[La, La, La, He, He, Hee]]
 
|previous song            = [[La, La, La, He, He, Hee]]
 
|next song                = [[Lady Cab Driver]]
 
|next song                = [[Lady Cab Driver]]
|introduction              = '''The Ladder''' is the eighth track on [[Prince]]'s seventh album [[Album: Around The World In A Day|Around The World In A Day]], the second album to be credited to [[Prince and the Revolution]].
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|introduction              = '''The Ladder''' is the eighth track on [[Prince]]’s seventh album [[Album: Around The World In A Day|Around The World In A Day]], the second album to be credited to [[Prince and the Revolution]].
  
Basic tracks were recorded on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/December 23|23 December 1984]] (the day before the monologue used in [[Temptation]]). [[Prince]] taught the song to the band during the soundcheck for the concert that night at the [[23 December 1984|Saint Paul Civic Center Arena]], St. Paul, MN, USA, before the band recorded it the same day at the [[Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse]], Eden Prairie, MN, USA. The string interlude prior to the song was previously used on the unreleased track [[Our Destiny]].
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Basic tracking was done on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/October 31|31 October 1984]], during the last day of rehearsals for the [[Purple Rain Tour]] at the [[Saint Paul Civic Center Arena]], St. Paul, Minnesota. The basic recording was taken to the [[Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse]] in Eden Prairie afterwards, where [[Wendy Melvoin|Wendy]] & [[Lisa Coleman|Lisa]], together with [[Susannah Melvoin]] and [[Taja Sevelle]]  (as "Taj") recorded background vocals.
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[[Wendy Melvoin|Wendy]] & [[Lisa Coleman|Lisa]] are also given writing and conducting credits for the string interlude which precedes the song as featured on the album.  The credits feature in the liner notes for [[Album: Around The World In A Day|Around The World In A Day]] seemingly as part of the credits for [[Pop Life]], which precedes '''The Ladder'''.  However, the string interlude is the first part of the eighth track on the album, and is therefore included here.  It was recorded in September 1984, and forms the opening bars of the string arrangement for [[Our Destiny]].  The string arrangement is included as part of the posthumous release in 2017 of [[Our Destiny]] / [[Roadhouse Garden]] on the second disc (titled ''From The Vault & Previously Unreleased'') of [[Album: Purple Rain Deluxe|Purple Rain ''Deluxe Expanded Edition'']].  
 
|recording info            =
 
|recording info            =
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/December 23|23 December 1984]]
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|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/October 31|31 October 1984]]
|studio                    = [[Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse]], Eden Prairie, MN, USA
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|studio                    = [[Saint Paul Civic Center Arena]],<br>St. Paul, MN, USA
|additional info          = Initial tracking
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|additional info          = Tracking
 +
}}
 +
{{RecordingLine|
 +
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/November 1|1 November 1984]] (or possibly the next day)
 +
|studio                    = [[Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse]],<br>Eden Prairie, MN, USA
 +
|additional info          = Overdubs & mixing
 +
}}
 +
{{RecordingLine|
 +
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/December 24|24 December 1984]]
 +
|studio                    = [[Kiowa Trail Home Studio]]/[[Record Plant Remote - Mobile Truck]],<br>Chanhassen, MN, USA
 +
|additional info          = Mixing
 
}}
 
}}
 
|recording personnel      =  
 
|recording personnel      =  
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:Orchestral Players on string interlude:
 
:Orchestral Players on string interlude:
 
:*Violins - [[Sid Page]] and [[Marcy Dicterow-Vaj]]
 
:*Violins - [[Sid Page]] and [[Marcy Dicterow-Vaj]]
:*Violas - [[Denyse Buffam]] and [[Laury Woods]]
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:*Violas - [[Denyse Buffum]] and [[Laury Woods]]
 
:*Cello - [[Suzie Katayama]] and [[David Coleman]]
 
:*Cello - [[Suzie Katayama]] and [[David Coleman]]
 
:*Stand-up bass - [[Tim Barr]] and [[Annette Atkinson]]
 
:*Stand-up bass - [[Tim Barr]] and [[Annette Atkinson]]
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|see also                  = [[Album: Around The World In A Day|Around The World In A Day]] album
 
|see also                  = [[Album: Around The World In A Day|Around The World In A Day]] album
 
|references                = ''[[Book:_The_Vault|The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004)]]''
 
|references                = ''[[Book:_The_Vault|The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004)]]''
* ''Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions 1983 and 1984'', Duane Tudahl (2017)
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* ''[https://www.amazon.com/Prince-Purple-Rain-Studio-Sessions/dp/1538114623/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8 Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions 1983 and 1984 (Expanded Edition, paperback), Duane Tudahl (2018)]''
 
|categories                = [[Category:1985]][[Category:Released Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Songs (Prince and the Revolution)]][[Category:Recorded 1984]]
 
|categories                = [[Category:1985]][[Category:Released Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Songs (Prince and the Revolution)]][[Category:Recorded 1984]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT: Ladder (The)}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT: Ladder (The)}}

Revision as of 19:41, 20 August 2021

La, La, La, He, He, Hee   < < < Non-Prince Songs All Prince Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Lady Cab Driver
The Ladder

Atwiad.jpg
from the album Around The World In A Day
Song details
Performer: Prince and the Revolution
First Released: 22 April 1985 - Around The World In A Day
Album(s): Around The World In A Day
Writer(s): John L. Nelson and Prince (strings composed by Lisa Coleman and Wendy Melvoin)
Producer(s): Prince (credited to Prince and the Revolution)
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
Performed regularly on tour:
Performed occasionally in shows:

The Ladder is the eighth track on Prince’s seventh album Around The World In A Day, the second album to be credited to Prince and the Revolution.

Basic tracking was done on 31 October 1984, during the last day of rehearsals for the Purple Rain Tour at the Saint Paul Civic Center Arena, St. Paul, Minnesota. The basic recording was taken to the Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse in Eden Prairie afterwards, where Wendy & Lisa, together with Susannah Melvoin and Taja Sevelle (as "Taj") recorded background vocals.

Wendy & Lisa are also given writing and conducting credits for the string interlude which precedes the song as featured on the album. The credits feature in the liner notes for Around The World In A Day seemingly as part of the credits for Pop Life, which precedes The Ladder. However, the string interlude is the first part of the eighth track on the album, and is therefore included here. It was recorded in September 1984, and forms the opening bars of the string arrangement for Our Destiny. The string arrangement is included as part of the posthumous release in 2017 of Our Destiny / Roadhouse Garden on the second disc (titled From The Vault & Previously Unreleased) of Purple Rain Deluxe Expanded Edition.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
31 October 1984 Saint Paul Civic Center Arena,
St. Paul, MN, USA
Tracking
1 November 1984 (or possibly the next day) Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse,
Eden Prairie, MN, USA
Overdubs & mixing
24 December 1984 Kiowa Trail Home Studio/Record Plant Remote - Mobile Truck,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Mixing
Recording Personnel
Orchestral Players on string interlude:

Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
The Ladder 5:26 Around The World In A Day Studio



 
Additional Information

See also Trivia


References
La, La, La, He, He, Hee   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Lady Cab Driver