Difference between revisions of "The Question Of U"

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|single image              = [[Image:Graffitibridge.jpg|100px|link=Album: Graffiti Bridge]]<br> <small> from the album [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]]</small>
 
|single image              = [[Image:Graffitibridge.jpg|100px|link=Album: Graffiti Bridge]]<br> <small> from the album [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]]</small>
 
|performer                = [[Prince]]
 
|performer                = [[Prince]]
|first released            = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/August 20|20 August, 1990]] - [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]] album
+
|first released            = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/August 20|20 August 1990]] - [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]] album
 
|album(s)                  = [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]]
 
|album(s)                  = [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]]
 
|writer(s)                = [[Prince]]
 
|writer(s)                = [[Prince]]
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In 2007, a live version using the lyrics of [[The One]], was included as the 14th track on [[Prince]]'s fourth live album [[Album: Indigo Nights|Indigo Nights]] (credited only as [[The One]]).
 
In 2007, a live version using the lyrics of [[The One]], was included as the 14th track on [[Prince]]'s fourth live album [[Album: Indigo Nights|Indigo Nights]] (credited only as [[The One]]).
  
While specific recording dates are not known, initial tracking took place in mid-late July, 1985 at the [[Washington Avenue Warehouse]], Eden Prairie, MN, USA (during the same set of sessions that produced [[Girls & Boys]], [[Love Or $|♥ Or $]], [[Neon Telephone]], [[Do U Lie?]], [[Venus De Milo]] and [[(U Got The) Good Drawers]]), but was not included on any known configurations of [[Album: Parade|Parade]], or any other projects during 1985-6.  
+
While specific recording dates are not known, initial tracking took place in mid-late July 1985 at the [[Washington Avenue Warehouse]], Eden Prairie, MN, USA (during the same set of sessions that produced [[Girls & Boys]], [[Love Or $|♥ Or $]], [[Neon Telephone]], [[Do U Lie?]], [[Venus De Milo]] and [[(U Got The) Good Drawers]]), but was not included on any known configurations of [[Album: Parade|Parade]], or any other projects during 1985-6.  
  
An instrumental version was recorded on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/December 28|28 December, 1985]] at [[Sunset Sound]], Hollywood, CA, USA with [[Sheila E.]], [[Levi Seacer, Jr.]] and [[Eric Leeds]] during the so-called ''"Paisley Jam"'' session (that also produced [[Slaughterhouse]], [[U Just Can't Stop]], [[Run Amok]], [[Mobile]], [[Madrid]], [[Breathless]] and [[High Calonic]]).  
+
An instrumental version was recorded on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/December 28|28 December 1985]] at [[Sunset Sound]], Hollywood, CA, USA with [[Sheila E.]], [[Levi Seacer, Jr.]] and [[Eric Leeds]] during the so-called ''"Paisley Jam"'' session (that also produced [[Madrid]], [[Breathless]], [[Slaughterhouse]], [[U Just Can't Stop]], [[Run Amok]] [[High Calonic]] and [[Mobile]]).
  
[[Eric Leeds]] named the track '''12 Keys''', unaware (as were [[Sheila E.]] and [[Levi Seacer, Jr.]]) that it was an instrumental version of a track [[Prince]] had recorded previously. It is unknown if this version was intended for [[Album: The Flesh|The Flesh]] album or any other project.  
+
[[Eric Leeds]] named the track '''12 Keys''', unaware (as were [[Sheila E.]] and [[Levi Seacer, Jr.]]) that it was an instrumental version of a track [[Prince]] had recorded previously. It is unknown if this version was intended for [[Album: The Flesh|The Flesh]] album or any other project.
  
When [[Prince]] began work on [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]] in late 1987, he pulled out the original studio of [[The Question Of U]] and recorded additional parts. It was included as the fifth track on the [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/September 25|25 September, 1988]] configuration of [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]], and remained there for the late 1989 configuration, before switching places with [[Elephants & Flowers]] for the 1990 configuration, to become the fourth track, where it remained for release.  
+
When [[Prince]] began work on [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]] in late 1987, he pulled out the original studio of [[The Question Of U]] and recorded additional parts. It was included as the fifth track on the [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/September 25|25 September 1988]] configuration of [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]], and remained there for the late 1989 configuration, before switching places with [[Elephants & Flowers]] for the 1990 configuration, to become the fourth track, where it remained for release. What appears on the album is in fact an edit. The original version ran about a minute longer.
 +
 
 +
In March 1990 [[Clare Fischer]] recorded string overdubs for the song at Mad Hatter Studios, Los Angeles, CA, USA. They were not used on the album version, but parts of it were later incorporated in [[The Future]]. 
  
 
A single of [[Single: The Question Of U|The Question Of U]] was also planned, but this was not released.
 
A single of [[Single: The Question Of U|The Question Of U]] was also planned, but this was not released.
 
|recording info            =
 
|recording info            =
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = Mid-late July, 1985
+
|date                      = Mid-late July 1985
 
|studio                    = [[Washington Avenue Warehouse]], Eden Prairie, MN, USA
 
|studio                    = [[Washington Avenue Warehouse]], Eden Prairie, MN, USA
 
|additional info          = Initial tracking
 
|additional info          = Initial tracking
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/December 28|28 December, 1985]]
+
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/December 28|28 December 1985]]
 
|studio                    = [[Sunset Sound]], Hollywood, CA, USA
 
|studio                    = [[Sunset Sound]], Hollywood, CA, USA
 
|additional info          = Initial tracking of '''12 Keys''' (instrumental version of [[The Question Of U]])
 
|additional info          = Initial tracking of '''12 Keys''' (instrumental version of [[The Question Of U]])
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|studio                    = [[Paisley Park Studios]], Chanhassen, MN, USA
 
|studio                    = [[Paisley Park Studios]], Chanhassen, MN, USA
 
|additional info          = Additional recording
 
|additional info          = Additional recording
 +
}}
 +
{{RecordingLine|
 +
|date                      = March 1990
 +
|studio                    = Mad Hatter Studios, Los Angeles, CA, USA−
 +
|additional info          = Orchestra overdubs by [[Clare Fischer]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
|recording personnel      =  
 
|recording personnel      =  
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<br>
 
<br>
 
'''12 Keys'''
 
'''12 Keys'''
*[[Prince]] - all instruments, except where noted
+
*[[Prince]] - piano & guitar
 
*[[Sheila E.]] - drums
 
*[[Sheila E.]] - drums
 
*[[Levi Seacer, Jr.]] - bass guitar
 
*[[Levi Seacer, Jr.]] - bass guitar
*[[Eric Leeds]] - saxophone
+
*[[Eric Leeds]] - saxophone & flute
 
|released versions        =
 
|released versions        =
 
{{Songchart|
 
{{Songchart|
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|3= [[NPG Music Club]] .wma download
 
|3= [[NPG Music Club]] .wma download
 
|4= Live
 
|4= Live
|5= a.k.a. '''2004 Tour Audio'''; [[07_April,_2004|7 April, 2004, Qwest Center, Omaha, NE, USA]]
+
|5= a.k.a. '''2004 Tour Audio'''; [[07 April 2004|7 April 2004, Qwest Center, Omaha, NE, USA]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
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|3= [[Album: Indigo Nights|Indigo Nights]]
 
|3= [[Album: Indigo Nights|Indigo Nights]]
 
|4= Live
 
|4= Live
|5= [[22 September, 2007-am|22 September, 2007 am, 3121 at The IndigO<sub>2</sub>, London, England]]; includes musical backing of [[The Question Of U]]
+
|5= [[22 September 2007-am|22 September 2007 am, 3121 at The IndigO<sub>2</sub>, London, England]]; includes musical backing of [[The Question Of U]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
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|3= [[Film: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]] DVD
 
|3= [[Film: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]] DVD
 
|4= Live promo video
 
|4= Live promo video
|5= [[31_August,_1990|31 August, 1990, Tokyo Dome (東京ドーム), Tokyo, Japan]]; see [[Video: The Question Of U|The Question Of U]] for details
+
|5= [[31_August 1990|31 August 1990, Tokyo Dome (東京ドーム), Tokyo, Japan]]; see [[Video: The Question Of U|The Question Of U]] for details
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Songline|
 
{{Songline|
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|3= [[NPG Music Club]] .wmv download
 
|3= [[NPG Music Club]] .wmv download
 
|4= Live
 
|4= Live
|5= a.k.a. '''2004 Tour Video'''; [[07_April,_2004|7 April, 2004, Qwest Center, Omaha, NE, USA]]
+
|5= a.k.a. '''2004 Tour Video'''; [[07_April 2004|7 April 2004, Qwest Center, Omaha, NE, USA]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
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|3= Live concert radio broadcast
 
|3= Live concert radio broadcast
 
|4= Live
 
|4= Live
|5= [[22_July,_1990|22 July, 1990, Estadio Vicente Calderón, Madrid, Spain]]; short version during piano medley
+
|5= [[22_July 1990|22 July 1990, Estadio Vicente Calderón, Madrid, Spain]]; short version during piano medley
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Songline|
 
{{Songline|
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|3= Live concert radio broadcast
 
|3= Live concert radio broadcast
 
|4= Live
 
|4= Live
|5= [[22_July,_1990|22 July, 1990, Estadio Vicente Calderón, Madrid, Spain]]; incl. [[Electric Man]] lyrics
+
|5= [[22_July 1990|22 July 1990, Estadio Vicente Calderón, Madrid, Spain]]; incl. [[Electric Man]] lyrics
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Songline|
 
{{Songline|
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|3= Delayed concert TV broadcast
 
|3= Delayed concert TV broadcast
 
|4= Live
 
|4= Live
|5= [[29_July,_1990|29 July, 1990, Estadio Santa María del Mar, La Coruña, Spain]]
+
|5= [[29_July 1990|29 July 1990, Estadio Santa María del Mar, La Coruña, Spain]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Songline|
 
{{Songline|
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|3= Delayed concert TV broadcast
 
|3= Delayed concert TV broadcast
 
|4= Live
 
|4= Live
|5= [[31_August,_1990|31 August, 1990, Tokyo Dome (東京ドーム), Tokyo, Japan]]; incl. [[Electric Man]] lyrics; edited for [[Video: The Question Of U|The Question Of U]] promo video
+
|5= [[31_August 1990|31 August 1990, Tokyo Dome (東京ドーム), Tokyo, Japan]]; incl. [[Electric Man]] lyrics; edited for [[Video: The Question Of U|The Question Of U]] promo video
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Songline|
 
{{Songline|
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|1= '''12 Keys'''
 
|1= '''12 Keys'''
 
|2= Studio
 
|2= Studio
|3= Recorded [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/December 28|28 December, 1985]]; recorded live; instrumental version of [[The Question Of U]]
+
|3= Recorded [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/December 28|28 December 1985]]; recorded live; instrumental version of [[The Question Of U]]
 +
}}
 +
{{Unreleasedline|
 +
|1= '''The Question Of U'''
 +
|2= Studio
 +
|3= longer take of the version as it appeared on the album
 +
}}
 +
{{Unreleasedline|
 +
|1= '''The Question Of U'''
 +
|2= Studio
 +
|3= 1990 version with discarded orchestra overdubs by [[Clare Fischer]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
|first live appearance    = [[30_April,_1990|30 April, 1990, Rupert's, Golden Valley, MN, USA]]
+
|first live appearance    = [[30_April_1990|30 April 1990: Rupert's, Golden Valley, MN, USA]] <br>
 +
* [[21 March 2016-1|21 March 2016 (Show 1): Théâtre Maisonneuve - Place des Arts, Montreal, QC, Canada]]
 
|performed regularly on    =[[Nude Tour]]
 
|performed regularly on    =[[Nude Tour]]
 
*[[Musicology Live 2004ever]]
 
*[[Musicology Live 2004ever]]

Revision as of 11:01, 9 May 2017

Qualified   < < < Non-Prince Songs All Prince Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   R U Ready?
The Question Of U

Graffitibridge.jpg
from the album Graffiti Bridge
Song details
Performer: Prince
First Released: 20 August 1990 - Graffiti Bridge album
Album(s): Graffiti Bridge
Writer(s): Prince
Producer(s): Prince
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
Performed regularly on tour:
Performed occasionally in shows:

The Question Of U is the fourth track on Prince's twelfth album Graffiti Bridge. The song also features in the movie Graffiti Bridge.

In 2004, a live version (as The ? Of U) in a medley with Fallin' and The One was offered as both audio and video by NPG Music Club for $5.55 for members ($7.77 for non-members).

In 2007, a live version using the lyrics of The One, was included as the 14th track on Prince's fourth live album Indigo Nights (credited only as The One).

While specific recording dates are not known, initial tracking took place in mid-late July 1985 at the Washington Avenue Warehouse, Eden Prairie, MN, USA (during the same set of sessions that produced Girls & Boys, ♥ Or $, Neon Telephone, Do U Lie?, Venus De Milo and (U Got The) Good Drawers), but was not included on any known configurations of Parade, or any other projects during 1985-6.

An instrumental version was recorded on 28 December 1985 at Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA with Sheila E., Levi Seacer, Jr. and Eric Leeds during the so-called "Paisley Jam" session (that also produced Madrid, Breathless, Slaughterhouse, U Just Can't Stop, Run Amok High Calonic and Mobile).

Eric Leeds named the track 12 Keys, unaware (as were Sheila E. and Levi Seacer, Jr.) that it was an instrumental version of a track Prince had recorded previously. It is unknown if this version was intended for The Flesh album or any other project.

When Prince began work on Graffiti Bridge in late 1987, he pulled out the original studio of The Question Of U and recorded additional parts. It was included as the fifth track on the 25 September 1988 configuration of Graffiti Bridge, and remained there for the late 1989 configuration, before switching places with Elephants & Flowers for the 1990 configuration, to become the fourth track, where it remained for release. What appears on the album is in fact an edit. The original version ran about a minute longer.

In March 1990 Clare Fischer recorded string overdubs for the song at Mad Hatter Studios, Los Angeles, CA, USA. They were not used on the album version, but parts of it were later incorporated in The Future.

A single of The Question Of U was also planned, but this was not released.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
Mid-late July 1985 Washington Avenue Warehouse, Eden Prairie, MN, USA Initial tracking
28 December 1985 Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA Initial tracking of 12 Keys (instrumental version of The Question Of U)
Late 1987 Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA Additional recording
March 1990 Mad Hatter Studios, Los Angeles, CA, USA− Orchestra overdubs by Clare Fischer
Recording Personnel

The Question Of U

  • Prince - all vocals and instruments


12 Keys


Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
The Question Of U 3:59 Graffiti Bridge Studio
The Question Of U 6:04 NPG Ahdio Show # 11 mp3 (not available as a separate track) Rehearsal Unknown recording date and location (Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA is likely)
The ? Of U, Fallin', The One 10:59 NPG Music Club .wma download Live a.k.a. 2004 Tour Audio; 7 April 2004, Qwest Center, Omaha, NE, USA
Video Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
The Question Of U 3:59 Graffiti Bridge DVD Live promo video 31 August 1990, Tokyo Dome (東京ドーム), Tokyo, Japan; see The Question Of U for details
The ? Of U, Fallin', The One 10:59 NPG Music Club .wmv download Live a.k.a. 2004 Tour Video; 7 April 2004, Qwest Center, Omaha, NE, USA
Broadcasts/streaming (only)
Title Length Released Version Additional info
The Question Of U T.B.C. Live concert radio broadcast Live 22 July 1990, Estadio Vicente Calderón, Madrid, Spain; short version during piano medley
The Question Of U T.B.C. Live concert radio broadcast Live 22 July 1990, Estadio Vicente Calderón, Madrid, Spain; incl. Electric Man lyrics
The Question Of U T.B.C. Delayed concert TV broadcast Live 29 July 1990, Estadio Santa María del Mar, La Coruña, Spain
The Question Of U T.B.C. Delayed concert TV broadcast Live 31 August 1990, Tokyo Dome (東京ドーム), Tokyo, Japan; incl. Electric Man lyrics; edited for The Question Of U promo video
The Question Of U / The One T.B.C. Live concert online stream Live 10 May, 2015, Baltimore, MN, USA, Royal Farms Arena; incl. Electric Man
Sampled, Referred to, Quoted in...
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Soulpsychodelicide Studio Unreleased 1989 track; contains musical clips from Graffiti Bridge, The Question Of U, Elephants & Flowers, We Can Funk, The Big Pump, Cloreen Baconskin and Oliver's House; see Soulpsychodelicide for details
The One 9:07 Indigo Nights Live 22 September 2007 am, 3121 at The IndigO2, London, England; includes musical backing of The Question Of U
Unreleased Versions
Title Version Additional Info
The Question Of U Studio Original 1985 version
12 Keys Studio Recorded 28 December 1985; recorded live; instrumental version of The Question Of U
The Question Of U Studio longer take of the version as it appeared on the album
The Question Of U Studio 1990 version with discarded orchestra overdubs by Clare Fischer
 
Additional Information

See also Trivia


References
Qualified   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   R U Ready?