Difference between revisions of "The Question Of U"

From Prince Vault
Jump to: navigation, search
m
m
Line 19: Line 19:
 
An instrumental version was recorded on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/December 28|28 December 1985]] at [[Sunset Sound]] in Hollywood, California 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]]).   
 
An instrumental version was recorded on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/December 28|28 December 1985]] at [[Sunset Sound]] in Hollywood, California 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 (1986)|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 version 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.
 
When [[Prince]] began work on [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]] in late 1987, he pulled out the original studio version 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.

Revision as of 11:46, 11 August 2018

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, basic tracking took place in mid-late July 1985 at the Washington Avenue Warehouse in Eden Prairie, Minnesota (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 in Hollywood, California 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 version 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 in Los Angeles, California, and while they were not utilized in the released version, parts of it can be heard in the live version of the song as it was played on the Nude Tour.

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
Basic tracking
28 December 1985 Sunset Sound,
Hollywood, CA, USA
Basic tracking of 12 Keys (instrumental version of The Question Of U)
December 1985 Sunset Sound,
Hollywood, CA, USA
sax overdubs to 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 in Chanhassen, Minnesota 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
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
12 Keys Studio Same as above, but with sax overdubs
The Question Of U Studio longer take of the version as it appeared on the album
The Question Of U Studio 1990 version with later discarded orchestra overdubs by Clare Fischer
 
Additional Information

See also Trivia


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