Difference between revisions of "The Question Of U"

From Prince Vault
Jump to: navigation, search
m
 
(17 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 9: Line 9:
 
|previous song            = [[Qualified]]
 
|previous song            = [[Qualified]]
 
|next song                = [[R U Ready?]]
 
|next song                = [[R U Ready?]]
|introduction              = '''The Question Of U''' is the fourth track on [[Prince]]'s twelfth album [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]]. The song also features in the movie [[Film: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]].  
+
|introduction              = '''The Question Of U''' is the fourth track on [[Prince]]’s twelfth album [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]]. The song also features in the movie [[Film: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]].  
  
In 2004, a live version (as [[The Question Of U|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 2004, a live version (as [[The Question Of U|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 [[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, 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]], [[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.  
+
The song started of as an instrumental committed to tape during the so-called ''“Paisley Jam”'' 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]]. It was the same session that also produced [[Madrid]], [[Breathless]], [[Slaughterhouse]], [[U Just Can’t Stop]], [[Run Amok]], [[High Calonic]] and [[Mobile]]). At this point it was titled '''12 Keys''' by [[Eric Leeds]], who named all the tracks from the session.  
  
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]]).   
+
It is unknown if this version was ever considered for [[Album: The Flesh (1986)|The Flesh]] album or any other project at the time.   
  
[[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.
+
In July 1986 a new version was cut by [[Prince]] alone in his [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]] in Chanhassen, Minnesota. This re-recording was shelved until [[Prince]] began work on [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]] and in the Autumn  of 1987, he pulled it out again to recorded additional parts.  
  
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.
+
A year later it was later 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 [http://www.lermanet2.com/scientology/mad-hatter-studios.html 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]].   
+
In March 1990 [[Clare Fischer]] recorded string overdubs for the song at [http://www.lermanet2.com/scientology/mad-hatter-studios.html 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 [[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                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/December 28|28 December 1985]]
|studio                    = [[Washington Avenue Warehouse]],<br>Eden Prairie, MN, USA
+
|studio                    = [[Sunset Sound]] - Studio 3,<br>Hollywood, CA, USA
|additional info          = Basic tracking
+
|additional info          = Tracking, mix ('''12 Keys''')
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/December 28|28 December 1985]]
+
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/December 29|29 December 1985]]
|studio                    = [[Sunset Sound]],<br>Hollywood, CA, USA
+
|studio                    = [[Sunset Sound]] - Studio 3,<br>Hollywood, CA, USA
|additional info          = Basic tracking of '''12 Keys''' (instrumental version of [[The Question Of U]])
+
|additional info          = Horn overdubs, mix ('''12 Keys''')  
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = December 1985
+
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July 6|6 July 1986]]
|studio                    = [[Sunset Sound]],<br>Hollywood, CA, USA
+
|studio                    = [[Galpin Blvd Home Studio]],<br>Chanhassen, MN, USA
|additional info          = sax overdubs to  '''12 Keys''' (instrumental version of [[The Question Of U]])
+
|additional info          = Tracking, overdubs (re-recording, instrumental)
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = Late 1987
+
|date                      = October 1987 (estimate)
 
|studio                    = [[Paisley Park Studios]],<br>Chanhassen, MN, USA
 
|studio                    = [[Paisley Park Studios]],<br>Chanhassen, MN, USA
|additional info          = Additional recording
+
|additional info          = Overdubs, including vocals (assumed)
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
{{RecordingLine|
Line 57: Line 57:
 
<hr>
 
<hr>
 
* [[Eddie Garcia]] – engineer (1987 overdubs)
 
* [[Eddie Garcia]] – engineer (1987 overdubs)
 
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
'''12 Keys'''
 
'''12 Keys'''
Line 82: Line 81:
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Songline|
 
{{Songline|
|1= '''The ? Of U, [[Fallin']], [[The One]]'''
+
|1= '''The ? Of U, [[Fallin’]], [[The One]]'''
 
|2= 10:59
 
|2= 10:59
 
|3= [[NPG Music Club]] .wma download
 
|3= [[NPG Music Club]] .wma download
Line 94: Line 93:
 
{{Songchart|
 
{{Songchart|
 
|line =
 
|line =
 +
{{Songline|
 +
|1= '''[[Soul Psychodelicide-2|Soul Psychodelicide]]'''
 +
|2=
 +
|3=
 +
|4= Studio
 +
|5= Unreleased 1989 track
 +
}}
 
{{Songline|
 
{{Songline|
 
|1= '''Graffiti Bridge Cue'''
 
|1= '''Graffiti Bridge Cue'''
 
|2= 2:27
 
|2= 2:27
|3= [[Film: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]] DVD
+
|3= [[Film: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]] Home-video and DVD
 
|4= Studio
 
|4= Studio
|5= Music heard in the background
+
|5= Instrumental interpolation heard in the background
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Songline|
 
{{Songline|
Line 118: Line 124:
 
|1= '''The Question Of U'''  
 
|1= '''The Question Of U'''  
 
|2= 3:59
 
|2= 3:59
|3= [[Film: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]] DVD
+
|3= [[Home_Video:_Graffiti_Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]] (2004 DVD release)<br>
 
|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|
|1= '''The ? Of U, [[Fallin']], [[The One]]'''  
+
|1= '''The ? Of U, [[Fallin’]], [[The One]]'''  
 
|2= 10:59
 
|2= 10:59
 
|3= [[NPG Music Club]] .wmv download
 
|3= [[NPG Music Club]] .wmv download
Line 163: Line 169:
 
|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|
 +
|1= '''The Question Of U'''
 +
|2= T.B.C.
 +
|3= Delayed concert TV broadcast
 +
|4= Live
 +
|5= [[19_January_1991-am|19 January 1991 (a.m.), Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]]; instrumental only
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Songline|
 
{{Songline|
Line 178: Line 191:
 
{{Unreleased|
 
{{Unreleased|
 
|line=
 
|line=
{{Unreleasedline|
 
|1= '''The Question Of U'''
 
|2= Studio
 
|3= Original 1985 version
 
}}
 
 
{{Unreleasedline|
 
{{Unreleasedline|
 
|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= part of so called  ‘Paisley jam’
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Unreleasedline|
 
{{Unreleasedline|
|1= '''12 Keys'''
+
|1= '''The Question Of U'''
 
|2= Studio
 
|2= Studio
|3= Same as above, but with sax overdubs
+
|3= Original 1986 re-recording (instrumental)
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Unreleasedline|
 
{{Unreleasedline|
 
|1= '''The Question Of U'''
 
|1= '''The Question Of U'''
 
|2= Studio
 
|2= Studio
|3= longer take of the version as it appeared on the album
+
|3= After 1987 overdubs
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Unreleasedline|
 
{{Unreleasedline|
Line 205: Line 213:
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
|first live appearance    = [[30_April_1990|30 April 1990: Rupert's, Golden Valley, MN, USA]] <br>
+
|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]]
 
* [[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]]
 
|performed occasionally in = [[All Concerts#1990|1990]], [[All Concerts#1998|1998]], [[All Concerts#2000|2000]], [[All Concerts#2002|2002]], [[All Concerts#2003|2003]], [[All Concerts#2004|2004]], [[All Concerts#2007|2007]], [[All_Concerts#2010|2010]] <small> (''instrumental in a medley with [[The One]] lyrics''</small>, [[All_Concerts#2011|2011]]<small> (''instrumental in a medley with [[The One]] lyrics''</small>, [[All_Concerts#2012|2012]] <small> (''instrumental in a medley with [[The One]] lyrics'' </small>, [[All_Concerts#2013|2013]] <small> (''instrumental in a medley with [[The One]] lyrics'' </small>, [[All_Concerts#2015|2015]] <small> (''instrumental in a medley with [[The One]] lyrics'' </small>
 
|performed occasionally in = [[All Concerts#1990|1990]], [[All Concerts#1998|1998]], [[All Concerts#2000|2000]], [[All Concerts#2002|2002]], [[All Concerts#2003|2003]], [[All Concerts#2004|2004]], [[All Concerts#2007|2007]], [[All_Concerts#2010|2010]] <small> (''instrumental in a medley with [[The One]] lyrics''</small>, [[All_Concerts#2011|2011]]<small> (''instrumental in a medley with [[The One]] lyrics''</small>, [[All_Concerts#2012|2012]] <small> (''instrumental in a medley with [[The One]] lyrics'' </small>, [[All_Concerts#2013|2013]] <small> (''instrumental in a medley with [[The One]] lyrics'' </small>, [[All_Concerts#2015|2015]] <small> (''instrumental in a medley with [[The One]] lyrics'' </small>
|trivia                    =  
+
|trivia                    = In the handwritten [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/December 2|2 December 1987]] version of the script for [[Film: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]], instead of the lyric ''All of the questions in my life will be answered, When I decide which road 2 choose'' it reads ''Music is like an amusement park, each cord a ride and I don’t know which one 2 do.''
 
|see also                  = [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]] album
 
|see also                  = [[Album: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]] album
 
* [[Film: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]] movie
 
* [[Film: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]] movie
 
* [[Single: The Question Of U|The Question Of U]] unreleased single
 
* [[Single: The Question Of U|The Question Of U]] unreleased single
 
|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)]]''
|categories                = [[Category:1990]][[Category:Released Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Recorded 1985]]
+
* ''[https://www.duanetudahl.com/prince-book Prince and the Parade/Sign O’ The Times Era Studio Sessions 1985 and 1986, Duane Tudahl (2021)]''
 +
|categories                = [[Category:1990]][[Category:Recorded 1985]][[Category:Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Released Songs (Prince)]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT: Question of U (The)}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT: Question of U (The)}}

Latest revision as of 18:48, 17 October 2022

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).

The song started of as an instrumental committed to tape during the so-called “Paisley Jam” on 28 December 1985 at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California with Sheila E., Levi Seacer, Jr. and Eric Leeds. It was the same session that also produced Madrid, Breathless, Slaughterhouse, U Just Can’t Stop, Run Amok, High Calonic and Mobile). At this point it was titled 12 Keys by Eric Leeds, who named all the tracks from the session.

It is unknown if this version was ever considered for The Flesh album or any other project at the time.

In July 1986 a new version was cut by Prince alone in his Galpin Blvd Home Studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota. This re-recording was shelved until Prince began work on Graffiti Bridge and in the Autumn of 1987, he pulled it out again to recorded additional parts.

A year later it was later 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
28 December 1985 Sunset Sound - Studio 3,
Hollywood, CA, USA
Tracking, mix (12 Keys)
29 December 1985 Sunset Sound - Studio 3,
Hollywood, CA, USA
Horn overdubs, mix (12 Keys)
6 July 1986 Galpin Blvd Home Studio,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Tracking, overdubs (re-recording, instrumental)
October 1987 (estimate) Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Overdubs, including vocals (assumed)
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 (2004 DVD release)
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 T.B.C. Delayed concert TV broadcast Live 19 January 1991 (a.m.), Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; instrumental only
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
Soul Psychodelicide Studio Unreleased 1989 track
Graffiti Bridge Cue 2:27 Graffiti Bridge Home-video and DVD Studio Instrumental interpolation heard in the background
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
12 Keys Studio part of so called ‘Paisley jam’
The Question Of U Studio Original 1986 re-recording (instrumental)
The Question Of U Studio After 1987 overdubs
The Question Of U Studio 1990 version with later discarded orchestra overdubs by Clare Fischer
 
Additional Information

See also Trivia

  • In the handwritten 2 December 1987 version of the script for Graffiti Bridge, instead of the lyric All of the questions in my life will be answered, When I decide which road 2 choose it reads Music is like an amusement park, each cord a ride and I don’t know which one 2 do.

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