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 Crosstown Circle 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 Slaughterhouse, U Just Can't Stop, Run Amok, Mobile, Madrid, Breathless and High Calonic).
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.
A single of The Question Of U was also planned, but this was not released.
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Recording Information
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Recording Sessions
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Date
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Studio
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Additional info
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Mid-late July, 1985
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Crosstown Circle Warehouse, Eden Prairie, MN, USA
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Initial tracking
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28 December, 1985
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Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA
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Initial tracking of 12 Keys (instrumental version of The Question Of U)
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Late 1987
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Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA
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Additional recording
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Recording Personnel
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The Question Of U
- Prince - all vocals and instruments
12 Keys
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Versions
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Released Versions
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Title
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Length
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Released
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Version
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Additional info
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The Question Of U
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3:59
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Graffiti Bridge
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Studio
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The Question Of U
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6:04
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NPG Ahdio Show # 11 mp3 (not available as a separate track)
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Rehearsal
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Unknown recording date and location (Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA is likely)
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The ? Of U, Fallin', The One
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10:59
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NPG Music Club .wma download
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Live
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a.k.a. 2004 Tour Audio; 7 April, 2004, Qwest Center, Omaha, NE, USA
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Video Versions
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Title
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Length
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Released
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Version
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Additional info
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The Question Of U
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3:59
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Graffiti Bridge DVD
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Live promo video
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31 August, 1990, Tokyo Dome (東京ドーム), Tokyo, Japan; see The Question Of U for details
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The ? Of U, Fallin', The One
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10:59
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NPG Music Club .wmv download
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Live
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a.k.a. 2004 Tour Video; 7 April, 2004, Qwest Center, Omaha, NE, USA
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Broadcasts/streaming (only)
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Title
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Length
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Released
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Version
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Additional info
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The Question Of U
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T.B.C.
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Live concert radio broadcast
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Live
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22 July, 1990, Estadio Vicente Calderón, Madrid, Spain; short version during piano medley
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The Question Of U
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T.B.C.
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Live concert radio broadcast
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Live
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22 July, 1990, Estadio Vicente Calderón, Madrid, Spain; incl. Electric Man lyrics
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The Question Of U
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T.B.C.
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Delayed concert TV broadcast
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Live
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29 July, 1990, Estadio Santa María del Mar, La Coruña, Spain
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The Question Of U
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T.B.C.
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Delayed concert TV broadcast
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Live
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31 August, 1990, Tokyo Dome (東京ドーム), Tokyo, Japan; incl. Electric Man lyrics; edited for The Question Of U promo video
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The Question Of U / The One
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T.B.C.
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Live concert online stream
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Live
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10 May, 2015, Baltimore, MN, USA, Royal Farms Arena; incl. Electric Man
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Sampled, Referred to, Quoted in...
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Unreleased Versions
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Title
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Version
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Additional Info
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The Question Of U
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Studio
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Original 1985 version
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12 Keys
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Studio
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Recorded 28 December, 1985; recorded live; instrumental version of The Question Of U
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