Tip O’ My Tongue

From Prince Vault
Jump to: navigation, search
Times Squared   < < < Non-Prince Songs All Prince Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Toe Jam
Tip O’ My Tongue

Inthestorm album.jpg
from the album In The Storm
left
from the album
Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition

Song details
Performer: El DeBarge; Prince (credited to Prince and the New Power Generation)
First Released: 17 March 1992 - In The Storm album
Album(s): In The Storm

Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition

Writer(s): Kirk Johnson and Prince (as Paisley Park)
Producer(s): El DeBarge and Maurice White
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
  • This track is not believed to have been performed live by Prince.
Performed regularly on tour:
  • none
Performed occasionally in shows:
  • none

Tip O’ My Tongue is the ninth track (sixth song) on El DeBarge’s third solo album In The Storm. The track was written by Kirk Johnson and Prince (who used the name Paisley Park), but was re-recorded by DeBarge’s own musicians for release, produced by El DeBarge and Maurice White (who would later record and produce Super Hero as part of Earth Wind And Fire).

Tracking of Prince’s original version took place on 9 April 1991 at Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, Minnesota and was based on a groove created by Kirk Johnson. Prince added instrumentation and wrote lyrics for the track, which was listed on the recording worksheet as The Tip O' My Tongue.

El DeBarge’s version was recorded later in 1991 or in early 1992 at Studio 89, North Hollywood, California, with additional recording at Ignited Studios, Hollywood, California.

Both Prince's original and El DeBarge's re-recording contain a repeated sample of horns playing a portion of In The Mood (written by Joe Garland, Glenn Miller and Andy Razaf, released as a single by Glenn Miller in 1939). DeBarge’s version also contains chants from Sly & The Family Stone’s Loose Booty (written by Sly Stone, released on the album Small Talk in 1974) that were not on Prince’s original version.

Prince’s version was released in October 2023 as the second track of Vault Tracks part 3, one of the discs with previously unreleased tracks included with the Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
9 April 1991 Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Tracking
Mid-1991 - early 1992 Studio 89,
North Hollywood, CA, USA
Re-recording (El DeBarge version)
Mid-1991 - early 1992 Ignited Studios,
Hollywood, CA, USA
Additional recording (El DeBarge version)
Recording Personnel

El DeBarge version

  • El DeBarge - lead vocals, background vocals, piano
  • Keith Crouch - drums, keybass, background vocals (as part of "The Juice Crew")
  • Nathan East - bass guitar
  • Al McKay - guitar
  • Unknown musicians - sampled horns
  • James DeBarge - background vocals
  • Jimmy Abney - background vocals (as part of "The Juice Crew")
  • Andrew Brown - background vocals (as part of "The Juice Crew")
  • Kenneth Crouch - background vocals (as part of "The Juice Crew")


Prince version


Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Tip O’ My Tongue 5:00 In The Storm Studio El DeBarge version
Tip O’ My Tongue 4:08 Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition Studio Prince’s original version, recorded early April 1991



 
Additional Information

See also Trivia


References
Times Squared   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Toe Jam