Velvet Kitty Cat

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Velvet Kitty Cat

Purplerain Deluxe.jpg
from the album Purple Rain Deluxe Edition and Deluxe Expanded Edition
Song details
Performer: Prince (Prince and the Revolution)
First Released: 23 June 2017 - Purple Rain Deluxe Expanded Edition album
Album(s): Purple Rain Deluxe Edition and Deluxe Expanded Edition
Writer(s): Prince
Producer(s): Prince
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

Velvet Kitty Cat was released posthumously in 2017, as the eighth track on the second disc (titled From The Vault & Previously Unreleased) of Purple Rain Deluxe Edition and Deluxe Expanded Edition.

Basic tracking took place on 20 April 1983 at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California (three days after Chocolate, two days after Prince fired Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis from The Time, and the same day as recording My Love Belongs To You and Sleazy).

The track was recorded in a session with other songs for The Time and they were listed as the artist on the session, but Morris Day never recorded vocals for it and the song was not included on any known configuration of The Time’s third album Ice Cream Castle. It was however considered initially for Vanity 6’s aborted sophomore album and later for the Apollonia 6 album that came in its place. And it seems a version with Susan Moonsie’s vocals was tried out at some point.

On 2 May 1985 (in a session started the previous day, but tracking this began after midnight on the 1st) Prince revised the track by recording a rockabilly version of it with members of The Revolution, not dissimilar sounding to the rendition of Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On as played live with The Revolution in 1986. This version was included as the seventh track on the configuration of Parade made the same day, but was removed before the album’s release.

While a solo recording, the 1983 version is listed here as a Prince and the Revolution track as it was released as a bonus track on the Purple Rain Deluxe Edition and Deluxe Expanded Edition album, which is credited to Prince and the Revolution.

It is unknown if the track has any link to Mink Kitty Cat, originally recorded in 1981, but it is possible this is simply an update of that song.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
20 April 1983 Sunset Sound - Studio 3,
Hollywood, CA, USA
Tracking
Late April or early May 1983 (assumed) Kiowa Trail Home Studio,
Chanhassen, MN, USA (assumed)
overdubs (assumed), including possibly Susan Moonsie vox
2 May 1985
(2 different session, running over from May 1st and starting in afternoon of May 2nd).
Sunset Sound - Studio 3,
Hollywood, CA, USA
Tracking, overdubs and mix (new version)
Recording Personnel

Released version

  • Prince - all vocals and instruments

1985 version

  • Prince - all vocals and instruments (assumed)

Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Velvet Kitty Cat 2:42 Purple Rain Deluxe Edition and Deluxe Expanded Edition (From The Vault & Previously Unreleased)
Studio


Unreleased Versions
Title Version Additional Info
Velvet Kitty Cat Studio Version with Susan Moonsie vocals
Velvet Kitty Cat Studio Re-recording from May 1985
 
Additional Information

See also Trivia

  • The drum machine used on Velvet Kitty Cat is the Roland TR-606, making it the only known song where Prince used this drum machine.

References
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