Violet Blue

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Violet Blue

Jilljones album.jpg
from the album Jill Jones
Song details
Performer: Jill Jones; Mayte
First Released: 26 May 1987 - Jill Jones album
Album(s): Jill Jones
Writer(s): Prince (credited to Jill Jones)
Producer(s): David Z. and Jill Jones
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

Violet Blue, initially listed as 11 Minutes, is the third track on Jill Jones’s first and only Paisley Park Records album Jill Jones. Although Jill Jones was credited as the writer, the song was written solely by Prince and is registered at the Library of Congress as having been written by Joey Coco.

Basic tracking took place on 11 October 1986 at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California, on the same day as It Be’s Like That Sometimes, which uses the same basic beat and tempo. More work was done on the track the following days with Jill recording her vocal overdub on the 12th, horns on the 13th and Sheila E. recording a lead vocal for it, too, on the 14th.

In late 1993, the song was tried out during early sessions for Mayte’s first album at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota, and was included as the seventh track on an early version of the album, which was titled Latino Barbie Doll at the time. The track was removed when the album evolved into Child Of The Sun, however.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
11-13 October 1986 Sunset Sound - Studio 3,
Hollywood, CA, USA
Tracking, vocals, mix, instrumental mix (11th); Jill Jones vocals, mix (12th), overdubs (including horns), mix (13th); possible Sheila E. lead vocal, mix (14th)
24 October 1986 Monterey Sound Studios,
Glendale, CA, USA (assumed)
Orchestra recording by Clare Fischer
7 November 1986 Sunset Sound - Studio 3,
Hollywood, CA, USA
(Possible horn) overdubs, edits, (possible orchestral) mix
1993 Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Mayte version
Recording Personnel

Jill Jones version

Orchestral Players:
  • James Arkatovz, Fred Seykora, Mary Louise Zeyen, Raphael Kramer - cello
  • Brent Fischer - percussion
  • Margot MacLaine, Marilyn Baker, Jorge Moraga, Myra Kestenbaum, Virginia Majewski - viola
  • Betty Moor, Bill Hybel, Francine Walsh, Ron Clark, Davida Johnson, Diane Brodick, Harry Scorzo, Irving Geller, Joseph Schoenburn, Karen Jones,Norma Leonard, Pamela Gates Henderson, Teruko Schoenbaum, Thelma Beach, William Henderson, Yoko Matsuda - violin
  • David Edwards, Dick Mitchell, Gene Cipriano, John Lowe, Gary Gray, Joseph Soldo, John Mitchell - woodwind
  • Frank Marocco - accordion
  • David Stone, Robert Stone - double bass
  • Brian O’Connor, David Duke, George Hyde, Todd Miller - French horn
  • Morris Repass - baritone horns
  • Darlene Koldenhoven - soprano vocals
  • Norman Pearsons, John Thomas Johnson - tuba


Unreleased Mayte version

  • Mayte - vocals
  • Prince - all instruments, except where noted (uncredited)
  • Eric Leeds - saxophone (uncredited)
  • Atlanta Bliss - trumpet (uncredited)
  • Other recording personnel (if any) not known

Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Violet Blue 4:24 Jill Jones Studio


Unreleased Versions
Title Version Additional Info
Violet Blue (Instrumental) Studio Instrumental mix
Violet Blue Studio Sheila E.’s 1986 recording
Violet Blue Studio Mayte’s 1993 recording
 
Additional Information

See also Trivia


References
The Vine   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Violet The Organ Grinder