Violet The Organ Grinder

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Violet The Organ Grinder

Link= Single: Gett Off
single art for Gett Off
Song details
Performer: Prince and the New Power Generation
First Released: 12 August 1991 - Gett Off maxi-single
Album(s): Diamonds And Pearls Deluxe Edition and Super Deluxe Edition
Writer(s): Prince (credited to Prince and the New Power Generation)
Producer(s): Prince (credited to Prince and the New Power Generation)
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
Performed regularly on tour:
  • none
Performed occasionally in shows:

Violet The Organ Grinder is a non-album track released on the maxi-single of Gett Off, the first single from Prince’s thirteenth album Diamonds And Pearls and the first single to be credited to Prince and the New Power Generation. In 1992, it was included as the second track on the UK 12" single of Thunder, the album’s sixth and final single (the track had not been included on UK versions of the Gett Off single). A video of the track was included as the third track on the Gett Off home video.

Specific recording dates are not known, but as the track borrows heavily from the music of Gett Off (recorded 10 May 1991), it is likely that the track was recorded in early Summer 1991. A video of the track was included on the Gett Off video maxi-single. An edited version was later included on NPG Ahdio Show # 5 in 2001 - since this version was not musically different, and was not available as a separate track, it is not included in the listings below.

The strings, arranged by Clare Fischer, later appeared in Paris 1798430 by Tevin Campbell, as well as in the opening of the live version of Days Of Wild, included on Crystal Ball.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
10 May 1991 Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Tracking of Gett Off
Early Summer 1991 Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Tracking
Summer 1991 Studio information needed String overdubs by Clare Fischer
Recording Personnel
  • Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
  • Michael B. - drums
  • Sonny T. - bass guitar (credited for "bass and backing vox")
  • Levi Seacer, Jr. - rhythm guitar and backing vocals (credited for "rhythm guitar and backing vox")
  • Tommy Barbarella - keyboards (credited for "Purpleaxxe™ sampler, other various keys and sex symbol")
  • Rosie Gaines - backing vocals, keyboards (credited for "backing vox, Purpleaxxe™ sampler and organ")
  • Clare Fischer - string arrangements (uncredited)

Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Violet The Organ Grinder 4:59 Gett Off maxi-single

Thunder single

Studio
Violet The Organ Grinder 4:59 Diamonds And Pearls - The Singles (collection)

Diamonds And Pearls (Super) Deluxe Edition

Studio Remastered 2023
Video Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Violet The Organ Grinder 4:59 Gett Off video maxi-single VHS Studio See Violet The Organ Grinder video for more details
Sampled, Referred to, Quoted in...
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Paris 1798430 3:36 I’m Ready Studio String sample; See Paris 1798430 for more details
Days Of Wild 9:18 Crystal Ball Live String sample; See Days Of Wild for more details
Album Intro Studio String sample on the unreleased Album Intro for the Link= Album: Symbol album; See Symbol segues for more details
 
Additional Information

See also Trivia

  • The string part that begins after the line "in the middle of a crystal ball", although similar, is not sampled from the song Crystal Ball.

References
Violet Blue   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   The Voice