So here it is, after listening 2 over 30 cds of Prince bootlegs, this is what I've deemed should've been hits. That's 52 hits, which either means my Prince obsession has finally made me crazy, or he's crazy 4 not releasing these. Well, Prince's sanity or lack thereof has long been a point we can all agree on, I suppose.  But I realized something that i had long suspected as I compiled this. Prince is the best. He's the fucking best. He's better than anyone else whoever did it. He's the best guitarist, dancer, performer, songwriter, producer, pop lyricist, and if he wasn't already so lauded 4 these accomplishments, he'd B known as simply an incredible singer. I'd actually put him in my top 5 favorite singers list. He's better than Elvis. He's better than Michael. I suppose you could try 2 talk about the Beatles, but he wastes Harrison on guitar, none of them could dance and it took 4 of them to do what they did. Now if U were that talented, don't U think it would drive U a little crazy if no one else in the world besides me, a random humble blogger, realized how talented U were? Well maybe this is 2 big a buildup 4 what's essentially a collection of songs he threw away, but if it's true that an album is as good as the songs U throw away, then a career can B judged the same. 

I had a really good time making this mix, I loved getting lost in his half finished demos and hearing him just try out ideas, following them out, and then maybe pushing the track somewhere else. Some songs U can hear him abandon it halfway through. Others he sculpts this way, then paints them that way, then just lets the track run and jams out. There's 4-track demos, live practices, completed songs, songs he wrote 4 other people, songs that were 2 controversial even 4 Prince, and whatever he happened 2 follow this day or that. I've narrowed it down 2 4 discs. Discs 1 and 2 R pretty much straight hits, he could release any of these today and have bigger hits than he's had in years. If U listen to these and disagree, then Disc 3 is definitely not 4 U. I think it's great, but it's really just 4 fans. Disc 4 however should B interesting 2 listen 2 at least once 4 most people. It's got acoustic demos of songs U know very well, a track he did with Miles Davis, and other assorted curiosities.

Disc 1

This is the first demos i ever heard from him, and it's actually a lot of the best stuff. Some of U may have heard this one around, but you'll want 2 grab it anyways cuz it's got some of my favorites. I took off 2 songs i didn't like, and added a couple others that fit.

Purple Music- Maybe this one is a bit long for some people, maybe you'll wanna skip it after the first couple listens. But I think it's a good place 2 start as he lays down the Prince manifesto. "Don't need no reefer/ Don't need cocaine/ Purple music does the same 2 my brain". He just let's the drum machine roll as he funks out and just generally amuses himself 2 the groove ("Drive U idiot"). It's easy 2 C with this track Y the early house innovators loved him so much.

Wouldn't U Love 2 Love Me- He gave this 2 Taja Sevelle in the   late 80's, but it all ended up rather charmless without the 

sweet drum machine groove and slap bass. He tried 2 give

it 2 MJ 4 the "Bad" album, but I think it was actually a 

later demo that sounded closer 2 what Taja ended up with, 

and Mike wasn't so impressed. Note the funk at the fadeout.

Moonbeam Levels- Also floats around on bootlegs titled as "A Better Place To Die". If U ever wondered if Prince was into Bowie, now U know. What? Am I the only one who wonders things like that? What the hell do U wonder about?

Neon Telephone- He gave this 2 the Three O'Clock and they sucked the life out of it. That actually happened so often when he gave his songs 2 other people, that I'm just gonna put a * next 2 those songs so i don't have 2 keep typing that. Also notable 4 being the only time I can recall Prince referring 2 himself as short. "U know your little Prince can't B alone". I've heard him call himself "the skinny motherfucker with the high voice" and always thought don't U mean the short motherfucker with the high voice?

Extra Lovable- Seems like it could've been a massive hit until U get 2 that part at the end about rape. If it makes U squeamish, console yourself by remembering that the song was intended for Vanity's album.

Heaven- I suppose this one goes on a bit, U can just see him searching 4 that second hook that maybe prevented this one from being released. Still heavenly though.

Wonderful Ass- Written not 4 Vanity 2 sing, but 4 her nonetheless. I've actually always suspected the song Purple Rain was written 4 her as well, since that's one of the main girls he was breaking up with around that time. Must've been some ass.

Lisa- Written when Lisa first joined the band. Check her out above in the sweet early shot with Prince's bodyguard (u may recognize him as the back Prince rides in on in the famous JB, MJ and Prince live clip. Incidentally, the first thing i ever saw on Youtube). Nice jamout in the 2nd half, and good 2 C that Prince is not immune 2 the pleasures of fucking around with some delay and flange on the high hats.

I Wonder- I'm guessing this is from around Sign of the Times, since it falls in2 that style he had around then of just writing a great drum machine beat and throwing a vocal on.

Elephants & Flowers- He actually fucked this all up later with a different version on Graffiti Bridge. I guess that counts as covering himself so I'll go ahead and give him an *.

In All My Dreams- Singing about Captain Crunch must be Prince's weirdest pop culture reference since the Dynasty line in Kiss. Starts with a melody that sounds like the best late night talk show theme U never heard, heads into one of those weird spoken things he does ("lisa, I'm gonna give U the brush and you're gonna paint the side of the train". ohhhhhK.) sidesteps in2 a jazzout, then comes back all psychedelic style in the end with the message that I swear 2 U has brought a tear 2 my eye more than once.

Disc 2

Hey Lover- Beats me what the hell he was doing this day. Wish there was more of this one.

Just Another Sucker- This one is kind of odd. Generally considered amongst diehards as his first great song, it was fixed up in the 80s by the engineer who he recorded it with when he was 16. He tried to make it sound contemporary and well... he wasn't the production genius that Prince was. Although I suspect it was his idea 2 do the delay on the vocals in the breakdown, and i like that. So let's just B glad we have this song and he didn't totally fuck it up.

Feel U Up and Irresistible Bitch 1980 demos- These 2 always appear next 2 each other on boots and U can see Y, as they're both pretty similar 2 the Nasty Girl beat. He didn't totally fuck up Irresistible bitch when he rerecorded it as a b-side a few years later, but it's not as good as this. Sheesh.

There's Others Here With Us- Recorded 4 Parade and left off, maybe cuz it's such a weird one. Play it 4 your goth friends.

Jerk Out- Originally offered 2 and turned down by Mazarati who apparently didn't listen 2 the rest of the tracks on their own album next 2 this one. One of the Christians didn't like the part where he sings "took her 2 my crib and I tied her up/figured that's what she liked/ maybe i was wrong, but what the hell/ didn't matter 2 me she was white/ I said how come people in your neighborhood don't like it when a brother gets rich/ ain't my blood the same color as yours, answer that question bitch". They must've felt stupid when The Time took out the line and had a hit with it in the late 80s. The vocalist on this is Mazarati guitarist Tony Christian.

Big Tall Wall- Supposedly written 4 Susannah Melvoin, Lisa's twin sister, where Prince lays out his ideas of how an open relationship should work (he wants 2 build a big tall wall around so she can't get out, but he's still gonna C his other gf). She was his main girl through the middle 80s and much of Sign of the Times was written about her

In A Large Room With No Light aka Welcome 2 the Rat Race- This one is so weird productionwise  compared 2 his other songs, I can't figure out when he would've recorded this one. I think he redid it in the late 90s. This is the song Tom Jones should've covered.

The Line- Seems like someone edited another practice tape in towards the end. How come no one writes grooves like this besides Prince? Maybe this is kind of one of those 80's only grooves.

A Million Miles (I Love U)- He gave this one 2 Apollonia 4 Jill 2 sing I think, but this half version from a Prince practice tape wastes it, purely on the singing alone. *

We Got The Power- An outtake from the Batman album, which is 2 bad, it would've been the only worthwhile song on there. I personally think the soundtrack was his first misstep. Yeah, there's a couple of ok songs, and it's funny and kitschy, but by Prince standards it was his first disappointing album IMHO.

Open Book- This was actually sufficiently covered by Javetta Steele but still not as good as this. This so easily could've been a hit at a time when he needed them. And wouldn't U just love 2 hear this in the cannon of late night Quiet Storm type slow jams?

Love... Thy Will Be Done- I think he actually wrote this with Martika, and she had a hit with it. I always liked that song and didn't know it was Prince, but he takes it 2 where she never could've taken it when he goes off at the end.

A 1,000 Hugs & Kisses- He did this with Marvin's daughter Nona. Goes really well with the last 2 songs. I'm getting tired of writing should've been a hit. I think this was actually released.

Disc 3


This disc is a little rougher than the first 2. I love all the stuff on here but it is really only 4 people who really enjoyed the first 2.

Do Yourself A Favour- Another one of his best early songs, I think it's earlier but it sounds kind of Dirty Mind era-ish. The first one where I noticed he seemed to be writing in character. The character he speaks as towards the end sounds a bit like what he ended up writing 4 Morris Day in The Time songs. Killer drum part at the end 2. I should also take this point 2 fill you in what all his earliest demos were like. Fucking boring. It's quite possible that he hasn't improved as a musician since then, cuz he could already play his fucking ass off. Most of the early demos R funk/jazz/fusion workouts where he plays as many notes as he can. There's tons of them, and i waded through everything. It is interesting 2 note however, that he went through that phase but really took off when he stripped it down 2 the 3 chord era of Dirty Mind.

Electric Intercourse- Slow jam from a practice tape. Cracks me up every time when he yells "Wake up Wendy" in the chorus and keeps right on singing his ass off. U get a window 2 how clear he sees his vision when he directs her further in the second chorus.

Strange Way Of Saying I Love U- Gooey pop that he might've left off cuz it was 2 gooey.

Heart of Stone- I think this is from around Emancipation era. The demos start 2 get boring around this era, truthfully I haven't even really made it through all his albums past this period. I felt like he hit the nail just right side of the head on this day at the studio. My favorite is the way he sings the last verse, and the "Stoooone" at the end. He should've given this one 2 No Doubt.

Baby Go Go- Kinda magical sounding but somehow a little stiff or something.

Desire (Rough Mix) The whole The Family album deserves a *. That guy can't sing 4 shit and every demo I heard of those songs with Prince singing is way better. His idea once The Time split up was 2 focus his leftover creative energy on getting "that Duran Duran money". He might've gotten it if he had just left his vocals on. This song has a weird vulnerablity and intimacy that I really like.

The Screams Of Passion (Rehearsal)- Another interesting one where U can hear him directing the band and telling the Dr. how 2 play the synth. It's so nice just 2 hear a great band like the Revolution comfortable in the studio       and just jamming out on a fresh new song. Note how free and easy the mood seems.

Go- Another song that there's only half a practice tape of but I'm glad we have at least this much. He's so noble and dramatic as he tells her 2 just go. U know it must've been drama 2 go out with Prince. Or do anything with Prince 4 that matter.

The Voice Inside-  One of those songs that would be corny if anyone else sang it, but Prince somehow keeps it from sounding like something out of musical. Hmmm, actually it sounds like something from around Parade era so maybe it was meant 2 sound like it was from a musical. U know Prince knew how 2 listen 2 the voice inside.

Melody Cool and Mind Bells - 2 perfect examples of something that can only B called Prince music. Who else do these songs sound like? They're funky and melodic in a way no one else has ever necessarily combined. I suppose it's also got something 2 do with the instrumentation. He was using the technology of the era 2 play the instruments at a time when actually playing an instrument was becoming less necessary to making pop music.  

Get Blue- This was actually written with NPG bassist/guitarist Levi Seacer Jr. It was recorded in 93 by Louie Louie, the guy who stars as Madonna's breakdancing bf in the Borderline video. I can't find his version, except for a 13 second clip on amazon, but judging from just that 13 seconds I'm still giving it a *

Disc 4

Sex Shooter- Vanity 6 version- Vanity fucked up. Her 2nd album was supposed to have this version, The Glamorous Life, Manic Monday, Take Me With U, Xtra Lovable and 17 Days (one of my favorite Prince b-sides). Basically, the album could've been as big as Purple Rain itself. She started thinking she could get more money 4 her rather large role in Purple Rain, and she thought she could do better on Motown with Bill "Who?" Wolfer producing.

just listen 2 the first 15 seconds of the rhythm track on this

then listen 2 this demo of Sex Shooter. 2 B fair, she credits cocaine with giving her the courage 2 stand up 2 Prince. Thanks, cocaine? She can think heroin as well 4 what she then spiralled in2

and came back as a born again
Both R pretty disturbing. Whatever the case, she rules this version of Sex Shooter. It's funkier, it's fiercer and ultimately more convincing than Apollonia's version. Apollonia actually warmed up 4 her vocal take of that by singing "When I'm 64". Explains a lot, no? She was more a pretty face than a singer (and 4 that matter, an actress), more David Lee Roth's gf than she was Prince's and Prince ended up stripping that album of all it's would be hits as this became apparent.Manic Monday- U can pretty much hear Apollonia wreck this version, but if the backing track sounds familiar, it's because it's basically exactly as it appears on the Bangles album, mixed a little differently.

Thieves In the Temple acoustic- I was never that crazy about this song, but wow this is actually one of my favs on here.

Can I Play With U?- Miles was pretty in2 Prince and asked him 2 give him a song 4 Tutu. Prince sent him this song, and Miles and his keyboardist added their parts over it. After hearing the rest of Tutu, Prince decided it didn't fit the rest of the album and had it taken off, with no real argument from Miles.

I kinda think it kicks, but it's not necessarily what i want from a Prince or a Miles song.

Something In the Water Does Not Compute demo- The piano in this kinda humanizes the whole song, but I guess that wasn't what Prince wanted at that time. I mean, it was the 80's.

Little Girl Wendy's Parade- Later changed of course 2 Christopher Tracy's Parade, this is basically the same song with different lyrics, sans strings. Interestingly enough when Prince began working on Parade, he went in, taped the lyrics up in front of him and consecutively laid down the drums 2 the first 4 songs on the album. U know what he did next? He laid down the bass, duh.

Alphabet St. I always forget such a freaky little song is just a blues progression.

Your Love Is So Hard- A late 80's type of Prince thing. The first words go "Dateline: 1989" Thanks Prince, as if we wouldn't have known that by the drum sound.

Around the World In A Day (demo)- Prince gave Lisa's brother 2 days studio time as a birthday gift (imagine that, Prince could be nice sometimes) and he made something that sounded a bit like this. Apparently Prince didn't change that much. It was a good way 2 start working on his new album, as it provided Prince with a new direction. His psychedelic direction wasn't as well embraced as WB would've liked, but I look at this record as his Magical Mystery Tour, another record which seemed disappointing at the time but now stands up remarkably well.

Kiss #1

Ok. the story goes like this, as far as I can remember. Prince was in the studio when Mazarati stopped 

by and asked 4 another song 4 their album (remember Jerk Out wasn't good enough 4 them). Prince

said ok, went in the next room, called his engineer in and had her roll the tape on his purple 4-track 

(yes, i do believe it actually was). He came back a few minutes later and said "here, have this". The 

band wasn't 2 thrilled with it but set 2 work on it anyways. They gated his original track and linked 

the high hats 2 it and had a pretty kicking little track by the time Prince dropped back in 2 C how they

were doing with it. Long story short he took it back, stripped the bass line off (u know how he does)

added the guitar licks sang it about 1000 times better and himself another #1 hit. Check the Mazarati

myspace  2 C if U think their version would've been a hit. 

U #2- he gave this one 2 Paula Abdul and she did with it what she does with songs. * It isn't bad as a 

prince song, but it is where U can begin 2 C him sweat the new jacks as he begins 2 follow rather than 

lead the trends. U can sing the "all i want is U" refrain 2 the tune of "everybody dance now".

Schoolyard- Quite a different story of losing his virginity than Raspbery Beret.  

1+1+1=3- This is a re-edit by the idjut boys of a song off of Rainbow Children, but I put it on here

because so many people asked me about it. I always thought it was so weird because of something

they did 2 it. But all they really did was  loop up a few parts (albeit very well), the song is already 

plenty weird.  U should note however that the rest of Rainbow Children is not this weird. It is his

coming out as a Jehovah's Witness album, so I guess that's weird, but it's not like this.