Prince: The Albums - #20.2, Crystal Ball (Done!)

[SHOOTER]

Rank 1-10
Interactive
Da Bang
Calhoun Square
What's My Name
Crucial
An Honest Man
Sexual Suicide
Cloreen Bacon Skin
Good Love
Strays of the World

Crystal Ball, Pt. 2


Look! The sooner y'all submit, the sooner we can move on!

SPOILER: Click to show

{Rankdown Suicide Squad}
newpower tim Sir Benji .indulgecountry Zach Mirago @antigonerising Linnethia Monique LBTrocks samo🦕

[samo🦕]

three tracks in and this is easily my favourite album/disc in a while

[tim]

I'll for sure get to this...but it for sure won't be by tomorrow

[SHOOTER]

Nov 5, 2020 20:12:54 GMT -5 tim said:

I'll for sure get to this...but it for sure won't be by tomorrow

Just take your sweet ol' time like y'all been doin!

[Sir Benji]

I forgot we were still doing this 👀. I will try to submit sometime this weekend

[Deleted]

I am behind schedule but same, will try to get this in the next 24 hours!

[Linnethia Monique]

1 hour!

[SHOOTER]

Crystal Ball, Pt. 2

1. SHOOTER
2. samo🦕
3. Mirago
4. tim
5. @antigonerising
6. .indulgecountry
7. Linnethia Monique
8. LBTrocks

Sir Benji Zach newpower what say y'all?

SPOILER: Click to show

{Rankdown Suicide Squad}
newpower Sir Benji Zach @Linnethia Monique LBTrocks

[Zach]

Go on without me this time round.

[Sir Benji]

Oop i get off in a few hours I’ll send my list tonight

[Sir Benji]

List coming shortly!

[LBTrocks]

Working on this!! Please stand by!

[SHOOTER]

Everybody say Cloreen Bacon Skin
Everybody say
You can't fuck with that
Eruption in your face...





*LOWEST SD*

LBTrocks : 5

Sir Benji : 7
Mirago : 7
.indulgecountry : 8
tim : 9
SHOOTER : 9
@antigonerising : 10
Linnethia Monique : 10
samo🦕 : 10

This song (?) was created on a whim during a recording session for The Time in 1983.

"In need of the most explanation. Morris and Prince were in the studio working on The Time’s second album “What time is it?”. 2 keep Morris in the pocket, Prince would go in2 an alter ego voice that was sick, spirited, and highly percussive. This kept it funky. He was just looking 4 a funky beat 2 layer instruments on. The bass line was not important, so he just played the beat on the bass so 2 speak. A new style of playing derived from this recording style, and several songs were cut in the same vibe – the coolest being Irresistible Bitch. Only Morris and Prince were present on this recording. Everything U hear is impromptu. No lyrics or music, even the title was made up a split second be4 U hear it." (Crystal Ball liner notes)

[.indulgecountry]

One of many Prince songs that had me clutching my pearls when I saw the length.

[newpower]

Ugh... forgot about this one. Sorry SHOOTER. Will try 20.3

[SHOOTER]

I want to be an honest man
I will be your slave, just understand
How much I need you
And if I died
We will be together side by side...





*HIGHEST SD*

Linnethia Monique : 2
LBTrocks : 2
@antigonerising : 5

Sir Benji : 9
samo🦕 : 9
tim : 10
.indulgecountry : 10
SHOOTER : 10
Mirago : 10

The original record was recorded in November 1985 and its instrumental was used in Under the Cherry Moon. It's also been speculated that the a capella version was meant to be used as an intro on Parade.

"All vocals by Prince, inspired by Kristin Scott Thomas' character Mary Sharon in Under The Cherry Moon." (Crystal Ball liner notes)

[SHOOTER]

You could slap my face, but I got to say it
You never would have drank my coffee if I had never served you cream...





*4th-lowest SD*

Linnethia Monique : 4
Sir Benji : 4

@antigonerising : 6
SHOOTER : 6
.indulgecountry : 7
tim : 8
samo🦕 : 8
Mirago : 9
LBTrocks : 10

What's My Name? was recorded in May 1993 and first premiered the following month on the Paisley Park Hotline - a telephone service, established a week after Prince's name change to the "love symbol", that promised to reveal his new name. It was also used in a portion of the Glam Slam Ulysses stage-show that same summer.

"After the increasing amounts of lollipops using the name Prince, the original came hard with this one. With Michael B., Mr. Hayes and Sonny T, bongo bass by The Original." (Crystal Ball liner notes)

[LBTrocks]

Mess. At least y'all finally got "What's My Name" out.

[SHOOTER]

Surrender all ye sad of heart, today hold back no tears
The past is gone when we can start conquering our fears...





*2nd-lowest SD*

tim : 3
Sir Benji : 5
SHOOTER : 5

Mirago : 6
@antigonerising : 7
Linnethia Monique : 7
samo🦕 : 7
LBTrocks : 8
.indulgecountry : 9

Strays of the World was also recorded during Prince's May 1993 recording sessions and used during two segments of the Glam Slam Ulysses stage-show. It was originally placed as the final track on Come before being removed completely.

"Originally intended 4 a Broadway musical. Prince would sometimes take meetings with potential collaborators 2 discuss ideas 4 musicals he had. The meetings usually turned the "inspirational well" on and complex introspective songs like this would flow 4th.

Micheal B., Sonny T., Tommy B., and Mr. Hayes backed the Artist on this recording. Claire Fischer arranged and conducted the orchestration." (Crystal Ball liner notes)

[tim]

I didn't think "Strays of the World" would make it much further but this is one that I liked more and more after each listen. As with a lot of these songs I often found myself closing my eyes and trying to imagine how Prince might've performed them live...and when I did this song happened to come to life. This sounded like something that I would've loved to have seen Prince perform live and therefore I ended up putting this higher than what I thought others might.

[SHOOTER]

Like a puppet on a string
I'm going to dance and I'm going to sing
I will do most anything
If you promise me...





*4th-highest SD*

samo🦕 : 1
LBTrocks : 4
Mirago : 4

tim : 6
.indulgecountry : 6
@antigonerising : 8
Linnethia Monique : 8
Sir Benji : 8
SHOOTER : 8

Da Bang was recorded in early 1995 for the unreleased Playtime by Versace project - a project that went relatively unknown until the album packaging mock-up was auctioned off by Prince's one-time art director in 2017. All that's known about the project is that, per Prince, it was "created as gifts of art and music for Gianni and Donatella Versace."

"Cool little track about no one. bored in L.A., the Artist in the studio, recorded and mixed this little ditty in one day, rode around in a limo and heard it back 32 times." (Crystal Ball liner notes)

[SHOOTER]

Nov 27, 2020 1:18:47 GMT -5 tim said:

I didn't think "Strays of the World" would make it much further but this is one that I liked more and more after each listen. As with a lot of these songs I often found myself closing my eyes and trying to imagine how Prince might've performed them live...and when I did this song happened to come to life. This sounded like something that I would've loved to have seen Prince perform live and therefore I ended up putting this higher than what I thought others might.

His background singers performed as the opening to the 2013 Montreux show in the video. ;)

[SHOOTER]

We were meant to be
Got no reason, reason to lie
Baby, you take a walk
Think I'm going to talk...





*5th-highest SD*

@antigonerising : 2
LBTrocks : 3
SHOOTER : 3
.indulgecountry : 4
tim : 5

Sir Benji : 6
samo🦕 : 6
Mirago : 8
Linnethia Monique : 9

Sexual Suicide was recorded in 1985 during sessions for the abandoned Dream Factory project.

"After Sheila E. showed Prince this drumbeat, he snatched the sticks and pushed record in his warehouse recording studio. The same joint where "Girls & Boys" was recorded. In that same week, "Superfunkycalifragisexy" was cut as well. Either Wendy or Susannah are on background vocals. Eric Leeds on all hornz. We r here - where r U?" (Crystal Ball liner notes)

[samo🦕]

uhh SHOOTER is there a reason this never finished?

[SHOOTER]

I know life is much to drink, I was there
I know right now it's hard to think, I don't care
But it's time for you and me to wonder, why we are here
Maybe we should roll to the rock and rumble...





*5th-lowest SD*

samo🦕 : 2
Linnethia Monique : 3
Mirago : 3
@antigonerising : 4
tim : 4
SHOOTER : 4
.indulgecountry : 5

LBTrocks : 6
Sir Benji : 10

Calhoun Square was recorded in June 1993 for the abandoned Undertaker album. It's named after the Calhoun Square shopping district in Minneapolis.

"This song was actually about the NPG store in Uptown. "Look across the street." Michael B., Sonny T., Mr. Hayes and Tommy Barbarella supplied the funk on this. Guitar and Clav by yo grandma!" - Crystal Ball liner notes

[SHOOTER]

Another cross in need of a road
Another loop in need of a hole
Another body in need of a soul...





*2nd-highest SD*

LBTrocks : 1
.indulgecountry : 1
Mirago : 2
Sir Benji : 3
samo🦕 : 3

Linnethia Monique : 6
tim : 7
SHOOTER : 7
@antigonerising : 9

Interactive was recorded in June 1993 and was utilized in the Glam Slam Ulysses while also being considered on various configurations for both Come and The Gold Experience. The following year, it was released as a CD audio track on the Interactive CD-ROM game (yes, of course, Prince had a CD-Rom game) which required players to navigate through a virtual -shaped building, solving a total of eleven challenges, to locate and obtain five pieces of the symbol.

"This track was replaced by Endorphinemachine on The Gold Experience - The Artist didn't think they worked back 2 back. Originally written because of continued domination of the thought police - this track was a safety valve and probably saved lives. Mayte sings background." - Crystal Ball liner notes

[SHOOTER]

Fourth of July in every stroke
A symphony of light and sound
Oh, I want to die from all the smoke
Fire breaks out when you're around...





*3rd-lowest SD*

tim : 2
.indulgecountry : 2
Sir Benji : 2
SHOOTER : 2
@antigonerising : 3
samo🦕 : 4
Linnethia Monique : 5
Mirago : 5

LBTrocks : 7

Good Love was recorded in October 1986 for Camille and found a home on the soundtrack to the 1988 Michael J. Fox film Bright Lights, Big City. The version included on Crystal Ball is a different edit with an extended outro.

"The track was recorded during an intense musical change 4 Prince – he had disbanded the Revolution and moved 2 LA, booking Sunset Sound – sometimes 4 months at a time. Shockadelica, Feel U Up, and parts of The Black Album were also recorded during this period. Prince was happy during this time and very optimistic about his musical possibilities with a new line-up of musicians, including Sheila E." - Crystal Ball liner notes

---

I ain't saying you're better, baby, but I ain't saying you are not
I ain't saying anything until you stop
Never forget that because, baby, I will be your jack of all trades
A mind and body well made...





*3rd-highest SD*

@antigonerising : 1
Linnethia Monique : 1
tim : 1
Sir Benji : 1
SHOOTER : 1
Mirago : 1

.indulgecountry : 3
samo🦕 : 5
LBTrocks : 9

Crucial was one of the first songs Prince recorded after the Parade tour ended in 1986. It was written specifically for his musical, The Dawn, that never came to fruition and then wound up on drafts of Sign o' the Times and Graffiti Bridge before being left in the vault completely.

"Cool ballad, originally intended for Sign o' the Times album - replaced by Adore. All instruments and vocals by Prince." - Crystal Ball liner notes

[SHOOTER]

Jan 3, 2021 8:46:51 GMT -5 samo🦕 said:

uhh SHOOTER is there a reason this never finished?

It did though.