I'm heading to Boston tomorrow morning for a conference forThe International Association for the Study of Popular Music. It should be a great time, and I'll report back on what interesting presentations I see (quite a few of them look good). I'll be presenting a paper on Prince that I've been working on since last semester. It should be a great time, although the conference is inconveniently scheduled in the midst of crunch time for me. Ah well.
Since I'm in a Prince mood, I thought I'd share the unreleased Camille album. Recorded throughout 1986, this is the album's final sequence, dated November 5. Within days, he canned the idea to move on to the Crystal Ball project, which was also shelved. It's worth noting that prior to Camille, Prince recorded and shelved Dream Factory, which I still contend would have been the best Prince LP had he released it. Perhaps I'll post that some time.
Of course, throughout the process from Dream Factory to Sign 'O' the Times, certain tracks were retained from the previous shelved projects. In fact, all but one of the tracks on Camille has been released in some form or another. Still, listening to them in sequence is an interesting insight to how Prince had conceived the tracks initially. And it's a tight, funky little album.
These tracks are the best circulating quality that I have. "Rebirth of the Flesh" comes from The Work vol. 2; "Housequake," "Strange Relationship," and "If I Was Your Girlfriend" come from a fan remastered version of Sign 'O' the Times; "Rock Hard in a Funky Place" comes from a fan remastered version of The Black Album; "Good Love" is pulled off of the Crystal Ball compilation (not to be confused with the original 1986/1987 project); "Feel U Up" and "Shockadelica" come from The Hits/The B-Sides set. Listen and enjoy!
les tracks:
1. Rebirth of the Flesh
2. Housequake
3. Strange Relationship
4. Feel U Up
5. Shockadelica
6. Good Love
7. If I Was Your Girlfriend
8. Rock Hard in a Funky Place
(link expired)
12 comments:
Can you please list the track titles, as the download only has "Track 1", "Track 2", etc.
"Good Love" was available on the 'Bright Lights, Big City' soundtrack. It's been a long time since I listened to either version, but I think it differs slightly from the Crystal Ball version (length perhaps?).
Steve- done and done!
DDay- Yes, the soundtrack version is longer. Basically an extended 12: version of the CB edit (the marker being when P keeps saying 'Good Love, part 2!). Like some of his other extended versions, I always felt it sounds tacked on.
Sweet, thanks!
Thanks again. Purple Rain to Lovesexy is my favorite Prince period, so this was a great find. I await in eager anticipation for your DREAM FACTORY post!
Two things: (1) I still really want to read this Prince paper of yours. I feel like I'm imminently qualified to offer suggestions! (2) I had the "Camille" album -- same track list as you've got here, no fan remastered tracks though -- in my 6-CD changer car stereo for months, during which I listened to it frequently and developed a deep appreciation for it. In many ways, it feels more like a Prince album than some of the real Prince albums. "The bed's on fire, your fate is sealed, and you're so tired, and the reason is Camille."
I'll send it your way once it makes it to the next draft, which will be sometime in early summer. I want to try to send it out before school starts in August, and I plan on forcing a few of my fellow Prince fans to look it over.
Re Camille: Well, it's more of a Prince album than say 3121. But it definitely doesn't sound like "Yeah, I can see why he canned this idea." I think you'll dig the DF stuff too, hopefully I'll get that up this week.
I actually have a slightly different version of Rebirth of the Flesh that segues into Housequake more seamlessly... Its mastered with a markedly less murky quality as well. Let me know if you want it!
Nooooo, I've been on a Prince vacation. Came across "Bright Lights, Big City" the other night, fell in love with "Good Love" all over again, which led me to your blog in search of Camille. two yrs too late for me....
It feels more like a Prince album than some of the real Prince albums.
Think you could repost? the link is dead.
susan< @ >believethelie.org
a repost would be great...i can't find Camille anywhere :(
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