The Purple Bootlegs

About the track : Cindy C. is the second song on Prince's sixteenth album "The Black Album" (originally planned for release as his tenth album, albeit with no artist credit).

While specific recording dates are not known, basic tracks were recorded in March 1987 at Prince's Galpin Blvd Home Studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota (during the same set of sessions that produced Dead On It and Nine). After "The Black Album" was initially canceled, the track was broadcast on 9 December 1989 as part of The New Power Generation Radio Show, hosted by Prince (under the name Me, Myself and I) with Robin Power, Ingrid Chavez and Levi Seacer, Jr.

The track's title refers to supermodel Cindy Crawford. Cat's rap in the song (later reused in an unreleased version of Positivity), was taken from J.M. Silk's 1985 track Music Is The Key, although Prince was unaware of this at the time (he removed it from Positivity when he found out, but it is included here as a quote from Cindy C. as Prince was unaware of its origins at the time of its use).

Musicians :

Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted

Eric Leeds - saxophone

Atlanta Bliss - trumpet

Sheila E. - background vocals

Boni Boyer - background vocals

Cat - background vocals, rap

About the track : Le Grind is the first song on Prince's sixteenth album "The Black Album" (originally planned for release as his tenth album, albeit with no artist credit).

Basic tracks were recorded on 10 December 1986 at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California (the day after 2 Nigs United 4 West Compton).

The track, along with Bob George and 2 Nigs United 4 West Compton, was recorded for a birthday party Prince was hosting for Sheila E. on 11 December 1986.

It is unclear if Sheila E. participated in this session, but horn overdubs and vocals by Boni Boyer and Cat were added at a later session. The low voiceover at the start of the song, serving as the albums introduction was also added later (starting with "So U found me, good..." and ending with "So come vibe with us / Welcome 2 the Funk Bible / The new testament")

It is known that he completed work on the album in early October 1987 at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota, which is probably when this part was recorded.

The lyrics include the line "up and down, up and down, like a pony would." Other tracks from the era mentioning a pony in the title or lyrics include Alphabet St., Horny Pony, My Pony, Pony Ride and She Pony.

Musicians :

.Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted

.Eric Leeds - saxophone

.Atlanta Bliss - trumpet

.Boni Boyer - background vocals

.Cat - background vocals

.Sheila E. - background vocals

.Susannah Melvoin - backing vox

About the track :

Open Book is the tenth and final track on the worldwide re-issue of Jevetta Steele's first solo album Here It Is (Jevetta Steele is also part of the group The Steeles). The song was written by Martika, Levi Seacer, Jr. and Prince, and was produced by Prince under the pseudonym Paisley Park.

Although specific recording dates are unknown, basic tracking took place in December 1990 - early 1991 at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota (during the same set of sessions that produced "Spirit", "Don't Say U Love Me", "Martika's Kitchen" and "Go On (Witcha Bad Self)"). Open Book was intended for the Martika's Kitchen album (where the other four songs recorded during the sessions were released), and was written as a response to Martika's song Safe In The Arms Of Love, which also appears on the album. Open Book quotes passages from this song - it is likely that Martika's writing input in the song is limited to those passages. It is not known when Jevetta Steele overdubbed her vocals.

Probably Prince's best interview and that's on period.

About the track :

Prince recorded a studio version of his cover of the track "Sweet Thing" (by Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, originally released in 1975), as a home recording, in early-to-mid 1976 (within months of the song's initial release), at the Russell Ave, Anderson house, Minneapolis, Minnesota (during the same set of sessions as "Don't You Wanna Ride?", "Hey Lover", "I Spend My Time Loving You", nine untitled instrumentals, "Leaving For New York", "Nightingale" and "Rock me, Lover).

The home recording of the song remains unreleased but Prince has performed the song live many times, including on some TV broadcasts (Beautiful Strange, The Art Of Musicology...)

Musicians :

Prince - all vocals and instruments

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Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/inspirlang

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Instagram: @inspirlang

Twitter: @inspirlang

Check out our available Zoom classes: http://inspirlang.com/zoom

Get our digital/paperback book at https://inspirlang.com/lovemando

View podcast transcription at https://inspirlang.com/mandopod

Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/inspirlang

Facebook: https://facebook.com/inspirlang

Instagram: @inspirlang

Twitter: @inspirlang

Check out our available Zoom classes: http://inspirlang.com/zoom

Get our digital/paperback book at https://inspirlang.com/lovemando

View podcast transcription at https://inspirlang.com/mandopod

Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/inspirlang

Facebook: https://facebook.com/inspirlang

Instagram: @inspirlang

Twitter: @inspirlang

Check out our available Zoom classes: http://inspirlang.com/zoom

Get our digital/paperback book at https://inspirlang.com/lovemando

View podcast transcription at https://inspirlang.com/mandopod

Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/inspirlang

Facebook: https://facebook.com/inspirlang

Instagram: @inspirlang

Twitter: @inspirlang