1 CDR

Label : Fan Release

Catalogue : N/A

Disc Length : 73:56

Source : Audience Recording

Sound Quality : VG+

Year Of Release : 2008

Lovesexy Tour Aftershow

The Palace, Los Angeles

7th November 1988 (am)

1. POSITIVITY   2. EYE NO   3. WADE IN THE WATER   4. GOD IS ALIVE   5. THE BALLAD OF DOROTHY PARKER   6. FOUR   7. BLUES IN C - DOWN HOME BLUES   8. ROCK ME BABY   9. COLD SWEAT   10. JUST MY IMAGINATION   11. SUPERFUNKYCALIFRAGISEXY (Including RAVE UN2 THE JOY FANTASTIC)   12. TAKE THIS BEAT   13. AUDIENCE

COMMENT

Released in September 2008 within days of the Sabotage release 'Lovesexy USA' which also contains this aftershow, there really is no comparison between the two versions. This is a completely different audience recording which has sat unheard for 20 years, and is a joy to behold from start to finish. I can't decide whether to rate it as EX- or VG+ as there are long passages of the recording which really are superbly clear with Prince sounding inches away from the person recording. My indecision lies with the audible female audience members screaming loudly for the opening few songs, then intermittently throughout the show, along with a fair few gents too, it has to be said. Some slight wavering on occasion, along with the recording sounding rather "light", and a very small, almost unnoticeable drop-out during 'Just My Imagination' are my only other points of note, and other than these relatively minor quibbles, this is really rather sexy indeed. So sexy that it would make my Top 3 releases of 2008 without question or hesitation. The aftershow was orgasmic before, but hearing it in this quality is like hearing a whole new show, and I don't mind admitting I pee'd myself slightly on the closing 'Take This Beat' funkatron. What a show this is, and what a night this must have been. The opening 'Positivity' is a little short for my tastes (I love hearing the "call People magazine, Rolling Stone.." sung live, which is alas not performed here), however the extended 'Eye No' more than makes up for it. The traditional 'Wade In The Water' follows, which in turn segues into a rare aftershow performance of 'God Is Alive'. Boni takes centre stage for the mid-section of the show with Prince blending in with the band, outwith a few guitar solo's, and the band take a short break after 'Cold Sweat'. They return with a stunning 'Just My Imagination' (I imagine the cassette needed flipping during the song as there is a slight cut around 10 minutes into the song) and from here on the show really goes to a whole new level and there aren't enough superlatives to describe the ensuing funk of the closing two songs. He's yelping, screaming and rapping, his guitar is wailing, and all the while Levi's bass is rumbling and Sheila E isn't missing a beat - this really is legendary stuff, and 20+ minutes which everyone should have the pleasure of hearing. The recording ends with the PA announcer asking the crowd to chant for Prince's return, however it becomes obvious he won't be returning, and Michael Jackson blasts out of the sound system ;-) I really can't praise this release highly enough. Sure, I would have loved it to have had less audience intrusion in places, but they really don't degrade it massively, and certainly don't dampen my enjoyment of one of the finest aftershows of the 1980's. Lastly, I don't normally pass comment on fan released artwork too much, however an unheard recording of this quality really deserved to be packaged in something a little more befitting of it's excellence.