When I first heard about this new Prince release, I became rather suspicious that it was just a half-assed attempt to cash in on his death by releasing some old demo recordings with doubtful sound quality. Obviously I preordered it anyway, being the hardcore Prince fan that I am. When it finally arrived last week, some 4 months after I preordered it, I found out I'd had no reason to be suspicious.
This is in fact a quality boxset release with both LP and CD and it comes with a print and a booklet with words by Lisa Coleman and Jill Jones and Don Batts (Prince's recording engineer at the time.)
Prince was sitting at his piano in his home studio, playing and singing his way thru a medley of more or less finished versions of well-known Prince songs, covers and rarities. The sound quality is really good for an older recording of this type, so I had no reason to fear that either.
The later b-side "17 Days" is totally outstanding here, we get an early "Purple Rain" and even "Strange Relationship" that ended up on the "Sign 'O' the Times" album several years later. "Wednesday" is a tune that never made it to the "Purple Rain" movie. "Cold Coffee & Cocaine" is sung by Jamie Starr (Prince's alter ego) and it is hilarious.
If you love Prince's music, I have no doubt you'll find much enjoyment in this little 9 song album (it runs for 34:19.) It gives a unique glimpse of the genius Prince at work from back when he was an unstoppable creative force of music.
Rating: 
Band: Prince
Record Title: Piano & A Microphone 1983
This Release: 2018
Record Format: Boxset
Record Label: NPG/Warner Bros.
Content Type: Record Review
Language: 
Updated: 2018-10-12 22:25
Created: 2018-10-12 21:47
