This new Prince release is a compilation of tracks from The Vault. They will be unknown to many people, but several of the songs have actually been out on bootlegs for years. It is nice to hear them now in their full glory and perfect sound.
I think the album has a good flow and they have picked some good songs for this compilation that spans studio songs from 1977 - 2012, plus the last track that is a live recording from 2016 of an old B-side from 1982. There is only one track "Bestest Friend" I don't really like. The rest of them are great.
"You're such a bombshell
If I ever get it, ever get it
There's no telling, no telling how long I'd last
Before I tick, tick, tick, bang all over you"
I have read that they have enhanced/overdubbed the song "Calabama" when they put this compilation together, and I don't like that idea. It is not enough to ruin my day, and the result isn't bad at all, it's just not the right thing to do. I would have preferred the raw Prince version.
"All the pretty ladies just clap your hands
All the funky brothers dance to my band"
I feared this would be a pointless compilation, but after I've been listening to it for a few days, I'm actually positively surprised. It is a good collection of songs and I might pull it from my shelf from time to time, and give it a spin.
You could make countless compilations like this one with equally great tracks from Prince's Vault, but with The Estate's super slow release pace, I guess we should be happy for anything we get. And I'll give them credit for selecting these songs well.
- "I Am You" [1977] is a funky thing that would have fit right in on the "For You" [1978] album. Great opener.
- "Tick Tick Bang" [1981] is known from the "Graffiti Bridge" [1990] album. The 1981 version is far superior to the later 1990 version. The 1990 version is overproduced crap compared to the raw energetic aggressively paced 1981 version that has "Sister" [1980] vibes to it. Awesome stuff.
- "Heaven" [1986] gives out "Erotic City" [1984] bass/drums vibes, but still sounds more like "Parade" [1985] stuff by The Revolution.
- "I Wonder" [1989] has a sound that would have made it fit in well on "Batman" [1989].
- "With This Tear" [1991] was given to and released by Celine Dion in 1992. I have never heard Celine's version and I doubt I ever will. I didn't like this song when I heard it the first time on "Timeless", but it is actually a good quality Prince ballad.
- "Stone" [1995] has a bit of an "Emancipation" [1996] album sound to it.
- "Calabama" [2003] was supposedly the title track of an unreleased album Prince was working on before "Musicology" [2004]. It sounds like a "Musicology" song and is a funky jam with Prince rapping some of the lyrics. It can be seen as an extended/reworked version of a song named "Prince and the band" that Prince sometimes played live. It is available on live bootlegs e.g. from 2002 at Copenhagen's Vega venue.
- "The Guilty Ones" [2007] has some great rock n roll guitar playing that reminds me of the "LotusFlow3r" [2009] album which is also very guitar driven. A real quality kick-ass track.
- "Bestest Friend" [2012] is not a very great ballad. It's the only song on the album I don't like.
- "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore (Live 2016)" is an old B-side from the single "1999" [1982]. It sounds great, but let's be honest, why not release the entire concert on a live album instead? I guess it works okay as a closer here, reminding us just how amazing Prince still was live in concert - only about a month before he left this planet much too soon.
The songs I had already heard on bootlegs: "Tick Tick Bang", "Heaven", "I Wonder", "Stone", "Prince and the band" ("Calabama").
Rating: 
Band: Prince
Record Title: Timeless
This Release: 2026
RunTime: 42
Record Format: LP
Record Label: NPG
TrackList:
- I Am You
- Tick Tick Bang
- Heaven
- I Wonder
- With This Tear
- Stone
- Calabama
- The Guilty Ones
- Bestest Friend
- How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore (Live 2016)
Content Type: Record Review
Language: 
Updated: 2026-09-03 20:39
Created: 2026-08-31 19:24
