Prince - Piano & A Microphone 1983

 

180-gram vinyl

Previously unheard home studio recording captured on cassette

A previously unheard home studio cassette recording of Prince performing at his piano in 1983 is being released as Piano & A Microphone on Sept. 21, 2018.

The nine track, 35-minute project from the Prince Estate in coordination with Warner Bros. Records is planned for what would have been the rock icon's 60th birthday and it is available now to order on LP.

"This raw, intimate recording, which took place at the start of Prince's career right before he achieved international stardom, is similar in format to the Piano & A Microphone Tour that he ended his career with in 2016," Prince Estate entertainment adviser Troy Carter said in a statement about the project recorded at Prince's Kiowa Trail home studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota. "The Estate is excited to be able to give fans a glimpse of his evolution and show how his career ultimately came full circle with just him and his piano."

This rare, intimate glimpse finds Prince working through songs including "17 Days" and "Purple Rain" (which would both be released the following year), a cover of Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You," "Strange Relationship" (issued in 1987 on the Sign O' The Times album) and "International Lover," as well as a rare recording of the pre-Civil War spiritual "Mary Don't You Weep," which will be heard on the end credits of Spike Lee's upcoming film BlacKkKlansman, due out in August.

The album cover features a rare image of Prince backstage during the 1999 tour, taken by Allen Beaulieu, who worked closely with Prince from 1979-1984, shooting the covers of Dirty Mind and Controversy and the promo shots for 1999.

 

Side 1

Medley:

17 Days

Purple Rain

A Case Of You

Mary Don't You Weep

Strange Relationship

Interna

Side 2

Cold Coffee & Cocaine (Piano & A Microphone 1983 Version)

Why The Butterflies (Piano & A Microphone 1983 Version)

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