Piano and a Microphone 1983

Last updated
Piano and a Microphone 1983
Piano and a Microphone 1983.jpg
Demo album by
ReleasedSeptember 21, 2018 (2018-09-21)
RecordedLate summer or Autumn 1983
StudioKiowa Trail home studio (Chanhassen, Minnesota)
Length34:21
Label
Prince chronology
Anthology: 1995–2010
(2018)
Piano and a Microphone 1983
(2018)
Originals
(2019)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 83/100 [1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
The A.V. Club B [3]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Pitchfork 8.5/10 [5]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]

Piano and a Microphone 1983 is a posthumously released demo album by Prince, released on CD, vinyl, and digital formats on September 21, 2018. [7] [8] It is the first album released by the Prince estate consisting solely of material from his archive, the Vault. [9]

Contents

Background

The album was discovered as a single cassette tape in Prince's vault at Paisley Park. The music was recorded in one take in 1983 at Prince's Kiowa Trail home studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota. The session is nearly 35 minutes of Prince's vocals while he played piano and segued between songs. [9] [10]

The session includes alternative versions of previously released and yet-to-be released songs, cover versions, and sketches of songs. [11] Four of the album's nine tracks were previously unreleased – "Mary Don't You Weep", "Wednesday" (originally recorded by Jill Jones for a deleted scene in Purple Rain ), "Cold Coffee & Cocaine", and "Why the Butterflies".

Critical reception

The New York Times called the album "a glimpse of a notoriously private artist doing his mysterious work" [9] while Adam Mattera in Echoes cited "Mary Don't You Weep" as "a telling choice that points both to his political awareness and gospel heritage – not something people would have expected from a 25 year-old more famous at the time for his flasher mac, high heels and songs about incestuous siblings and used condoms".

Track listing

All songs composed by Prince, except where indicated.

Piano and a Microphone 1983 track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."17 Days"Prince, Lisa Coleman, Matthew Fink, Wendy Melvoin 6:23
2."Purple Rain" 1:27
3."A Case of You" Joni Mitchell 1:41
4."Mary Don't You Weep"Traditional, arranged by Prince4:42
5."Strange Relationship" 2:39
6."International Lover" 3:49
7."Wednesday" 2:00
8."Cold Coffee & Cocaine" 5:13
9."Why the Butterflies" 6:27
Total length:34:21

Notes

Charts

Related Research Articles

<i>Musicology</i> (album) 2004 studio album by Prince

Musicology is the twenty-eighth studio album by American recording artist Prince. The album was given to concertgoers at his Musicology Tour, from March 27 to September 9, 2004, in North America. A digital release followed two days after his tour started on March 29, 2004. The physical retail version was released on April 19, 2004 (Europe) and April 20, 2004 (US) by NPG Records and distributed by Columbia Records. Musicology was the first album in five years that Prince released through a major label and, being partially recorded in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, was his first to be recorded outside Minneapolis in many years. Musicology is R&B-themed.

<i>1999</i> (Prince album) 1982 studio album by Prince and the Revolution

1999 is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Prince, released on October 27, 1982, by Warner Bros. Records. It became his first album to be recorded with his band the Revolution. 1999's critical and commercial success propelled Prince to a place in the public psyche and marked the beginning of two years of heightened fame via his following releases.

<i>Ultimate Prince</i> 2006 greatest hits album by Prince

Ultimate Prince is a greatest hits album by American recording artist Prince. It was released on August 22, 2006, by Warner Bros. Records. The two-disc set contains a disc of some previously released hits, and another of extended remixes of hits and a B-side, most of which had only been previously released as 12-inch singles.

<i>Ta-Dah</i> 2006 studio album by Scissor Sisters

Ta-Dah is the second studio album by American alternative band Scissor Sisters, released on September 15, 2006. It was produced by the band and includes collaborations with Elton John, Carlos Alomar, and Paul Williams. The album debuted at number 19 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 42,000 copies in its first week. Upon its release, Ta-Dah received positive reviews from most music critics.

<i>The Letting Go</i> 2006 studio album by Bonnie Prince Billy

The Letting Go is a 2006 studio album by Bonnie "Prince" Billy. It was released on Drag City.

<i>Planet Earth</i> (Prince album) 2007 studio album by Prince

Planet Earth is the thirty-second studio album by American recording artist Prince. It was released on July 15, 2007 by NPG Records and distributed, in the UK, as a free covermount with The Mail on Sunday national newspaper. This was followed by the album's worldwide distribution. It features contributions from his newest protégée Bria Valente and former New Power Generation members Marva King, Sonny T., and Michael Bland, as well as Sheila E. and former Revolution members Wendy & Lisa. The CD package's liner notes credit the album to Prince & The New Power Generation. The album debuted at number 3 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 96,000 copies in its first week.

<i>Hvarf/Heim</i> 2007 compilation/live album by Sigur Rós

Hvarf/Heim is a compilation album by Sigur Rós. Its original CD release comprises two discs: Hvarf contains studio versions of previously unreleased songs, while Heim contains live acoustic versions of songs already released. The songs on Heim are the same recordings found in the documentary Heima. In 2008 EMI released a single-disc version in which Heim is simply tracklisted to follow Hvarf. In 2012, the albums were issued on vinyl for the first time to be sold on Record Store Day.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Foo Fighters album) 2009 greatest hits album by Foo Fighters

Greatest Hits is a greatest hits album released by American rock band the Foo Fighters on November 3, 2009.

<i>Tomorrow Morning</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Eels

Tomorrow Morning is the ninth studio album by Eels; the third in a trilogy of concept albums including Hombre Lobo (2009) and End Times (2010).

<i>Lotusflow3r</i> 2009 studio album by Prince

Lotusflow3r is a triple album set by American recording artist Prince and protégée Bria Valente. It contains the thirty-third and thirty-fourth studio albums by Prince, Lotusflow3r and MPLSound, as well as Elixer, the debut studio album by Bria Valente. It was released on March 24, 2009, by NPG Records. The three albums were sold exclusively in the United States at Target as a 3-disc set, and in Europe from more online music stores.

<i>Art Official Age</i> 2014 studio album by Prince

Art Official Age is the thirty-seventh studio album by American recording artist Prince. It was released on September 26, 2014 by NPG Records under a renewed license to Warner Bros. Records, marking the second collaboration of both parties since 1995's The Gold Experience.

<i>Hit n Run Phase Two</i> 2015 studio album by Prince

Hit n Run Phase Two is the thirty-ninth studio album by American musician Prince and the last to be released within his lifetime. It was initially released exclusively on the Tidal streaming service on December 12, 2015, for streaming and purchase as a continuation of his previous album, Hit n Run Phase One.

<i>You Want It Darker</i> 2016 studio album by Leonard Cohen

You Want It Darker is the fourteenth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, released on October 21, 2016, by Columbia Records, 17 days before Cohen's death. The album was created at the end of his life and focuses on death, God, and humor. It was released to critical acclaim. The title track was awarded a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance in January 2018. It was Cohen's last album released during his lifetime and was followed by the posthumous album Thanks for the Dance in November 2019.

<i>4Ever</i> (album) 2016 greatest hits album by Prince

4Ever, also known as Prince 4Ever, is a greatest hits album by American recording artist Prince, released on November 22, 2016, by NPG Records and Warner Bros. Records. It is the first Prince release following the musician's death on April 21, 2016.

<i>17</i> (XXXTentacion album) 2017 studio album by XXXTentacion

17 is the debut studio album by American rapper and singer XXXTentacion. It was released through Bad Vibes Forever and Empire Distribution on August 25, 2017. With a runtime of just under 22 minutes, 17 is a brief album and does not feature a song longer than three minutes. The album was supported by the lead single "Revenge", and is XXXTentacion's second commercial record, following the compilation mixtape of the same name (2017). 17 includes a sole guest appearance from Trippie Redd and heavy sampling of Shiloh Dynasty, and production was handled by XXXTentacion, among others.

<i>Roll with the Punches</i> (album) 2017 studio album by Van Morrison

Roll with the Punches is the 37th studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released on 22 September 2017 by Caroline Records. It features Jeff Beck on guitar, and charted in the Top 10 in five countries, and the Top 40 in a further six, including the US.

<i>Scream</i> (Michael Jackson album) 2017 compilation album by Michael Jackson

Scream is a compilation album by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, released on September 29, 2017. The album compiles songs around a Halloween theme. It is the eleventh release by Sony and/or Motown since Jackson's death on June 25, 2009.

<i>Originals</i> (Prince album) 2019 demo album by Prince

Originals is a posthumous demo album by American musician Prince, released through Warner Records on June 7, 2019, exclusively through Tidal, with a wide release following on June 21, 2019. It compiles the original demo versions of songs Prince wrote and gave to other artists. All except for Prince's recording of "Nothing Compares 2 U", which was first officially released in 2018, were previously unreleased. The demo album was met with widespread critical acclaim, and debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200, as well as the top 10 in Belgium, Hungary, Portugal, and Switzerland.

<i>Hellboy</i> (Lil Peep mixtape) 2016 mixtape by Lil Peep

Hellboy is the fifth and final mixtape by American rapper Lil Peep. It was self-released on September 25, 2016. The mixtape was promoted by two singles and later a headlining tour, The Peep Show Tour, in the spring of 2017.

<i>Three Chords & the Truth</i> (Van Morrison album) 2019 studio album by Van Morrison

Three Chords & the Truth is the 41st studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released on 25 October 2019 by Exile Productions and Caroline Records. His sixth record in four years, it reached the Top 20 in seven countries. Morrison's first album to feature all-new original songs since 2012’s Born to Sing: No Plan B, it includes "If We Wait for Mountains", a co-write with Don Black, and "Fame Will Eat the Soul", a duet with Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers.

References

  1. "Piano & A Microphone 1983 by Prince". Metacritic .
  2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Review: Piano and a Microphone 1983 Allmusic. Retrieved 2019-03-22
  3. "A rare view of Prince, plus Metric and more in this week's new music". The A.V. Club. 21 September 2018.
  4. Morris, Damien (September 23, 2018). "Prince: Piano & a Microphone 1983 review – intensely intimate". The Guardian.
  5. "Prince: Piano & a Microphone 1983 Album Review – Pitchfork". pitchfork.com.
  6. Grow, Kory (September 21, 2018). "Review: Prince's 'Piano & A Microphone 1983' is a Revealing Snapshot of the Pop Genius in His Prime". Rolling Stone .
  7. "Prince Estate Plots New Album 'Piano and a Microphone 1983'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  8. Aswad, Jem (June 7, 2018). "Prince Estate Announces 'Piano & a Microphone 1983' Album,' Shares Song (Listen)". Variety. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 Pareles, Jon (19 September 2018). "Alone in the Studio in 1983, Prince Is Revealed". New York Times. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  10. "1983 Prince home studio rehearsal set for release in September". 947wls.com. June 8, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  11. "Prince's New 'Piano & A Microphone 1983' Basement Tape Is as Simple as It Sounds". Billboard. 18 September 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  12. "Unheard Prince album 'Piano & A Microphone 1983' to be released by estate". EW.com. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  13. "Australiancharts.com – Prince – Piano & a Microphone 1983". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  14. "Austriancharts.at – Prince – Piano & a Microphone 1983" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  15. "Ultratop.be – Prince – Piano & a Microphone 1983" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  16. "Ultratop.be – Prince – Piano & a Microphone 1983" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  17. "Prince Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  18. "Danishcharts.dk – Prince – Piano & a Microphone 1983". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  19. "Lescharts.com – Prince – Piano & a Microphone 1983". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  20. "Dutchcharts.nl – Prince – Piano & a Microphone 1983" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  21. "Offiziellecharts.de – Prince – Piano & a Microphone 1983" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  22. "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2018. 39. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  23. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Prince". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  24. "Italiancharts.com – Prince – Piano & a Microphone 1983". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  25. | "Prince on Billboard Japan Hot Albums" . Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  26. "Prince". Oricon . Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  27. "Norwegiancharts.com – Prince – Piano & a Microphone 1983". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  28. "Portuguesecharts.com – Prince – Piano & a Microphone 1983". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  29. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  30. "Spanishcharts.com – Prince – Piano & a Microphone 1983". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  31. "Swedishcharts.com – Prince – Piano & a Microphone 1983". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  32. "Swisscharts.com – Prince – Piano & a Microphone 1983". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  33. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  34. "Prince Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  35. "Prince Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  36. "Jaaroverzichten 2018". Ultratop. Retrieved October 26, 2020.