Piano & A Microphone 1983

Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. Archive release from the late soul/funk icon. Recorded in 1983 at Prince's Kiowa Trail home studio in Chanhassen, MN and engineered by Don Batts, "Piano & A Microphone 1983" is a nine-track, 35-minute album featuring a previously unreleased home studio cassette recording of Prince at his piano. The private rehearsal provides a rare, intimate glimpse into Prince's creative process as he worked through songs which include '17 Days' and 'Purple Rain' (neither of which would be released until 1984), a cover of Joni Mitchell's 'A Case Of You', 'Strange Relationship' (not released until 1987 on his critically acclaimed "Sign O' The Times" album), and 'International Lover'. The album also includes a rare recording of the 19th Century spiritual 'Mary Don't You Weep', featured during the end credits of Spike Lee's "BlacKkKlansman". For fans of Prince's spontaneous live medleys, tracks 1-7 of the album are presented in that same format as they were originally recorded. The striking cover photo was shot by photographer and Prince's close collaborator Allen Beaulieu backstage at the 1999 tour.