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EVOLUTION OF THE ALBUM The beginnings of ''Crystal Ball'' can be traced to late 1985 with a Concept Album called '' Dream Factory ''. Since the release of '' Purple Rain '', each successive album included more of a collaberative effort between Prince and female band members, Wendy And Lisa . ''Dream Factory'' was the pinnacle of this collaberative effort. ''Dream Factory'' evolved quickly from a 9-track single album to a double-LP with an ever-changing tracklist of songs. A large body of tracks were considered or rejected. A final configuration of the album was finally decided upon, but before the album could be produced, Wendy and Lisa quit the band, and The Revolution dissolved. Prince decided to abandon the project and set to work recording on his own. He recorded a track "Housequake" in a speeded-up vocal style similar to the title track of ''Dream Factory''. Pleased with the results, Prince continued to record in this style and ended up recording an entire album of songs with this new vocal-style. Prince fashioned the idea of releasing the album under the pseudonym '' Camille '' with no picture on the Album Cover to mystify the public. The album was actually mastered but as Prince continued recording songs, he felt the need to expand beyong a single album. Eventually he decided to combine various tracks from ''Dream Factory'', ''Camille'' and other newly recorded tracks into a 3-LP opus called ''Crystal Ball''. His Record Company at the time, Warner Bros. balked at the idea, convinced the sales would be slim on a triple album, especially on the heels of the relatively poorly-selling '' Parade ''. Warners and Prince compromised and agreed to a Double Album . Dissapointed, Prince cut 7 tracks but quickly added a duet with Sheena Easton . The set was renamed '' Sign “☮” The Times '' and the title track appropriately describes a chaotic state of the world which coincided with Prince's own troubles. It is rumored that the forced editing of his masterpiece started the long decline of Prince's relationship with Warner Bros. that were later result in a very public battle with the record company. RELEASES OVER TIME Though 7 tracks were cut from ''Crystal Ball'', they have all been released in some form over the years. "Shockadelica" was the first to be publically released as the B-side to " If I Was Your Girlfriend " in 1987 . "Rock Hard in a Funky Place" was pulled as the final track to '' The Black Album '' which was shelved by Prince in late 1987 although heavily Bootleg ged by fans. It finally saw an official release in 1994 . "The Ball" was reworked and given new lyrics and became "Eye No", the opening track to '' Lovesexy '' in 1988 . Later in 1988, "Good Love" was released on the soundtrack to '' Bright Lights, Big City ''. Prince used the track "Joy in Repetition" for his '' Graffiti Bridge '' soundtrack in 1990 and many critics hailed it as the best track on the album. In 1998 , Prince revived the concept of ''Crystal Ball'' with the release of a 3- CD album of the same name. The title track was the same one from the original 3-LP version, however The Set had little to do with the original concept other than the title track and the fact that it contained 3 discs. Finally in 2001 , a live rehearsal of "Rebirth of the Flesh" recorded with the Sign “☮” the Times band was released on Prince's Website , though the studio version remains in the vault. TRACKLIST Side 1
Side 2
Side 3
Side 4
Side 5
Side 6
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