The set opens with the horn-spiked funk jam "I Am You," which, like most of the songs on the collection was written arranged, performed and produced almost entirely by Prince as a yearning plea for a lover's return. It was recorded at Minneapolis' Sound 89 studio in 1977 when he was just 19 years old.
It's followed-up by the blitzing, punky lust bomb of 1981's "Tick Tick Bang," which was released on the Graffiti Bridge album nine years later with a more funk-forward feel. "Heaven," a spare pop jam from 1985, features backing vocals from Prince's former girlfriend and Revolution band member singer Susannah Melvoin, while 1989's "I Wonder" has a loping, gospel-country vibe. The emotional, lush piano ballad "With This Tear" (1991) was tracked before Prince gave the song to Celine Dion, who recorded it for her self-titled 1992 LP.
The latter was previously released as a single from the collection alongside "Stone," a previously unreleased slow-burn R&B tune from 1995. The set is rounded out by the 2003 hand-clapping soul jam "Calabama," 2007's rock burner "The Guilty Ones" and 2012's majestic "Bestest Friend." The final track is a live version of the fan-favorite non-album 1999 B-side "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?," recorded live at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on March, 4, 2015, a month before Prince's passing.The set opens with the horn-spiked funk jam "I Am You," which, like most of the songs on the collection was written arranged, performed and produced almost entirely by Prince as a yearning plea for a lover's return. It was recorded at Minneapolis' Sound 89 studio in 1977 when he was just 19 years old.
It's followed-up by the blitzing, punky lust bomb of 1981's "Tick Tick Bang," which was released on the Graffiti Bridge album nine years later with a more funk-forward feel. "Heaven," a spare pop jam from 1985, features backing vocals from Prince's former girlfriend and Revolution band member singer Susannah Melvoin, while 1989's "I Wonder" has a loping, gospel-country vibe. The emotional, lush piano ballad "With This Tear" (1991) was tracked before Prince gave the song to Celine Dion, who recorded it for her self-titled 1992 LP.
The latter was previously released as a single from the collection alongside "Stone," a previously unreleased slow-burn R&B tune from 1995. The set is rounded out by the 2003 hand-clapping soul jam "Calabama," 2007's rock burner "The Guilty Ones" and 2012's majestic "Bestest Friend." The final track is a live version of the fan-favorite non-album 1999 B-side "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?," recorded live at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on March, 4, 2015, a month before Prince's passing.
