PRINCE (Jul 15, 2011) – Acoustic Rehearsal: "Guitar" with Andy Allo, USA

On Jul 15, 2011, a newly recorded acoustic rehearsal version of Guitar by Prince and Andy Allo was streamed on Allo’s Facebook page.

The track features Prince giving musical direction to Allo, with the meta‑data crediting the artist as Prince/Allo and listing an unknown album title, The L/C. The embedded artwork also credits Prince/Allo, showing Prince lifting Allo’s guitar.

BACKGROUND

Guitar is the second track from Prince’s 32nd album Planet Earth.

A week before the album’s initial release (via the Mail on Sunday newspaper in the UK and Ireland), Guitar was issued as the album’s first European single.

Five and a half months before the album’s release, a completely different version — often described as a demo — was sold as an mp3 download on 3121.com to coincide with Prince’s Feb 4, 2007 Super Bowl Halftime Show appearance.

This earlier version is believed to have been recorded years after the basic tracking session.

Six weeks prior to the album’s release, the album version of Guitar was available for download via Verizon Wireless in the USA, and a short promotional clip of Prince and his band performing the song appeared in TV advertisements.

RECORDING

Basic tracking for Guitar took place on Nov 19, 2004, during a three‑and‑a‑half‑hour session that also produced 3121, From The Lotus..., ...Back 2 The Lotus, Colonized Mind, Love Like Jazz, Wall Of Berlin, Planet Earth, Shameless, and other tracks. In an August 2006 interview, Michael B. stated they recorded eleven or twelve tracks that night. He later indicated this was the last recording session they did with Prince for some time.

The Prince solo version is believed to have been recorded in early 2007 at either Paisley Park Studios (Chanhassen, Minnesota) or 3121 at The Rio (Las Vegas, Nevada).

The 2011 acoustic rehearsal between Prince and Andy Allo is assumed to have been recorded in Jul 2011, during the Welcome 2 America Euro 2011 Tour. The exact recording date is not known.

STYLE & THEMES

The acoustic rehearsal version strips the song down to voice and guitar, highlighting Prince’s direction, phrasing, and rhythmic cues. Andy Allo’s accompaniment provides a warm, intimate reinterpretation of the track, contrasting sharply with the electric, full‑band versions released commercially.

TRACK‑BY‑TRACK NOTES

• Guitar (Acoustic) — Rehearsal take featuring Prince and Andy Allo; includes spoken direction; credited as Prince/Allo; associated with unknown album title The L/C.

RELEASE HISTORY

• Jul 15, 2011 — Acoustic rehearsal version streamed on Andy Allo’s Facebook page. • Also offered as a free download at ThisIsRealMusic.com.

• Artwork embedded in the file credited Prince/Allo and featured Prince lifting Allo’s guitar.

Earlier releases:

• Feb 4, 2007 — Alternate version sold on 3121.com. • Jun 2007 — Album version available via Verizon Wireless.

• Jul 2007 — Planet Earth released with Guitar as the second track.

CRITICAL RECEPTION

The acoustic version is regarded by collectors as a rare glimpse into Prince’s rehearsal process, showcasing his real‑time musical direction and rapport with Andy Allo.

The unusual Prince/Allo credit and mysterious The L/C album tag have made this version a notable curiosity in Prince’s digital‑era archive.

PERSONNEL

Prince — vocals, acoustic guitar, musical direction

Andy Allo — acoustic guitar, vocals

PRODUCTION

Uncredited informal rehearsal recording. Meta‑data credits:

Prince/Allo   Artwork: Prince lifting Allo’s guitar.

DIGITAL / STREAM

Artist: Prince / Andy Allo

Title: Guitar (Acoustic)

Label: Unreleased / Digital Stream Country: USA

Catalogue: N/A

Date: Jul 15, 2011

Format: Digital Stream / Download

Tracklist:   1 Guitar (Acoustic)

SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, Prince Vault

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