Prince's Calabama & Prince and The Band EP Released Digitally Following Timeless
Updated: 2 hours ago
A new digital EP, Calabama & Prince and The Band (Horns and Raw), has been released across digital platforms. The release follows Timeless, the posthumous Prince album that featured ten previously unreleased songs recorded between 1977 and 2016.
The EP expands upon the material featured on Timeless and continues the ongoing exploration of recordings originating from Prince's Vault.
Recording Details
Produced, arranged, composed and performed by Prince, “Calabama” was recorded by Joe Lipinski at Paisley Park on January 21, 2003, and features John Blackwell on drums. The Timeless version includes horn parts recorded after Prince’s passing by Greg Boyer, Adrian Crutchfield and Lynn Grissett, while “Calabama (Vault Raw)” presents the recording without those added horns.
“Prince And The Band (Vault Raw 1)” features Prince on all vocals and instruments and was recorded and mixed by Ian Boxill at Paisley Park. “Prince And The Band (Vault Raw 2),” recorded and mixed by Boxill at Paisley Park on August 22, 2006, features Prince on vocals, guitar and keys, joined by Cora Coleman-Dunham on drums, Josh Dunham on bass, Maceo Parker on saxophone, Ray Monteiro on trumpet and Greg Boyer on trombone.
ABOUT THE EP
The release centres on "Calabama" and "Prince and The Band", presenting versions both with and without live horn arrangements.
Listeners are given the opportunity to hear the original raw recording of "Calabama" without the added horn parts that appeared on Timeless. The EP also includes two bonus versions of "Prince and The Band", featuring Prince's inclusion of live horn sections.
Neither of these bonus recordings were included on the Timeless album.
THE VAULT CONNECTION
The EP has been described as a continuation of the conversation surrounding Prince's Vault recordings. The release allows listeners to compare the different approaches taken with the material and provides additional insight into the process of preparing archival recordings for release.
The announcement notes that "Calabama" was the only track on Timeless to receive additional musical elements, making the inclusion of the raw version a notable part of the package.
ARCHIVAL SIGNIFICANCE
By presenting both augmented and untouched recordings, the EP offers a closer look at the decisions involved in preserving and releasing material from Prince's archive. The release invites listeners to hear both the finished versions and the original recordings, highlighting different aspects of Prince's creative process.
PAISLEY PARK PLANS
The announcement also states that selected untouched Vault recordings will be made available for listening purposes at Paisley Park in 2027 as archival artefacts. These recordings are intended to provide visitors with additional insight into Prince's creative journey and recording process.
RELEASE INFORMATION
Title: Calabama & Prince and The Band (Horns and Raw)
Format: Digital EP
Availability: All major digital outlets
SOURCE Official release announcement and promotional artwork.
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