Prince / Irresistible (2CDR)

This is the complete best-of source recording of the Purple Rain Tour's rarest setlist, the March 1, 1985 Cow Palace performance! While the six San Francisco shows, a highlight of the latter half of the Purple Rain Tour, have yet to be released in their entirety, this release features the rarest tracks from those six shows, with sound quality surpassing any currently available trade recordings! First up is "When You Were Mine," a rare performance from the Purple Rain Tour. The track breaks down with a guitar-driven acoustic sound, creating a unique arrangement. Then, a devastating guitar is introduced, followed by "Head." This version, also performed on the Purple Rain Tour, is rockier, with a more driving feel than the performance on the Parade Tour, making it even more unique! Prince's graceful and honky piano solo transitions into the beautiful melody of "Father's Song," followed by piano-driven "A Case of You"! He had already performed the version from his later One Nite Alone performance on the Purple Rain tour! And then there's the incredibly rare "Still Waiting," played on piano, which may have been his final performance! At first, the vocals are so off-kilter it's hard to tell what song it is, but gradually that catchy phrase emerges, and over the course of three minutes, you've never heard such a beautiful, graceful version! Its simplicity, yet its impact, is a testament to its brilliance, and you'll surely understand that with this rendition. And then there's the funky rendition of "Irresistible Bitch," the song that gave this album its title! From Prince's enchanting MC, to Wendy's unrestrained guitar chops, Prince's rhythmic piano, spastic horns, and somewhat understated vocals, it's all funky! The jam in the second half also unfolds like nothing I've ever heard! Irresistible Bitch surpasses performances like Syracuse! And finally, the veil is lifted! Another piano set? This is a performance of the hit, previously unreleased, "Condition of the Heart"! It still feels unfinished, but that's what makes it all the more rare! Also rare is a brief sung verse from "International Lover." The highlight of the second half of the show, "Baby I'm A Star," is a must-listen version that unfolds with unpredictable energy, seemingly fueled by this rare set! And finally, "Purple Rain" is an unconventional version that begins with a never-before-heard jazzy piano intro! This version of "Purple Rain" is a bit slow to get started, but the result is a super progressive 19-minute version!