`Prince
Small Club
08/18/88
Het Paard Van Troje, The Hague, Holland
Disc 1
Instrumental Jam
D.M.S.R.
Just My Imagination
People Without
Housequake
Down Home Blues
Disc 2
Cold Sweat
Forever in My Life
Still Will Stand All Time
I'll Take You There I
I'll Take You There II
Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic
SB Trade>CDR>EAC>Flac lvl 6
It is no secret that this is arguably the most essential bootleg
recording in circulation for Prince fans. It is first and
foremost on my personal list of favorites. Even though there are
now a plethora of soundboard recordings available from nearly
every tour, this is a perfect recording of a coveted aftershow.
The sound quality is to my ears identical to the original release
of Small Club 2nd Show That Night by X records in 1989. This is
the first time I've said this about any reissue of this show.
Although many have tried before this is the first Small Club
recording to actually match the original in sound quality. There
have been no less than a couple dozen of reissues over the past 6
years. In a blind test with both sources playing simultaneously I
could not tell them apart. If there is a difference in sound it
is discernible to me.
The show itself is a true aftershow classic, with everything we
could ask for in a performance: killer guitar solos (Rave Unto
the Joy Fantastic & Just My Imagination), great vocals (Still
Would Stand All Time), lots of Boni Boyer, and a couple of
unreleased songs (People Without, etc..). This is Prince at his
physical and performing prime. Looking back I would have to say
that 1987-88 featured him at his best more consistently that any
other time of his career. His aftershows during this time period
are just legendary including the incredible Camden Palace show in
London on July 25th, the Hamburg show in late August and one of
the first, the Quasimodo gig on the Sign O the Times tour. Never
has his ferocity been so evident at shows such as these. His
effortless ability to mix stunning cover versions and unreleased
tracks along with completely new renditions of his classics is
remarkable. It also has a lot to do with his look. Watch the
clips of the Camden Palace gig and you can see a stronger, firmer
Prince that we've seen in the recent years. Not one as frail and
weightless as we're becoming accustomed to now. What is also
noticeable in those aftershow clips is that Prince KNEW he had
just hit his prime. His relaxed mood with the European fans, his
musicianship, and his first truly great backing band had reached
a peak at this time unmatched to that point in his career. His
confidence and showmanship have never been so apparent
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