PRINCE: City Lights [1995] (11 x CDs)

PRINCE 

PRINCE: City Lights [1995] (11 x CDs)

Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 - April 21, 2016) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation, Prince was known for his flamboyant, androgynous persona, wide vocal rang, which included a far-reaching falsetto—and high-pitched screams, as well as his skill as a multi-instrumentalist, often preferring to play all or most of the instruments on his recordings. His music incorporated a wide variety of styles, including funk, disco, R&B, rock, new wave, soul, synth-pop, pop, jazz, blues, and hip hop. Prince produced his albums himself, pioneering the Minneapolis sound.

Prince has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, ranking him among the best-selling music artists of all time. His awards include the Grammy President's Merit Award, the American Music Awards for Achievement and of Merit, the Billboard Icon Award, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006, and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2016, and was inducted twice into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame in 2022. Estimates of the complete number of songs written by Prince range anywhere from 500 to well over 1,000.

City Lights is an 11-CD unofficial box set released in 1995 by Superhero Records, documenting Prince’s live performances from 1980 to 1986. Though not sanctioned by Prince or Warner Bros., this collection has become a coveted item among collectors and fans, offering a rare and comprehensive glimpse into the artist’s formative touring years. Sourced primarily from soundboard recordings, the set captures Prince’s evolution from a provocative funk upstart to a commanding global icon, all through the lens of his electrifying stage presence.

Each disc in City Lights represents a specific concert from a pivotal tour, beginning with the Rick James Tour in Atlanta (1980), where Prince was still an opening act, and culminating in the Parade Tour in Stockholm (1986), by which time he had become a fully realized auteur. Along the way, the set includes performances from the Dirty Mind Tour (New York and Paris, 1981), Controversy Tour (Columbia and Saginaw, 1981-82), 1999 Tour (Detroit and Providence, 1982-83), and the Purple Rain Tour (Atlanta, 1985). These recordings are not just concert souvenirs, they are sonic snapshots of Prince’s artistic metamorphosis.

The Dirty Mind shows are particularly raw and riveting, with stripped-down arrangements and sexually charged lyrics that challenged norms and pushed boundaries. Tracks like “Head,” “Sister,” and “When You Were Mine” are delivered with punk-funk urgency, revealing Prince’s early defiance and charisma. By the Controversy era, his performances had grown more politically aware, blending sensuality with social commentary in songs like “Ronnie, Talk to Russia” and “Annie Christian.”

The 1999 Tour discs showcase Prince’s mastery of synthesizers and drum machines, with extended versions of “D.M.S.R.,” “Automatic,” and “Little Red Corvette” that highlight his ability to stretch pop into hypnotic, danceable grooves. These shows also mark the emergence of The Revolution as a cohesive unit, adding depth and texture to the live arrangements.

The centerpiece of the box is arguably the Purple Rain Tour recording from Atlanta. Here, Prince is at the height of his commercial powers, delivering theatrical renditions of “Let’s Go Crazy,” “I Would Die 4 U,” and the title track with a mix of precision and abandon. The crowd interaction, guitar solos, and emotional crescendos make this disc a standout.

Finally, the Parade Tour show in Stockholm reveals Prince’s shift toward more experimental and orchestral sounds. Tracks from Around the World in a Day and Parade are performed with sophistication and flair, showcasing his ability to reinvent himself while maintaining his magnetic stage presence.

City Lights is more than a bootleg, it’s a historical document. It captures Prince’s live evolution in real time, offering insight into his creative process, his relationship with his audience, and his relentless pursuit of artistic growth. For fans, it’s a deep dive into the essence of Prince as a performer. For historians, it’s a vital archive of one of the most transformative figures in modern music. (B)

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Track lists

CD01

01 Prince - Soft and Wet 3:00

02 Prince - Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad 5:24

03 Prince - Still Waiting 7:13

04 Prince - I Feel for You 7:13

05 Prince - Sexy Dancer 6:46

06 Prince - Just as Long as We're Together 11:16

07 Prince - I Wanna Be Your Lover 10:14

CD02

01 Prince - Do it All Night 4:23

02 Prince - Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad 6:00

03 Prince - Gotta Broken Heart Again 3:48

04 Prince - Broken, Lonely, and Crying 2:35

05 Prince - When You Were Mine 4:16

06 Prince - Gotta Stop (Messin' About) 4:27

07 Prince - Sexy Dancer 5:22

08 Prince - Sister 1:38

09 Prince - I Wanna Be Your Lover 3:29

10 Prince - Head 13:32

11 Prince - Still Waiting 6:41

CD03

01 Prince - Do it All Night 3:53

02 Prince - Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad 6:41

03 Prince - Gotta Broken Heart Again 3:50

04 Prince - Jack U Off 4:07

05 Prince - When You Were Mine 4:50

06 Prince - Gotta Stop (Messin' About) 4:45

07 Prince - Sexy Dancer 5:37

08 Prince - Sister 1:49

09 Prince - Still Waiting 5:32

10 Prince - Partyup 7:51

11 Prince - Dirty Mind 4:23

12 Prince - Uptown 5:44

CD04

01 Prince - Uptown 4:02

02 Prince - Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad 7:37

03 Prince - Sexy Dancer 4:49

04 Prince - I Wanna Be Your Lover 4:29

05 Prince - Head 11:47

06 Prince - Dirty Mind 6:28

07 Prince - Do Me, Baby 8:45

08 Prince - Controversy 10:11

09 Prince - Let's Work 7:08

10 Prince - Partyup 9:09

11 Prince - Jack U Off 3:46

CD05

01 Prince - Uptown 2:37

02 Prince - Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad 7:19

03 Prince - I Wanna Be Your Lover 4:29

04 Prince - Head 11:57

05 Prince - Dirty Mind 6:03

06 Prince - Do Me, Baby 9:41

07 Prince - Controversy 6:12

08 Prince - Let's Work 8:54

09 Prince - Jack U Off 4:05

10 Prince - Partyup 6:37

CD06

01 Prince - Controversy 5:14

02 Prince - Let's Work 5:31

03 Prince - Little Red Corvette 4:13

04 Prince - Do Me, Baby 7:11

05 Prince - Head 4:15

06 Prince - Uptown 5:01

07 Prince - How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore 7:28

08 Prince - Lady Cab Driver 8:44

09 Prince - International Lover 10:20

10 Prince - 1999 10:01

11 Prince - D.M.S.R 7:28

CD07

01 Prince - Controversy 5:13

02 Prince - Let's Work 5:31

03 Prince - Do Me, Baby 6:37

04 Prince - D.M.S.R. 6:14

05 Prince - Still Waiting 2:50

06 Prince - How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore 6:29

07 Prince - Lady Cab Driver 3:14

08 Prince - Little Red Corvette 2:16

09 Prince - Dirty Mind 7:22

10 Prince - International Lover 7:35

11 Prince - 1999 8:26

CD08

01 Prince - Let's Go Crazy 8:22

02 Prince - Delirious 2:50

03 Prince - 1999 5:46

04 Prince - Little Red Corvette 4:07

05 Prince - Take Me With U 6:10

06 Prince - Free 2:37

07 Prince - Do Me, Baby 2:06

08 Prince - How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore 6:34

09 Prince - Let's Pretend We're Married 4:44

10 Prince - Father's Song 1:35

11 Prince - God 8:16

12 Prince - Computer Blue 4:34

13 Prince - Darling Nikki 3:57

14 Prince - The Beautiful Ones 6:20

15 Prince - When Doves Cry 8:23

CD09

01 Prince - I Would Die 4 U 3:48

02 Prince - Baby, I'm A Star 23:49

03 Prince - Purple Rain 18:40

CD10

01 Prince - Around The World in A Day 2:23

02 Prince - Christopher Tracy's Parade 3:03

03 Prince - New Position 2:09

04 Prince - I Wonder U 3:21

05 Prince - Raspberry Beret 2:12

06 Prince - Delirious 1:02

07 Prince - Controversy 1:36

08 Prince - A Love Bizarre 5:41

09 Prince - Do Me, Baby 7:25

10 Prince - How Much is That Doggie in The Window 0:41

11 Prince - Automatic 1:47

12 Prince - D.M.S.R. 0:42

13 Prince - When Doves Cry 4:51

14 Prince - Under The Cherry Moon 4:45

15 Prince - Anotherloverholenyohead 6:38

CD11

01 Prince - 17 Days 3:46

02 Prince - Head 13:24

03 Prince - Pop Life 3:50

04 Prince - Girls & Boys 4:16

05 Prince - Life Can Be So Nice 3:45

06 Prince - 1999 7:50

07 Prince - Mountains 2:58

08 Prince - Kiss 4:21

09 Prince - Purple Rain 12:03

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