The Prince Estate, in partnership with Warner Bros. Records, has announced a new Prince album entitled Piano & A Microphone 1983 in honour of what would have been the pop legend’s 60th birthday.

The announcement was made today, June 7, 2018, a day which marks the singer’s 60th birthday. Piano & A Microphone 1983 is set to feature a previously unreleased cassette recording of Prince at the piano at his home studio in Minnesota captured in 1983 and will be released on September 21, 2018. It will be a nine track, 35-minute album.

“This raw, intimate recording, which took place at the start of Prince’s career right before he achieved international stardom, is similar in format to the Piano & A Microphone Tour that he ended his career with in 2016,” said Prince Estate entertainment adviser Troy Carter. “The Estate is excited to be able to give fans a glimpse of his evolution and show how his career ultimately came full circle with just him and his piano.”

The private rehearsal provides a rare, intimate glimpse into Prince’s creative process as he worked through songs which include ’17 Days‘ and ‘Purple Rain’ (neither of which would be released until 1984), a cover of Joni Mitchell’s ‘A Case Of You‘, ‘Strange Relationship‘ (not released until 1987 on his critically acclaimed Sign O’ The Times album), and ‘International Lover’.

The album also includes a rare recording of the 19th Century spiritual ‘Mary Don’t You Weep’, which will be featured during the end credits of Spike Lee’s BlacKKKlansman in cinemas August 2018. For fans of Prince’s spontaneous live medleys, tracks 1-7 of the album are presented in that same format as they were originally recorded.

Track Listing:

  1. 17 Days
  2. Purple Rain
  3. A Case Of You
  4. Mary Don’t You Weep
  5. Strange Relationship
  6. International Lover
  7. Wednesday
  8. Cold Coffee & Cocaine
  9. Why The Butterflies

Recorded in 1983 at Prince’s Kiowa Trail home studio in Chanhassen, MN. Engineered by Don Batts.

The album cover photo captures a rare view of Prince backstage during the 1999 tour.  The photo was taken by Prince’s trusted photographer and creative collaborator Allen Beaulieu who worked closely with Prince between 1979-1984.  Allen’s work with Prince includes the cover shots for the Dirty Mind and Controversy albums and iconic promotional photos for the 1999 album.

What Can Fans Expect?

The Deluxe CD+LP format will include a 12” booklet featuring brand new liner notes written by Prince’s then engineer Don Batts, as well as candid shots of Prince including never before seen photos.

Fans who pre-order the album via digital download will immediately receive an Instant Grat download of ‘Mary Don’t You Weep’. Listen to the track here.

Reflecting on what would have been Prince’s 60th birthday, fans are invited to visit the interactive Prince2Me website to express what Prince means to them. The Prince Estate’s Annotated Discography website also provides a rich platform for fans old and new to immerse themselves in the inimitable creative genius of Prince.

 

About The Prince Estate

The Prince Estate passionately presents Prince’s life and work, and cultivates opportunities to further his legacy. As the singular, authoritative source on all things Prince, The Prince Estate inspires and educates fans, celebrates Prince in his totality, and stewards Prince’s legacy into the future. www.princeestate.com

#Prince

#PianoMic1983