Prince: The Aborted Albums from 1986

The Aborted Albums from 1986 Prince

A Brief History: In between the release of Parade in 1986 and Sign ‘O’ the Times in 1987, Prince was incredibly prolific, recording material for three different proposed albums. All were aborted, but songs from all three projects survived to see the light of day on Sign ‘O’ the Times. The Albums: Dream Factory Camille Crystal Ball These three albums are spotlighted on this page. Appearing after song titles are the songwriters in italicized parentheses, running times in brackets, and when relevant, the date the song was released as a single and its peaks on various charts. Finally, there are raised number codes indicating what album(s) the songs eventually appeared on. 1 Sign ‘O’ the Times (1987) 2 The Black Album (recorded 1987, released 1994) 3 Graffiti Bridge (soundtrack, 1990) 4 Crystal Ball (1998) 5 1999: Super Deluxe Edition (2019) 6 Sign ‘O’ the Times: Super Deluxe Edition (2020)

Dream Factory Prince

Intended Release Date: mid-1986 Recorded: 1982 to July 1986 Charted: NA Peak: NA Sales (in millions): NA Genre: R&B/funk

Tracks (April 1986 configuration) Visions 6 Dream Factory 4 Wonderful Day 6 The Ballad of Dorothy Parker 1,6 Big Tall Wall 6 And That Says What? 6 Strange Relationship 1,6 Teacher Teacher 6 Starfish and Coffee 1 A Place in Heaven 6 Sexual Suicide 4 Tracks (June 3, 1986 configuration) Visions 6 Dream Factory 4 Wonderful Day 6 The Ballad of Dorothy Parker 1,6 It 1 Strange Relationship 1,6 Teacher Teacher 6 Starfish and Coffee 1 Colors (aka “Wendy”) 6 In a Large Room with No Light 6 Nevaeh Ni Ecalp A 6 Sexual Suicide 4 Crystal Ball 6 Power Fantastic 6 Last Heart 4 Witness 4 the Prosecution 6 Movie Star 4 A Place in Heaven 6 All My Dreams 6 Tracks (July 18, 1986 configuration) Visions 6 Dream Factory 4 Train 6 The Ballad of Dorothy Parker 1,6 It 1 Strange Relationship 1,6 Slow Love (Prince and Carole Davis) 1 Starfish and Coffee 1 Colors (aka “Wendy”) 6 I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man 1,6 Sign ‘O’ the Times 1,6 Crystal Ball 6 A Place in Heaven 6 Last Heart 4 Witness 4 the Prosecution 6 Movie Star 4 The Cross 1 All My Dreams 6 The Players: Prince (vocals, all instruments) Lisa Coleman (piano, vocals) Susannah Melvoin (background vocals) Wendy Melvoin (guitar, vocals) Bobby Z (drums) Matt Fink (keyboards) Mark Brown (bass) Eric Leeds (saxophone) Sheila E. (drums, percussion, vocals) Levi Seacer, Jr. (bass) Atlanta Bliss (trumpet) Norbert Satchell (saxophone) Clare Fischer (string arrangements)

Rating: 2.137 out of 5.00 (average of 3 ratings)

About Dream Factory After the release of 1986’s Parade, Prince recorded a wealth of material. Prior to the double album release Sign ‘O’ the Times in 1987, Prince put together what could have been two more albums with Dream Factory and Camille. The former represented the last hurrah for his backing band, the Revolution, whom had worked with him since the 1999 album in 1982. On October 7, Prince fired Wendy, Lisa, Bobby Z, and Mark Brown. MM-61 Vibe magazine did a feature in March 2009 on “51 Albums That Never Were” and included Dream Factory on its list as a “coulda-been classic.” WK-1 The April Configuration He pieced together the first version, an 11-track album, in April 1986. Alternate double-album versions surfaced in June and July. Most of the songs were recorded in 1986, but versions of “Strange Relationship,” “Teacher Teacher,” and “I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man” date back to the summer of 1982. PV-1 The title cut was recorded in December 1985. In mid-March of 1986, Prince set to work recording in his new home studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota. From then through mid-April, he recorded “The Ballad of Dorothy Parker,” “Power Fantastic,” “A Place in Heaven,” “Movie Star,” and Witness 4 the Prosecution.” PV-1 During this same time, he recorded “And That Says What?” at Washington Avenue Warehouse in Edina, Minnesota. PV-1 In mid-April, Prince recorded “Crystal Ball,” “Starfish and Coffee,” “Big Tall Wall,” and “Visions.” PV-1 The June Configuration After putting together the tentative 11-track listing for Dream Factory in late April, Prince went on recording, laying down “In a Large Room with No Light” and “It.” This led to the second configuration of the album in June. It was even mastered, but Prince didn’t consider it final. PV-1 The July Configuration In mid-June and early July, Prince recorded “Slow Love,” “The Cross,” and “Sign ‘O’ the Times.” He also reworked “I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man.” The third and final track listing for Dream Factory was put out on July 18, but the project never surfaced. Releases The songs from all three configurations of Dream Factory eventually surfaced on Sign ‘O’ the Times in 1987, the archival box set Crystal Ball in 1998, or the super deluxe edition of Sign ‘O’ the Times in 2020. See individual song titles for more details. Art Work While it was long believed that no work was done on the packaging, in 2017 Susannah Melvoin showed some color pencil sketches she made in 1986 for an album cover idea. It depicted “sort of a time-warp flash surrounded by a an array of flowers and a border of little hearts.” PV-1 There’s a rainbow at the bottom of the flash and Susannah is holding open the door to the “Dream Factory.” PV Spotify Playlist Check out my Spotify playlist of all the songs featured on any of the above three configurations of Dream Factory minus those cuts featured on my playlists for Camille and Crystal Ball.

Camille Prince

Intended Release Date: January 1987 Track Listing Announced: November 5, 1986 Recorded: 1981 – October 1986 Charted: NA Peak: NA Sales (in millions): NA Genre: R&B/funk

Tracks: Song Title [time] (Writers) Rebirth of the Flesh [4:54] 6 Housequake [4:34] 1 Strange Relationship [4:04] 1 Feel U Up [6:27] 5 Shockadelica [6:12] 6 Good Love [4:55] 4 If I Was Your Girlfriend [4:47] 1 Rock Hard in a Funky Place [4:30] (Prince/Eric Leeds) 2 All songs by Prince (credited as Camille) unless noted otherwise. The Players: Prince (vocals, all instruments) Eric Leeds (saxophone) Atlanta Bliss (trumpet) Wendy Melvoin (tambourine, congas) Lisa Coleman (sitar, wooden flute, Fairlight sample) Susannah Melvoin (background vocals) Jill Jones (background vocals)

Rating: 1.304 out of 5.00 (average of 3 ratings)

About Camille: After Prince released Parade in 1986, he and his band The Revolution went to work on the potential follow-up, Dream Factory. By October, Prince had sacked the band and went to work on a new project, Camille, which was marked by his use of distorted pitched-up vocals that gave him a more androgynous sound. Prince intended to release the album under the pseudonym “Camille” and not acknowledge his identity. WK-2 While most of the songs were recorded in late 1986, “Feel U Up” dated back to 1981 and “Strange Relationship” to 1983. PV-2 Wendy and Lisa, from the Revolution, appear on the latter track but Prince buried their contributions in the mix. PV-2 Two other songs were recorded during this era, but were not planned for inclusion on the Camille album. “U Got the Look” ended up on Sign ‘O’ the Times and “Scarlet Pussy” was released as the B-side of the 1988 single “I Wish U Heaven.” WK-2 Prince compiled a track listing for the proposed album on November 5, 1986 and set for released in January 1987. It was to be proceeded by the single “Shockadelica.” PV-2 This project was also aborted, possibly because Prince’s record company wasn’t sold on the idea of releasing a Prince album without attributing it to him. WK-2 All the tracks except “Feel U Up” were then slated to appear on his next proposed project, a three-disc album called Crystal Ball. When the record company vetoed a three-disc set, he whittled it down to the two-disc Sign ‘O’ the Times, released in March 1987. Of the eight cuts from Camille, three (“Housequake,” “Strange Relationship,” “If I Was Your Girlfriend”) survived to Sign. “Shockadelica” was released as a B-Side for “If I Was Your Girlfriend.” “Good Love” emerged as a cut from the Bright Lights Big City soundtrack in 1988 and “Feel U Up” surfaced as a B-side to Prince’s 1989 single “Party Man.” “Rock Hard in a Funky Place” was slated for The Black Album, which was intended for release in late 1987, but didn’t surface until 1994. “The album cover has been described as having a stick figure with X’s for eyes. However, rather than a fully developed design this is believed to have been only in the stage of Prince drawing on the white unmarked sleeve of a test-pressing, much like the 12" to “Gett Off.” The labels of the vinyl would have been the first with the new Paisley Park design and featured the song titles in Prince’s own writing, as well as the name Camille with the C as a crescent moon. And an x instead of the dot on the i. The name Prince would not have been on the record.” PV-2 Spotify Playlist Check out my Spotify playlist for Camille minus “Rock Hard in a Funky Place” because it isn't on Spotify. “U Got the Look,” the only song from Sign ‘O’ the Times not featured on Dream Factory, Camille, or Crystal Ball, has been added instead.

Crystal Ball Prince

Intended Release Date: early 1987 Track Listing Announced: November 30, 1986 Recorded: date Charted: NA Peak: NA Sales (in millions): NA Genre: R&B/funk

Tracks: Song Title [Time] (Writers) Rebirth of the Flesh [4:54] 5 Play in the Sunshine [5:05] 1 Housequake [4:34] 1 The Ballad of Dorothy Parker [4:04] 1 It [5:10] 1 Starfish and Coffee [2:51] 1 Slow Love [4:18] 1 Hot Thing [5:39] 1 Crystal Ball [10:22] 4,6 If I Was Your Girlfriend [4:47] 1 Rock Hard in a Funky Place [4:30] (Prince/Eric Leeds) 2 The Ball [4:22] 6 Joy in Repetition [4:59] 3 Strange Relationship [4:04] 1 I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man [6:21] 1 Shockadelica [6:12] 6 Good Love [5:11] 4 Forever in My Life [3:38] 1 Sign ‘O’ the Times [4:51] 1 The Cross [4:46] 1 Adore [6:29] 1 It’s Gonna Be a Beautiful Night [8:59] 1 Spotify Playlist Check out my Spotify playlist for Crystal Ball minus those already on my playlists for Dream Factory and Camille. The Players: Prince (vocals, all instruments) Eric Leeds (saxophone) Atlanta Bliss (trumpet) Wendy Melvoin (tambourine, congas) Lisa Coleman (sitar, wooden flute, Fairlight sample) Susannah Melvoin (background vocals) Jill Jones (background vocals) Sheila E. (drums, background vocals)

Rating: 2.062 out of 5.00 (average of 3 ratings)

About Crystal Ball: After aborting Dream Factory and Camille, Prince prepared a three-disc collection which incorporated songs from both projects. Of the cuts from Camille, only “Feel U Up” didn’t make it to Crystal Ball. Nine songs from Dream Factory made the cut. Six more songs were brand new to this album – “Joy in Repetition,” “The Ball,” “Forever in My Life,” “It’s Gonna Be a Beautiful Night,” “Adore,” and “Play in the Sunshine.” Prince submitted the album to Warner Bros. in late 1986, but they rejected it, wanting it to be reduced to a double album. 15 of the 22 songs from Crystal Ball eventually ended up on Sign ‘O’ the Times alongside “U Got the Look,” which was recorded in December 1986. This included four of the six songs specifically recorded for Crystal Ball. “Joy in Repetition” was eventually released on the 1990 soundtrack for Graffiti Bridge and “The Ball” was released on the super deluxe edition of Sign ‘O’ the Times in 2020. The latter song first appeared as “Eye No” on Lovesexy in 1988 in a reworked version. It is unlikely there was any proposed artwork for the album cover as the project didn’t get to that stage when Warner Bros. declined to release Crystal Ball. PV-3 The artwork featured on this page is from the 1998 box set Crystal Ball, which features a vastly different track listing of archival material. The Songs from Dream Factory, Camille, and Crystal Ball Here’s a breakdown of individual songs featured on the three aborted albums from 1986-87. This listing does not include tracks which were later released on official studio albums, including Sign ‘O’ the Times (1987), The Black Album (1987/1994), and Graffiti Bridge (1990). Most of the tracks below appeared on the 1998 Crystal Ball box set or the 2020 super deluxe edition of Sign ‘O’ the Times. See the track listings above on this page for links to songs not on this page. Songs are listed chronologically based on when they were recorded.

All My Dreams Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 4/28/1985 and 4/30/1985 at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles Released: Sign ‘O’ the Times (super deluxe edition, 2020) About the Song: This was originally slated to appear on the June and July configurations of the aborted Dream Factory album.

Teacher Teacher Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 1982 in Kiowa Trail Home Studio in Chanhassen, MN; June 18-21, 1985 at the Complex Studios in Los Angeles Released: 1982 version: i>1999 (deluxe editon, 2019), 1985 version: Sign ‘O’ the Times (super deluxe edition, 2020) About the Song: This was originally slated to appear on the April and June configurations of the aborted Dream Factory album.

Sexual Suicide Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: August 10-11, 1985 at Washington Avenue Warehouse in Edina, MN Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998) About the Song: This was originally slated to appear on the April and June configurations of the aborted Dream Factory album.

Dream Factory Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 11/30/1985 and December 1985 at Washington Avenue Warehouse in Edina, MN Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998), Anthology: 1995-2010 (2018) About the Song: This was originally slated to appear on the April, June, and July configurations of the aborted Dream Factory album.

Last Heart Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 1/12/1986 at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998) About the Song: This was originally slated to appear on the June and July configurations of the aborted Dream Factory album.

Wonderful Day Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: January 30-31, 1986 at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles Released: Sign ‘O’ the Times (super deluxe edition, 2020) About the Song: This was originally slated to appear on the April and June configurations of the aborted Dream Factory album.

Power Fantastic Prince

Writer(s): Prince, Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman Recorded: 3/19/1986 at Galpin Boulevard Home Studio in Chanhassen, MN Released: The B-Sides (1993) About the Song: Prince shares writing credit with Revolution bandmates Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman on this live-in-the-studio recording. Although this was featured on The B-Sides collection, this wasn’t actually a B-side, but an unreleased track. It was originally slated for Dream Factory in 1986, but that album was aborted.

And That Says What? Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 3/20/1986 at Galpin Boulevard Home Studio in Chanhassen, MN Released: Sign ‘O’ the Times (super deluxe edition, 2020) About the Song: This was originally slated to appear on the April 1986 configuration of the aborted Dream Factory album.

Big Tall Wall Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 4/18/1986 at Galpin Boulevard Home Studio in Chanhassen, MN (version 1); 7/10/1987 at Paisley Park in Chanhassen, MN (version 2) Released: Sign ‘O’ the Times (super deluxe edition, 2020) About the Song: This was originally slated to appear on the April 1986 configuration of the aborted Dream Factory album.

A Place in Heaven Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 3/14/1986 and 4/20/1986 at Galpin Boulevard Home Studio in Chanhassen, MN Released: Sign ‘O’ the Times (super deluxe edition, 2020) About the Song: This was originally slated to appear on the April, June, and July configurations of the aborted Dream Factory album.

Nevaeh Ni Ecalp A Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 4/20/1986 at Galpin Boulevard Home Studio in Chanhassen, MN Released: Sign ‘O’ the Times (super deluxe edition, 2020) About the Song: This was originally slated to appear on the June configuration of the aborted Dream Factory album.

Movie Star Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: March to April 1986 at Galpin Boulevard Home Studio in Chanhassen, MN Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998) About the Song: This was originally slated to appear on the June and July configurations of the aborted Dream Factory album.

In a Large Room with No Light Prince

Writer(s): Prince, Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman Recorded: May 4-5, 1986 at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles Released: Sign ‘O’ the Times (super deluxe edition, 2020) About the Song: This was originally slated to appear on the June configuration of the aborted Dream Factory album.

Train Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: July 7-8, 1986 at Galpin Boulevard Home Studio in Chanhassen, MN Released: Time Waits for No One (Mavis Staples, 1989), Sign ‘O’ the Times (super deluxe edition, 2020) About the Song: This was originally slated to appear on the July configuration of the aborted Dream Factory album.

The Ball Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 7/25/1986 at Washington Avenue Warehouse in Edina, MN Released: Sign ‘O’ the Times (super deluxe edition, 2020) About the Song: This was intended to appear on the Crystal Ball album, which was set for release in early 1987 before it was abandoned.

Witness 4 the Prosecution Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: March 14-15, 1986 and 4/15/1986 at Galpin Boulevard Home Studio in Chanhasen, MN (version 1); 10/6/1986 at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles (version 2) Released: Sign ‘O’ the Times (super deluxe edition, 2020), 8/14/2020 as a single About the Song: This was originally slated to appear on the June and July configurations of the aborted Dream Factory album. The song was released as a promo single for the super deluxe edition of Sign ‘O’ the Times.

Crystal Ball Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 4/17/1986, June and August 1986 at Galpin Boulevard Home Studio in Chanhassen, MN; 8/4/1986 at Ocean Way Recording in Los Angeles Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998) About the Song: This was originally slated to appear on the June and July configurations of the aborted Dream Factory album. It was then set to appear on the Crystal Ball album, which was scheduled for an early 1987 release, but was also abandoned.

Crucial Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 9/13/1986 and 9/15/1986 at Galpin Boulevard Home Studio in Chanhassen, MN Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998), Anthology: 1995-2010 (2018) About the Song: This was originally slated to appear on the June and July configurations of the aborted Dream Factory album.

Feel U Up Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 1981, 10/26/1986 at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles Released: 8/18/1989 as the B-side of “Partyman,” The B-Sides (1993) About the Song: This song was part of the track listing for the aborted Camille album. It eventually saw release on the 2019 deluxe edition of 1999.

Good Love Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: October 30-31 and 11/1/1986 at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles Released: Bright Lights, Big City (soundtrack, 1988), Crystal Ball (box set, 1998) About the Song: This was originally slated to appear on the aborted Camille album.

Rebirth of the Flesh Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 10/28/1986 and 11/4/1986 at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles Released: Sign ‘O’ the Times (super deluxe edition, 2020) About the Song: This was originally slated to appear on the July configuration of the aborted Camille album. The song was released as a live rehearsal in 2001 but didn’t see a studio release until the 2020 release of the Sign ‘O’ the Times super deluxe edition.

Visions Prince

Writer(s): Lisa Coleman Recorded: 1986? Released: Sign ‘O’ the Times (super deluxe edition, 2020) About the Song: This was originally slated to appear on the April, June, and July configurations of the aborted Dream Factory album. Wendy & Lisa released “Visions” on a limited edition bonus CD with their album Eroica.

Colors (aka “Wendy”) Prince

Writer(s): Prince? Recorded: 1986? Released: Sign ‘O’ the Times (super deluxe edition, 2020) About the Song: This was originally slated to appear on the June and July configurations of the aborted Dream Factory album.

Reviews: MM Michaelangelo Matos (2004). 33 1/3: Sign ‘O’ the Times. Bloomsbury Academic: New York, NY. PV-1 PrinceVault.com: Dream Factory PV-2 PrinceVault.com: Camille PV-3 PrinceVault.com: Crystal Ball WK-1 Wikipedia: Dream Factory WK-2 Wikipedia: Camille Related DMDB Links: First posted 3/9/2021; last updated 7/28/2025.