Prince Crystal Ball box set

Crystal Ball Prince

Released: March 3, 1998 Peak: 62 US, 91 RB, --UK, -- CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 0.13 US, -- UK, 0.3 world (includes US and UK) Genre: R&B/funk/pop

Tracks, Disc 1: Crystal Ball Dream Factory Acknowledge Me Ripopgozazippa Love Sign (Shock G’s Silky Remix) Hide the Bone 2morrow So Dark Movie Star Tell Me How U Wanna Be Done Tracks, Disc 2: Interactive Da Bang Calhoun Square What’s My Name Crucial An Honest Man Sexual Suicide Cloreen Bacon Skin Good Love Strays of the World Tracks, Disc 3: Days of Wild (live) Last Heart Poom Poom She Gave Her Angels 18 & Over The Ride (live) Get Loose P Control (remix) Make Your Mama Happy Goodbye Click on individual song titles for more details, including songwriters, recording and release dates, chart peaks, versions recorded by other artists, and basic information aobout the song. Total Running Time: 2:29:27 Other Songs from This Era: Song Title

Rating: 3.081 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings)

About the Album IMHO, this is when Prince lost the plot. When it comes to artist vs. record company battles, it’s pretty hard to side against the artist, but in 1998 Prince seemed to be trying as hard as possible to show exactly why record companies have value. Prince signed to Warner Bros. in 1977 when he was 18 years old. There were some growing pains, but by the mid-‘80s, it was clear they’d landed a superstar. Prince reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983 with “Little Red Corvette” and “Delirious” from his top-ten, four-times platinum album 1999. The follow-up, 1984’s Purple Rain, spent 24 weeks at #1 and sold 26 million copies worldwide. This gave Prince leverage to set up his own label, Paisley Park. From 1985 to 1992, he released eight albums in partnership with Warner. Then the battle began. Despite being signed to a $100 million contract, Prince publicly claimed it was the equivalent of forced servitude because he didn’t own the master recordings or have creative control. He infamously took to appearing in public with “Slave” scrawled on his face. photograph by Brian Rasic/Rex Features as posted at TheGuardian.com Prince also changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol () under the argument that the record company owned the name “Prince.” Considering the symbol he’d adopted as his new moniker was unpronounceable, the press – at a loss as to how to refer to him – took to calling him “the Artist Formerly Known as Prince.” image from NPG Records as posted at Variety.com Despite the very public split, Prince still owed Warner Bros. several albums. This resulted in several archival releases, including 1993’s The Hits/The B-sides, 1994’s Come, 1994’s The Black Album (which had originally been slated for release in 1987), 1995’s The Gold Experience, and 1996’s Chaos and Disorder. The Gold Experience was actually jointly released by Warner and Prince’s newly formed label, NPG (New Power Generation), which he formed to replace Paisley Park. The first full-fledged release with NPG came in 1996 with Emancipation. Right out of the gate, Prince was testing his audience. Double albums are typically viewed as sprawling, over-the-top affairs that could be whittled down to one solid album instead. However, he’d had both commercial success and critical acclaim with 1987’s Sign ‘O’ the Times so maybe another multi-disc set could fly. Of course, this was more than a two-album set. It was a three disc collection. However, it seemed his faithful were still on board as the album reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified as double platinum. It’s then, however, pushed his audience’s loyalty a step too far. One could forgive the excess of Prince celebrating his newfound freedom with a bloated multi-disc collection. But would they go for two such projects back-to-back? The answer was “NO.” 1998’s Crystal Ball was a FIVE-disc set upon its initial release. The Truth was an album of new material by Prince and Kamasutra was recorded by Prince with the NPG Orchestra. Both have since been made available as individual albums. The other three discs were a dip into the archives from 1983 to 1996. The artist who so publicly lashed out at his former record company for taking advantage of him was now arguably taking advantage of his audience. To be fair, it’s hard to argue against any artist having the right to own his or her own material and maintaining creative control over the work they create. Certainly record companies have a long history of taking advantage of their signees, whether they be superstars or new artists with no clout. However, Prince’s obliviousness or outright apathy toward his audience and their budgetary constraints made it hard not to see him as an out-of-touch artist obsessed with only creating the art and not considering how it might be consumed by its patrons. The Songs Here are insights into some of the individual tracks. They are presented in order of when they were released instead of the album’s track listing. The songs “Sexual Suicide,“ “Dream Factory,“ “Last Heart,“ “Movie Star,“ “Crystal Ball,” “Crucial,” and “Good Love” are not featured on this page but on the page for the aborted albums Dream Factory, Camille, and Crystal Ball. Here’s a breakdown of each of the individual songs. They are presented chronologically based on when they were originally recorded.

Cloreen Bacon Skin Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 3/27/1983 at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998)

An Honest Man Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 12/17/1985 at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998)

Make Your Mama Happy Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: August 7-8, 1986 at Galpin Boulevard Home Studio in Chanhassen, MN Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998)

Tell Me How U Wanna B Done Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: January 1992 at Paisley Park in Chanhassen, MN Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998)

What’s My Name Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: May 1993 at Paisley Park in Chanhassen, MN Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998)

Strays of the World Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: May 1993 at Paisley Park in Chanhassen, MN Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998)

Calhoun Square Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 6/15/1993 at Paisley Park in Chanhassen, MN Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998)

Interactive Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: June 1993 at Paisley Park in Chanhassen, MN Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998)

Acknowledge Me Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: October 1993 at Paisley Park in Chanhassen, MN Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998)

Ripopgozazippa Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: October 1993 at Paisley Park in Chanhassen, MN Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998)

Love Sign Prince & Nona Gaye

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: January 1994 at Paisley Park in Chanassen, MN; 1994 at the Record Plant in Sausalito, CA Released: 1-800-NEW-FUNK (1994), Shock G’s Silky Remix: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998)

P. Control Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 7/25/1994 at Paisley Park in Chanhassen, MN Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998), Anthology: 1995-2010 (2018)

So Dark Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 1/2/1993 and 1994 at Paisley Park in Chanhassen, MN Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998)

18 & Over Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 1994 at Paisley Park in Chanhassen, MN Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998)

Get Loose Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: February 1993 and 1994 at Paisley Park in Chanhassen, MN Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998)

The Ride (live) Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 10/29/1995 at Paisley Park in Chanhassen, MN Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998)

Hide the Bone Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: November 1993 at Studios Davout in Paris; 1994-95 at Paisley Park in Chanhassen, MN Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998)

Da Bang Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 1995 at Larrabee Sound Studios in Los Angeles Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998)

Poom Poom Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 1995 at Paisley Park in Chanhassen, MN Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998)

Goodbye Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: December 1991, 1995 at Paisley Park in Chanhassen, MN; December 1994 at Ocean Way Recording in Los Angeles Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998)

Days of Wild (live) Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 12/9/1995 live at Paisley Park in Chanhassen, MN; overdubs 1995-96 Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998), 6/27/2002 as a single

2morrow Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: November 1996 at Paisley Park in Chanhassen, MN Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998)

She Gave Her Angels Prince

Writer(s): Prince Recorded: 1996 at Paisley Park in Chanhassen, MN Released: Crystal Ball (box set, 1998)

Notes: -- Resources/References: AM AllMusic.com review BC Benoit Clerc (2022). Prince: All the Songs – The Story Behind Every Track. Octopus Publishing Group Ltd.: Great Britain PV PrinceVault.com WK Wikipedia Related DMDB Pages: First posted 7/27/2025; last updated 7/28/2025.

 

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.

Styx charted with Crystal Ball

Crystal Ball Styx

Charted: October 30, 1976 Peak: 66 US, 15 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 0.5 US Genre: classic rock

Tracks: Click on a song titled for more details. Put Me On [4:56] Mademoiselle [3:57] Jennifer [4:16] Crystal Ball [4:32] Shooz [4:44] This Old Man [5:11] Clair de Lune / Ballerina [7:09] Total Running Time: 34:45 The Players: Dennis DeYoung (vocals, keyboards) Tommy Shaw (vocals, guitar) James “J.Y.” Young (guitar, vocals) Chuck Panozzo (bass) John Panozzo (drums)

Rating: 3.385 out of 5.00 (average of 23 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album At the end of 1974, Styx had produced four albums with the Wooden Nickel label. Then the song “Lady,” from Styx’s second album, was rediscovered, hit the top 10 and launched Styx’s career. Styx signed with major label A&M and released Equinox, an album that went gold and spawned the songs “Suite Madame Blue,” “Light Up,” and top 30 single “Lorelei.” Despite the new level of success, guitarist John Curulewski “decided he’d been a rock ‘n’ roll road warrior long enough and quit the band. Hoping to keep a dual-guitar front line, Styx sought a replacement.” JA They ended up with Tommy Shaw, a young guitarist from Alabama. It “was the smartest move they ever made.” JA He “proved he was the missing piece to Styx’s musical puzzle.” UCR “His arrival sparked a healthy competition with resident creative forces DeYoung and JY, and dovetailed with their efforts to refine Styx’s art-rock formula into great hit songs.” UCR “Besides his guitar skills, which were considerable, Shaw was a gifted singer and songwriter. His talents would bring the band some of their biggest and best songs in years to come and it all started here.” JA “Crystal Ball wasn't as successful as Equinox, but it was a better album.” AM The album “isn’t completely absent of flaws but it contains some tracks as good as anything else emerging from the American rock ‘n’ roll mainstream of the era.” JA While Crystal Ball wasn’t a huge success, it planted the seed for Styx’s dominance in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s as arguably America’s premiere rock band when they had four consecutive top-10, multi-platinum albums from 1977’s The Grand Illusion through 1981’s Paradise Theater. The Songs Here’s a breakdown of each of the individual songs.

Put Me On Styx

Writer(s): Dennis DeYoung, Tommy Shaw, James Young Released: Cystal Ball (1976) Peak: 2 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.54 streaming About the Song: “Styx’s pop-savvy side may be pretty well documented, but what’s frequently forgotten is the fact that when they wanted to, they could rock too.” JA While written by all three of Styx’s songwriters, its James Young who is the star on “Put Me On.” It’s a perfect album opener, celebrating the joy of being a rock fan – whether it be putting on that new album for the first time or the excitement that comes with going to see your favorite act in concert.

Mademoiselle Styx

Writer(s): Dennis DeYoung, Tommy Shaw Released: 11/6/1976 as a single, Cystal Ball (1976) Peak: 36 BB, 57 CB, 58 HR, 15 CL, 25 CN, 1 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 1.58 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: Newbie Tommy Shaw made his presence known immediately, most notably on the title track. However, here he teams with Dennis DeYoung. “The guitarist manages to coax the better angles of DeYoung’s pop sensibilities to create a hooky, melodic pop tune without the saccharine in later DeYoung hits like ‘Babe.’ Instead of a MOR ballad, we get a bouncy, Beatles-esque tune that could segue seamlessly with the Fabs’ ‘Getting Better,’ complete with bassman Chuck Panozzo’s Paul McCartney-like upper-register flourishes. Just on a basic level, it’s pretty impressive that the same band could turn out diametrically opposed songs like this and ‘Shooz’ with equal success.” JA

Jennifer Styx

Writer(s): Dennis DeYoung Released: February 1977 as a single, Cystal Ball (1976) Peak: 2 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.38 streaming About the Song: Styx were never the most original band. They followed much of the same template for Crystal Ball as they had with previous album Equinox. That means another Dennis DeYoung song named after a woman. While “Jennifer” was released as a single, it failed to find the kind of success “Lorelei” had on the previous album. It is an “icky ode to a 17-year-old” JA and is “as creepy as it is unconvincing.” JA

Crystal Ball Styx

Writer(s): Tommy Shaw Released: 5/14/1977 as a single, Cystal Ball (1976), Caught in the Act (live, 1984), Classics (compilation, 1987) Peak: 9 CL, 1 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 9.65 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: Tommy Shaw’s presence aided the band in “showcasing [its] increased skill for crafting simple, catchy pop hooks out of their bombastic sound.” AM Nowhere was this more apparent than on Shaw’s beautiful title song. It was “a hypnotic folk-rock ballad [that] takes an unassumingly philosophical tack, coming from the vantage point of a young man humbly searching for his place in the world.” JA “Between the bewitching acoustic guitar patterns and Shaw’s warm, soulful delivery, it’s every bit as affecting as the efforts of any contemporaneous folk-rock troubadour, and remains one of the finest tunes in the band’s catalog.” JA While it didn’t chart, it became one of Styx’s many album rock staples and “was performed on every subsequent Styx tour with which Shaw was involved.” WK

Shooz Styx

Writer(s): Tommy Shaw, James Young Released: Cystal Ball (1976) Peak: 26 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.59 streaming About the Song: Tommy Shaw and especially James Young could always be counted on to balance out Dennis DeYoung’s inclinations toward balladry with their rockers. While both have contributed memorable songs to the Styx canon, this is one of the more forgettable outings for either of the two, although Ultimate Classic Rock’s Jim Allen praises it as “a raucous, bluesy rocker.” JA He also says, “Drummer John Panozzo’s groove slams and swings at the same time, and the guitar interaction between Shaw and James Young…could get a team of firefighters suiting up and sliding down a pole. The lyrics evoke an appropriately sleazy street scene full of unsavory activity, just like any down ‘n’ dirty rocker worth its salt should.” JA

This Old Man Styx

Writer(s): Dennis DeYoung Released: Cystal Ball (1976) Peak: 8 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.37 streaming About the Song: Dennis DeYoung pours on the balladry again, this time in a song that taps into the relationship between a son and father.

Clair de Lune Styx

Writer(s): Claude Debussy Released: Cystal Ball (1976) Peak: 31 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.44 streaming About the Song: Like on previous album Equinox, Styx chose to close out their album with a brief instrumental piece (in this case by Claude Debussy) before wrapping things up with a final song. It “sends the pretentiousness meters soaring into the red.” JA

Ballerina Styx

Writer(s): Dennis DeYoung, Tommy Shaw Released: Cystal Ball (1976) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, -- streaming About the Song: Styx followed the same pattern as previous album Equinox by wrapping up the album with an instrumental piece that segued into the closing song, reminding fans of the band’s earlier more progressive rock leanings. “Ballerina” isn’t quite the epic that “Suite Madame Blue” was on the previous album, but it isn’t bad either.

Resources/References: AM AllMusic.com review by Daevid Jehnzen UCR UltimateClassicRock.com (5/9/2016). “Styx Albums Ranked Worst to Best” JA UltimateClassicRock.com (10/1/2016). “How Styx Stepped Toward a Bright Future on Crystal Ball” by Jim Allen WK Wikipedia Related DMDB Pages: First posted 3/24/2008; last updated 8/12/2025.