LA3 : The Conga Room

1 CDR : Artwork available / PayPal Preferred Method of Payment  / International Fees Vary

Label : Akashic Records

Catalogue : #AS03

Disc Length : 72:57

Source : Audience Recording

Sound Quality : VG+

Year Of Release : 2009

The Conga Room, LA Live, Los Angeles

28th March 2009

1. Prince Talks   2. I'm Yours   3. Colonized M ind    4. Chaos And Disorder    5. With A Little Help From My Friends   6. Prince Talks About Michael B   7. I Like It There    8. All Shook Up   9. Empty Room   10. Peach    11. Spanish Castle Magic   12. When You Were Mine    13. Guitar   14. Prince Talks    15. Dreamer

The Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno : 25th March 2009

16. Purple Rain (intro) - Ol' Skool Company

The Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno : 26th March 2009

17. Dreamer

The Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno : 27th March 2009

18. 1999 (Intro) - Feel Better, Feel Good, Feel Wonderful

COMMENT

Not a bad little single disc release containing Prince's Conga Room show which took place to mark the launch of his Lotusflow3r album and site. The night saw 3 shows in 3 venues at LA Live, with this being the 2nd show of the night. The 3rd show is available on the Akashic Records 'LA3 : Club Nokia'. A special enough occasion until you factor in the fact it's the first time Prince has played with Sonny T, Michael B and Morris Hayes together for over a decade - then you realise you have something really rather special indeed. The re-grouping of the New Power Trio was always going to be something impressive, and the show itself doesn't disappoint - meh, maybe a little short, but it's very sweet. The recording has it's share of problems, and hadn't the show content been so good I wouldn't have been so kind. It's a very rough recording especially on Prince's vocals, and there are moments during the show where the band volume is very minimal and tame - I realise the venue had all sorts of sound issues, and these are reflected (to a point) on this recording with Prince constantly shouting out for levels to be increased/decreased. The audience are audible throughout and the opening and closing segments really suffer from them being a little too vocal. Add in some wavering/movement of the person recording and someone in close proximity singing, and you have something which rates VG+ at best. All that said, the killer show makes the recording quality secondary and it's one of the rare recordings that no matter the flaws, problems or complaints, one can easily focus on the show and enjoy it with the evident problems. A crystal clear recording would have been nice, but this rough gem will more than suffice. As to the show, I really have to pace myself not to turn into a gibbering fam from the opening bars of 'I'm Yours' through to the closing 'Dreamer'. I mean really, 'I'm Yours'!? 30+ years after it's release it gets it's first live airing in a show alongside other live rarities (albeit cover versions, but I ain't complaining) - The Beatles 'With A Little Help From My Friends' and the Hendrix 'Spanish Castle Magic'. Not to be outdone he adds two tracks from LotusFlow3r itself, both sprinkled with some guitar magic and ferocious solos, and no 'Play That Funky Music' or 'Let's Go Crazy' in sight. He even manages to leave the lyric of "hot pants can't hide her cheeks' in Peach and "emotional ejaculate" (I'm stretching with the last one, but you get my drift) on 'I Like It There'. A special night, a special set-list, a very special re-grouping of Prince's finest band members, and a special performance. Nights like this don't come along too often, and no matter the quality, I'm thankful for the recording. A show which everyone should hear at least once, and certainly one for anyone who doubts Prince's current live standing - the man is on fire.