March 9, 1981: The first, and some say the best. The club got him amid the breakthrough raves for his "Dirty Mind" album and right after he made his "Saturday Night Live" debut. Set list included: "Do It All Night," "Head," "Partyup," "Uptown," "Bambi."
Aug. 3, 1983: The big one. Under the guise of a Minnesota Dance Theatre benefit, he debuted and recorded several of the songs that would wind up in "Purple Rain." The full recording of that night could be the most wanted album in his vault. Set list included: "Let's Go Crazy," "I Would Die 4 U," "Purple Rain," Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You."
June 7, 1984: His surprise birthday party was a fun respite before the "Purple Rain" storm. Set list included: "17 Days," "Free," "Erotic City," "Impossible Bitch."
March 21, 1987: With Paisley Park under construction, it proved to be his last gig there for 20 years. It also was a warm-up for a tour behind what proved to be another landmark album, "Sign o' the Times." Based on bootleg recordings at least, I'd actually say this one's the best. Set list included: "Housequake," "Hot Thing," "Strange Relationship," "Kiss."
June 7, 2007: The finale to his one-day, three-show 7/7/07 marathon came to an abrupt end after a little more than an hour when police shut it down just before 4 a.m. He did squeeze in an "Alphabet Street" jam with Sheila E., Wendy Melvoin and Larry Graham at the end, though. Set list included: "3121," "I Feel for You," "Controversy" and three Sly Stone covers.
Some of this info comes courtesy the fan archive site Princevault.com.
CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER
