Post Description

Serial #.............: Free Boot Generation (FBG#27)
Artist...............: Prince
Album................: The Ex-Mas Rehearsal
Year.................: 2009
Genre................: Rehearsal
Comment..............: 1984 Christmas Experience
Type.................: Bootleg
Duration.............: 65:20
Cover(s) Included....: Yes
Audio Format.........: Lossless
Bitrate..............: Flac
Source...............: Soundboard (Quality : Ex+)


Traklist

1. Another Lonely Christmas (instrumental) (4'40)
2. Another Lonely Christmas (keyboards & bass) (1'42)
3. When The Saints Go Marching In (6'39)
4. Another Lonely Christmas (keyboards, bass & guitar) (4'56)
5. Another Lonely Christmas (full band) (25'19)
6. Let's Go Crazy (instrumental) (1'49)
7. Instrumental Jam (2'57)
8. Let's Go Crazy (instrumental) (2'21)
9. Linndrum Checks (1'36)
10. Another Lonely Christmas (live 26/12/1984) (6'34)
11. Another Lonely Christmas (studio) (6'47)

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The FBG team hit us with an early Christmas present in the form of this stunning rehearsal from December æ84. 
The rehearsal itself has been doing the rounds for a number of years now, cropping up on SabotageÆs æPurple RushÆ 
series and, perhaps more notably, the rather cherished æChristmas In UptownÆ boot. ItÆs a soundboard recording so
youÆd expect the quality to be high and although FBG have used the same source as previous versions, theirs is taken
from a much higher generation tape and the difference is immediately clear upon the first play through.
This really is top quality stuff. The vocals and instruments are extremely clear, the bass is well balanced and the
overall result more than qualifies for the EX+ rating. The whole recording feels like itÆs been given a new lease of life
and itÆs due to some great work from the team. 

The rehearsal itself is a fascinating listen. In essence, itÆs the Revolution rehearsing (and for that matter, learning) the
song æAnother Lonely ChristmasÆ and it really is a treat for rehearsal fans or anyone with a passing interest in how a
routine is put together. If you can get passed the fact itÆs just the same song over and over, it really is an insightful
look into how Prince and the band build and practice a song for the live shows. If you havenÆt come across this 
recording before I highly recommend checking it out. The monotony (at least for the band) is occasionally broken via
a quick and fun rendition of æWhen the Saints Go Marching InÆ and a couple of run throughÆs of æLetÆs Go CrazyÆ but 
I think what really makes this a rather special rehearsal is the simple fact that the song itself was only ever performed 
live the once during the tour......and helpfully FBG have included that very performance as a bonus track on this 
release. Taken from their own æAnother Lonely Ex-masÆ release, it truly is a rare and unique airing of the song and itÆs 
also a very respectable recording indeed.....which helps.

Throw in a studio version at the end for good measure and finish it all off with some brilliant cover design (as is 
increasingly the norm these days) and you really do have something I whole-heartedly recommend you hunt down.