One of the first of what will be an avalanche of releases from Prince’s well-stocked Paisley Park vaults in the forthcoming years, Piano & A Microphone is a recording of a solo rehearsal the late icon undertook at his Minnesota home in 1983.

Even as a major Prince fan, I didn’t hold out much hope for this record – just how interesting could a low-key domestic recording actually be? Well, I needn’t have worried: it turns out that Prince solo at a piano is as compelling as him fronting a full band.  The record is totally captivating from the off, as the singer immediately launches into the electrifying R&B workout ’17 Days’. Thereafter, Piano & A Microphone provides a nice capsule illustration of Prince’s unique genius, as he playfully ventures off into delicate balladry (‘A Case Of You’), bluesy jamming (‘Mary Don’t You Weep’) and sultry jazz (‘International Lover’).  Another standout, meanwhile, is the brilliantly titled ‘Cold Coffee And Cocaine’.

Over an irresistible rock rhythm, Prince assumes the growl of an old bluesman and improvises some ingenius lyrics, including “Baby this is the last time I eat over at your place / All I get is cold coffee and cocaine and your ugly face.”    He concludes with the thought, “Can’t fuck with that.” You certainly can’t – for Prince fans, this is absolutely essential listening.

8/10

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