Strange Relationship

The story of *Strange Relationship* is a fascinating journey through the different creative stages of Prince. Originally conceived in 1982, during a period of intense musical production, the song remained stored in his archives for years. It was in 1985 that Prince decided to revisit it, adding touches from Wendy and Lisa that gave it a particular sound, with influences reminiscent of Indian music. This version was intended for the Dream Factory project, which ultimately did not see the light of day after the dissolution of The Revolution.

The song didn't stop there. Prince took it up again for his album under the pseudonym of Camille, a project that sought to explore his modified voice in an androgynous register and was planned to be released without revealing his identity. However, this album was also canceled shortly before its release. Much of the material from Camille, including *Strange Relationship*, was integrated into an ambitious three-LP project called Crystal Ball, scheduled for late 1986. The record label Warner Bros. pushed for reduced content, and from that edition, the acclaimed 1987 double album Sign o' the Times was derived, where *Strange Relationship* finally had its official release. The version we hear on Sign o' the Times softened the Eastern influences, leaving the sitar and wooden flute more subtle in the mix. The recorded duration for this piece is 4:01.