Prince - Box O Chocolates (2010)

I’ll come right out and say it. This is superb. Utterly superb. Just when you think there are few surprises left in the bootleg world, this appears from nowhere and takes your breath away. I don’t think I can stress enough just how good this is or how important a release it is. These are not re-hashed outtakes from other bootlegs or tweaked versions of ones we’ve all had for a while. These are completely new sources, all taken from much lower generation tapes that have lay gathering dust for years and the difference to anything that has gone before is vast, to say the least.

To hear some of my favourite outtakes in this quality, after years of making do with the muddied versions of old, quite literally leaves me grinning from ear to ear. I make no apologies for my ‘we’re not worthy’ style worshipping to Free Boot Generation. I adore this bootleg, pure and simple. You should know all the songs well by now and I doubt there are any fans or collectors who don’t. Tracks like ‘The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker’ and ‘ Starfish & Coffee’ are the original versions intended for use on the abandoned ‘Dream Factory’ project, although differences are slight, in fact the opening half of this disc lends itself heavily to those sessions. Fan favourite (and certainly one of mine) ‘Wonderful Ass’ is a joy to behold in such high quality and has been on repeat on my player for the best part of a week already.

There’s little point talking in depth about these songs. We know them well. But if I haven’t made it clear already, I guarantee that you will not have heard them sounding this good before. Ever. This is studio quality right here and the added polish from FBG has been just the right amount to bring out the best in them. I can’t fault it at all and the team deserve some high praise indeed. We’ve had some real treats already this year (and I’m sure there are many more to come) and it may only be March... BUT I will stick my neck on the line right now by saying this is already shaping up to be ‘bootleg of the year’. Stunning and essential, the bar has just been raised. Again.