Prince
Small Club
08/18/88
Het Paard Van Troje, The Hague, Rotterdam, Holland

Disc 1
Instrumental Jam
D.M.S.R.
Just My Imagination
People Without
Housequake
Down Home Blues

Total time: 53:09

Disc 2
Cold Sweat
Forever in My Life
Still Would Stand All Time
I’ll Take You There I
I’ll Take You There II
Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic

Total time: 52:37

It is no secret that this is arguably the most essential bootleg recording in circulation for Prince fans. It is first and foremost on my personal list of favorites. Even though there are now a plethora of soundboard recordings available from nearly every tour, this is a perfect recording of a coveted aftershow.

The sound quality is to my ears identical to the original release of Small Club 2nd Show That Night by X records in 1989. This is the first time I’ve said this about any reissue of this show. Although many have tried before this is the first Small Club recording to actually match the original in sound quality. There have been no less than a couple dozen of reissues over the past 6 years. In a blind test with both sources playing simultaneously I could not tell them apart. If there is a difference in sound it is discernible to me.

The show itself is a true aftershow classic, with everything we could ask for in a performance: killer guitar solos (Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic & Just My Imagination), great vocals (Still Would Stand All Time), lots of Boni Boyer, and a couple of unreleased songs (People Without, etc..). This is Prince at his physical and performing prime. Looking back I would have to say that 1987-88 featured him at his best more consistently that any other time of his career. His aftershows during this time period
are just legendary including the incredible Camden Palace show in London on July 25th, the Hamburg show in late August and one of the first, the Quasimodo gig on the Sign O the Times tour. Never has his ferocity been so evident at shows such as these. His effortless ability to mix stunning cover versions and unreleased tracks along with completely new renditions of his classics is remarkable. It also has a lot to do with his look. Watch the clips of the Camden Palace gig and you can see a stronger, firmer Prince that we’ve seen in the recent years. Not one as frail and
weightless as we’re becoming accustomed to now. What is also noticeable in those aftershow clips is that Prince KNEW he had just hit his prime. His relaxed mood with the European fans, his musicianship, and his first truly great backing band had reached a peak at this time unmatched to that point in his career. His confidence and showmanship have never been so apparent.