This is the story of diamonds and pearls produced in collaboration with NPG Records, Paisley Park

Enterprises, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Records.

Got your horse, so why don't you play it?

It's all fine, if they keep baby in the way

Green, get on top, green

You build up, green

Don't just stop

Welcome back, I'm your host Andrea Swenson, and I wanted to start today's episode listening to this incredible early take as Prince's number one hit cream

He's joined in the studio by Levi Cesar Angatare, Tommy Barbarella on keys, Sunny Thompson on bass, Kirk Johnson on percussion, and Michael Blanda on drums

You may remember how in our last episode, Michael Blanda is talking about the way that Prince recorded many of his songs for diamonds and pearls with the new power generation

We cut like Motown, everybody at the same time, and then Prince would go back and add whatever he wanted, you know, but you're hearing a band playing together

It's been powerful for the band to go back and listen to these raw moments in the studio with Prince

Here's Tommy Barbarella

Yeah, it's like puts me right back, headphones in the studio with them

I remember when I started playing that organ-based thing

And he liked it, and this version started with it, so I was like, I just never been very proud that day

He's like, I had a good idea, he liked my idea

The only musician who wasn't in the studio that day with the rest of the live band was Rosie Gaines, who Prince loved to work with one-on-one

As he took the basic tracks of cream and turned it into the hit single that we know today, he brought in Rosie to add her powerhouse vocals to the mix

You know it, come on, cream

For some members of the band, Prince was very hands-on in the studio with direction and guidance

But according to the NPG's Damon Dixon, Prince didn't have to do that for Rosie

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