If you’re even remotely interested in composition, songwriting, or practice, you should have a listen to this. Prince, in his studio, noodling with ideas. It’s like he’s in the back room, just hanging out, playing. He might have the sniffles.

The album/demo, A Piano & a Microphone 1983 was just released. Check out samples from all the tracks here, with a couple of videos below.

We so rarely get to see artists at work, doing the real work, the crafting of their chosen form. We see the finished product all the time: the polished error-free recording, the masterpiece hanging on the wall, the gorgeous weld, the superb souffle. But seeing a glimpse of the gearwork behind the clock face is a priceless glimpse into Prince’s process.

When someone asked Eric Clapton, “What does it feel like to be the best guitar player in the world?” he replied, “I don’t know. Go ask Prince.” And yet on this album, he’s at the piano. Learning another instrument is never a bad idea. Check him out:

The audio engineer who recorded it and one of the artist’s Revolution bandmates explain why it’s a pivotal recording in his life.

Click through to read the whole story: Inside Prince’s Brilliant ‘Piano and a Microphone 1983’ Recording – Rolling Stone