Who was Prince really? In 1985 Neal Karlen interviewed the world's biggest - and most reclusive star. In the years that followed they developed an unlikely friendship. He tells us about the dilemmas of writing a book following the star's untimely death.

How can U just leave me standing? ...in search of Prince Rogers Nelson.

Author Neal Karlen, in conversation with Sam Bleazard.

Introduction - New York Times, Rolling Stone magazine, author...friend?

1-3mins: "Please don't let my scoop go away!" - Memories from another lifetime...and the BBC Omnibus documentary

4mins ...time to stop writing - and talking about - Prince, wanting to be a fan again and not a critic...

7mins - MPLS, segregation and the 'Minneapolis Sound'

9mins30s - Prince as an 11-year-old kid, and a story from one of his substitute teachers

11mins30s - Was Prince's life a sad story or a triumphant story of success?

13mins30s - 'This Thing Called Life' - were you worried that by being so candid it would create a backlash on the book?

17mins - the audiobook, the showman and Prince off the record in the 1980s

19mins - small aspects of the real guy being revealed: showing the imperfect human being behind the star.

20mins30s - "I Love U..."? And how it feels...

22mins30s - Humour in the book and 'The Crusher'!

24mins30s - The dilemma of releasing tapes of Prince speaking from the 1980s...'the most compartmentalised person I've ever met'

27mins - "Prince who?" - "The real Prince!"

29mins - The only person still awake at 4am and happy to shoot the breeze...

30mins30s - Different personalities and the blurring between friendship and employment

33mins - Not deifying Prince...and his relationship with his mother and father

49mins - the last conversation with Prince (3 weeks before his passing)

50mins - any things you wished you'd put in the book?