There have been quite a few demos for 'Notorious'
making the rounds over the years. We tried to bring
them in chronological order. But note: this is more
speculation than confirmation!
 
 
 

 
SKIN TRADE (Demo Instrumental) 4:39
[synths and bass, but no drums (drum machine instead),
no guitar and no vocals]
Since this is just an early sketch of the song, this could
have been done already in early April at Davout
Studios in Paris. The drum machine pattern is similar to
the finished version, which was done with Nile Rodgers
in August/September at Abbey Road Studios in
London. It is to be found on the 'Notorious The Demos'
bootleg on Voodoo Records.
 
HOLD ME (Demo Instrumental) 3:39
[synths, bass and drums, but no guitar and no vocals]
April 15th at West Side Studios in London. This demo
was called 'Rope', and is to be found on the 'West Side
Studio Demos' bootleg on Big Beat Records.
 
VERTIGO (Demo Instrumental) 5:47
[synths, bass and drums, but no guitar and no vocals]
April 15th at West Side Studios in London. To be found
on the 'West Side Studio Demos' bootleg on Big Beat
Records. Nick: "... this is one of the first things we
wrote. John and I had the backing track done before
Simon arrived ...".
 
TAKE IT TO ME (Demo Instrumental) 6:49
[synths, bass and drums, but no guitar and no vocals]
April 15th at West Side Studios in London. This demo
was called 'Notorious'. It is rather confusing, since the
latter 'Notorious' has no origin here. Possibly it just
came due to the fact that all these early West Side
demos have been named after Alfred Hitchcock
movies, and the title 'Notorious' existed long before the
actual song. It is to be found on the 'West Side Studio
Demos' bootleg on Big Beat Records.