A New decade appears, and we look 2 the man we know that can save radio only the way he can with funk, soul, rock, and pop all combined in one, and then.....we get this album.
I reeeeeaally hate 2 diss Prince's work because i really like his work and appreciate the different types of music he has given us, but this was not one of my high points of an album and definitely wasnt his.
The funny thing is when it first came out, I was walking through Wherehouse Records store shopping as usual and the playlist had the album on. As I was walking through i listened to the 2 or 3 songs that popped on and i really liked them (Theives in the temple was one i remember and i do still like that jam!)
Upon buying it later....yeah it was cool but nothing like his old stuff. To me it was another extension of the "Batman" album with the mechanical sounds and samples, and to me it was too programmed and uneven, and not 2 mention...too much!( Prince would even top that later with such albums as "Crystal Ball", and "Emancipation")
I totally did not like this period of Prince, letting the hair grow long and growing the beard out, with him and his "newly formed group again" waering leather clothes, and dancers!!!! WTF?
That was totally wack..those three guys i still totally do not understand where they fit in his stage show, and they wind up hanging in the group almost 3-4 years. And rapping???
This was horrendous! Not 2 mention going 2 the movies 2 see this thing and thinking "Oh Snap!"
Prince is back again with a new album and an accompanying movie written and directed again by him including The Time? This is gonna be large! But once again, we find a so-called "Purple Rain part 2" type sequel finding Prince trying 2 hold on of whats left of his nightclub that was left 2 him from Billy (the previous owner in Purple Rain), from Morris Day who is trying to takeover all the rest of the clubs in this small community that looks totally staged. After looking at the movie, the only thing that does save the movie is the actual music, and that isn' t even that great.
It's a total musical, reminiscent of Grease, and Hair. and you could tell it was just basically a vehicle 2 show that Prince can get big names together 2 appear in a movie (George Clinton, Mavis Staples) along with fresh new youg talent he is supposed to put on the map with Tevin Campbell, and Ingrid Chavez. It's like a long ass music video.
We find that Prince is totally trying 2 keep up with the times and stay current but finds himself copying something that never was. He was a creator, and innovator at one point but now he's succomb to following and trying 2 be something he's not and it's even evident in the sales at that point. He found time 2 even tour with this album dubbing it "The Nude Tour" (I still dont understand why) But Prince followers are still eating up concert tickets. No matter how the records sound or the sales appear, he still knows how 2 rock a concert. And from the various clips I've seen of this tour here and there, it looked great!
Standouts here are....."Theives in the temple", "We can Funk", and "Joy in Repitition"
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
PRINCE / BATMAN SOUNDTRACK 1989
Batman becomes the hottest movie in the summer of '89, and the soundtrack becomes Prince's comeback...sort of.
I actually liked this album alot when it was released. And i jumped on this one fast out of curiousity and all the hype that surrounded the cd and movie. Problem is Prince gets rid of all of his band for this album, basically recording it as one man show, with computerized drum machines, samples, and programmed instruments, meaning the older I get, the more this cd sounds outdated. So now, I really dont go 2 this album much @ all, unless it's for "Scandalous" which is of course, the one Prince ballad we get on every album.
So it was good for it's time upon release when i played it heavily. But now 2 me, it lacks originality, and it's too programmed for a Prince effort. Not really much for me to say here other than the videos he released for the singles were alot of fun and entertaining, like "Partyman", and "Batdance".
The "Scandalous" single was stretched out to a total of 18 minutes including him and Kim Bassinger which he was rumored to be linked to @ the time, and the flip side "Sex" was a pretty cool song, but by this point Prince seems to be going through the motions, and trying to re-create magic that aint gonna happen right now. But the Cd goes platinum on the strength of the movie anyway....go figure!
Standouts here are...."Electric Chair", "Partyman", "Scandalous"
I actually liked this album alot when it was released. And i jumped on this one fast out of curiousity and all the hype that surrounded the cd and movie. Problem is Prince gets rid of all of his band for this album, basically recording it as one man show, with computerized drum machines, samples, and programmed instruments, meaning the older I get, the more this cd sounds outdated. So now, I really dont go 2 this album much @ all, unless it's for "Scandalous" which is of course, the one Prince ballad we get on every album.
So it was good for it's time upon release when i played it heavily. But now 2 me, it lacks originality, and it's too programmed for a Prince effort. Not really much for me to say here other than the videos he released for the singles were alot of fun and entertaining, like "Partyman", and "Batdance".
The "Scandalous" single was stretched out to a total of 18 minutes including him and Kim Bassinger which he was rumored to be linked to @ the time, and the flip side "Sex" was a pretty cool song, but by this point Prince seems to be going through the motions, and trying to re-create magic that aint gonna happen right now. But the Cd goes platinum on the strength of the movie anyway....go figure!
Standouts here are...."Electric Chair", "Partyman", "Scandalous"
PRINCE / LOVESEXY 1988
This album when released did not catch me right away. To be truthfully honest i didn't even buy the album until almost 2 years later. Thinking back....I think the album cover kinda scared me off. Plus @ that time, The "Alphabet St" video 2 me, was a little corny too.
This was a period of revolution 4 me as well, cuz' Public Enemy stormed out, NWA was hot, Ice T was hot, BDP, BIg daddy Kane, Rakim, I can go on and on. And basically, my focus went there.
So essentially, "Lovesexy" was a slow starter 4 me.
So here's another story of course behind this one.....Prince works up an album titled "The Black Album" in essence to keep up with whats goin on in radio @ that time, which was basically hip-hop. And the songs basically are hard driven funk, very explicit lyrics, and some of the most courageous music he supposed 2 put out @ this point. Copies were pressed and ready to ship out with the single"When 2 r in love" already playing on radio. Prince pulls a fast one, and decides @ the last minute that this album was too dark and afraid of the concequences. Completely doing a 360 with a more spiritual, uplifting album focusing on love, purity, getting rid of the evils in your life and so forth.
Thus became "Lovesexy".
Concept was pretty cool, now that i look back on it and personally not one of my favorite albums, I do like the musicianship more than anything on this album. The band is totaly revamped adding Sheila E on drums. And of course it wouldnt be complete without another image change right? I think this was Prince's worst look though.(totally didnt feel the writing on the clothes, and the whole colorful apparel)
And the tour that accompanied the album was to be his biggest and most expensive tour ever, including a 68 thunderbird, a basketball court, and other different props on stage that were costly. And the tour was split in 2 different Acts. One act with the more funk, and rock songs, and the other act with the love, and spiritual songs. This was one of the concerts I wish i could have gone 2 but didnt, after seeing the actual VHS copy many years ago it was indeed off the hook : ) .
So even now 2 this day, I do occasionaly go back to Lovesexy, when i want 2 hear certain songs. The 1 thing that pisses me off, and i'm sure others have the same problem with this cd is that it is functioned as a continual track, meaning all 9 songs are under 1 track. The most strangest thing ever, But it was Prince's attempt 2 make the listener listen to the whole album concept in it's entirety. Problem is i dont wanna hear it all the way through.
Also note this album marked the start of decline in his sales as well, making it one of his weakest efforts to date.
Standouts here are "Anna Stesia", "I wish u Heaven", and "When 2 r in love"(which was the only track leftover from the "black abum" sessions used on this album)
This was a period of revolution 4 me as well, cuz' Public Enemy stormed out, NWA was hot, Ice T was hot, BDP, BIg daddy Kane, Rakim, I can go on and on. And basically, my focus went there.
So essentially, "Lovesexy" was a slow starter 4 me.
So here's another story of course behind this one.....Prince works up an album titled "The Black Album" in essence to keep up with whats goin on in radio @ that time, which was basically hip-hop. And the songs basically are hard driven funk, very explicit lyrics, and some of the most courageous music he supposed 2 put out @ this point. Copies were pressed and ready to ship out with the single"When 2 r in love" already playing on radio. Prince pulls a fast one, and decides @ the last minute that this album was too dark and afraid of the concequences. Completely doing a 360 with a more spiritual, uplifting album focusing on love, purity, getting rid of the evils in your life and so forth.
Thus became "Lovesexy".
Concept was pretty cool, now that i look back on it and personally not one of my favorite albums, I do like the musicianship more than anything on this album. The band is totaly revamped adding Sheila E on drums. And of course it wouldnt be complete without another image change right? I think this was Prince's worst look though.(totally didnt feel the writing on the clothes, and the whole colorful apparel)
And the tour that accompanied the album was to be his biggest and most expensive tour ever, including a 68 thunderbird, a basketball court, and other different props on stage that were costly. And the tour was split in 2 different Acts. One act with the more funk, and rock songs, and the other act with the love, and spiritual songs. This was one of the concerts I wish i could have gone 2 but didnt, after seeing the actual VHS copy many years ago it was indeed off the hook : ) .
So even now 2 this day, I do occasionaly go back to Lovesexy, when i want 2 hear certain songs. The 1 thing that pisses me off, and i'm sure others have the same problem with this cd is that it is functioned as a continual track, meaning all 9 songs are under 1 track. The most strangest thing ever, But it was Prince's attempt 2 make the listener listen to the whole album concept in it's entirety. Problem is i dont wanna hear it all the way through.
Also note this album marked the start of decline in his sales as well, making it one of his weakest efforts to date.
Standouts here are "Anna Stesia", "I wish u Heaven", and "When 2 r in love"(which was the only track leftover from the "black abum" sessions used on this album)
Thursday, July 2, 2009
PRINCE / SIGN O' THE TIMES 1987
Damn!....Is there a bad song on this album.
This album holds a special place in my heart 4 very many reasons, and I do think it is "The Bomb!" First of all, This was my Birthday present as a teenager( given to me of course from "Pops"), and it also brings back fond memories of entering high school as a young man, it dropped as i was going into my freshman year. This also marks one of the few rare times where i snuck into a movie theatre 2 see this movie (OK I was sort of a rebel growin' up! :) ) and last but not least...the song "Adore" became "My song" for a young lady that would become my first "legit" girlfriend and 4 a very long time i might add, and still 2 this day when i hear it, I think about her (Hopefully my wife never reads this! : ) )
Prince goes through basically the first of many personnel changes in his group. Gone are The Revolution which basically means it is just a Prince album.
Now this is an interesting story....it goes like this.....Prince recorded initially over 200 songs with the intention of paring down the album to a triple disc set called "Crystal Ball" (hmmmmm sounds familiar?) @ that time, the songs were mostly recorded with The Revolution and he also developed this idea to create 1 of many alter-egos, this one being a woman named "Camille" using his own voice sped up on all the songs, even tossing around the idea of creating a whole album around this concept. Of course, that never happened, but, a handful of those songs are still featured that way on the "Sign O' the times" album. "If i was your girlfriend", and "U got the look" are 2 of them. Seems a little confusing? Yeah, it is!
But the output is pure genius once all the filler was taken out and it narrowed down to the 2 disc set we have today. This has got everything, sort of reminiscent of Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the key of life" Its got its Rock edge, a little hip-hop, songs about love, drug abuse, God, and just havin a good time, and of course that 1 stand-out ballad he was known 4 giving us on every album. And who could resist "Starfish and Coffee" ,a song about being in school with other kids throughout the day and questioning what some little girl ate 4 breakfast. (Listen 2 that backwards drum pattern throughout the song...DAMN!
I could go on forever about this album, but let me mention the movie of the same title, which I thought was very good. Although not really considered a movie, It is actually a concert with some adlib and different scenarios sequencing 2 the subjects of the songs about 2 be performed. I thought it was very well put together, a little ahead of its time, and DAMMIT, i just like 2 watch the man perform! It's awesome!, and he directed this thing????
I think now it is considered a cult classic, it did disappear 4 awhile and was only available on VHS there are some bootlegs floating of the dvd, but the quality is not superb, so it never got nationally re-released or re-produced as of this time, so if u still have that laser disc or VHS copy...hold on 2 it.
This is definitely a must have and i love it 2 death!
Stand out tracks here are "The ballad of Dorothy Parker", "Adore", "It's gonna be a beautiful night", "Starfish and Coffee", and "Sign O' the times" of course!
This album holds a special place in my heart 4 very many reasons, and I do think it is "The Bomb!" First of all, This was my Birthday present as a teenager( given to me of course from "Pops"), and it also brings back fond memories of entering high school as a young man, it dropped as i was going into my freshman year. This also marks one of the few rare times where i snuck into a movie theatre 2 see this movie (OK I was sort of a rebel growin' up! :) ) and last but not least...the song "Adore" became "My song" for a young lady that would become my first "legit" girlfriend and 4 a very long time i might add, and still 2 this day when i hear it, I think about her (Hopefully my wife never reads this! : ) )
Prince goes through basically the first of many personnel changes in his group. Gone are The Revolution which basically means it is just a Prince album.
Now this is an interesting story....it goes like this.....Prince recorded initially over 200 songs with the intention of paring down the album to a triple disc set called "Crystal Ball" (hmmmmm sounds familiar?) @ that time, the songs were mostly recorded with The Revolution and he also developed this idea to create 1 of many alter-egos, this one being a woman named "Camille" using his own voice sped up on all the songs, even tossing around the idea of creating a whole album around this concept. Of course, that never happened, but, a handful of those songs are still featured that way on the "Sign O' the times" album. "If i was your girlfriend", and "U got the look" are 2 of them. Seems a little confusing? Yeah, it is!
But the output is pure genius once all the filler was taken out and it narrowed down to the 2 disc set we have today. This has got everything, sort of reminiscent of Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the key of life" Its got its Rock edge, a little hip-hop, songs about love, drug abuse, God, and just havin a good time, and of course that 1 stand-out ballad he was known 4 giving us on every album. And who could resist "Starfish and Coffee" ,a song about being in school with other kids throughout the day and questioning what some little girl ate 4 breakfast. (Listen 2 that backwards drum pattern throughout the song...DAMN!
I could go on forever about this album, but let me mention the movie of the same title, which I thought was very good. Although not really considered a movie, It is actually a concert with some adlib and different scenarios sequencing 2 the subjects of the songs about 2 be performed. I thought it was very well put together, a little ahead of its time, and DAMMIT, i just like 2 watch the man perform! It's awesome!, and he directed this thing????
I think now it is considered a cult classic, it did disappear 4 awhile and was only available on VHS there are some bootlegs floating of the dvd, but the quality is not superb, so it never got nationally re-released or re-produced as of this time, so if u still have that laser disc or VHS copy...hold on 2 it.
This is definitely a must have and i love it 2 death!
Stand out tracks here are "The ballad of Dorothy Parker", "Adore", "It's gonna be a beautiful night", "Starfish and Coffee", and "Sign O' the times" of course!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION / PARADE (soundtrack 2 the under the cherry moon movie) 1986
Prince basically picks up where "around the world in a day" left off (in my opinion). But that's a good thing. The theme evolves around France and incorporates french instruments, french speaking women and 2 songs with a french title.
1 thing 4 sure is that the songs are relatively short and most run into each other giving u that movie feel without having 2 look @ 1.
4 some reason, I immediately took 2 this album upon its release even though i didnt care much 4 "Around the world in a day" when it was released. And listening 2 them both now they dont really sound too far apart.
I think what grabbed me the most is that we were presented with a unique packaging. Everything was presented in black and white, Prince changes his image AGAIN!, and starts wearing suits????
And the first single "Kiss" was slammin. and basically took over radio that spring of '86.
Now the movie that was made 2 accompany it.......that's a different story. The story goes that he wrote this movie in his spare time in between recording and touring. The movie started production and somewhere in the middle the original director walked off the set describing Prince as egotistical, and very hard 2 get along with, so what else is a man 2 do....pick up the directors chair and do it himself. Uhhhhhh maybe that wasn't a good thing. Prince has worn various hats throughout his career and most successful, but this proved he cannot hold everything down like he thought. Totally slammed upon its release, and the winner of various "Raspberry Awards" the movie went no where, while the soundtrack soared to # 1. (What a balance huh?)
4 me personally, I do like the movie only because its something that i grew up with as a child, the music is a good companion 2 most of the scenes in the movie, and i like the fact that it was just a fun, silly movie. Even though Prince may have had intentions on making this very serious, it isn't. And It gives us good insight that he and Jerome Benton( his co-star) can be silly as the next man, and just live life and have fun while doin it. And i like that aspect of it.
The song "Kiss" still recieves heavy airplay 2 this day and occasionally you'll hear "Girls and Boys" Overall making it a conceptual album, but alot of fun and enjoyable for its time.
Standouts here...My personal fav jam "Anothaloverholenyohead", "Mountains", Sometimes it snows in April",and "Kiss" of course
(NOTE: The video 4 Kiss only featured him and Wendy and a young lady which was rumoured at the time 2 be Vanity, but who could hardly tell because during the whole video she wore a dark vale and sunglasses. but it's not her we later find out, Also Prince totally extends his band to full lengths by this time adding 2 horn players, another guitarist, and 3 security dancers on stage, making the tour a full fledge revue show- this was one of his best tours in my opinion- I was there!!!! : )
1 thing 4 sure is that the songs are relatively short and most run into each other giving u that movie feel without having 2 look @ 1.
4 some reason, I immediately took 2 this album upon its release even though i didnt care much 4 "Around the world in a day" when it was released. And listening 2 them both now they dont really sound too far apart.
I think what grabbed me the most is that we were presented with a unique packaging. Everything was presented in black and white, Prince changes his image AGAIN!, and starts wearing suits????
And the first single "Kiss" was slammin. and basically took over radio that spring of '86.
Now the movie that was made 2 accompany it.......that's a different story. The story goes that he wrote this movie in his spare time in between recording and touring. The movie started production and somewhere in the middle the original director walked off the set describing Prince as egotistical, and very hard 2 get along with, so what else is a man 2 do....pick up the directors chair and do it himself. Uhhhhhh maybe that wasn't a good thing. Prince has worn various hats throughout his career and most successful, but this proved he cannot hold everything down like he thought. Totally slammed upon its release, and the winner of various "Raspberry Awards" the movie went no where, while the soundtrack soared to # 1. (What a balance huh?)
4 me personally, I do like the movie only because its something that i grew up with as a child, the music is a good companion 2 most of the scenes in the movie, and i like the fact that it was just a fun, silly movie. Even though Prince may have had intentions on making this very serious, it isn't. And It gives us good insight that he and Jerome Benton( his co-star) can be silly as the next man, and just live life and have fun while doin it. And i like that aspect of it.
The song "Kiss" still recieves heavy airplay 2 this day and occasionally you'll hear "Girls and Boys" Overall making it a conceptual album, but alot of fun and enjoyable for its time.
Standouts here...My personal fav jam "Anothaloverholenyohead", "Mountains", Sometimes it snows in April",and "Kiss" of course
(NOTE: The video 4 Kiss only featured him and Wendy and a young lady which was rumoured at the time 2 be Vanity, but who could hardly tell because during the whole video she wore a dark vale and sunglasses. but it's not her we later find out, Also Prince totally extends his band to full lengths by this time adding 2 horn players, another guitarist, and 3 security dancers on stage, making the tour a full fledge revue show- this was one of his best tours in my opinion- I was there!!!! : )
PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION/ AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY 1985
Expecting Purple Rain Part two. Not in this case. Prince does what only Prince can do in this situation. Sell over 4 million on album #6, and turn around the following year and release an album that is totally left field, change his image AGAIN!, and still make the album go platinum( well, not immediately, but as of this time it is platinum)
Prince develops an album reminisant of a Beatles 60's style, while still maintaing some funk and unique arrangements. I remember as a child, because i became a fan around 11 years old or so, my dad gave me the album, because i was spoiled, and all i had 2 do was ask 4 it : )
I didnt care 4 it much then, cuz of course....i was a kid. Hip-Hop was strong in 85, times were changing, things were changing, and apparently Prince was too. I even thought something was terribly wrong with my album the first few times i dropped the needle on "America" and the intro seemed warped. But i discovered later that, that is his genius. Doing something that hasnt been done before.
I distinctly remember my uncles playing the LP at the time and praising how good it was, and singing along. As time grew on i started digging it more and more. So yeah, it eventually grew on me. And now since i'm older, I totally understand it being ahead of its time and i caught up with it.
The cover artwork is unique, it's a painting, circus-like showing The Revolution members in gothic and clown apparel in an open landscape. A little boy flies in the clouds with a very huge balloon with the albums name in psychadelic print inside where u can barely understand it.
On the original album there is a huge yellow ladder that extends straight up the gatefold of it.
Prince used this analogy to propose 2 the world that he was tired of performing and recording and that he was going 2 stop everything and use the remainder of his life 2 "look 4 the ladder" in various interviews @ that time. He even composed a song with his father on the LP called "The Ladder', which is one of the strongest tracks on the album.
And of course, he reigns supreme on some strong B-sides again opposing the singles "Raspberry Beret" b/w "She's always in my hair" which he still 2 this day performs in concert. And 4 us Prince-heads there was "Hello", the back of the "Pop Life" single. And one rarity on a 12" @ that time the "America" song which appears on the album as a 3:42 song is stretched out to almost 23 minutes of music if u bought the extended version @ that time. A little long and drawn out, but irresistable at the same time, it becomes creative in a lot of parts of the song.
So all and all it is a very unique album, and definitely holds its place as groundbreaking at that time, and still sounds fresh 2 this day.
And as of that "Retirement announcement".....well we know that never happened because he was back 2 work the following year not only with another album, but also a movie starring and directed by him. What kind of retirement is that???
Standouts here are..."Pop Life", "The ladder", and "Raspberry Beret" (NOTE: Raspberry Beret was the only video made 4 this album even though there were 3 singles. There was a video made 4 the song "America" but it was actually a live performance promoting the song overseas)
Prince develops an album reminisant of a Beatles 60's style, while still maintaing some funk and unique arrangements. I remember as a child, because i became a fan around 11 years old or so, my dad gave me the album, because i was spoiled, and all i had 2 do was ask 4 it : )
I didnt care 4 it much then, cuz of course....i was a kid. Hip-Hop was strong in 85, times were changing, things were changing, and apparently Prince was too. I even thought something was terribly wrong with my album the first few times i dropped the needle on "America" and the intro seemed warped. But i discovered later that, that is his genius. Doing something that hasnt been done before.
I distinctly remember my uncles playing the LP at the time and praising how good it was, and singing along. As time grew on i started digging it more and more. So yeah, it eventually grew on me. And now since i'm older, I totally understand it being ahead of its time and i caught up with it.
The cover artwork is unique, it's a painting, circus-like showing The Revolution members in gothic and clown apparel in an open landscape. A little boy flies in the clouds with a very huge balloon with the albums name in psychadelic print inside where u can barely understand it.
On the original album there is a huge yellow ladder that extends straight up the gatefold of it.
Prince used this analogy to propose 2 the world that he was tired of performing and recording and that he was going 2 stop everything and use the remainder of his life 2 "look 4 the ladder" in various interviews @ that time. He even composed a song with his father on the LP called "The Ladder', which is one of the strongest tracks on the album.
And of course, he reigns supreme on some strong B-sides again opposing the singles "Raspberry Beret" b/w "She's always in my hair" which he still 2 this day performs in concert. And 4 us Prince-heads there was "Hello", the back of the "Pop Life" single. And one rarity on a 12" @ that time the "America" song which appears on the album as a 3:42 song is stretched out to almost 23 minutes of music if u bought the extended version @ that time. A little long and drawn out, but irresistable at the same time, it becomes creative in a lot of parts of the song.
So all and all it is a very unique album, and definitely holds its place as groundbreaking at that time, and still sounds fresh 2 this day.
And as of that "Retirement announcement".....well we know that never happened because he was back 2 work the following year not only with another album, but also a movie starring and directed by him. What kind of retirement is that???
Standouts here are..."Pop Life", "The ladder", and "Raspberry Beret" (NOTE: Raspberry Beret was the only video made 4 this album even though there were 3 singles. There was a video made 4 the song "America" but it was actually a live performance promoting the song overseas)
Monday, April 27, 2009
PRINCE / PURPLE RAIN 1984
In my opinion, the the most loudest of his recordings, and the most daring at that time. Combining all the elements of his early recordings, and then some. Definitely a good album but for me personally, i definitely have to be in the mood for it because now for me it reflects mostly the movie and i visualize the scenes from the movie when i hear a certain song from the soundtrack, which i guess is good, because therefore that makes the movie memorable right???
The question is though have you ever thought how many copies or how popular this album would really be if there was no "Purple Rain" movie to accompany it? Hmmmmmmm!
Regardless this is the one that pushed him to the stratosphere and made people sit up and take notice and once seeing the movie, made people wonder what all the hype was about this guy, which led to more sales of the album, more people to see the movie, and sold out tours from here on in.
I gotta admit, although this album is not one of the first that i grab out of my collection to listen to, but when ever it comes on cable, i cant resist leaving the channel on the movie just to re-live the moments i remember as a kid going to the theatre to see this thing.
And with this album spawned the ultimate B-side "Erotic City" and "17 Days", by this point he could no wrong, you couldn't turn on Mtv without seeing "When doves Cry" or hearing damn near every song on the album being played on the radio @ some point.
If you were one of the 20 something million to buy the actual album upon its release....yeah another poster was included. The complete band on the set of the "When doves cry" video
Standout tracks here...."When doves cry", Darling Nikki", "The beautiful Ones", and of course..."Purple Rain" (Which is basically his theme song now!!! : ) )
The question is though have you ever thought how many copies or how popular this album would really be if there was no "Purple Rain" movie to accompany it? Hmmmmmmm!
Regardless this is the one that pushed him to the stratosphere and made people sit up and take notice and once seeing the movie, made people wonder what all the hype was about this guy, which led to more sales of the album, more people to see the movie, and sold out tours from here on in.
I gotta admit, although this album is not one of the first that i grab out of my collection to listen to, but when ever it comes on cable, i cant resist leaving the channel on the movie just to re-live the moments i remember as a kid going to the theatre to see this thing.
And with this album spawned the ultimate B-side "Erotic City" and "17 Days", by this point he could no wrong, you couldn't turn on Mtv without seeing "When doves Cry" or hearing damn near every song on the album being played on the radio @ some point.
If you were one of the 20 something million to buy the actual album upon its release....yeah another poster was included. The complete band on the set of the "When doves cry" video
Standout tracks here...."When doves cry", Darling Nikki", "The beautiful Ones", and of course..."Purple Rain" (Which is basically his theme song now!!! : ) )
Thursday, April 23, 2009
PRINCE / **1999** 1983
OK ....so this is where my opinion matters to me : )
I consider this one to be his epic, his opus, where others consider "Purple Rain" to be it, I personally think it happened here and still to this day if i had to be stuck with 3 major albums of his , then this would be the top one.
A personal favorite of mines due to the fact that he definitely hones his craft here producing, writing and performing, and we see the output of a hard working man "discovering" The Time, and Vanity 6 @ this time.
(Message....this is the first album to be credited to "The Revolution" very small and backwards in the I of his name. If you don't look @ the crazy artwork of the cover then yeah....you'll miss it)
Prince's breakthrough pop hit happens here, he becomes a staple of MTV which he was the second black artist to appear besides MJ, with "Little Red Corvette". A major tour follows with all the acts he discovered which was a pretty big tour @ the time making it appear as a revue.
He puts his clothes back on : ) and appears with a new hairstyle and solidifies the band which would be the band he will use for the next few years, with only guitarist Dez Dickerson leaving soon after 1999 releases.
What can i say about this album,...1999 kicks ass soon as the needle drops, its got funk, rock, new wave, excellent production and arrangements and the songs are stretched to the limit making most of them club hitters. His creativity @ this point is fearless and it shows all over the album. And yes...."the nasty ballad..."International Lover" .....shows you can write a song about flying a woman around the world on your own personal flight pretty awesome!!!
(XXX-tra Message.....Warner brothers gives him the freedom to put his own picture on the label of the original vinyl if you were fortunate to buy it @ that time ...it has his eye in the center of the LP which literally looks as if it moves to watch you wherever you move. and also during this period, even though Prince was already putting out additional songs as B-sides to his singles already, this is where they basically became more popular than the singles in most cases...I.E.
The single "Lets pretend we're married" spawned "Irresistable Bitch" as the B'side and was a vey popular song in underground dance clubs and various mix shows during that time. So that single was basically bought because of "Irresistable Bitch" and this trend would continue on for the next few years)
Standouts here are....1999, DMSR, Lady cab driver, and International Lover
I consider this one to be his epic, his opus, where others consider "Purple Rain" to be it, I personally think it happened here and still to this day if i had to be stuck with 3 major albums of his , then this would be the top one.
A personal favorite of mines due to the fact that he definitely hones his craft here producing, writing and performing, and we see the output of a hard working man "discovering" The Time, and Vanity 6 @ this time.
(Message....this is the first album to be credited to "The Revolution" very small and backwards in the I of his name. If you don't look @ the crazy artwork of the cover then yeah....you'll miss it)
Prince's breakthrough pop hit happens here, he becomes a staple of MTV which he was the second black artist to appear besides MJ, with "Little Red Corvette". A major tour follows with all the acts he discovered which was a pretty big tour @ the time making it appear as a revue.
He puts his clothes back on : ) and appears with a new hairstyle and solidifies the band which would be the band he will use for the next few years, with only guitarist Dez Dickerson leaving soon after 1999 releases.
What can i say about this album,...1999 kicks ass soon as the needle drops, its got funk, rock, new wave, excellent production and arrangements and the songs are stretched to the limit making most of them club hitters. His creativity @ this point is fearless and it shows all over the album. And yes...."the nasty ballad..."International Lover" .....shows you can write a song about flying a woman around the world on your own personal flight pretty awesome!!!
(XXX-tra Message.....Warner brothers gives him the freedom to put his own picture on the label of the original vinyl if you were fortunate to buy it @ that time ...it has his eye in the center of the LP which literally looks as if it moves to watch you wherever you move. and also during this period, even though Prince was already putting out additional songs as B-sides to his singles already, this is where they basically became more popular than the singles in most cases...I.E.
The single "Lets pretend we're married" spawned "Irresistable Bitch" as the B'side and was a vey popular song in underground dance clubs and various mix shows during that time. So that single was basically bought because of "Irresistable Bitch" and this trend would continue on for the next few years)
Standouts here are....1999, DMSR, Lady cab driver, and International Lover
PRINCE / CONTROVERSY 1981
Basically (in my opinion) a continuation of where he left off with "Dirty Mind" More new wave influence, more influence of sex in the lyrics and straight ahead funk all rolled up into 8 strong songs.
He focuses on what pretty much are the topics of the day (Reagan.."Ronnie talk to Russia", gun control in schools and John Lennon..."Annie Christian", and most importantly the rumors of what he is about and who he is and where did he come from in the infamous "Controversy")
By this point in his career he has put his stamp on developing "The nasty ballad"..."Do me, baby"
which was something all us fans looked foward to on every Prince album. To me, if you get "Dirty Mind" you gotta get "Controversy"
(Message....if you bought the album when it first came out like myself, you were fortunate enough to get a very strange large poster of Prince in a shower with a crucifix in the background. Very strange poster indeed but.....hey it was Prince doin what Prince does!)
Standouts here are ....Controversy, Do me baby, and the ever so funky...Lets Work!)
He focuses on what pretty much are the topics of the day (Reagan.."Ronnie talk to Russia", gun control in schools and John Lennon..."Annie Christian", and most importantly the rumors of what he is about and who he is and where did he come from in the infamous "Controversy")
By this point in his career he has put his stamp on developing "The nasty ballad"..."Do me, baby"
which was something all us fans looked foward to on every Prince album. To me, if you get "Dirty Mind" you gotta get "Controversy"
(Message....if you bought the album when it first came out like myself, you were fortunate enough to get a very strange large poster of Prince in a shower with a crucifix in the background. Very strange poster indeed but.....hey it was Prince doin what Prince does!)
Standouts here are ....Controversy, Do me baby, and the ever so funky...Lets Work!)
PRINCE / DIRTY MIND 1980
This is where the change happens. The dawn of the 80's begins, Reagan gets elected as president, John Lennon is assasinated,.....and Prince loses the perm and his clothes!?????
Not only that, but the music is now straight in your face. This is who i am, this is where i'm from, and either you're rollin with me or exit stage left attitude. This is the attitude that Sly, hendrix and George Clinton did before him and what Madonna and MJ did after him. The album rumored to be recorded in a newly built studio in a basement basically left pretty much the way that it was recorded. Very little mastering, and alot of New wave, and rock influence which was very popular @ that time.
Prince jumps head first into singing about incest, oral sex, sharing a lover with another woman and how fucked up war is in almost under 35 minutes and makes it work. Not only is the music and lyrics a change for himself and for other things that were out @ that time, but it was @ this point that his legendary stage show becomes what is considered well..."legendary"
Appearing now(as well as on the cover) in just bikini underwear and a trenchcoat, and the band he acquired wearing some of the most outrageous outfits since Parliament/Funkadelic. Totally ahead of his time and basically still considered a cult artist to most and strange to us normal people, He opened a tour for one of the biggest rock bands in history,..The Rolling Stones.
During that tour is when he got an eye opener of "get your ass off the stage" ...he was booed and the audience threw various items @ him and his band (MESSAGE!!!...if you listen to "Pop Life" on "Around the world in a day" there is a part where the music stops about 3 minutes into it and he uses a sample of that incident of chaos.. just in case you were ever wondering what that part of the song is : ) )
This is definitely an essential album to have which really gives you an insight into where this kid was going and what was to come. A must have!
Standouts here are...Uptown, Head, Partyup, When you were mine
Not only that, but the music is now straight in your face. This is who i am, this is where i'm from, and either you're rollin with me or exit stage left attitude. This is the attitude that Sly, hendrix and George Clinton did before him and what Madonna and MJ did after him. The album rumored to be recorded in a newly built studio in a basement basically left pretty much the way that it was recorded. Very little mastering, and alot of New wave, and rock influence which was very popular @ that time.
Prince jumps head first into singing about incest, oral sex, sharing a lover with another woman and how fucked up war is in almost under 35 minutes and makes it work. Not only is the music and lyrics a change for himself and for other things that were out @ that time, but it was @ this point that his legendary stage show becomes what is considered well..."legendary"
Appearing now(as well as on the cover) in just bikini underwear and a trenchcoat, and the band he acquired wearing some of the most outrageous outfits since Parliament/Funkadelic. Totally ahead of his time and basically still considered a cult artist to most and strange to us normal people, He opened a tour for one of the biggest rock bands in history,..The Rolling Stones.
During that tour is when he got an eye opener of "get your ass off the stage" ...he was booed and the audience threw various items @ him and his band (MESSAGE!!!...if you listen to "Pop Life" on "Around the world in a day" there is a part where the music stops about 3 minutes into it and he uses a sample of that incident of chaos.. just in case you were ever wondering what that part of the song is : ) )
This is definitely an essential album to have which really gives you an insight into where this kid was going and what was to come. A must have!
Standouts here are...Uptown, Head, Partyup, When you were mine
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
PRINCE / PRINCE 1979
Almost sounds like a continuation of "For you". Once again a slick, polished sound and some good tunes here, particurely "I wanna be your lover" the single which is really better if you listen to the album version and not the single edit thats 2:57 long. Gotta get that last 3 minutes of instrumental where Prince experiments a little with the disco faze that was slowly dying about this time period. Also a little known song "I feel for you" appeared here as a album cut that Chaka Khan would re-do in 1984 and totally make it one of the best damn singles of that year. Later making people go back to search for this album to hear the original in its prime.
This also starts Prince's trend of appearing nude here and there throughout the 80's on some album covers. He appears here on the back cover on a unicorn with no clothes on. Pretty unique for that time i guess.
Standout tracks here .....I wanna be your lover, Sexy Dancer(Funk at its finest), and Still Waiting.
This also starts Prince's trend of appearing nude here and there throughout the 80's on some album covers. He appears here on the back cover on a unicorn with no clothes on. Pretty unique for that time i guess.
Standout tracks here .....I wanna be your lover, Sexy Dancer(Funk at its finest), and Still Waiting.
PRINCE / FOR YOU 1978
The first album from a then unknown, teenage prodigy. Very slickly produced, and totally composed by himself. Very good tracks considering the time that it came out. Probably would have made a better albm produced for Smokey Robinson. But Prince made it work on various songs throughout the album. You can tell something was happening, but it just wasnt quite their yet. Maybe too much goin' on, maybe it should have been a little more simple. But all and all a typical late 70's album. Standouts (Soft and wet......, the single off the album, Baby, In love, and My love is forever.
what do u think???
what do u think???
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