The commercial success of D&P blindes fans from realising the album sucks.

I am truly baffled that any self-respecting fan could listen to this album in 2008 and still rate it. It may have been a commercial success, but let's face facts here, the album has dated horribly. It has gotten off the hook in discussions of his worst albums for too long now....

Thunder is horrendously overblown and pompous and makes you crave for the sparse minimalistic production values of his 80s output.

Willing & Able and Strollin' are cringeful attempts to expand his musical vocabulary and are two of his weakest album tracks to date.

Even the albums big hit Gett Off has dated badly, with Prince's terrible rapping and the nasty cow-bells (what was he thinking?).

For me, the only two tracks worth their salt are Live 4 Love (overproduced, but passionate nonetheless) and the gorgeous Money Don't Matter 2nite. This albums success will always remain a mystery to me.
[Edited 11/14/08 11:25am]

Well that's YOUR opinion. Opinions are like A--holes, everybodys got one. I happen to like D&P.
[Edited 11/14/08 11:27am]

Dayclear said:

"willing and able" - cringeful? really?

REALLY?!?


is cringeful a word?

That album is so good. Classy sleeve pic and amazing songs. Cream and get off will never date. Insatiable is the bomb. It was a commercial success cos its really good. So there x

Anxiety said:

I dig the cd. The Tony M rap I can do without, otherwise it's still on point.

I disagree.

I think the album is good. The rapping does not always fit, but the album as a whole is good.

If it is ever re-released in a remastered form Prince should include Horny Pony (a extended version if it exists).

Though i listened to it like hell when it came out, i rarely listen now, so i agree with Mattyjam it has dated somewhat. Gett Off is still great, well the 12inch is anyway.

I get the feeling Prince isn't particularly proud of this period (91-92, i think he was under duress from WB at the time to deliver commercial success), 'Cream' gets played cause the masses (not the hardcore fans) expect it.

i don't think it's a great album, but i think it's a good album. a lot of the stupidest things about this album have aged so badly that i think they're kind of kitschy and fun in the here and now. and i can't hate an album with "thunder", "willing and able" and "gett off" on it. sorry, but to quote dana carvey quoting george bush, na ga dah.

I also heard D&P a lot back in the day and I also think that it has dated badly. I agree with you that it is not one of his best but it has some good songs. I don't enjoy listening the whole album anymore but I still like "Gett Off", "Money Don't Matter 2Night", and the 2 tracks u hate "Strollin'" and "Willin' And Able" a lot. "Cream", "Live 4 Love" and "Insatiable" are OK too. The rest of the album I never listen but I still remain a huge fan of the "Symbol" album I just love it.

One thing i forgot, I love, LOVE, LOOOOVE the title track. Just listened again, after a break of a few years. It's not a 'usual' type sounding P song. 'Insatiable' is also good, though that follows the typical Prince ballad blueprint.

It's not dated as badly as the album, but yes, it's definitely of its time. But hey, I still like it and Daddy Pop is a guilty pleasure.

Live 4 Love is horrible, though. Naff lyrics and horrible Tony M input.

so everyone is disagreeing on fave songs and disliked songs, maybe D&P is just the definitive middling album. A true 5 outta 10 Prince album?

Marrk said:

Hmmmm i can see what u mean about it dating badly (but thats like most of his 90s output lets be fair) but i dnt think Willing and Able is a great little soul tune...1 of my faves off the album actually ...but i can understand about the rap songs infact 2 be fair his only 100% passable rap attempts were Race and Face Down and even tho i luv P Control it still has its cringey moments "player of da ye-ar"
[Edited 11/15/08 7:29am]

MattyJam said:

i can't believe all the 'willing & able' hate on this thread! it's like a little piece of my innocence is dying with each post i read!

Anxiety said:

i can't believe all the 'willing & able' hate on this thread! it's like a little piece of my innocence is dying with each post i read!

i'm not crazy about 'cream'.

mostly i think it's because the song and video got overplayed WAY into the ground at the time, and i'm just burnt out on it.

then there's the whole t.rex rip-off factor, which kinda leaves me less than plussed.

i guess i don't HATE it...the song just wore out its welcome for me a long time ago.

Anxiety said:

i'm not crazy about 'cream'.

mostly i think it's because the song and video got overplayed WAY into the ground at the time, and i'm just burnt out on it.

then there's the whole t.rex rip-off factor, which kinda leaves me less than plussed.

i guess i don't HATE it...the song just wore out its welcome for me a long time ago.

dseann said:

Anxiety said:

i'm not crazy about 'cream'.

mostly i think it's because the song and video got overplayed WAY into the ground at the time, and i'm just burnt out on it.

then there's the whole t.rex rip-off factor, which kinda leaves me less than plussed.

i guess i don't HATE it...the song just wore out its welcome for me a long time ago.

It's not my favorite, but a whole lota people got into it for whatever reason. Whenever I hear it though, I just try visualizing the video which was fun to watch, even if it played 80 times a week.

Anxiety said:

dseann said:

It's not my favorite, but a whole lota people got into it for whatever reason. Whenever I hear it though, I just try visualizing the video which was fun to watch, even if it played 80 times a week.

i liked his tie.

I like this album. Even if all the other songs sucked...Diamonds and Pearls makes up for all of em cause the song is THAT GOOD

Come on, get up, let's do somethin'

Excuse me while I get rid of the bullshit up in here D&P was and still is a success for Prince-I it and so do alot of other Prince fans. U wanted me 2 do this






[Edited 11/14/08 22:20pm]

i like this album. i listened to it once when i first got it, didn't like it and shelved it for a year, revisited it and now i enjoy it very much . the only songs i'm not crazy for are thunder and push,. the rest is all top-notch stuff (even jughead i like ). even tony m. i can deal with it . some great outtakes from this period too . strollin', walk don't walk, insatiable, diamonds and pearls, live 4 love. i can go down the line. all awesome stuff .

may the best of your todays be the worst of your tomorrows...

Truth be told, it was only in the last few years that the sounds of Prince's early 80's albums came back into vogue. In the 90's, classics such as Dirty Mind, Controversy, and even 1999 and Purple Rain sounded dated in that thin 80's electric way. As I said, that sound has come back around in pop music, but in the 90's it was old fashion.

Point being, just because Diamonds and Pearls sounds dated, doesn't mean it isn't good. Classics are classics and if the entire Diamonds and Pearls album is not a classic, at least 5 of the songs from it are without question. Sounding "dated" is irrelevant considering what it means to people and it's popularity.

thought sucking was a good thing I love D& P! it deserves the credit, spech 4 highhair creativeness
manicorn hair & jewels!
the video is cute..dancing about in the sunbeams & doing some splits off the sofa..
crucial moveage

Anxiety said:

Its still a good album.

I like 'Thunder,Daddy Pop, Diamonds and Pearls.and Live 4 Love'

I also like 'Push' which was put down by the press and fans alike.
Even thought the record has some cringefulevientualent2earible moments like 'walk don't walk'
But some of the lyrics on Push are just cool

"I push for a beat that is greasy
I'll dis a beat if it teases
Mark this down as I state it...
I like my funk concentrated
The pop scene, hmmm, a little overrated
U sure can tell where we're steppin'
there's some grease on the stage
ooops, I just stepped in it... "

"From Pakistan 2 Poland
Straight into your town
Snatchin' up kiddies
Like a circus clown"



Yeah! Thats the stuff.