I've just been trawling through a cupboard and a box of tapes and I found my old copy of the Black Album. hadn't heard it in years... put it on... oh, how I enjoyed it.... and, curiously, considered the sequencing exceptionally clever - especially that of When 2 R In Love after Dead On It. It's odd, that with hindsight, how spot on Dead On It is/was about so much of rap... but then again, if he'd spoofed metal or R'n'B you could probably say the same... but, to follow this attack up with such a beautifully composed piece is truly inspired.

I REALLY want Prince to start playing Rock Hard In A Funky Place again live.

BoySimon said:

That's funny, I just got my Black album cd out of storage & listened 2 it 2day!

The Black Album is in my Prince top 5. Very inspired as you said. Prince spits his funk on every track on it apart from on "when 2 r in Love".

I remember the first time I heard the record, back in 1988. It was just after the Dortmund Lovesexy show had been on UK TV... so we all thought we knew the lyrics to Bob George. I can remember standing in the 6th form common room, with my ear to a speaker, listening to a scratchy, god-awful copy of a copy, and absolutely loving it.... 2 Nigs especially.

Ah, happy days...

Still sounded good today, too... which made me smile terrifically... particularly when my two year old started to dance to Cincy C!

sure is

i know a 13 year-old who loves it

I have the album, but I haven't listened to it in years...I'd like 2, but I don't have a turntable anymore.

Yes, this is a masterpiece!! One of my favorite albums.

Yes!

I love the Black Album ... nothing evil about it.

Back then right after it was pulled I went to a store called All Day Sunday
I was in there looking around and there was music playing in the store. It kept distracting me from shopping because it sounded too much like Prince music...
Then over the intercom came "You are listening to the infamous Black Album by Prince"
I almost wet my pants and wanted to start crying at the same time.
I didn't know what to do with myself 'Jump up and down or start bawling like a baby'
The store was packed and I think I stayed in that store till they were done playing it.
I immediately ran home and called a friend who knew some of the people that worked at All Day Sunday, and he was a Prince fan too, (who actually owned a white ruffled shirt)

I bought a few 120 min GOLD Maxell tapes and gave to him.
A day later he came over with the Black Album on tape...

I was in heaven, I loved it. It sounded like the perfect follow up to Sign o the Times... Funky grooves
Superfunkicalifragisexy
2Nigs United 4 West Compton
Bob George
Dead On It
Rock Hard In A Funky Place

The Funk Bible
Sheila E's Birthday album

Oh the music videos, singles/long versions & B-sides that would have come thru this album

pulling the black cloud/angel guitar
Cat doing some wicked dances...

...only if he didn't meet Ingrid Chavez at the club he went to try the album out on...

Le GrindCindyCDead on It When2RNLoveBobGeorgeSuperfunkycalifragisexy2NigsUnited4WestRock Hard in a Funky Place

I wonder sometimes what "Lovesexy" photos were actually from photo shoots 4 the Black album














[Edited 3/5/09 7:01am]
[Edited 3/5/09 7:02am]

oh me oh my

One of my all time favorites .. Superfunkicalfragicsexy

I can only listen to mp3 or cassette tapes of the Black Album..because my LP is in a safety deposit box . The origional LP .. not a bootleg the origional .. I paid $850.00 about 10 years ago

The Black album was effortlessly funky and super cool …. Fast forward to 2009 and we have songs like ‘Never Be Another Like Me’ that are supposed to be retro Prince sounding?? ...I don’t think so.

yes

BoySimon said:

not gonna happen now , but i wish it had gotten at least one outing back in the day . the black album is one of my favorites also . classic

OldFriends4Sale said:

the crazy, i'ma you, then you lookin' prince . i love it when p gets all "dark and spooky" on us

2 Nigs United 4 West Compton is my favorite at the moment.

Nice suit he has there

I think Rockhard in a funky place is one of the greatest things he's done. The guitar solo is incredible and very overlooked in my opinion. It is a contender for the greatest solo he's ever put to wax.

3121 said:

Yes, love the solo, love the song

mynameisnotsusan said:

Good stuff.

mynameisnotsusan said:

I love this song, that's Susannah on background vocals

When I listen to the song 3121 I hear Rock Hard In A Funky Place
That electric static guitar playing

We are here 2 give U service
Please don't try 2 stop us 4 we come regardless
4 we are as strong as we are intelligent
So come vibe with us
Funk Bible - the New Testament

London, what does Big Ben say?
"Time 2 do the grind"
No hear U, say - "Time 2 do the grind"
Le Grind

Piano man, put it where it feel good

I do believe that we've truly touched on something nouveau

I'm sure U're quite intelligent
A whiz at math and all that shit
But I'm, I'm a tad more interested in flyin' your kite 2night

I can feel your ice is thinning
Like a frozen pond in spring (Woo)
Your furry melting thing awaits me and my 6-string

See, the rapper's problem usually stem from being tone deaf
Pack the house then try 2 sing, there won't be no one left

If U don't wanna lick my knees
I'm sho' your mama will, uh
Cuz we, cuz we, cuz we dead on it
De..de..de..de..de..dead on it, on it

My bed's a coffin, Dracula ain't got shit on me

Bathe with me – let's kiss with one synonymous notion
Nothing's forbidden and nothing's taboo (Nothing's taboo)
When the 2 are in love (L.O.V.E. - L.O.V.)
Can U hear me?

When 2 are in love (When 2 are in love)
Their bodies shiver at the mere contemplation of penetration
(Let alone the act) Let alone the actual act (Act)

Hold me
Yeah, just like that
Don't move

I pay the rent in this raggedy motherfucker
And all U do is suck up food and heat
4 someone who can't stand them TV dinners
U sure eat enough of them motherfuckers

Bob, ain't that a bitch?
What's he do 4 a living? Manage rock stars?
Who? Prince? Ain't that a bitch?
That skinny motherfucker with the high voice

Is Mr. George home?
Hello, Mr. George?
This is your conscience, motherfucker

B-O-B, spell the shit backwards, what's it say?
Same motherfuckin' shit
Turn it out

Brother Maurice'll be 'round in a minute
With a bucket filled in it - squirrel meat

if U do 2 much, your skin'll be sensitive 2 the touch
The first person that touch U, U wanna fuck
U take 'em 2 your crib and U tie 'em 2 a chair
And U make funny faces till they get real scared
Then U turn on the neon, then U play with yourself
Till U turn 'em on

Cuz in my possession there's a signed confession that says
I was the best U'd ever had
2 bad (Ow!)

In 7 measures, I want somebody 2 scream
In 7 measures, I... I want somebody 2...

Oh girl, where'd U get those shoes?
These are "come-and-fuck-me" pumps

Maurice, what, what can I serve U?

I want U 2 meet some friends of mine
No, no - U'll like them
They're, they're musicians

Does anybody know U're here?
This house of ill-repute

Soaked in banana cologne
No wonder U're all alone
It's written all over your face
U're just a rockhard in a funky place

U was workin' on the line U could drop on her (Uh, uh)
But U couldn't concentrate when your dick saw her (Uh, uh)
Maybe if U cop a nut in the car (Maybe if U cop a nut in the car)
Maybe U could think about playing guitar

I just hate 2 see an erection go 2 waste (Aaaah)
I'm just a rockhard in a funky place

What kind of fuck ending was that?
so many classic, cool lyrics. you'd be hard pressed to find this many
worthy quotes on the last 3 albums combined and the black album was a
8 song album with 1 instrumental.



oh and i agree with you guys, "rockhard in a funky place" is one of his
very best songs. i love that song so much it's rediculous, lol.

After "Parade" it is my favourite Prince album.

too funny...it's in my car cd player at this very moment...love it!!!

Top 5 album

I totally agree that Rockhard is one of his truly great songs.

I guess my only gripe is When 2 R In Love, I love the song and think it's fantastic, but where it fits perfectly on Lovesexy I would prefer another Funk or hard edged song on the album. I Think the 1986 version of Witness 4 The Prosecution or The Ball would have been perfect for the Black album, or thinking about it Crystal Ball.

I like it, loved it when I first got it. I'm not 100% this album will age as well as lovesexy has, but over all.. I just accept it as a novelty prince item

mushmackalenta said:

I agree totally. "When 2 R In Love" is a fantastic song, but really out of place on here.

Your suggestions are good. I've always thought that "The Sex of It" or "Rebirth of the Flesh" would've fit perfectly.

Yes.
But It wasn't on the first listen.
I appreciate it more over the years.

Oooh yah, the bass in Le Grind. Vicious.