Recently I was able to replace my old fuzzy VHS of the Dortmund show with a remastered dvd, and I have fallen in love with this show all over again.

When you consider this:
The Purple Rain, Parade , Sign O The Times and Lovesexy tours all took place within five years...my God, what a run. He was on fire live.

Lovesexy live was just such a great creative summation of his career at that point; it was like the Sign O The Times tour, but on acid. The changed up versions of the songs from the cd's to live, the great sexual choroegraphy between Prince and Cat (during Head, he puts the mic between his legs and she gets down on her knees to sing her part; during Lovesexy, she mimics eating him out)

It just never got better than this. What do you think?

As far as the performance, dancers are usually at their peak at 30, which he was in '88.

That was his BEST tour no doubt about it!

I don't know, I never could warm up to those very choreographed, big arena, big production, medley shows. The aftershows on the other hand...

Nope, overproduced, overchoreographed, too slick and boring. I think ONA was his ABSOLUTE highlight live-wise.... The complete songs, the arrangements and the constantly changing setlists were fantastic. The aftershows were spectacular also..

eelco said:

I liked ONA as well (lucky enough to be at the Lincoln Center show), and the live Prince of the 80's was clearly a different animal, but boring is just not a word that I think can be applied to the Lovesexy show.
There's just far too much going on.

Yeah right, and I had the great pleasure of watching a Lovesexy concert from front row !!! One of the best experiences of my life (along with SOTT live of course). He sure was at his creative peak at that time. I still keep wondering WHY things went downhill after that tour. I only can think of two reasons. First, no more input from Wendy and Lisa after 86 (their heritage was still felt during SOTT/87). Second, Prince got a bigger contract and a much bigger studio after 88. This meant he felt the need and had the possibilities to write this overproduced Batman/D&P music to really get a mainstream audience. Don't get me wrong, I kept on following Prince during the 90's and after 2000, buying all cd's that came out (some of which are now collector's item, like GoldNigga...), but for me, 85-88 are Prince's top years, both live and studio wise.
[Edited 2/22/09 13:22pm]

calldapplwondery83 said:

I'm not a huge fan of medleys, but the music presented here has to be considered on its own merits.

The metallic version of "Sister", for example, comes after a furious jam by the band and hits you over the head like a sledgehammer. And while the songs may not be full versions, the band hits them all out of the park and there is lots of funky/jazzy music connecting the songs.

Can we include SOTT and call this whole period his purple peak??

Although Prince live is always great, the trilogy Parade, SOTT and Lovesexy tour (in only three years) are difficult to beat. Only the ONA tour can be compared to those imo.

dothejump said:

totally agree

Parade tour was his best tour ever - or at least it's hard to beat - and I think this is the general agreement amongst hard core fans.

I thought medleys were only played to death in the late 90's.

Veej said:

Great performance and great music on the Parade tour, no question...but I personally dock it a notch for the total lack of guitar playing on his part.
Love the funk, love the jazz , but throw me a guitar solo every once in a while.

eugnj420 said:

As far as his stage show with dancing and high energy i think the Parade tour was his best, he was just so intimate with the audience

As far as that tour that was a musical orgy i would say it's the One Night Alone tour. The band, prince, everything was tight and so good.

eireboy34 said:

Yes, surely the whole period can be considered his peak.

But looking at the critics and reviews the SOTT-shows were received best.

the Sign o the Times / Lovesexy era was spectacular
No side effects and the feeling last 4-ever…
it was also bittersweet becauese the original Revolution members(most of who actually where with Prince since For U) were gone. Except for Dr. Fink (Prince wanted BrownMark 2 stay as well but he opted out)

But I strongly believe the SOTT/Lovesexy band accomplished what they did, because the members were either a part of the extended Revolution, or where a part of Prince's camp for years prior:they played Purple Music
Sheila E. Mico Weaver came Uptown in 82-83 and became a member of Sheila's band. Boni supposedly was a member of Sheila's band along with Levi.

Atlanta Bliss & Eric Leads were a part of the Revolution and in the camp since the Purple Rain tour

Gregory Brooks & Wally Safford were his security during the Purple Rain tour and I think long time friends

Cat (who choragraphied her dances to Prince music) was invited to her home in 85-86 where he invited her to join his band.

So you had all these people who were Purpled Out already, versus many of the later band members who came from a different background.

The Game Boyz(shudder) were seen in Purple Rain & the Glam Slam video(the dancers) so I guess they have some kind of connection. They just didn't have that Purple thing going on to me...

The tour(s) but even more the Aftershows was hot

Songs made with the Lovesexy band
Make Yo Mamma Happy
Girl Power
Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic
the Line
the Future
God Is Alive
Joy In Repitition
People Without
Acknowledge Me
Still Would Stand All Time
Pink Cashmere
Rebirth Of The Flesh

****
Time upon a once
There was a boy named Camille
Now this boy named Camille
didn't know how 2 feel.
Sometimes he was lonely
sometimes he was sad
but most times
he just took 4 granted
all the nice things
that he had.

Some people said they loved him
but Camille said
"Contempt!
Winter, Spring,
Summer, or Fall,
love is no good
unless it's felt by all"

So, naive & terrifically in need
Camille started looking for answers
His paintbrush the questioner,
his canvas the arena,
Camille set out to silence his critics.
"No longer daring" - his enemies laughed.
"No longer glam, his funk is half-assed...
one leg is much shorter
than the other one is weak.
His strokes are tepid,
his colors are meek."

So Camille found a new color.
The color black:
strongest hue of them all.
He painted a picture
called Le Grind --
hittin' so tall.
And then Cindy C --
THE vogue fantasy.
Horns & vocals 2 die 4.
Lollipops -- in yours!

Stroke after stroke callin' all others a joke.
Superfunkycalifragisexi.

Camille rocked hard in a funky place. Stuck his long
funk in competition's face. Tuesday came. Blue Tuesday.
His canvas full, and lying on the table, Camille mustered
all the hate that he was able. Hate 4 the ones who ever
doubted his game. Hate 4 the ones who ever doubted his name.
"Tis nobody funkier -- let the Black Album fly." Spooky
Electric was talking, Camille started 2 cry. Tricked.
A fool he had been. In the lowest utmostest. He had allowed
the dark side of him 2 create something evil. 2 Nigs United
4 West Compton. Camille and his ego. Bob George. Why?
Spooky Electric must die. Die in the hearts of all who
want love. Die in the hearts of men who want change.
Die in the bodies of women who want babies that will grow up
with a New Power Soul. Love Life, Lovesexy -- the feeling
u get when u fall in love, not with a girl or boy but with the
heavens above. Lovesexy -- endorphin. Camille figured out
what 2 feel. Glam Slam Escape -- the Sexuality Real.
Tonight we make love with only words. Girls first. This
feeling's so good in every single way.
God is alive! Let Him touch u and He will quench
every thirst. Let him touch u and an aura of peace will adorn u.
God is alive!
Let Him touch u and your own Lovesexy will be born.
Let Him touch u, let Him touch u, and Heaven is yours.
Welcome 2 the New Power Generation.






[Edited 2/23/09 7:30am]

dothejump said:

I'd have to agree there. Parade was just so much fun, SOTT was I think his best imagined show and Lovesexy was just wow. ONA was a joy in a much more restrained way.

In terms of the feeling in the room at the time and the feeling that I left it with - Lovesexy was the best show I have ever experienced.

My SOTT show was cancelled so I can't compare the two on a personal level, but from what I've seen and heard, it was probably the absolute peak rather than Lovesexy but I'd take any show between '86 - '88.

For me: lovesexy is the greatest... the music combined too the light, the dance, the concept...

ONA was great too... but didnt blow me away.

Prince 21 nights blow me away too... and was the best Prince concert since lovesexy...

btw... I love parade, sott, and purple rain tour too... but lovesexy hit it right home for me and still does...

I was completely blown away when I first watched the Dortmund recording! What a show!!

I do understand why some wouldn't like the compressed version of the songs though...

yes! for many reasons; it has his best band, Prince style of horns (Eric!), a musical trip through his repetoire and a Prince in his creative high.

But it is also the end of an era or should i say the quintesses (sorry english is not my first language) of spiritual growth starting from around the world in a day till lovesexy..just notice the change of the meaning sex in his spirituality...compare around of the worlds temptation with lovesexy....

yes! for many reasons; it has his best band, Prince style of horns (Eric!), a musical trip through his repetoire and a Prince in his creative high.

But it is also the end of an era or should i say the quintesses (sorry english is not my first language) of spiritual growth starting from around the world in a day till lovesexy..just notice the change of the meaning sex in his spirituality...compare around of the worlds temptation with lovesexy....

I've never gotten the chance to see Prince live, I wish I could see Prince during those years but unfortunatly I wasn't born until 94' so I have missed a lot of great performances =(

Hopefully he comes to Europe this year so I finally get to see him live

But I have the DVD of the concert, and I have to say Prince is wonderful the whole show!

OldFriends4Sale said:
Songs made with the Lovesexy band
Make Yo Mamma Happy
Girl Power
Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic
the Line
the Future
God Is Alive
Joy In Repitition
People Without
Acknowledge Me
Still Would Stand All Time
Pink Cashmere
Rebirth Of The Flesh

[/quote]

Um, no. The only one of those songs to feature the SOTT/Lovesexy band is The Line. Some of them may be from the same era, but that doesn't mean they had anything to do with them. You're particularly far off on Acknowledge Me, which dates from 93. The Bonnie wail at the beginning is a sample. She was long gone by then.

Without doubt it was his peak in the mid to late 80's, I will never forget Wembley arena in 86 ( Parade Tour, London) I was 19 with my wife to be 17, we had poor seats at the back, but the whole place was up dancing, totaly rocking, it was raw Prince, very sexual very with it.
In the Uk we unfortunately had the SOTT tour cancelled. Lovesexy was a little more polished but in different ways as good.

He is a different animal now, musicaly better (when he wants to be) but a little safer, but remember he is 50!!!

I'm a oldschool Prince fan from way back and am more than partial to his 80's music, but I got to say i think he is at his live peak right now as we speak.
I was upset the US didnt get to witness the SOTT tour but I did make it to the Lovesexy tour. Great show
But i have to say he was a lot more polished and i had a lot more fun at the Musicology tour.
As a Live act he has never been better.

Granted, i do love his bravado around the Parade tour which sadly i've only seen in clips
[Edited 3/11/09 16:17pm]

diiinnnooo said:

14,heh? You are a young one.
Well, I have wanted a grandson/daughter for a while now....

Anyway, maybe this'll be your lucky year then....just don't expect him
to perform the way he did in the Lovesexy years.

.
[Edited 3/13/09 9:33am]

2 all thingz Lovesexy