If Prince doesn't tour this year it will be the longest stretch he's gone without a major tour. He is starting to indicate signs of slowing down, which is cool, given his age and how hard he's worked in the past.

At least when Michael Jackson's inspiration dried up he did re-issues, released outtakes and a boxset to keep fans happy.

Is it a cheap cash-in by tired artists who have nothing else new to offer? Definately. But it's better than diddley-squat and I'm sure I can speak for many fans when I say that I'm more excited by the prospect of reissues and outtakes than I am by another new album.

Or do you think that the issues with Warners will prevent such things ever materialising??
[Edited 1/20/10 5:01am]

MattyJam said:

I wouldn't mind fancy re-issues, but I'd prefer new material by far.

If Prince doesn't tour this year it will be the longest stretch he's gone without a major tour. He is starting to indicate signs of slowing down, which is cool, given his age and how hard he's worked in the past.

At least when Michael Jackson's inspiration dried up he did re-issues, released outtakes and a boxset to keep fans happy.

Is it a cheap cash-in by tired artists who have nothing else new to offer? Definately. But it's better than diddley-squat and I'm sure I can speak for many fans when I say that I'm more excited by the prospect of reissues and outtakes than I am by another new album.

Or do you think that the issues with Warners will prevent such things ever materialising??
[Edited 1/20/10 5:01am]

Isabell said:

Even over outtakes and unreleased material from the 80s and 90s???
[Edited 1/20/10 5:15am]

While I liked Lotus Flower just fine, I think it's pretty obvious that Prince's best days are behind him. He's become a craftsman at this point, capable of producing enjoyable music, but it's not particularly inspired. He's going through the motions. It's not going to happen, but I'd much rather see him focus his attention on re-issues and releasing stuff from the vault. If he wants to keep releasing new material too, that's fine, but I think it might be good for him to take a few (or five) years off, stock pile the best of the material he comes up with, and then compile and release it down the road.

TwiliteKid said:

Of course, the answer to this though will be "Make you own compilation of the best stuff, I'd rather have it all than just cherry picked stuff every 3-5 years".

I, agree with yourself though, my main interest now would be QUALITY re-issues - not just "remasters" with a couple of bonus tracks, FUCK that! We've waited too long, and Prince's back-catalogue is important and neglected enough to get the "royal" treatment. I'm talking 2 CDs per album for all the Warners stuff, unreleased versions/tracks, b-sides, 12" and single mixes, PLUS stand-alone out-take compilations, preferably chronological, put together by people who CARE (Crystal Ball is the perfect example of how NOT to do it).

MattyJam said:

I wouldn't mind fancy re-issues, but I'd prefer new material by far.

TwiliteKid said:

Of course, the answer to this though will be "Make you own compilation of the best stuff, I'd rather have it all than just cherry picked stuff every 3-5 years".

I, agree with yourself though, my main interest now would be QUALITY re-issues - not just "remasters" with a couple of bonus tracks, FUCK that! We've waited too long, and Prince's back-catalogue is important and neglected enough to get the "royal" treatment. I'm talking 2 CDs per album for all the Warners stuff, unreleased versions/tracks, b-sides, 12" and single mixes, PLUS stand-alone out-take compilations, preferably chronological, put together by people who CARE (Crystal Ball is the perfect example of how NOT to do it).

"Seems" is a mighty strange word
Makes me wonder
What U've heard

In with new
Out with the past
Only U're Soul will everlast

NouveauDance said:

Of course that is every fans wet dream but does Prince stand to gain from this financially given that Warners own the master recordings?? I can see hell freezing over before he strikes a deal with Warners again, which is a shame considering much of his back catalogue is shocking in terms of sound quality, availability and overall presentation.

The content of these albums aside, I can't think of a single artist of Prince's calibre who has a more unappealing canon of work both sonically and aesthetically speaking.
[Edited 1/20/10 6:13am]

Prince keeps releasing new music every year just about.

I just love to hear his voice.