Emancipation, would it have been more successful?



Think about the time period in which 1999 was released. The acts
that were big at the time.

Do you feel Emancipation would have been a bigger success if it
had been released at a different time?

We all know it would have probably done a little better with
the backing and promotion of Warners (if they were willing, that is,
to indulge Prince in a 3-CD release).

But do you feel the timing of the album's released made a difference.




I certainly do. I think Emancipation is sufficiently meritorious that
it would have received critical acclaim despite the weak tracks if it
had been released before Prince's rise to fame with Purple Rain or
previous to the release of Sign of The Times.

sorry but it don't work like that

in 1982 Prince's songwriting was alot angrier and raw. He wasn't as good on guitar-he would NEVER have put out covers then.....

Emancipation-though not a fave-has some magical songs and beautiful playing and melodies

in 1982 he couldn't have done Emancipation

1999 was the perfect follow up to Controversy. It had everything.

TheVoid said:

Nice.

Bored again today?

Prince was Always great on guitar
always
why did you think he wasn't ?
rember
Get it Up solo
777-9311 solo

Has this got anything to do with the Marty McFly sample on Mayte's album?

better promotion or more big label input would have, perhaps, been
able to push the album higher up the charts, but it would not have
been able to make it a better album.

emancipation would have been a much better album if he'd included
some more rock oriented songs on it, or at least half a dozen cuts
that sounded more like "gold or come" than "newpowersoul".

on the whole, it's a decent collection with some great songs and
a few true classics (imo). however, the production is too lifeless
to spread out over a 3 disc album. to make 3 discs interesting, he
should have included something more contradicting in the mix, like
2 or 3 less polished, less produced and more gritty tracks on each
disc.

those could have replaced the downright silly songs that now seem
very much out of place, not only on emancipation but in his entire
catalogue. i understand he was in love and the rest and that he
was in a truly 'unknown' mindset, relating to himself, but still,
"we gets up"? really? or "da da da"? and what's up with all those
covers? they are so ott and sugar coated.

that 'lifeless' or 'over glossed' production is actually a tribute
to the album, i think. it's a unique sound and it works very well.
but it doesn't hold up if you have to listen to it for 36 songs,
including about 5 covers, or however much it is.

it needed a counter balance imo and it would have been a true classic
in ever sense of the word if all those weaker or silly tracks had been
replaced with more 'prince of old' type songs.

Emancipation was a victim of timing in a lot of ways.
Prince's personal family issues and EMI being shutdown was 2 much 4 this cd 2 get the attention it deserved. Just my 2 cents.

Here are the #'s for "some" of what Emancipation did.

* "Betcha by Golly Wow!" (#31 U.S. Airplay, #10 US R&B Airplay, #11 UK, #20 Australia)

1. "Betcha by Golly Wow!"
2. "Right Back Here In My Arms"


* "The Holy River" (UK CD 1) (#58 US Airplay, #19 UK)

1. "The Holy River (Radio Edit)"
2. "Somebody's Somebody (Edit)"
3. "Somebody's Somebody (Live Studio Mix)"
4. "Somebody's Somebody (Ultrafantasy Edit)"


* "Somebody's Somebody" (Promo CD) (#15 US R&B Airplay, #19 UK)

1. "Somebody's Somebody (Radio Edit)
2. "Somebody's Somebody (Album Version)

EmanSHITpation after 1999? Do me a favour!!!!!

It wouldnt really make sense..

TheVoid said:

What's the point. What makes an album good is the songs on it, not the era. Not 2 mention 1999 was great.

19993121 said:

BTW - Emancipation still sold 2 Million copies.

Graycap23 said:

The three CDs of lacklustre tripe didn't help either.

If Prince would have followed up controversy with Emancipation people of WB would have been very unhappy.