I still have the original VHS tape that I used to record this Prince concert that was broadcasted live on European television in 1988.

Yesterday I watched it again (after it had been gathering dust for years and years), but, as cool and magnificent as I remember the concert to be that I had attended in Rotterdam that same year, it didn't do much for me.

Yeah, technically the band was quite good, but the show as a whole seemed forced. There was way too much unconvincing (amateuristic) and unnecessary "theatre" going on. That did not only add much to the show, even worse, it actually distracted from the band's performance.

Also some of his outfits look ridiculous! And OMG, doesn't Prince look scarily tired and skinny?!?! He looks like Gregory from the much loved track "Anastesia", if you ask me. I think this is one of his scariest looks, to be honest. His eyes look posessed in some shots!!!

All n all I have to say that the performances by the Revolution that I've been watching in recent weeks were way better and more entertaining than this performance. This Lovesexy performance would have been a much better concert if he had got rid of all the props and theatre, and just play the music as a band on stage.

Anyway, it was still quite entertaing to watch, but I must say I was much less impressed by it than I was back in the day.

Like the clothes, like the album, like the concept, agree about the performance of it all. The Delirious/Jack u Off/ Sister shoutalong pretty much ruins all three of them.

Having said that the slinking up the mic start of Erotic City is still as brilliant as ever and there's a few other great moments.

As with every prince concert since about 1982 onwards, too many medleys! Play a song start to finish and sing the last verse of 1999 already!

I completely disagree with both of you.

eye love the dortmund concert eye have the vhs films & a dvd copy & watch it all the time its a fantastic show.eye think prince looks great & the outfits r typical prince.the basket ball,the madness of superfunkycalifragisexy & bob george its just brilliant stuff.anna stesia is outstanding & lets not 4get the long version of eye wish u heaven,la la la la la la,shubobbebodyydoo(whatever) its very entertaining stuff.starfish & coffee,strange relationship the tour was fucking great eye went 2 many lovesexy shows & they were all amazing & dortmund is up there with all of them!

PositivityForever said:

I completely disagree with both of you.

Not at ALL!

The live bootleg of this is one of my all time favs, excellent quality and Prince and band at their best!

I haven't seen it but heard that this tour probably had Prince's most extravagant and ambitious stage sets, would loved to have seen it!

the best show ever recorded and officially released by Prince...

Nope. Can't get with you on this one. In fact, the more I view this concert, the better it gets, if you can imagine that. You look at the bullshit that he calls giving a concert these days, and you'll see the brilliance of this show. He was at the peak of his powers here!!

Not my favorite tour, sounded like a jukebox on constant >>skip imo.

But as a spectacle, brilliant, flawless, and Dortmund is a great show, we are lucky to have it.

101 said:

the best show ever recorded and officially released by Prince...

That would not be too difficult, considering there has only been 6, and only 2 of those have been complete shows.

I do think some later Lovesexy concerts were much more intense then this one. Too bad a later one wasn't shot in the States. You can compare between Dortmund and any bootleg VHS of just the solo dancing part in the spotlight during Glam Slam to see how he got wilder and more spontaneously energetic.

Of course by the time it hit Japan, he might have just been phoning it in.

ufoclub said:

I do think some later Lovesexy concerts were much more intense then this one. Too bad a later one wasn't shot in the States. You can compare between Dortmund and any bootleg VHS of just the solo dancing part in the spotlight during Glam Slam to see how he got wilder and more spontaneously energetic.

Of course by the time it hit Japan, he might have just been phoning it in.

I would say he probably was phoning it in. He only toured Japan after they offered him a pretty penny to perform there, and he needed the cash infusion because of the hit he took from playing the Lovesexy shows in the States not half-empty arenas (at times). He had already moved on to Lovesexy's successor and of course, the Batman soundtrack.

It was too broadway.

wtf:...... Lovesexy Dortmund is excellent,

Prince at his prime, maybe the greatest Prince show ever.

IMO.....

Fantastic concert for that time.

If it feels different watching it, like for me too, it means time has passed.

I enjoyed the 2009 live French tv shows as much as I enjoyed Lovesexy then.

TheDigitalGardener said:

101 said:

the best show ever recorded and officially released by Prince...

That would not be too difficult, considering there has only been 6, and only 2 of those have been complete shows.

Yes, so till we have more material to choose from this stays the best...let's assume suddenly we get footage of 'Small Club'' with superb sound and image quality i might change my mind...

101 said:

TheDigitalGardener said:

That would not be too difficult, considering there has only been 6, and only 2 of those have been complete shows.

Yes, so till we have more material to choose from this stays the best...let's assume suddenly we get footage of 'Small Club'' with superb sound and image quality i might change my mind...

Indeed, and I would be happy to part with my money for such a show.

It is pretty much common consent that Dortmund is Prince at the height of his powers and energy. Only on the Org could a little twat try and reduce its greatness.

If you dont like Dortmund you hate Prince. Simples.

davetherave6767 said:

TheDigitalGardener said:

swanny said:

It is pretty much common consent that Dortmund is Prince at the height of his powers and energy. Only on the Org could a little twat try and reduce its greatness.

If you dont like Dortmund you hate Prince. Simples.

I don't especially like Dortmund. I do like Small Club.

If that means I don't like prince then so be it.

alexnvrmnd777 said:

Nope. Can't get with you on this one. In fact, the more I view this concert, the better it gets, if you can imagine that. You look at the bullshit that he calls giving a concert these days, and you'll see the brilliance of this show. He was at the peak of his powers here!!

i second you. i watch this show at least once a week. the breakneck speed of the first set is breathtaking, sheila banging the fuck out of those drums, the band turn from the soul of adore to the punk swing of jack u off within 10mins. when you place it within the concept of the black album/lovesexy story it stands as a work of utter genius, the greatest live recording of prince's career. sadly after this the poster got his wish and prince ditched the theatrics and just let the band play, giving us the snoozefests of w2a.

the only thing i dislike about it is that schmaltzy interlude between CONTROVERSY and DIRTY MIND where he and cat do that very AUSTIN POWERSesque jump and pose.

Annoys the fuck out of me.

I can even see it in my MIND when im listening to the bootleg lol

Other than that everything can stay.

and the audience was AMAZING. i just love their interaction with the music.

alexnvrmnd777 said:

ufoclub said:

I do think some later Lovesexy concerts were much more intense then this one. Too bad a later one wasn't shot in the States. You can compare between Dortmund and any bootleg VHS of just the solo dancing part in the spotlight during Glam Slam to see how he got wilder and more spontaneously energetic.

Of course by the time it hit Japan, he might have just been phoning it in.

I would say he probably was phoning it in. He only toured Japan after they offered him a pretty penny to perform there, and he needed the cash infusion because of the hit he took from playing the Lovesexy shows in the States not half-empty arenas (at times). He had already moved on to Lovesexy's successor and of course, the Batman soundtrack.

japanese audiences seem more reserved also, i think he was tired and as you say mentally somewhere else. i was at wembley and the place was ELECTRIC!!! i get dewy eyed just thinking about it.

Nvncible1 said:

the only thing i dislike about it is that schmaltzy interlude between CONTROVERSY and DIRTY MIND where he and cat do that very AUSTIN POWERSesque jump and pose.

Annoys the fuck out of me.

I can even see it in my MIND when im listening to the bootleg lol

Other than that everything can stay.

and the audience was AMAZING. i just love their interaction with the music.

the audience moments that always stand out for me are the audience dancing during the intro to a love bizarre, always focus on the blond frizzy haired guy for some reason?!?

also the woman with the acoustic guitar, was she part of the band????????? lol

Excellent:

the only thing that is annoying me is the missing guitar solo in Anna Stesia.

Oh this was bad, those technicians should be ashamed.... not to connect Prince's guitar.

the show was broadcasted on danish TV one saturday evening in the fall of 88....

Later I bought those official VHS tapes, I have seen this show so many times,

I still love it.

I went to Lovesexy show+aftershow, the energy and hard work that goes into thoses performances we can't comprehend, including SOTT aswell. No one could do shows like him back then.

thedance said:

Excellent:

the only thing that is annoying me is the missing guitar solo in Anna Stesia.

Oh this was bad, those technicians should be ashamed.... not to connect Prince's guitar.

the show was broadcasted on danish TV one saturday evening in the fall of 88....

Later I bought those official VHS tapes, I have seen this show so many times,

I still love it.

i always thought prince was imparting some deep spiritual mantra to levi and miko, whereas in reality he was saying "my guitars fucked, but if we do a little side step dance and i clasp my hands these mofos are so high they'll never notice. ok?" you even see levi and miko nodding in accordance.