OldFriends4Sale said:

If this album didn't have so much filler, this would have been the Purple Rain of 90's. The huge mega Prince with awesome videos, songs, appearances, and performances.

nursev said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

I did 25 Prince videos (Sexy MF, Gett Off/home video, Diamonds and Pearls Tour films/videos) and the wardrobe source for conversation was richer with him...I mean who can rock a do-rag better than Prince? I certainly can't do that or the speedo-suspender combo.

Q: Mirror, mirror on the wall -- who would be blowing up your phone this week to say "yes," to your project---which is (details, please)?

A: I expect more music videos, I would love to work with Rhianna, Dave Matthews, Prince (again) and anything Black Eyed Peas. I do mostly car commercials (out of Square Planet, LA) and love the fashion, action, sexiness and appeal of this shooting.

July 19. 1991
Metrodome Minneapolis
Special Olympics

1.Diamonds & Pearls
2.Baby, I'm A Star/Peter Gunn Theme
3.Push

A VERY underrated album here on the Org IMO.

I often have the idea the Tony M. input on this album, combined with the more 'slick' image Prince showed during this area, makes people overlook the qualities of this album: That its simply a very fine pop-album. Maybe with less innovative and more traditional sounding material then 'we' are used to from Prince. But in the songwriting department its a very strong album IMO.

Take of Daddy Pop, Jughead and Push, and you have a collection of well-written / well-composed 'traditional' songs bookended by two longer, more experimental songs (Thunder and Live 4 Love).

The album is obviously aimed at the 'big market': the songs mostly being in one musical style, and being rather direct and catchy in terms of melodies, hooks and riffs. Its obvious Prince was ready for some commercial succes again.

But (apart from the mentioned, misguided 'hip-hop' tracks maybe) i wouldn't say he is acting like some big sell-out on the album: The songs are more simple, but definitely not blatant sounding. The production and instrumentation shows some more subtle experiments / new things (the way the drums by Michael B. are sounding: great IMO, a very prominent back-up singer in the form of Rosie Gaines, Queen-influences on Thunder, a bit of south-african Jive on Willing and Able, an almost Madchester-type of drumbeat on Live4Love, etc.).

In retrospect Diamonds and Pearls almost sounds like an early 'blueprint' for albums like Musicology and 3121: A bit of soul, a bit of funk, a bit of rock. Songs that are more traditional soundings in terms of their compositions and arrangements. A bit more MOR-approach.

The difference between Diamonds and Pearls and the albums i mentioned? The level of songwriting and composing on Diamonds and Pearls is simply a few levels higher.

General conclusion:

Minus the faux hip-hop songs i would rate this as his best album from the nineties. Yes, i think its better then The Gold Experience: more diverse in his songwriting, more colourfull in its production, and less filler. My verdict: 8,5 out of 10.

Riverman37 said:

A VERY underrated album here on the Org IMO.

I often have the idea the Tony M. input on this album, combined with the more 'slick' image Prince showed during this area, makes people overlook the qualities of this album: That its simply a very fine pop-album. Maybe with less innovative and more traditional sounding material then 'we' are used to from Prince. But in the songwriting department its a very strong album IMO.

Take of Daddy Pop, Jughead and Push, and you have a collection of well-written / well-composed 'traditional' songs bookended by two longer, more experimental songs (Thunder and Live 4 Love).

The album is obviously aimed at the 'big market': the songs mostly being in one musical style, and being rather direct and catchy in terms of melodies, hooks and riffs. Its obvious Prince was ready for some commercial succes again.

But (apart from the mentioned, misguided 'hip-hop' tracks maybe) i wouldn't say he is acting like some big sell-out on the album: The songs are more simple, but definitely not blatant sounding. The production and instrumentation shows some more subtle experiments / new things (the way the drums by Michael B. are sounding: great IMO, a very prominent back-up singer in the form of Rosie Gaines, Queen-influences on Thunder, a bit of south-african Jive on Willing and Able, an almost Madchester-type of drumbeat on Live4Love, etc.).

In retrospect Diamonds and Pearls almost sounds like an early 'blueprint' for albums like Musicology and 3121: A bit of soul, a bit of funk, a bit of rock. Songs that are more traditional soundings in terms of their compositions and arrangements. A bit more MOR-approach.

The difference between Diamonds and Pearls and the albums i mentioned? The level of songwriting and composing on Diamonds and Pearls is simply a few levels higher.

General conclusion:

Minus the faux hip-hop songs i would rate this as his best album from the nineties. Yes, i think its better then The Gold Experience: more diverse in his songwriting, more colourfull in its production, and less filler. My verdict: 8,5 out of 10.

This is a very good review of the album, I also prefere this one 2 the Gold Experience

Fantastic album and era! I liked the look and feel of the D&P era. The albums is almost a masterpiece, and would be if it didn't have Jughead lol. The album is classic though. I absolutely LOVE every song on it (of course except for Jughead). Cream & Insatiable are my favorites though.

I love this entire cd (even Jughead!!).

I love the holographic cover and I'm happy I have an original copy.

This cd is somewhat under-rated, but it's one of my favs by Prince.

OldFriends4Sale said:

That pic is from 1990, so wrong thread.

Heard alot of the songs from other things and various compilation albums. This morning, funnily enough, I put this album on as I hadn't listened to it in it's album configuration before. I really like it. Could become one of my favourites.

Plus Prince looks REALLY hot around this time. As somone else mentioned, that hair and beard, gorgeous

dothejump said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

That pic is from 1990, so wrong thread.

was Rosie in the band 4 Graffiti Bridge/Nude tour?

She sure was OldFriends,

Dr Fink wasn't in the band for D&P - been replaced by Tommy B.

pic defo from 1990.

FunkDr said:

She sure was OldFriends,

Dr Fink wasn't in the band for D&P - been replaced by Tommy B.

pic defo from 1990.

riiiigght, thanks

motherfunka said:

[img:$uid]http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt249/dboen/Prince%20Diamonds%20and%20Pearls/princedp33.jpg[/img:$uid]

While specific recording dates are not known, the song was recorded at Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA at some point between December, 1990 and February, 1991. It was included as the first track on 1 March, 1991, and 8 May, 1991, configurations of Diamonds And Pearls, where it remained for release. Additional recording took place on 5 October, 1991 (four days after the release of Diamonds And Pearls

Thunder

Thunder all through the night
Promise 2 see Jesus in the morning light
Take my hand, it'll be alright
Come on, save your soul 2night

Thunder!

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah {x2}

Love - nobody know just how it was born
Love first came 2 me with the radio on
Jumped up in my body with an attitude
Kissed me on the mouth and said, "Your leader take me 2"

CHORUS:
'Twas like thunder all through the night
And the promise 2 see Jesus in the morning light
Love said - "Take my hand, it'll be alright
Come on, save your soul 2night"

Love's kiss was running all through my veins
The bed started shakin', I don't know who 2 blame
Me or this flower right in front of my eyes
Is this my sweet savior or the devil in disguise?

CHORUS
(Oh, all through)

Thunder! (Yeah, yeah)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (Alright)
(It was truly, truly…)

Like rain falling on a window pane
Tears came 2 my eyes when I asked her name
Made me holler when it finally came
Sayin' - "Only the children born out of me will remain"

CHORUS
(Oh)
(Mornin' light)

Thunder!

We'll be alright (Alright)
(It was truly like thunder)
Don't do it like that, do it like this

Thunder {repeat}

(It was truly, truly like…)
Thunder all through the night (Thunder, thunder - yeah, yeah, yeah)
Promise 2 see Jesus in the morning light (We'll be alright)
Take my hand, it'll be alright (It's gonna be alright)
Come on, save your soul 2night

Thunder! (Thunder, thunder – yeah, yeah, yeah)

Thunder {repeat till end}

Empress said:

I love this entire cd (even Jughead!!).

I love the holographic cover and I'm happy I have an original copy.

This cd is somewhat under-rated, but it's one of my favs by Prince.

Love the entire CD too. Great energy. Definitely under-rated. I remember, I was DJing at the time and decided to play the entire CD whether anyone liked it or not - the dance floor was packed.

I still have lots of oversized, meaning larger than the CD holographic images. I sent Ben some long time ago, to put up for org contest purposes - but guess he kept for himself.

[img:$uid]http://s1.posti.../img:$uid][img:$uid]http://s1.posti.../img:$uid][img:$uid]http://s1.posti.../img:$uid]

I missed the Diamonds & Pearls era very much.

And I definitely miss THE original NPG line-up!

[img:$uid]http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/21303846/sn/799439427/name/the+NPG.jpg[/img:$uid]