And is it worth finding a copy? It's rare to find on CD which means it's pretty expensive... but is it worth it? It's the only released album I've never listened to.

You mean the box set?

If so, I enjoyed the live version of Rainbow Children music better than the album versions.

[Edited 10/22/13 18:17pm]

thisisreece said:

And is it worth finding a copy? It's rare to find on CD which means it's pretty expensive... but is it worth it? It's the only released album I've never listened to.

Piano Album?

AMAZING!

It was in reference to the piano album, but I was just outbid last week on getting that boxset on ebay.

NOT my cup of tea: imo both (Live + Piano) -- those are very weak.

Joy In Repetition and maybe Strange Relationship are the only truly great song(s) on the live boxset, imho.

I don't like the Piano album at all, a collection of weak material, imho.

I love love ONA Piano

thisisreece said:

It was in reference to the piano album, but I was just outbid last week on getting that boxset on ebay.

The boxset generally doesn't have the piano cd with it. The version of the box set with the piano CD only came from the NPGMC.

thedance said:

NOT my cup of tea: imo both (Live + Piano) -- those are very weak.

Joy In Repetition and maybe Strange Relationship are the only truly great song(s) on the live boxset, imho.

I don't like the Piano album at all, a collection of weak material, imho.

As always, I am impressed with the completely different taste so many of us have!

I absolutely adore the ONA piano album... "U're Gonna C Me" is IMO far superior to the version on MPLS Sound..."Here on Earth" is so damn sad and gorgeous at the same time... "A Case of U" is probably one of my favorite Prince songs ever (yes, of course I know that he didn't write it, but oh my GOD it's so sublime!)..."Have a Heart" and "Objects in the Mirror" are like two parts of the same song to me, and it's a great song at that...

"Avalanche" easily contains some of the most impassioned, gorgeous vocals he's ever recorded as far as I'm concerned, and the lyrics really resonate with me, even though I'm not a former slave or an artist being exploited by a record label - this song is able to convince me that I am both of those things because he is just so passionate about the way he sings. Not to mention that fucking gorgeous melody!

"Pearls B4 the Swine" should irritate me in its blatant criticism of his fans, but it's just so damn catchy that I don't give a fuck. "Young & Beautiful" is (along with the album opener, "One Nite Alone") my least favorite on the album, but that's only because the rest is so stellar. Both of these songs can really hit me in my sweet spot on any given listen.

And then the closer, the instrumental "Arboretum" is just gorgeous...it's one of those songs where it doesn't need a video because hearing it conjures up an image of Prince at Paisley, content and playing the piano, with his doves cooing away and the sun setting on another purple day.

Seriously - my suggestion would be to try and download it because it's so damn expensive to actually buy...and either way Prince won't get any money out of it -whether you spend $100 on ebay or download it for free, he gets none of that, and that's only his fault for not keeping his catalogue in print.

As for the live album: it's much less impressive, but there is still much that I love about it (well, at least on the first 2 discs...the 3rd "aftershow" disc is utter shite, even "Joy in Repetition" sucks in my opinion, which is a shame...I much prefer the version he played live on the Musicology tour). On Discs I and II, all of the Rainbow Children tracks are amazing, and they remind me of the best concert I've ever seen in my life.

The piano album is great. Don't expect to be amazed by it on first listen though (you might be, but it's kind of a grower imo, it won't blow you away). Some of my noughties favourites are on there; Have A Heart, Pearls B4 The Swine, Young & Beautiful.

Grab it if you can, expensive though. Since it's no longer officially available, I don't think it will anger the Paisley Gods too much if you snag it any which way, as long as you make a sacrificial offering.

Thanks for all the replies, just checked out some of the songs, (Avalanche, Young & Beautiful), and really liked them.

I love it.

It's easy to find illegally if u want to listen to it until u manage to get a CD copy

databank said:

I love it.

It's easy to find illegally if u want to listen to it until u manage to get a CD copy

This is what I did..

OP check the Marketplace forum, thats where I finally managed to get wind of a resonably priced CD just last year.

JOYJOY said:

luv4u said:

I have 2 copies (as did most of us NPGMC members). I'm debating selling the unopened one in the future, just not sure yet. I have noticed the price is steadily going down, probably in relation to Prince's current popularity. It was near $250 at one point.