I think now that the remaster is under WB control, we need to look at the commerical aspects.

Generally, a record label can make most money from three angles.

1. A general purpose set to appeal to the curious

2. An expanded set for the serious fans

3. Multiple versions for the die hards

I would take a general purpose set as a given. likely a two disc set allowing them to charge a premium over a regular chart CD. These sets generally cover the main and rare aspects, with a couple of bones thrown in. Something like this.

Disc 1 - Remaster

Remaster of original Album

Disc 2 - Rare

Lets Go Crazy (Extended)

God (Love Theme From Purple Rain)

The Time - Jungle Love

Apollonia 6 - Sex Shooter

The Time The Bird

I Would Die 4 U (12" Version)

17 Days

Erotic City

Another Lonely Christmas

God

When Doves Cry (Unreleased Original Version)

Purple Rain (Unreleased Orchestral Version)

They might to shift 500,000 to 1,000,000 with the right promotion.

Then there is the expanded option for the serious fans. A great example of what could be achieved is Pink Floyds 6 disc "immersion" remaster of Dark Side of the Moon, an album with about same attention level as Purple Rain.

Realistically, sale are likely to be 10,000 to 25,000 tops, so the money is in making it a premium package. I would include the first two discs above, and then:

Disc 3 - Expanded Version

Lets Go Crazy (Full version)

Take Me With U (Unreleased Full Version)

The Beautiful Ones (Unreleased Full Version)

Computer Blue (Unreleased full album version - 7.30)

Darlin Nikki (Unreleased Full Version)

When Doves Cry

Purple Rain (Unreleased Full Version)

I Would Die 4 U (Unreleased Full Version)

Baby I'm a Star (Unreleased Full Version)

Purple Rain Credits Medley (Previously Unreleased)

Disc 4 - Outtakes and Rarities

Hello, how are U?

Possessed

Electric Intercourse

Fathers Song

Wednesday

Computer Blue (Full Version)

Take Me With U (Solo Version)

17 Days (Unreleased Extended Version)

Katrina's Paper Dolls

Wonderful Ass

My Love Belongs 2 U (Prince Recording)

Velvet Kitty Cat (Prince Recording)

Chocolate (Prince Recording)

My Drawers (Prince Recording)

Chili Sauce (Intrumental)

If The Kid Can't Make U Come (Prince Recording)

Disc 5 - Purple Rain Reimagined

The unreleased 1998/99 rerecorded version of the Album

Disc 6 - Purple Rain Documentary

Featuring:

Behind the scene feature

Warehouse Rehearsals

83 First Avenue Benefit Show (Purple Rain Tracks)

World Premiere

Reaction Around the world

Award Appearances

Disc 7 - Purple Rain Live

The Syracuse Concert - Remastered


Now flutter it all up with 12" box, film poster, When Doves Cry Poster, Backstage Pass, Ticket for Premiere, Tour Program, 12" Duluxe book with script and images, Prints of all single covers.

If they really want to milk it, they will put out limited variations of any of the above.

Is it likely, no. Is it possible yes. It all depends of whether Prince wants to celebrate the album or just looking at it as the ticket to regain his masters. If thats the case, then I see a two disc set max, with WB adding the flutter to beef up the price.

[Edited 4/23/14 14:21pm]

3rdeyeboy said:

I think now that the remaster is under WB control, we need to look at the commerical aspects.

Generally, a record label can make most money from three angles.

1. A general purpose set to appeal to the curious

2. An expanded set for the serious fans

3. Multiple versions for the die hards

I would take a general purpose set as a given. likely a two disc set allowing them to charge a premium over a regular chart CD. These sets generally cover the main and rare aspects, with a couple of bones thrown in. Something like this.

Disc 1 - Remaster

Remaster of original Album

Disc 2 - Rare

Lets Go Crazy (Extended)

God (Love Theme From Purple Rain)

The Time - Jungle Love

Apollonia 6 - Sex Shooter

The Time The Bird

I Would Die 4 U (12" Version)

17 Days

Erotic City

Another Lonely Christmas

God

When Doves Cry (Unreleased Original Version)

Purple Rain (Unreleased Orchestral Version)

They might to shift 500,000 to 1,000,000 with the right promotion.

Then there is the expanded option for the serious fans. A great example of what could be achieved is Pink Floyds 6 disc "immersion" remaster of Dark Side of the Moon, an album with about same attention level as Purple Rain.

Realistically, sale are likely to be 10,000 to 25,000 tops, so the money is in making it a premium package. I would include the first two discs above, and then:

these songs don't belong on there unless there's a full soundtrack album as it's all about Prince. The Time will get their turn but not quite yet

[Edited 4/23/14 14:53pm]

I know there is contention on these, but I think they do belong. The album was released as the official soundtrack, not as a stand alone project. Therefore, you would expect it to contain as much of the music from the film as possible.

If it weren't for licencing issues, I would want Modernaire and the film score to be bundled in too.

bigd74 said:

3rdeyeboy said:

I think now that the remaster is under WB control, we need to look at the commerical aspects.

Generally, a record label can make most money from three angles.

1. A general purpose set to appeal to the curious

2. An expanded set for the serious fans

3. Multiple versions for the die hards

I would take a general purpose set as a given. likely a two disc set allowing them to charge a premium over a regular chart CD. These sets generally cover the main and rare aspects, with a couple of bones thrown in. Something like this.

Disc 1 - Remaster

Remaster of original Album

Disc 2 - Rare

Lets Go Crazy (Extended)

God (Love Theme From Purple Rain)

The Time - Jungle Love

Apollonia 6 - Sex Shooter

The Time The Bird

I Would Die 4 U (12" Version)

17 Days

Erotic City

Another Lonely Christmas

God

When Doves Cry (Unreleased Original Version)

Purple Rain (Unreleased Orchestral Version)

They might to shift 500,000 to 1,000,000 with the right promotion.

Then there is the expanded option for the serious fans. A great example of what could be achieved is Pink Floyds 6 disc "immersion" remaster of Dark Side of the Moon, an album with about same attention level as Purple Rain.

Realistically, sale are likely to be 10,000 to 25,000 tops, so the money is in making it a premium package. I would include the first two discs above, and then:

these songs don't belong on there unless there's a full soundtrack album as it's all about Prince. The Time will get their turn but not quite yet

[Edited 4/23/14 14:53pm]

Thank u

Pentacle said:

Longer versions of The Beautiful Ones and Purple Rain should not be released, as they were edited for good reasons. Releasing them actually diminishes the official versions....

Sometimes you don't want to know how things are done, if you know what I mean.

I personally agree.... but someone else won't. Which is why I think they should just include everything they possibly can. It's the old "what would a 1cd version of emancipation look like" question again; everyone agrees it would be great, no one agrees on what makes the cut.

jaawwnn said:

Pentacle said:

Longer versions of The Beautiful Ones and Purple Rain should not be released, as they were edited for good reasons. Releasing them actually diminishes the official versions....

Sometimes you don't want to know how things are done, if you know what I mean.

I personally agree.... but someone else won't. Which is why I think they should just include everything they possibly can. It's the old "what would a 1cd version of emancipation look like" question again; everyone agrees it would be great, no one agrees on what makes the cut.

Being an artist myself I'm HIGHLY interested in the creative process so I DO want to know how things r done. I hardly ever see works of arts in terms of "good" and "bad" anymore, it's more a question of "why" and "how", so I'm all for releasing works in progess. Nonetheless of course choices have to be made and a good outtake is always better than an interesting but not adding so much to the original alternate mix of an already released track, but I won't be mad at 'em if they put those kind of tracks

It'll be interesting to see if there were songs he had to edit to fit on an LP.

dalsh327 said:

It'll be interesting to see if there were songs he had to edit to fit on an LP.

Nearly every song on Purple Rain had to be edited.

Let's Go Crazy - 7 minute version from the movie, edited to 4:something for the album.

Take Me With U - originally had a longer coda

The Beautiful Ones - had lyrics at the end edited out

Computer Blue - Started out 14 minutes long, then 12, then 7, then 4. The 7 minute cut almost ended up on the album, but then he decided to make room for "Take Me With U".

Darling Nikki - had an guitar solo edited out.

When Doves Cry - Unknown.

I Would Die 4 U/Baby I'm A Star - both were originally longer on the original live recording.

Purple Rain - originally had an extra verse and chorus, and a much longer guitar solo.

An aside note: everyone's fantasy tracklists, even the massive six disc one detailed above, leave out the idea of any previously unbootlegged tracks!

[Edited 4/24/14 11:13am]

smokeverbs said:

dalsh327 said:

It'll be interesting to see if there were songs he had to edit to fit on an LP.

Nearly every song on Purple Rain had to be edited.

Let's Go Crazy - 7 minute version from the movie, edited to 4:something for the album.

Take Me With U - originally had a longer coda

The Beautiful Ones - had lyrics at the end edited out

Computer Blue - Started out 14 minutes long, then 12, then 7, then 4. The 7 minute cut almost ended up on the album, but then he decided to make room for "Take Me With U".

Darling Nikki - had an guitar solo edited out.

When Doves Cry - Unknown.

I Would Die 4 U/Baby I'm A Star - both were originally longer on the original live recording.

Purple Rain - originally had an extra verse and chorus, and a much longer guitar solo.

An aside note: everyone's fantasy tracklists, even the massive six disc one detailed above, leave out the idea of any previously unbootlegged tracks!

[Edited 4/24/14 11:13am]

Mine doesn't

Pentacle said:

Longer versions of The Beautiful Ones and Purple Rain should not be released, as they were edited for good reasons. Releasing them actually diminishes the official versions....

Sometimes you don't want to know how things are done, if you know what I mean.

agree about PR. TBO? no.

Judging by different track lists on this thread, there is no way he is going to make everyone happy.

From excitement a week ago to eh now.

jaawwnn said:

It's the old "what would a 1cd version of emancipation look like" question again; everyone agrees it would be great, no one agrees on what makes the cut.

.

I woudln't agree that it would be great, IMHO Emancipation can be reduced to a decent EP at best, the rest is rubbish. The simple fact that there's no consensus on the 1CD tracklist basically tells you that most of it is rubbish, it's just that most people have different opinions which tracks are more rubbish than the others.

.

(But this is not the topic of this discussion.)

IstenSzek said:

however, i always get the impression that when groups or artists release a limited edition

superdeluxe set, they always sell out very quickly and they're pretty expensive. so to me

it always seems like they are a win-win situation.

take the ulta deluxe set of "Ghosts" by NIN, which you probably own. how many did they

make of those? i'm quite sure they were just about sold out at the pre-order stage.

.

2500 copies, sold out in pre-order about an hour or so after it went live. I was debating myself whether I'd want to spend so much and in the meantime all of them got sold. Still kicking myself for that one.

.

the thing with prince is that bigger releases, like crystal ball, tend to be executed poorly,

from the content right down to the packaging.

.

CB is P pissing all over his fans from a great height. I recall when the real tracklists were leaked and I calculated that each disc was approx. 45 minutes and I said that those tracklists better be a joke. Everything about CB was a disgrace.

.

my main cause for hope on these remasters is that they are (probably) being created in

partnership with Warners who will hopefully colaborate on packaging and content.

.

That's my hope too, WB does seem to get plenty of these kind of releases right. I'm just hoping they get all the cooperation from P they need, and no obstruction.

BartVanHemelen said:

Pentacle said:

Longer versions of The Beautiful Ones and Purple Rain should not be released, as they were edited for good reasons.

.

Plenty of those edits were done because vinyl can only take 20-odd minutes of music on each side. The fact remains that plenty of PR tracks did get an extended version live, so it wasn't because Prince didn't like those extended versions. He designed this album to be a hit.

.

If there had been a decent re-release project before we wouldn't be having this discussion. Imagine that we'd gotten:

- 10 yr edition in 1995: PR + B-Sides, 12"s etc. plus DVD+2CD of Syracuse.

- 20yr edition in 2005 with additional outtakes and longer versions, perhaps the 1983 gig where PR was recorded.

- 25yr edition in 2010 that focuses on the resulting tour with several concert recordings that show the evolution of the tour, some audio only, some also on video. Obviously includes the legendary 1984 birthday gig, perhaps also some rehearsal audio/video as part of an extended documentary.

.

This 30yr edition is simply never going to satisfy anyone, for the simple reason that it is supposed to make up for decades of neglect, and also because there's simply so much material. IMHO this is our one and only chance, because Prince has displayed over and over again that he can't be trusted with his current material and certainly not with his archived material.

.

So if we don't get an stupefyingly, all-encompassing package that includes the full-length version of tracks, various gigs etc. NOW, we'll NEVER get it. Look at how most Beatles releases of the past decades are basically scraping the barrel over and over again -- and consider that when it comes to Prince there are numerous possibilities yet to explore. We could be drowning in fantastic archival releases, instead there's... well, nothing, really.

.

Michael Jackson's Bad got a 2+ hours long documentary that got broadcast everywhere I looked. IMHO PR is a vastly superior and more important album and deserves that treatment, hell it deserves a whole series simply because there is so much to tell.

jdcxc said:

Bart- it appears you have a lot of knowledge in the field. Have you thought about reaching out to the P team for some contract work on this massive WB undertaking? I know you irrationally detest any post-1996 stuff, but it appears you have a good critical and tech ear for this project.

.

If they need my input, then this project is DOA. What I'm saying should be basic knowledge for those involved.

I get what Databank and Bart are saying about the original longer/extended versions of for instance The Beautiful Ones.

It's just my opinion that the additional words ruin that song, and that it was edited down because of that. The only thing you'll get from hearing the full-length version is: 'Oh yes, I understand why he cut that'.

Re the Beatles Anthology: there are still a lot of tracks that were never released, and that are not 'bottom of the barrel' tracks. But some got vetoed for some reasons, plus Apple/Paul & co have lied in public, saying 'Well, that's all there is'. It just isn't true.

See for instance that collection that was on iTunes for, what, one hour, and included two demos never before officially released (of songs that the Beatles never recorded for their own use).

BartVanHemelen said:

IstenSzek said:

however, i always get the impression that when groups or artists release a limited edition

superdeluxe set, they always sell out very quickly and they're pretty expensive. so to me

it always seems like they are a win-win situation.

take the ulta deluxe set of "Ghosts" by NIN, which you probably own. how many did they

make of those? i'm quite sure they were just about sold out at the pre-order stage.

.

2500 copies, sold out in pre-order about an hour or so after it went live. I was debating myself whether I'd want to spend so much and in the meantime all of them got sold. Still kicking myself for that one.

.

.

CB is P pissing all over his fans from a great height. I recall when the real tracklists were leaked and I calculated that each disc was approx. 45 minutes and I said that those tracklists better be a joke. Everything about CB was a disgrace.

.

my main cause for hope on these remasters is that they are (probably) being created in

partnership with Warners who will hopefully colaborate on packaging and content.

.

That's my hope too, WB does seem to get plenty of these kind of releases right. I'm just hoping they get all the cooperation from P they need, and no obstruction.

wow, that set sold out quick but i guess that's what you can expect when you have a loyal

and solid fanbase, whom you treat with respect, and then offer them high quality product

All sounds great, but it will be exactly the same songs that were on it to begin with, since it is simply a remaster, not a new cut of the album.

leadline said:

All sounds great, but it will be exactly the same songs that were on it to begin with, since it is simply a remaster, not a new cut of the album.

ehhh please read the press release

smokeverbs said:

dalsh327 said:

It'll be interesting to see if there were songs he had to edit to fit on an LP.

Nearly every song on Purple Rain had to be edited.

Let's Go Crazy - 7 minute version from the movie, edited to 4:something for the album.

Take Me With U - originally had a longer coda

The Beautiful Ones - had lyrics at the end edited out

Computer Blue - Started out 14 minutes long, then 12, then 7, then 4. The 7 minute cut almost ended up on the album, but then he decided to make room for "Take Me With U".

Darling Nikki - had an guitar solo edited out.

When Doves Cry - Unknown.

I Would Die 4 U/Baby I'm A Star - both were originally longer on the original live recording.

Purple Rain - originally had an extra verse and chorus, and a much longer guitar solo.

An aside note: everyone's fantasy tracklists, even the massive six disc one detailed above, leave out the idea of any previously unbootlegged tracks!

[Edited 4/24/14 11:13am]

Surely Father's Song and Wednesday count as unbootlegged tracks, and most of the fantasy tracklists mention them. Incidentally does anyone know what the studio version of Father's Song might sound like, is it simply like it was in the film without dialogue on top, or is it a different recording. In any case, it seems more like a variation on Computer Blue than a full song in its own right, though it would obviously be nice to have it.

I somehow missed the unheard cuts in your tracklist, Databank. Oops.

Pentacle said:

leadline said:

All sounds great, but it will be exactly the same songs that were on it to begin with, since it is simply a remaster, not a new cut of the album.

ehhh please read the press release

prince says we will get treasure troves of unreleasd material right? that doesn't necessarily mean they will show up on the remastered albums, in my opinion the unreleased stuff will be a crystal ball kinda thing.

leadline said:

Pentacle said:

ehhh please read the press release

prince says we will get treasure troves of unreleasd material right? that doesn't necessarily mean they will show up on the remastered albums, in my opinion the unreleased stuff will be a crystal ball kinda thing.

Well, that would me/us happy too, of course. As long as I don't have to wait for it another ten years.

I can't imagine Prince not wanting to get praise for all that material. He can't get that ego boost when he's dead. Same goes for Paul McCartney: all the recently remastered albums have gotten great press (as opposed to their original release in the 70's), and yet it all moves at a snail's pace. And Paul is much older than Prince... It's crazy....

IstenSzek said:

wow, that set sold out quick but i guess that's what you can expect when you have a loyal

and solid fanbase, whom you treat with respect, and then offer them high quality product

.

Hmmm, seems I was wrong according to the NIN wiki, it took a day or so (announced March 2, sold out on March 4).

BartVanHemelen said:

IstenSzek said:

wow, that set sold out quick but i guess that's what you can expect when you have a loyal

and solid fanbase, whom you treat with respect, and then offer them high quality product

.

Hmmm, seems I was wrong according to the NIN wiki, it took a day or so (announced March 2, sold out on March 4).

still impressive.

Scraping the barrel?

Only if Prince doesn't hand over the vault songs. Then there is no-one to blame but Prince.

The only thing you can often blame record companies for, is re-releasing and re-releasing stuff with one more extra track they supposedly 'just discovered'.

I loved the super deluxe box sets for Nirvana's Nevermind and Fleetwood Mac's Rumors, and even on a lesser scale, the deluxe remasters of Paul McCartney's 70s stuff.

They have an edition for the super-fan with vinyl and CDs and demos and unreleased stuff, but then you can also just get the regular album by itself. I really hope this is what Warner Bros is doing (and wasn't Fleetwood Mac's handled by Warner Bros?)