First off, I'm a long term Prince music lover from way back in the "Soft and Wet" days. I wouldn't describe myself as a "fan," (never liked the term, as it's short for fanatic), but you get the idea. So while this is no dig on my guy, I'm not the least bit surprised that the whole 30th Purple Rain anniversary album never materialized. I am equally un-surprised that no new album has not come about either. Inasmuch as I love the guy like the next Orger, his pattern of failing to come through on these much hyped projects is pretty consistant; unfortunately.

Saw him at the New Orleans Festival back in early July. It was "cool." It wasn't great, it wasn't spectacular, but it was "cool." For a guy who is so capable of bring the "dazzle" like nobody else, and taking you deep inito the waters of funk, rock, soul, and wherever else you want to go, I just plain wasn't impressed with the whole Vegas hits review type of format. I especially wasn't feeling the same old, same old (and tired I might ad) Janet and Michael Jackson covers: "What have you done for me lately" and "Don't stop til you get enough" WTF? I'm sorry, but I'd much rather here two classic Prince tunes (any era) than tired and boring J&J covers!

Not to bitch, but Jeeezzz already!

Although the dude is almost 60, he's still young at heart (seemingly) and I'm quite sure has many more miles of creativily left to go. But it's like.....why not put the sh#t out bro? What value is there in unreleased music that no one ever heres and that just sits in a "vault" year after year for decades? I don't get it. I do, in fact, get the whole notion of wanting to protect copy rights and wanting to get paid properly, etc. I really do get that! That's just being business savvy. But after all has been secured, let it flow man! And when I say "let it flow," I don't mean cuts like "Funk & Roll." Uhhh....yeah. I mean....let it flow...like ya used to bruh...from a creative perspective! I miss Prince "dazzle" music! Not that he has to be raunchy. Frankly, I appreciate the fact that he's matured musically and that at damn near 60, he's writing blantant and tasteless "who wants to fuck me" songs. Can you say Madona? Nevertheless, I'd still like to see the put the dazzle back in the cake mix. Otherwise, it's just plain old box cake. Anybody can make a freaking cake!

I have reconciled to the fact that the majority of what is in that vault I will never hear in this lifetime.

Anyone who has heard the new music is very aware Prince will be setting a flame with his fans and the industry alike with this release, dormant fans will come running, his peers will come running, every label will have only wished they jumped on this one. It's a sound and style unheard from Prince before.

“Patience is power.
Patience is not an absence of action;
rather it is "timing"
it waits on the right time to act,
for the right principles
and in the right way.”
― Fulton J. Sheen

[Edited 8/3/14 7:00am]

donnyenglish said:

All that I know is he always talks about how musicians should run their bsusiness not record execs but, despite his resources and popularity, this dude cannot release an album in the US in several years. I also find it strange that he is supposed to be the greatest live perfomer and about half of the 40 shows that I have been to have had sound problems. Everyone else at Essence had good sound, but Prince's set was plagued by all kinds of issues. Greatest musician of all time. Needs a manager and a label so he can do what he does best.

Prince is one of few artists who plays with a full live band, there are no backing tracks to sync the vocals with like many other artists who dont get plagued with sound issues have. The "plug, level vocals and play" method is a much more simple set up.

WisdomNLove said:

Anyone who has heard the new music is very aware Prince will be setting a flame with his fans and the industry alike with this release, dormant fans will come running, his peers will come running, every label will have only wished they jumped on this one. It's a sound and style unheard from Prince before.

“Patience is power.
Patience is not an absence of action;
rather it is "timing"
it waits on the right time to act,
for the right principles
and in the right way.”
― Fulton J. Sheen

[Edited 8/3/14 7:00am]

That's emotive.

But consider this....if a person has a world-changing idea but never tells anyone, then nothing is changed at all.

I believe what you describe is realizable, but Prince seems more interested in cryptic messages and dreaming on things he might do, than actually DOING what he dreams about.

IMO, that's a new side of Prince we see today.

brookinz said:

WisdomNLove said:

Anyone who has heard the new music is very aware Prince will be setting a flame with his fans and the industry alike with this release, dormant fans will come running, his peers will come running, every label will have only wished they jumped on this one. It's a sound and style unheard from Prince before.

“Patience is power.
Patience is not an absence of action;
rather it is "timing"
it waits on the right time to act,
for the right principles
and in the right way.”
― Fulton J. Sheen

[Edited 8/3/14 7:00am]

That's emotive.

But consider this....if a person has a world-changing idea but never tells anyone, then nothing is changed at all.

I believe what you describe is realizable, but Prince seems more interested in cryptic messages and dreaming on things he might do, than actually DOING what he dreams about.

IMO, that's a new side of Prince we see today.

he's had several listening parties, how is he not telling anyone? he's probably in the studio creating and fine tuning than wasting time over communicating every detail of the plan (whether complete or not), i happen to like the teasers, adds a bit of mystery which is Prince and increased anticipation, he's always been a doer, so many ppl communicate i'm going to do this and that and dont happen to do squat, more work gets done behind closed doors and closed mouths.

brookinz said:

WisdomNLove said:

Anyone who has heard the new music is very aware Prince will be setting a flame with his fans and the industry alike with this release, dormant fans will come running, his peers will come running, every label will have only wished they jumped on this one. It's a sound and style unheard from Prince before.

“Patience is power.
Patience is not an absence of action;
rather it is "timing"
it waits on the right time to act,
for the right principles
and in the right way.”
― Fulton J. Sheen

[Edited 8/3/14 7:00am]

That's emotive.

But consider this....if a person has a world-changing idea but never tells anyone, then nothing is changed at all.

I believe what you describe is realizable, but Prince seems more interested in cryptic messages and dreaming on things he might do, than actually DOING what he dreams about.

IMO, that's a new side of Prince we see today.

also the new releases will be under WB no? surely WB would have an official promotional plan for communcations around releases dates, etc i assume he's giving us what he can

[Edited 8/3/14 8:00am]

WisdomNLove said:

ReeceDSleeze said:

First off, I'm a long term Prince music lover from way back in the "Soft and Wet" days. I wouldn't describe myself as a "fan," (never liked the term, as it's short for fanatic), but you get the idea.

Fan is not short for a literal fanatic, it is a figure of speech describing one who is very fond of the work of someone else. For the literal definition of fanatic, try this one: a person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal, as in religion or politics. Most "fans" on this site are anything BUT uncritical as evidenced by all the complaining.

I know Prince likes his little word games, (CONtract, etc...) but Prince is not an etymologist. Not even on the hobby level. Taking words that originated in the Latin language and trying to twist the meaning by associating with unrelated words that are similar in SOUND ONLY is intellectually lazy.

Contract comes from Latin contractum, past participle of contrahere (to bring together, to bring about, to conclude a bargain), from con- (with, together) +trahere (to draw, to pull).

In short, pretty much the exact OPPOSITE of what Prince thinks CONtract means.

Prince is fantastically talented at music and certain aspects of the music industry, largely acheived by non-stop seclusion from the real world via his constant working disregarding of things contrary to his mythology of the day. This does not mean he's some noble and superior being who is any more or less intelligent than anyone else with a public high school education from the 1970s.

Carry on.

brookinz said:

WisdomNLove said:

also as we understand it the new releases will be under WB, surely WB would have a promotional plan for communcations around releases dates, etc i think he's giving us what he can

I agree with your point with WB here. Regarding your previous point, the listening parties and "work behind closed doors" don't even address what we were discussing. Letting a few people hear it in the confines of Paisley Park and working away on great masterpieces in the confines of a studio is fine if that's where Prince wants to do that. He's obviously more hardworking than many, and in my opinion is free to do this and rest on his laurels. He's earned them. BUT...to set the world on fire with his music so peers come running, dormant fans come running, etc. That will happen when he posts the music on iTunes with a group like WB that is promoting. When he actually DOES this, then I'm right there with you.

best to preview music in your own space to avoid leaks, i hear you brookinz, he posted a preview of "this could be us" on twitter for all to hear too, that should count for something!

[Edited 8/3/14 8:17am]

Blessed is the Day

That no Color meets the Purple Sky

Know PR, Know new album, so why even Try?

Working Sun up 2 Son down

Waiting 4 another Son 2 rise

Coming soon is past due

And when it drops

Will be a Surprise

SirComeSpection said:

Blessed is the Day

That no Color meets the Purple Sky

Know PR, Know new album, so why even Try?

Working Sun up 2 Son down

Waiting 4 another Son 2 rise

Coming soon is past due

And when it drops

Will be a Surprise

Why?

I'm imagining a "Reloaded" Purple Rain album included along with remaster/outtakes/live... that would be potentially awesome. I love Let's Go Crazy reloaded, a little nervous about a whole album after 1999 Remaster, but I'd be interested to hear that. Reimagined versions of his classics could be interesting, as long as they're only only companion pieces to proper remasters with bonus material, etc.

SuperSoulFighter said:

What's with you guys? The Purple Rain remaster is announced for November and it's early August. What's the problem?

Please link me to this announcement.

Beat harder, u may manage to kill it twice

SuperSoulFighter said:

What's with you guys? The Purple Rain remaster is announced for November and it's early August. What's the problem?

where was this announced?

In SuperSoulFighter's imagination.

I was excited about the 3rd eye girl stuff last year...but have lost interest at this point. I am also a little worried the remaster of Purple Rain will contain re-recordings or "re-loaded" versions of those classic songs. I have serious doubts he will release Darling Nikki or Erotic City untouched due to his religion.

Poplife88 said:

I was excited about the 3rd eye girl stuff last year...but have lost interest at this point. I am also a little worried the remaster of Purple Rain will contain re-recordings or "re-loaded" versions of those classic songs. I have serious doubts he will release Darling Nikki or Erotic City untouched due to his religion.

Harder! Harder!

WisdomNLove said:

Anyone who has heard the new music is very aware Prince will be setting a flame with his fans and the industry alike with this release, dormant fans will come running, his peers will come running, every label will have only wished they jumped on this one. It's a sound and style unheard from Prince before.

.... in Opposite World.

kenkamken said:

I'm imagining a "Reloaded" Purple Rain album included along with remaster/outtakes/live... that would be potentially awesome. I love Let's Go Crazy reloaded, a little nervous about a whole album after 1999 Remaster, but I'd be interested to hear that. Reimagined versions of his classics could be interesting, as long as they're only only companion pieces to proper remasters with bonus material, etc.

Yeah, I didn't like the 1999 Remaster either. I hate the way the third disc of unreleased outtakes had the sound levels distorted. I also thought not putting "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" was a dumb move.

Ok, so what planet are you living on? 1999 has never been remastered. Unless you somehow are confusing 1999: The New Mistake with Doug E Fresh? I hope not. I had really hoped discussion on that was put to rest a long time ago. That was a RE-RECORDING, not a remaster.

steakfinger said:

ReeceDSleeze said:

First off, I'm a long term Prince music lover from way back in the "Soft and Wet" days. I wouldn't describe myself as a "fan," (never liked the term, as it's short for fanatic), but you get the idea.

Fan is not short for a literal fanatic, it is a figure of speech describing one who is very fond of the work of someone else. For the literal definition of fanatic, try this one: a person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal, as in religion or politics. Most "fans" on this site are anything BUT uncritical as evidenced by all the complaining.

I know Prince likes his little word games, (CONtract, etc...) but Prince is not an etymologist. Not even on the hobby level. Taking words that originated in the Latin language and trying to twist the meaning by associating with unrelated words that are similar in SOUND ONLY is intellectually lazy.

Contract comes from Latin contractum, past participle of contrahere (to bring together, to bring about, to conclude a bargain), from con- (with, together) +trahere (to draw, to pull).

In short, pretty much the exact OPPOSITE of what Prince thinks CONtract means.

Prince is fantastically talented at music and certain aspects of the music industry, largely acheived by non-stop seclusion from the real world via his constant working disregarding of things contrary to his mythology of the day. This does not mean he's some noble and superior being who is any more or less intelligent than anyone else with a public high school education from the 1970s.

Carry on.

Despite being an English major for like ten minutes, I'm not smart enough to understand this, but you are on point.

pureTsexy said:

Here's my 2 cents... Prince and WB went to war over 2 things mainly... The Masters and the fact that Prince wanted to put out too much product. Prince was releasing an album a year aand was practically finished with the next album by the time one was released. I remember a time when he said putting out new music wasn't about the money. Hence the free musicology and planet earth and 2010 cds. Then listen to his Arsenio interview. He talks about the reason it takes so long to put out an album, and that since hes not under a contract, he doesn't have to be rushed to put out one... what? Who is this? And what did he do with Prince? He has flip flopped so much, that it's gotten almost impossible to keep up with his changes of views and opinions. But the one thing that USED to be consistent with Prince, was his infinite drive and desire to put out new music..regardless of charts, regardless of sales..regardless of record labels. Now, the one and only consistent thing about him, no longer exists. 4 yrs and counting with no new album. No Plectrum Electrum, no Purple Rain reissue, No new Prince album... nothing. This is not the Prince we all became a fan of.

Well, sort of...but you have to understand one thing NEVER changes. Prince absolutely has to do whatever he can do to avoid sales, while looking like he is chasing hit singles at the same time. Self-sabotage can easily be achieved by thinking you are avoiding self-sabotage, and Prince is the master at this.

But you are only sort of right about the new music thing. It's not like he's just put out a few one off singles here and there, he has put out tons of new songs...

RnR Love Affair

That Girl Thang

Breakfast Can Wait....and countless more

re-recordings of Extra Loveable, Large Room With No Light(ok...that has been out a long time),

Rich Friends, Hot Summer, and the list goes on and on....a few more:

Pretzel Booty Logic, FixUrLifeUp, etc...

And then all those rehearsal files, all the instrumentals like Menstrual Cycle

Fallinlove2nite was one I really liked for a hot minute, but it got boring to me after a few weeks.

So that's tons of material from 2009 on, and most of it well after the release of 20Ten in July 2010, and you can argue most of it is not first rate material, but some of it was pretty good for an aging musician.

pureTsexy said:

Here's my 2 cents... Prince and WB went to war over 2 things mainly... The Masters and the fact that Prince wanted to put out too much product. Prince was releasing an album a year aand was practically finished with the next album by the time one was released. I remember a time when he said putting out new music wasn't about the money. Hence the free musicology and planet earth and 2010 cds. Then listen to his Arsenio interview. He talks about the reason it takes so long to put out an album, and that since hes not under a contract, he doesn't have to be rushed to put out one... what? Who is this? And what did he do with Prince? He has flip flopped so much, that it's gotten almost impossible to keep up with his changes of views and opinions. But the one thing that USED to be consistent with Prince, was his infinite drive and desire to put out new music..regardless of charts, regardless of sales..regardless of record labels. Now, the one and only consistent thing about him, no longer exists. 4 yrs and counting with no new album. No Plectrum Electrum, no Purple Rain reissue, No new Prince album... nothing. This is not the Prince we all became a fan of.

This is a little exagerated. There's been Superconductor and there have been dozens of songs released and streamed online, including enough new studio material to cut a 80mn CD with it. Now am I satisfied? No, even with Superconductor that's still (if an album is released in 2014) an album every 2 years and that's far below what we got used to (even though most artists don't do much better than that) and even though I appreciate all the singles and streams I'm an album guy so in the end I don't get to listen to that stuff so much. But there haven't been nothing, if u look at my online discography u'll realize that we've been snowed under music over the last year and a half.