Prince is still an incredible musician/performer/song writer.

The main issue I have with him these days are his lyrics.

He doesn't have anything interesting and clever to say anymore.

Take the sex talk and cussing out and we are left with cheesy babble.

I can still enjoy it for what it is but..

Clouds is a great example, interesting musically, vocals are nice. But the lyrics?

Shockingly juvenile and dumb.

BartVanHemelen said:

databank said:

.

Prince did not have grounds for demands, except for including a new album as part of the deal. Warners had all the aces, and there simply is NO WAY the label would allow him to be active with another label at the same time.

.

And the facts prove it.

.

and PlecEl not finding a label - I can believe couldn't find a label who could afford to pay the advance he was asking for but with a reasonable advance there are dozens if not hundreds of indie label who's kill for an artist of 's magnitude).

.

This is a nonsensical "what if" scenario. Prince isn't going to lower his demands.
.

Plus: I'm sure those labels aren't even on his radar. They simply don't have the distribution network.

.

I'm 100% convinced 3EG was submitted to Kobalt and they told Prince "don't bring us no weak shit, we didn't sign some weak-ass rock shit, we signed you. Give us a Prince album and sign this contract where you commit to extensive promo."

.

The only reason you're now getting 3EG is because WB was sick of Prince's whining.

We don't know whether anyone had the aces or not, really.

WB had 2 possible scenarios:

- Giving back the albums one by one, year after year, to (either willingly or after losing a costly legal battle and getting lots of bad PR) and keeping making profit on those they had left until 35 years had passed for each, while those albums would have been competing with the remasters of the albums would have gotten back, released with another label.

OR

- Giving him everything back at once with a contractual guarantee that they would be the first ones to release the remasters of each album and the risk that would run away with each of them after each of them's initial rerelease.

For some reason they decided that the second scenario was more profitable. I'm no expert and IDK whether it is or not, but obviously they do.

.

As for Kobalt saying no to PlectrumElectrum I'm not convinced but given they have many major acts to their roster I could admit the idea, but I find it doubtful for anyway when the deal was made PE had already been announced as a 3EG release so they knew what they were signing for. Also, if WB could force O(+< to release it as "Prince and 3rdEyeGirl" instead of just "3EG", Kobalt probably could have, too.

.

One thing u r wrong about -and that's a fact- is the distribution networks of indy labels: save the very smallest ones of them, they all are strongly distributed in the developped world, I know many small labels whose records could be found in every average and major French city's record stores, and imports of US albums that weren't manufactured in Europe was commonplace. Of course now the records racks are getting close to non-existence in France, where more and more space is allowed to DVD's/BR's, books and video games instead, and we hardly have any indy record store left, so obviously majors will occupy most of the little space that's left. IDK the situation in the US and UK but I guess it's not so much better given that digital sales are even stronger thee. On the other hand even physical records buyers nowadays are more likely to order their CD's on Amazon than to go and buy 'em in a store, and all indy labels r on Amazon.

^

and 3EG are still on Kobalt's site, too: http://www.kobaltmusic.co...er=artists

.

Also if u look at the roster (https://www.kobaltmusic.com/page-roster.php#!roster=artists), besides a certain number of major stars they also have a whole bunch of very obscyre acts in their catalogue (how many of them have u ever heard of?), so u won't make me believe that they're gonna decline to release a album for any reason whatsoever. I know Sony declined to release Milk & Honey in 2006 but Sony is one of the big 3, while Kobalt remains comparatively small. This is ridiculous, u act like is an obscure musician who released a single album that sold 15,000 copies in 1985, while we're talking about one of the most famous and best selling artists of all time!

.

And as for smaller labels not being on his radar I'm not so sure. When he needed to find ridiculously small labels to release his non-WB output in 94-95, U Make My Sun Shine, TRC or NEWS, he certainly found them, and I'm not even gonna speak about Purple Music. STill, all those records were available everywhere and certainly knew where to find those labels when he needed them.

BartVanHemelen said:

dodger said:

serk said:

no, I don't think so. I assume that the pre singles will be:

U KNOW

THIS COULD BE US

FUNKNROLL

__________________________

1 ART OFFICIAL CAGE
2 CLOUDS 4:34
3 BREAKDOWN 4:04
4 THE GOLD STANDARD
5 U KNOW 3:56
6 BREAKFAST CAN WAIT
7 THIS COULD BE US 5:12
8 WHAT IT FEELS LIKE
9 affirmation I & II
10 WAY BACK HOME
11 FUNKNROLL 4:08
12 TIME
13 affirmation III

___________________________

you can see it on iTunes, that only this titles have the minutes displayed.

and for PLEC the pre singles must be the following than:

WHITECAPS

ANOTHERLOVE

MARZ

___________________________

1 WOW
2 PRETZELBODYLOGIC 3:26
3 AINTTURNINROUND
4 PLECTRUMELECTRUM
5 WHITECAPS 3:42
6 FIXURLIFEUP
7 BOYTROUBLE
8 STOPTHISTRAIN
9 ANOTHERLOVE 4:15
10 TICTACTOE
11 MARZ 1:48
12 FUNKNROLL

___________________________

I assume, that this singles will be released in the next 4 weeks.

by the way, the release date for Germany is listed on the 26th September, 4 days earlier than in the US.

Good spot and theory but would they release a single only 1:48 mins long as Marz is listed?

why not, you pay for the whole song and not for the length of a song.

RODSERLING said:

It's difficult because nobody ever did that. Never. So, it will be difficult to sell. LOTUS FLOWER/MPLS SOUND/BRIA VALENTE was a mess too, but it was sold together, at a low price. With 2 videos, the set sold only 600.000 at 9.98 dollars. I's a good indication about the future sales of PLUM and OAA.

600,000 at $9.98? Really? Try maybe half or less of that for 9.98, and a lot at 4.99, and I bought some at 49 cents. Within 3 months of the release, it was 4.99 in my area, and was down to 99 cents in around a year.

hw3004 said:

RODSERLING said:

It's difficult because nobody ever did that. Never.

Springsteen - Human Touch / Lucky Town

Ryan Adams - Rock N Roll / Love Is Hell Pt1

Guns 'n Roses - Use Your Illusion 1 & 2

Different albums, released on the same day.

To name but 3...

....and whilst I think about it

Prince The Hits 1 / The Hits 2 !!!!

Thank you for pointing this !

I really thought nobody ever did that, I'm sorry, I was wrong for Springsteen and Guns. But not for ryan Adams, there is a gap of six months between the two albums, that both were flops on the charts. Love is Hell part 1 is an EP, released very, very confidentially, not promoted.

I never thought of Prince's HITS, too obvious ! But it was greatest hits.

i also talked about the 2001 reeditions of MJ, that all flopped (at the time at least).

Springsteen : Human Touch was #2 in the US charts , runs for 60 min / Lucky Town was #3, runs for 40 min.

Springsteen released 120 min of music the same day, and couldn't put all of his songs in one disc (contrary to Prince). I assume he could have been #1 with releasing only one album, though. Of the seven albums he released after that, six went #1. But it's a great success, on the US, I agree. Outside the US, it was a flop.

Guns and roses is easier to understand for the general audience, because both albums share the same name. USE YOUR ILLUSION was promoted during almost 3 years...Prince's album will be promoted for 3 weeks lol. That's why I say It can't work, besides the first weeks.

Don't misunderstand me, I wish luck for Prince, I will be the first to buy his 2 albums when released.

I just think all of this is a waste of time, money, quality, opportunity, and I fear it will impact the future re-releases. I am far more interested in the WB 1977/1993 material than in BREAKDOWN, etc.

[Edited 8/27/14 6:40am]

TrevorAyer said:

Art Offical Age (Artificial Age)can mean several things .. one is the obvious reference to the fake plastic surgery push up boobs make up botox people .. and the other might be a reference to the horrible fake sounding music that dominates media these days.

Prince, whom at times considers himself an 'artist' can also be saying that his Art is Official as in, its not 'artificial'. This concept is in line with his "live" plectrum electrum effort and the fact that he is pandering to the vinyl crowd which generally suggests a more genuine artist as opposed to say the top 99 on the billboard charts.

In that sense the actual Art Official Age or Era concept works along with his 'real music for real music lovers' and the 'artist formerly known' concepts.

It's cute but with such a statement I would expect Art Official not to pander to modern production and writing trends. With the songs I have heard I don't think prince can live up to the concept he presents with the title, but it is still an interesting title.

Honestly, I think Prince was into De La Soul, and wanted to have nearly the same album title. Prince used to start trends, now he follows them. He's still an awesome musician, but he seems to fail to come up with ideas and concepts that are all that original. The Auto Tune he used on MPLSound and on Clouds is a prime example. It's something trendy that young people are doing, and instead of thinking of something else, he has to copy.

Despite my complaints here, his new music is still above and beyond what others are coming up with. I just wish he wouldn't copy trends and concepts others have already done. Prince just is facing the facts as an aging musician. I like it better when he copies himself. I don't like it when he gets carried away with sound effects like on The Breakdown, which was so great live, and the studio version from the PA at the Dakota shows..which I think did not have the Laser Gun Battle that the released version does...

Mindflux said:

RODSERLING said:

Humor. This site is full of negative messages against Prince, his women, his music, his wig, etc. I'm not negative with any of that.

I'm just telling things how they are. Releasing 2 albums the same day won't work commercially. they have only 2 months...Artistically I don't understand the need to split 1 CD into 2 albums. Prince always do eclectic music.

Try not to self-aggrandise. You are not "telling things how they are", you are giving your opinion. The statements you make are not facts, they are assumptions. And not entirely correct ones, as has already been pointed out by hw3004 who has disproved your assertion that "It's difficult because nobody ever did that. Never", in reference to releasing 2 albums on the same day. Simply, it has happened before AND has been successful.

Why it is beyond your comprehension that one cd is Prince and the other cd is 3rdeyegirl, which is why they are separate albums, is concerning.

Furthermore, WHY DO YOU EVEN CARE? I'm going to buy the albums and enjoy the music. How they are marketed, how well they do sales-wise or anything else is not my concern and shouldn't really be anyone else's? Unless you are a shareholder in WB, why would you invest any thought in to this matter? Care to explain?

Yes i was horribly wrong for Springsteen, whom the two albums were successfull...in the USA.

I was half wrong for GUNS, because the two albums share the same titles, and have three years of promotion.

I was not wrong for Ryan Adams.

I was dumb to forget about Prince's HITS though.

Why do I care about Prince's sales ? I just talk about it. Why do you care about writing on a forum ? Why do you care about this two albums ? I mean the new material was very weak. I do what I want, you do what you want, everybody do what they want.

If PR 2014 doesn't sell very well, the future re-release wil be released without bonus disc.

tollyc said:

stillwaiting said:

What It Feels Like...over The Unexpected? Bad move. Maybe we got some b-sides or something else.

The good news for you is u get both. The unexpected is now called wow.

Great. Something to look forward too. I knew it changed to Wow, but somehow overlooked it. I should have remembered that, however.

stillwaiting said:

RODSERLING said:

It's difficult because nobody ever did that. Never. So, it will be difficult to sell. LOTUS FLOWER/MPLS SOUND/BRIA VALENTE was a mess too, but it was sold together, at a low price. With 2 videos, the set sold only 600.000 at 9.98 dollars. I's a good indication about the future sales of PLUM and OAA.

600,000 at $9.98? Really? Try maybe half or less of that for 9.98, and a lot at 4.99, and I bought some at 49 cents. Within 3 months of the release, it was 4.99 in my area, and was down to 99 cents in around a year.

I don't know about that, it's worst than I thought. It was initially released at 9.98 $.

To answer to DATABANK, we are not in 1991, I'm aware of that. 600 k is a good job, because Prince had no (real) major record, no airplay, etc.

BUT it was 3 albums, each one was priced at about 3 dollars lol.

PLUM and OAA will cost about 30 dollars, that's not exactly the same deal

600 k album is a good job in 2014, but an artist who sells 600 k album in the US, usually sells at least the same amount OUTSIDE the US, and they sell 10 millions digital singles...

The two albums will be released in one months, and still no airplay, no music video, no word from Prince, etc. That doesn't smell very good chart-speaking. I hope people won't be too bored, or too disappointed by the material, and that it won't impact the PR re-release.

kidmelody2012 said:

Art Official Age Vinyl on Warners Australia is showing SOLD OUT....limited to create buzz or did all the world flood it with orders for the initial(only?) run.

For those still interested, vinyl pre order is still available for AOA and PLUM on Amazon France.

Rorywan said:

Prince is still an incredible musician/performer/song writer.

The main issue I have with him these days are his lyrics.

He doesn't have anything interesting and clever to say anymore.

Take the sex talk and cussing out and we are left with cheesy babble.

I can still enjoy it for what it is but..

Clouds is a great example, interesting musically, vocals are nice. But the lyrics?

Shockingly juvenile and dumb.

I'm with you on this. He still has his moments, but I don't quite understand how the man has totally forgotten how to tell a story. If anything, he should have more of them now. Granted, it's hard to find new ways to tell the tale (I know this as a writer) and lyrics are harder than prose. But he can't have nothing to say.

Hey everybody!

First post, although I've been lurking for years.

Didn't notice this mentioned on the site, forgive me if it has been already.

Does anybody else think the new album cover is an update of the "When Doves Cry" 45 rpm single cover?

New cover: blue sky with white clouds (including some "silver lined ones" in the form of the platinum Purple Rain records)

Old cover: purple sky

New cover: Prince is wearing three-lensed shades, looking directly at us but outer space is reflected in his lenses

Old cover: Prince is looking into the distance, but the two lenses of his shades reflect black

New cover: white turtleneck

Old cover: white scarf

Thanks,

Shawn

GettWyld said:

Hey everybody!

First post, although I've been lurking for years.

Didn't notice this mentioned on the site, forgive me if it has been already.

Does anybody else think the new album cover is an update of the "When Doves Cry" 45 rpm single cover?

New cover: blue sky with white clouds (including some "silver lined ones" in the form of the platinum Purple Rain records)

Old cover: purple sky

New cover: Prince is wearing three-lensed shades, looking directly at us but outer space is reflected in his lenses

Old cover: Prince is looking into the distance, but the two lenses of his shades reflect black

New cover: white turtleneck

Old cover: white scarf

Thanks,

Shawn

That's amazing! How did you manage over twelve years without comment?! Oh, and good observation regarding the comaparison of the covers. Hold on to yo' wig, fellow orger of few words.

GettWyld said:

Hey everybody!

First post, although I've been lurking for years.

Didn't notice this mentioned on the site, forgive me if it has been already.

Does anybody else think the new album cover is an update of the "When Doves Cry" 45 rpm single cover?

New cover: blue sky with white clouds (including some "silver lined ones" in the form of the platinum Purple Rain records)

Old cover: purple sky

New cover: Prince is wearing three-lensed shades, looking directly at us but outer space is reflected in his lenses

Old cover: Prince is looking into the distance, but the two lenses of his shades reflect black

New cover: white turtleneck

Old cover: white scarf

Thanks,

Shawn

You may be onto something but honestly I do hope not because where the WDC one was original, sexy and mysterious...the AOA one just looks rather cheesy in a bad Photoshop mimic type of way.

[Edited 8/27/14 9:21am]

teiemka said:

Art Official Age Vinyl on Warners Australia is showing SOLD OUT....limited to create buzz or did all the world flood it with orders for the initial(only?) run.

For those still interested, vinyl pre order is still available for AOA and PLUM on Amazon France.

I hope and wait for Vinyl on amazon uk

http://store.artofficialage.com/music/art-official-age-wav.html

has anyone purchased the wav? is it worth it? hows the quality of clouds in high res?

Lockwood88 said:

teiemka said:

Art Official Age Vinyl on Warners Australia is showing SOLD OUT....limited to create buzz or did all the world flood it with orders for the initial(only?) run.

For those still interested, vinyl pre order is still available for AOA and PLUM on Amazon France.

I hope and wait for Vinyl on amazon uk

I'm in the states, and ordered the vinyl from Warners in Oz. Is that an option for where you are?

[Edited 8/27/14 10:49am]

Cinny said:

FragileUndertow said:

Shop that now! j/k

.

Thank you!

.

But...cannot believe P is reduced to getting album title ideas from De La Soul!

RODSERLING said:

stillwaiting said:

600,000 at $9.98? Really? Try maybe half or less of that for 9.98, and a lot at 4.99, and I bought some at 49 cents. Within 3 months of the release, it was 4.99 in my area, and was down to 99 cents in around a year.

I don't know about that, it's worst than I thought. It was initially released at 9.98 $.

To answer to DATABANK, we are not in 1991, I'm aware of that. 600 k is a good job, because Prince had no (real) major record, no airplay, etc.

BUT it was 3 albums, each one was priced at about 3 dollars lol.

PLUM and OAA will cost about 30 dollars, that's not exactly the same deal

600 k album is a good job in 2014, but an artist who sells 600 k album in the US, usually sells at least the same amount OUTSIDE the US, and they sell 10 millions digital singles...

The two albums will be released in one months, and still no airplay, no music video, no word from Prince, etc. That doesn't smell very good chart-speaking. I hope people won't be too bored, or too disappointed by the material, and that it won't impact the PR re-release.

Actually, I think it was released at 12.98 US Dollars, and then reduced to 9.99 when they realized they had 14 truckloads of them, 4.99 when they still had 13 truckloads, and 99 cents when it was down to 7 trucks. Pretty sad, considering the LF disc is awesome, but young fans didn't get into it that much, and old fans are conditioned to catch Bart Van Halen disease, where a new release will stink without listening required.

GettWyld said:

Hey everybody!

First post, although I've been lurking for years.

Didn't notice this mentioned on the site, forgive me if it has been already.

Does anybody else think the new album cover is an update of the "When Doves Cry" 45 rpm single cover?

New cover: blue sky with white clouds (including some "silver lined ones" in the form of the platinum Purple Rain records)

Old cover: purple sky

New cover: Prince is wearing three-lensed shades, looking directly at us but outer space is reflected in his lenses

Old cover: Prince is looking into the distance, but the two lenses of his shades reflect black

New cover: white turtleneck

Old cover: white scarf

Thanks,

Shawn

Nice catch! Totally an update!

1984

2014

Elle85n09 said:

Lockwood88 said:

I hope and wait for Vinyl on amazon uk

I'm in the states, and ordered the vinyl from Warners in Oz. Is that an option for where you are?

[Edited 8/27/14 10:49am]

Just looked and yes i can, happy now, cheers and its on amazon france

[Edited 8/27/14 11:16am]

BartVanHemelen said:

databank said:

.

Prince did not have grounds for demands, except for including a new album as part of the deal. Warners had all the aces, and there simply is NO WAY the label would allow him to be active with another label at the same time.

.

And the facts prove it.

.

and PlecEl not finding a label - I can believe couldn't find a label who could afford to pay the advance he was asking for but with a reasonable advance there are dozens if not hundreds of indie label who's kill for an artist of 's magnitude).

.

This is a nonsensical "what if" scenario. Prince isn't going to lower his demands.
.

Plus: I'm sure those labels aren't even on his radar. They simply don't have the distribution network.

.

I'm 100% convinced 3EG was submitted to Kobalt and they told Prince "don't bring us no weak shit, we didn't sign some weak-ass rock shit, we signed you. Give us a Prince album and sign this contract where you commit to extensive promo."

.

The only reason you're now getting 3EG is because WB was sick of Prince's whining.

Yeah, okay, Bart...the bottom line is, Prince, after incessantly whining to WB (according to you..which btw, makes them look a little feeble, imo), got what he wanted. In the end, that's probably all that mattered to him, and I doubt very many fans concern themselves with how it happened...so, what's the point?

I'm only responding to your speculations about the fruition of 3EG release...I'm really not interested in engaging in a lengthy conversation about Prince's business affairs/dealings, which you seem to love to discuss or rather point out all of his missteps. I mean, what can/should we (fans) do about it? I guess, it's good conversation for some...but I do like to read (as much as I can) and am amused by a great deal of it. I LOVE prince.org!!

CandaceS said:

I will use 20th century fine art to make a point. This is the Prince of yesterday if he was a painter:

http://upload.wikimedia.o...roject.jpg

Here he is today:

[img:$uid]http://imgc.allpostersimages.com/images/P-473-488-90/7/751/93IZ000Z/posters/dogs-playing-poker.jpg[/img:$uid]

Hey 2Freaky, please adjst the size of your pic. Too big.

^No idea if you know how or not but: click edit comment button, in the editing space hold down and drag from the corner of the photo inward until it becomes a reasonable size.

Tx.

2freaky4church1 said:

I will use 20th century fine art to make a point. This is the Prince of yesterday if he was a painter:

American Gothic

Here he is today:

Dogs Playing Poker

You illustrated that point perfectly!