18 months after his 1st rel For You, Prince releases his next album self title PRINCE

with a more defined direction, this album like the first gives us some foundational themes and sounds that came to define "Purple Music"

Alpha Studios, Burbank, CA

Hollywood Sound Recorders, Los Angeles, CA

heaven-sent helpers
David Rivkin Andre Cymone Bobby Z Gayle Chapman Matt Fink Dez Dickerson
Oberheim synthesizer

Donna 1979 outtake 4:11

American Bandstand
Fire It Up Tour

the Rebels project

1st USA tour

Very special thanks to: "God, Perry Jones, Tony Winfrey, André Cymone, Bobby Z., Dez Dickerson, Gayle Chapman, Matt Fink, Bob Cavallo, Joe Ruffalo, Alvin Winfrey, Chris Brice, Jim Brooks, Thurman Brooms, Chris Brotman, Warner Bros., Pepé Willie, Eric Eisner, Charleville Music, Bambi, Brighton Artists, Cynthia Horner, Ted Astin, Kim, Barry Gross, Murray Nagel, Knut Koupe, Lee Phillips, and all the beautiful people who got into my first album.
I love you all."

previous

http://prince.org/msg/7/415093 For You era 1976-1978

In 1980,my mother was raving about a song she had heard at a friend's house.The song was "Still Waiting".A few days later,I come home from school and she's got the album and she's playing that song over and over and over and over,lol Anyway,that was my introduction to Prince.

Maybe I'm the only one, but I really felt like Prince exuded a 'Bambi' image. Maybe it's because he looked super innocent, shy, and young with big eyes. Either way, he took it to the next level because he looked and acted like Bambi but sang disco songs about "I'll be the one you come for" while wearing gold tights I loved this era!

I don't know why I used to love the album cover before, because that is FUCKING HORRIBLE LOL. He looks like a creepy gay male porn star. One thing I've noticed is that he seemed much heavier on that cover than he did in the '80s. And is it true they darkened the cover so he would appeal to the R&B market? he looked lighter on American Bandstand

[Edited 8/1/15 13:20pm]

One of my favorite eras! I think he adopted the perm look because he probably got tired of people asking him if he was one of the Sylvers. Never heard the "darkened rumour". "Lover" was the first time I heard his music and AB was the first time I ever saw him on TV. EVERYBODY in my school talked about his AB performance that following Monday. A week later I bought "Prince".

iZsaZsa said:

I love the cursive on his name. I would do this with it, but I'm too scared. [img:$uid]http://amywinehouseforever.org/wp-content/uploads/images/amy-fashion-tattoo-blake_390x570.jpg[/img:$uid]

The 1st 'released' recognition of Purple in connection 2 Prince

CharismaDove said:

I don't know why I used to love the album cover before, because that is FUCKING HORRIBLE LOL. He looks like a creepy gay male porn star. One thing I've noticed is that he seemed much heavier on that cover than he did in the '80s. And is it true they darkened the cover so he would appeal to the R&B market? he looked lighter on American Bandstand

[Edited 8/1/15 13:20pm]

I don't think it's horrible, I mean do a run of albums from the 70s, this is plain.
How do you get 'creepy' 'gay' 'male porn star' lol I've never even come close to that image.
He just looks like a mixed 1970s person who released an album lol

And I think the album like the first album image were both darkened. But not to appeal to an R&B market. Prince was clear he did not want to be held into on musical catagory

OldFriends4Sale said:

Marylou Badeaux & Prince / Prince poses for a photo with Right On's Cynthia Horner

Andre Cymone play a bass shaped like Prince's latter cloud guitar

From the band video version of I Wanna Be Your Lover(October 1979)

Prince - I Wanna Be Your Lover (solo) video images

Prince - I Wanna Be Your Lover (solo) video images

Donna

Donna, pretty as U can be (So pretty)
Oh pretty Donna, when will U ever see (When will U ever see?)
That U belong 2 another man?
And I believe he'll try 2 keep U anyway he can
Donna, I guess it's not meant 2 be

Donna, pretty as U can be
Donna, when will U ever see (When will U ever see? {x2})
That U belong 2 another man?
And I think he will try 2 keep U anyway he can
Donna, I guess it's not meant 2...
Donna, I guess it's not meant 2...
Donna, I guess it's not meant 2 be

Donna {x2}

Last time

Donna
A soft melodic, acoustic demo from 1979, this song is about the wanting of woman that belongs to another man. It was recorded for possible inclusion on Prince's self-titled album of the same year.

Prince -self title able release 10.19.1979

1.I Wanna Be Your Lover
2.Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?
3.Sexy Dancer
4.When We're Dancing Close And Slow
5.With You
6.Bambi
7.Still Waiting
8.I Feel For You
9.It's Gonna Be Lonely

3 I WANNA BE YOUR LOVER (2:56)
Produced, Arranged, Composed and Performed by Prince
Engineered by Gary Brandt
Assistant Engineer: Mark Ettel
Recorded at Alpha Studios, Burbank, California
Remixed by Bob Mockler and Prince at Hollywood Sound Recorders, Hollywood, California
Published by Controversy Music, administered by WB Music Corp. ASCAP/Ecnirp Music Inc., administered by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI
From PRINCE

I Wanna Be Your Lover

OldFriends4Sale said:

CharismaDove said:

I don't know why I used to love the album cover before, because that is FUCKING HORRIBLE LOL. He looks like a creepy gay male porn star. One thing I've noticed is that he seemed much heavier on that cover than he did in the '80s. And is it true they darkened the cover so he would appeal to the R&B market? he looked lighter on American Bandstand

[Edited 8/1/15 13:20pm]

I don't think it's horrible, I mean do a run of albums from the 70s, this is plain.
How do you get 'creepy' 'gay' 'male porn star' lol I've never even come close to that image.
He just looks like a mixed 1970s person who released an album lol

And I think the album like the first album image were both darkened. But not to appeal to an R&B market. Prince was clear he did not want to be held into on musical catagory

Those aren't even my words, they're descriptions I've heard several times about that cover It looks pretty creepy, the whole pose, the no-shirt, the staring into the camera, and etc.. Some Prince fans may like it, but I've heard a lot of insults directed at this album lol. That's what I mean

And yeah you're right, it is common. Like John Travolta's album had a similar cover

Out of curiosity, why would he darken the cover? If not for commercial reasons..

OldFriends4Sale said:

Shave that mustache and you have the Lovesexy/Batman era.

CharismaDove said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

I don't think it's horrible, I mean do a run of albums from the 70s, this is plain.
How do you get 'creepy' 'gay' 'male porn star' lol I've never even come close to that image.
He just looks like a mixed 1970s person who released an album lol

And I think the album like the first album image were both darkened. But not to appeal to an R&B market. Prince was clear he did not want to be held into on musical catagory

Those aren't even my words, they're descriptions I've heard several times about that cover It looks pretty creepy, the whole pose, the no-shirt, the staring into the camera, and etc.. Some Prince fans may like it, but I've heard a lot of insults directed at this album lol. That's what I mean

And yeah you're right, it is common. Like John Travolta's album had a similar cover

Out of curiosity, why would he darken the cover? If not for commercial reasons..

I believe those words are people deflecting of their own inner issues lol
I just don't see any of that. Prince stares in all of his pictures lol

I see a lot of Rod Stewart style in this early Prince

I don't know if it actually is, I could just be photography and wrong makeup

He is darker on his Controversy album too

* I just had Windows 10 installed I don't know how to make the picture smaller

OldFriends4Sale said:

CharismaDove said:

Those aren't even my words, they're descriptions I've heard several times about that cover It looks pretty creepy, the whole pose, the no-shirt, the staring into the camera, and etc.. Some Prince fans may like it, but I've heard a lot of insults directed at this album lol. That's what I mean

And yeah you're right, it is common. Like John Travolta's album had a similar cover

Out of curiosity, why would he darken the cover? If not for commercial reasons..

I believe those words are people deflecting of their own inner issues lol
I just don't see any of that. Prince stares in all of his pictures lol

I see a lot of Rod Stewart style in this early Prince

I don't know if it actually is, I could just be photography and wrong makeup

He is darker on his Controversy album too

* I just had Windows 10 installed I don't know how to make the picture smaller

You're cool with the cover, I dig that I just don't like it, but I think you may be on to something what you said about inner issues when it comes to some people (the ultra macho crowd)

I also think it was probably just darker makeup. It seems to be the most logical explanation. It would also explain his varying shades throughout the year lol

*keyboardist Gayle Chapman & Prince 1979

CharismaDove said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

Shave that mustache and you have the Lovesexy/Batman era.

Definately
I always see 1978 Prince when I look at Lovesexy Prince

i remember watching american bandstand back in 1980 and catching prince's performance.. was chilling with a bunch of friends and we watched it and damn lol it was quite a sight to see. prince looked flamboyant as hell. i really liked the songs he sang but hated that "dancing" he did at the end lol!

OldFriends4Sale said: