Se7en said:

I vaguely remember an interview about Newpower Soul where Prince is quoted as saying it was just "a fun album" meant to capture a party vibe of that moment. Nothing too serious.

Once I knew that, the "weight" of the album was much lighter to me. It was not meant to race up the charts, and wasn't meant to change the world. Just a party album.

.

Except that he originally was going to release it as a album (as announced in a press release which he later referred to as "rumors"), he promised it to multiple companies in Europe and ended up releasing it through a major label (BMG), he toured the album, etc.

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If it was a throwaway album, then Prince shouldn't have treated it like he did. Matter of fact, why even bother releasing it, considering that it surely harmed his reputation. When I bought it in the record shop, it still cost as much as other albums which didn't suck. I doubt BMG paid him a small advance. Same for his "this is a rehearsal" bullshit when touring: if that's the case, Prince, then how come I'm paying premium prices for this gig?

.

I wouldn't be surprised if that quote of Prince downplaying the importance of NPS came after its dismal sales performance and the damning reviews.

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[Edited 9/24/15 6:45am]

I was part of a 3 disc release...no? Prince Larry and Chaka. Larys was good for....No songs?...if I remember correctly...Chakas was good for 2...maybe 3. P's was similar. Out of 3 discs....4 to 6 tolerable songs? Sad sad period.

I remember I want with a friend to a show in that era...at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheater. Terrible show. The hitnRun show shortly after in San Diego with geneva and Najee...was even slightly better...and that says a lot....those geneva and najaee hitnrun shows Sucked santorum drippings. The fonkybalheads....OMFG....utterly embarrasing.

The supercute etc. singles were cool though.

BartVanHemelen said:

Se7en said:

I vaguely remember an interview about Newpower Soul where Prince is quoted as saying it was just "a fun album" meant to capture a party vibe of that moment. Nothing too serious.

Once I knew that, the "weight" of the album was much lighter to me. It was not meant to race up the charts, and wasn't meant to change the world. Just a party album.

.

Except that he originally was going to release it as a album (as announced in a press release which he later referred to as "rumors"), he promised it to multiple companies in Europe and ended up releasing it through a major label (BMG), he toured the album, etc.

.

If it was a throwaway album, then Prince shouldn't have treated it like he did. Matter of fact, why even bother releasing it, considering that it surely harmed his reputation. When I bought it in the record shop, it still cost as much as other albums which didn't suck. I doubt BMG paid him a small advance. Same for his "this is a rehearsal" bullshit when touring: if that's the case, Prince, then how come I'm paying premium prices for this gig?

.

I wouldn't be surprised if that quote of Prince downplaying the importance of NPS came after its dismal sales performance and the damning reviews.

.

[Edited 9/24/15 6:45am]

It's only speculation since P never explained it, but i'm deeply convinced that the only reason it was finally a NPG album is because at some point P and Larry decided it'd be more fun to release their albums as NPG and GCS instead of and Larry Graham.

[Edited 9/26/15 4:16am]

skywalker said:

Se7en said:

I vaguely remember an interview about Newpower Soul where Prince is quoted as saying it was just "a fun album" meant to capture a party vibe of that moment. Nothing too serious.

Once I knew that, the "weight" of the album was much lighter to me. It was not meant to race up the charts, and wasn't meant to change the world. Just a party album.

Exactly. I enjoy HitNRun because I view it as a beefed up Art Official Age remix album with Party intentions. To me, the intent with the album matters. I don't need/expect/want HitNRun to be a pillar like Sign O' The Times, so it doesn't suffer in comparison. Apples and oranges.

Why can't it be both? SOTT had Housequake and Hot Thing.

wow, the random releasing of Free Urself is another case in point! Dude JUST released an album! And he's like, "i have this track laying around, what do yall think?" It could be strategic and Phase II may be around the corner, it may NEVER see the light of day, but dude is FREE indeed! I love it

That's an interesting post you made there.

I've maintained for some time now though that Prince has been ever more increasingly in simply "being Prince" the person (walking cool, speaking softly, smirking, dressing funky) then he is with making really challenging and innovative music, and I'll stand by that. Something's....off...and too often the music feels lazy and secondary to the "look how COOL I am" persona he's cultivated over the years.

Someone needs to lock him all alone in a basement, spurn his love and make him sweat again. See if there's another "1999" in him somewhere. I get that he's not young and hungry anymore but his work just feels lazy and slapdash. AOA was kind of a good start and had some heartfelt songwriting but he kind of shit all over that progress with H&R and went too far. Something's just a bit whack and I think, regardless of artistic intentions, it's a lack of basic songwriting for the most part.

Nowadays, he's like an awesome graphic designer who relies too much on PhotoShop filters and Adobe plug-ins to disguise a basic lack of fundamental artistry.

good post though.

BobGeorge909 said:

I was part of a 3 disc release...no? Prince Larry and Chaka. Larys was good for....No songs?...if I remember correctly...Chakas was good for 2...maybe 3. P's was similar. Out of 3 discs....4 to 6 tolerable songs? Sad sad period.

I remember I want with a friend to a show in that era...at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheater. Terrible show. The hitnRun show shortly after in San Diego with geneva and Najee...was even slightly better...and that says a lot....those geneva and najaee hitnrun shows Sucked santorum drippings. The fonkybalheads....OMFG....utterly embarrasing.

The supercute etc. singles were cool though.

There was a 3 disc set but this was released standalone too. I definitely bought it on its own from a record shop.

herb4 said:

That's an interesting post you made there.

I've maintained for some time now though that Prince has been ever more increasingly in simply "being Prince" the person (walking cool, speaking softly, smirking, dressing funky) then he is with making really challenging and innovative music, and I'll stand by that. Something's....off...and too often the music feels lazy and secondary to the "look how COOL I am" persona he's cultivated over the years.

Someone needs to lock him all alone in a basement, spurn his love and make him sweat again. See if there's another "1999" in him somewhere. I get that he's not young and hungry anymore but his work just feels lazy and slapdash. AOA was kind of a good start and had some heartfelt songwriting but he kind of shit all over that progress with H&R and went too far. Something's just a bit whack and I think, regardless of artistic intentions, it's a lack of basic songwriting for the most part.

Nowadays, he's like an awesome graphic designer who relies too much on PhotoShop filters and Adobe plug-ins to disguise a basic lack of fundamental "artistry."

But then he draws something "picasso-ish" and you wonder how "accidental" it was and he shares it kind of casually, and you're like wait, were there MORE sketches with that? and he's evasive and nonchalant. leaving you explore your own insatiability vs. an ability to enjoy that ONE piece...until HE decides to give you another "snack" or a "full meal"