Let's chat about the unexpected items you may have seen.

For me - Prince's personal gold/platinum award albums are displayed in the main hall just inside the entrance, on the wall that supports the staircase. But why is Madonna's "Like A Prayer" mixed in with his personal gold/platinum records? Awards for work with other / associated artists are found elsewhere in the building (e.g. Paul Abdul's Spellbound). Does the prominent display next to his own awards mean he contributed more than just Love Song and Act of Contrition to Madonna's album?

[Edited 10/18/16 12:35pm]

[Edited 10/18/16 13:55pm]

You don't have to contribute much of anything to get an award. I would say that contributing an entire song plus some parts here and there is plenty. You could play tamborine on a song on a record and get a gold/platinum award. I know a guy who sang the hook on a Tiffany song back in the day - he has a very high voice and she couldn't sing - and I've seen the platimun award in his house.

He gets the record because he was a co-writer and co-producer on that song. It's not just the artist who recorded the record that gets an award. A singer wouldn't have anything to sing if it weren't for songwriters or producers many times. Collaborators get as much credit as the principal artist. It's that simple. The people involved get the award too, especially if it's Song or Record of the Year. Song is a songwriter's award, and Record is a producer award. He also played guitar on "Like A Prayer", and "Keep it Together". Some of the buzzy guitar work in "Act of Contrition" is what you hear at the beginning of "Like A Prayer" too. He's on that record a fair bit, outside of "Love Song".

By the way, that picture link doesn't show up.

[Edited 10/18/16 13:52pm]

steakfinger said:

FUNKNROLL said:

FUNKNROLL said:

Next up - small rooms are set up to display costumes and artwork for each album. Lovesexy's door is closed with a sign that says coming Spring 2017. Right next door... a room for The Black album. Also closed with the door painted black. What could possibly go in there?

And what did they get rid of make these rooms?

3rdeyeboy said:

FUNKNROLL said:

... Lovesexy's door is closed with a sign that says coming Spring 2017. Right next door... a room for The Black album. Also closed with the door painted black. What could possibly go in there?

This blew my mind. There are going to be rooms for both the Black Album and Lovesexy, right next to each other ?!

Since there are not rooms for every album, I'm assuming he specified that rooms be created for the albums or other moments (Superbowl) that he thought were best or most significant in his career. Interesting that the Black Album made the cut.

If for no other reason, I will have to go back just to see those two rooms finished!

FUNKNROLL said:

3rdeyeboy said:

And what did they get rid of make these rooms?

I'm not sure. The rooms surround the atrium. I asked our guide what the small rooms had been. I was told they were planned that way by Prince. [Edited 10/18/16 18:50pm]

The rooms along the atrium were originally individual offices for PP staff. On the second floor above is (or was) another row of offices. (note the series of office windows in exterior photos of Paisley Park)

Can't remember where I heard it - didn't go on the PP tour, but I live in MN, so I think it was through the press somewhere. I heard that some of the individual album exhibits will be rotating exhibits. Unless someone else can confirm the source, though, I'd leave it as rumor.

FUNKNROLL said:

From what i understood, the museum that is being shown now will change within months or by next year. There are plans for expansions, special events & a hotel. I see the bright side in this but at same time slightly heart broken that Paisley Park will be much more different from when Prince was there

[Edited 10/19/16 6:42am]

0uterageous said:

From what i understood, the museum that is being shown now will change within months or by next year. There are plans for expansions, special events & a hotel. I see the bright side in this but at same time slightly heart broken that Paisley Park will be much more different from when Prince was there

[Edited 10/19/16 6:42am]

He planned for it to become a museum. And in great detail, according to what I've read and what I was told while I was at PP.


I was wondering if the album rooms would change (rotate). I neglected to ask that question while I was there. I do know they plan to change the exhibits. But in the case of the album rooms, I didn't know if that meant they would simply display different costumes, etc. relating to the theme. Or if the theme would change completely to a different album.

FUNKNROLL said:

Next up - small rooms are set up to display costumes and artwork for each album. Lovesexy's door is closed with a sign that says coming Spring 2017. Right next door... a room for The Black album. Also closed with the door painted black. What could possibly go in there?

Weird and to spookie 2 for ....me....... wouldn't go ...near that (room) ............ why would they even put the " Black Album " room in PP's ??? When he was totally hard, bent againstttt ....... IT..... ( umma blame it on the Insane)......

Honeybabe............ don't need....no cane (just let me walk).....

The " Walk "

Thanks ....for the information

VanGogh said:

What surprised me: I could be totally wrong on this but I wondered after seeing the beautiful orange walls in his office if they were the same ones from the 3121 album cover. Could he have taken the photo in his office?

I reached out to Sam Jennings on this one. When I hear back, I'll update. interesting question.

Update on the 3121 cover. Sam Jennings told me this:

The cover for 3121 was shot backstage at the NAAP Awards in 2005. If you look at the performance, he's wearing the same 3121 jacket. The walls were more pale in the original photo by Afshin Shahidi, but I overlayed a metallic paint image on top to pop some color.

So there ya go.

FUNKNROLL said:

Next up - small rooms are set up to display costumes and artwork for each album. Lovesexy's door is closed with a sign that says coming Spring 2017. Right next door... a room for The Black album. Also closed with the door painted black. What could possibly go in there?

Do you think they made the black album room, then at the last minute killed the idea and started work on the Lovesexy room?

(sorry, I couldn't resist)

In Prince's editing room they said he had a purple toaster oven and refrig in the closet.

I have the Prince App and if you look at the pictues of PP on the app, you will see that he had named the rooms including lovesexy, I don't have my phone with my so I can't look and see if the Black album is listed.

Awards for work with other / associated artists are found elsewhere in the building (e.g. Paul Abdul's Spellbound).

On the Spellbound album, Paula Abdul sings the song U* which is a song written by Prince and it was also recorded at Paisley Park. So if it is listed there, its to honor HIS work and contribution of his legacy and work. That is how I became a Prince fan, with that song U* on Paula's 1991 album.

tish9311 said:

I have the Prince App and if you look at the pictues of PP on the app, you will see that he had named the rooms including lovesexy, I don't have my phone with my so I can't look and see if the Black album is listed.

What Prince App? There's a phone app?

TrivialPursuit said:

Update on the 3121 cover. Sam Jennings told me this:

The cover for 3121 was shot backstage at the NAAP Awards in 2005. If you look at the performance, he's wearing the same 3121 jacket. The walls were more pale in the original photo by Afshin Shahidi, but I overlayed a metallic paint image on top to pop some color.

So there ya go.

Thanks!!

fbueller said:

tish9311 said:

I have the Prince App and if you look at the pictues of PP on the app, you will see that he had named the rooms including lovesexy, I don't have my phone with my so I can't look and see if the Black album is listed.

What Prince App? There's a phone app?

I was wondering the same thing !? If there is one, there better be a 'droid version, lol

Chas said:

Do you think they made the black album room, then at the last minute killed the idea and started work on the Lovesexy room?

(sorry, I couldn't resist)

I'm still amazed there are going to be rooms for both, and right next to each other ?!

I thought it was odd that you could see the outline of the entrance to the elevator in the atrium. They covered up the entrance on the other side but the one in the atrium was covered but still had an obvious cut out or space. Not sure if it was half finished or what....

PurpleGlitter said:

CandaceS said: