Bodhitheblackdog said:

bonatoc said:

Lovesexy is a swan song. It concludes ten years of constant research, pushing limits, artistic ethics, and sheer fun. It's also the death of a certain spirit, and that is why GB feels a bit like a zombie. The melting-pot, the American Dream promised in "Purple Rain", was nowhere to be seen by the end of the decade. People lost the faith Prince had briefly brought to them. The black man was now a "gangsta", way worse than the blaxpoitation caricatures of the previous decade. Respect came from uzis, heroes came from South Central. AIDS made homosexuality look like a worse threat to society than it ever was.

We would never seen this universal flower power ambition from him again. Lovesexy and the tour that followed is like "Purple Rain", a once-in-a-lifetime cosmic event. But it was far from being as ubiquitous, and for good reasons. Good taste and love for craft had become too rare a quality, after a decade of brain-washing, the acceptance of obsolescence in all things, and the spread hypnosis of speed as the only way to live. In such a world, we could only assemble and gather into a tribe. A universal feeling forced to be seclusive. Talk about controversy.

Of course we Prince fans look at other people kind of from above. We experienced our personal growth with a fantastic mentor: one with an indefectible love for honesty. Recognition of the flesh, mistrust of the system, and the pursue of a higher plane of existence.

Heaven, oh yes.

Beautiful and sad. If reading this takes us to such a nostalgic place I can only imagine how he must have felt remembering those times (he said he never looked back, but once in a while, who knows...)

Lovesexy is a magical album and Anna Stesia is one of the best songs I have ever heard.

Telecaster5 said:

Bodhitheblackdog said:

Beautiful and sad. If reading this takes us to such a nostalgic place I can only imagine how he must have felt remembering those times (he said he never looked back, but once in a while, who knows...)

Lovesexy is a magical album and Anna Stesia is one of the best songs I have ever heard.

Anna Stesia is a masterpeice, and is easily among my 10 favourite Prince songs.

bonatoc said:

Bodhitheblackdog said:

OMG bonatoc, what a gorgeous, generous , gift...you have me weeping...or maybe I'm just drippin', drippin' on the floor...will you marry me?

Would that be cool?
U... U want me to swivel in your love seat, d-don't U babe?

I was all of 22.5 months old when Prince released this album, but I have watched the Dortmund show and I must say, Cat Glover was an AMAZING dancer!!!

I know that Prince intended for Lovesexy to be played as a whole but how would u rank the songs individually? For me it goes:

.

I Wish U Heaven

Anna Stesia

Eye No

Alphabet St

Positivity

When 2 R In Love

Glam Slam

Lovesexy

Dance On

206Michelle said:

ColorShock said:

ColorShock said:

I know that Prince intended for Lovesexy to be played as a whole but how would u rank the songs individually? For me it goes:

.

I Wish U Heaven

Anna Stesia

Eye No

Alphabet St

Positivity

When 2 R In Love

Glam Slam

Lovesexy

Dance On

This is strictly in order of my preference:

.

1. Anna Stesia (This is my favourite song from this album by a mile. It's absolutely incredible!)

2. Lovesexy

3. Eye No

4. Glam Slam

5. Positivity

6. I Wish U Heaven

7a. Alphabet Street (tied with W2RIL)

7b. When 2R in Love (tied with AS)

9. Dance On (This is the one song on the album that I dislike. It's not a strong dislike, but I don't care for it and usually fast-forward through it.)

[Edited 7/14/17 14:40pm]

Yewdale said:

sonshine said:

214 said: [Edited 7/13/17 21:37pm]

From the day I bought Lovesexy back in May 1988, through to today, I have always thought of it as being the perfect example of an album that is far greater than the sum of its parts. For me at least, singling out certain songs on Lovesexy to determine its greatness (or lack of) misses the intended point of its creator. This album was designed to be listened to as one piece of music, and just as Mozart's Don Giovanni isn't riveting throughout, boy is it an amazing experience as a whole if you stick with it.

Lovesexy wouldn't rate in my top 10 Prince albums if judged on a track by track basis, but it rates in my top 5 as an overall piece of work. But of of course it's all subjective and whatever Prince intended Lovesexy to be as a listening experience, you hear his music through your own ears.... not his, and so if for you two there's nothing great about Lovesexy then that's cool. There is love on here for albums like The Rainbow Children and yet I wouldn't even tarnish a good coffee mug on the CD using it as a coaster.

I never fail to be fascinated by the differeing tastes of Prince fans within his own body of work.

Fair enough, perhaps i should take a listen with an open mind and new ears. And as you say as a whole experience.

214 said:

Fair enough, perhaps i should take a listen with an open mind and new ears. And as you say as a whole experience.

If you let me give a piece of advice, immerse yourself for a week in SOTT (SOTT the single video, maxi-singles in order of appearance with B-sides, Album, Movie) and then a week with the Black Album.

The start with the "Alphabet Street" video, Lovesexy the Album, the "Glam Slam" video, "Escape" from the maxi-single, and "Dortmund '88".
Finish with the "I Wish U Heaven" video, "I Wish U Heaven part I, II & III", and" Scarlet Pussy" (wich is a Camille B-side, the only one of its kind, like the Endorphinmachine).
Then "Good Love" (either from "Bright Lights, Big City" or "Crystal Ball").

As a dessert, Small Club Trojan Horse.

Then listen to "Heaven" from 1985, because Lovesexy was already a sound production formed back then. It just needed more gospel sexy songs, and the political layers, mandatory by one of the Geminis in Skipper's head (the one with the baton).

Have a look at the Auerswald guitar.
Have a look at the original maxi-single transparent sleeves and their stickers on Discogs.

Now listen to Lovesexy again, no cheating, from start to finish, no interruptions, in the dark, with a relaxed body and open ears and some serious headphones and player. Best lyrics he's ever written, everywhere abound. Let the bizarre mix get you: there's a myriad of arrangements crazyness hidden, like small 3-seconds diamonds.

If you're not mouth open while the shores of Positivity welcome you the a paradisiac island, start all over this list, from the top: To be welcomed to the New Power Generation is an act of Faith, and time. If you're still stubborn, start with "For You", and climb up the ladder again.

This is not music, this is a trip.

[Edited 7/14/17 16:17pm]

bonatoc said:

214 said:

Fair enough, perhaps i should take a listen with an open mind and new ears. And as you say as a whole experience.

If you let me give a piece of advice, immerse yourself for a week in SOTT (SOTT the single video, maxi-singles in order of appearance with B-sides, Album, Movie) and then a week with the Black Album.

The start with the "Alphabet Street" video, Lovesexy the Album, the "Glam Slam" video, "Escape" from the maxi-single, and "Dortmund '88".
Finish with the "I Wish U Heaven" video, "I Wish U Heaven part I, II & III", and" Scarlet Pussy" (wich is a Camille B-side, the only one of its kind, like the Endorphinmachine).
Then "Good Love" (either from "Bright Lights, Big City" or "Crystal Ball").

As a dessert, Small Club Trojan Horse.

Then listen to "Heaven" from 1985, because Lovesexy was already a sound production formed back then. It just needed more gospel sexy songs, and the political layers, mandatory by one of the Geminis in Skipper's head (the one with the baton).

Have a look at the Auerswald guitar.
Have a look at the original maxi-single transparent sleeves and their stickers on Discogs.

Now listen to Lovesexy again, no cheating, from start to finish, no interruptions, in the dark, with a relaxed body and open ears and some serious headphones and player. Best lyrics he's ever written, everywhere abound. Let the bizarre mix get you: there's a myriad of arrangements crazyness hidden, like small 3-seconds diamonds.

If you're not mouth open while the shores of Positivity welcome you the a paradisiac island, start all over this list, from the top: To be welcomed to the New Power Generation is an act of Faith, and time. If you're still stubborn, start with "For You", and climb up the ladder again.

This is not music, this is a trip.

[Edited 7/14/17 16:17pm]

I will i promise, you are great bonatoc.

Dandroppedadime said:

it's the whole experience that makes it so good (maybe why he joined the tracks together for the CD - which i think has hindered it's spread into the masses - it's very low selling on itunes!), I love the cohesive sound and concept. not one i've listened to in a while (as it does demand attention!) but when I do listen i really get into it for a few days.

You made a pretty interesting comment about how this album demands attention. It really does! I still listen to it from time to time, and my attention is always drawn from whatever I'm doing to listening this it. I've always had a soft spot for this package because it really is an inspiring album with two of my favorite P tracks of all time(Glam Slam & AnnaStesia).

214 said:

I can't see what's so great about it, i can't. Besides Anna (which is a masterpiece) and I Wish U Heaven, there's nothing great about this album.

Yeah, whatever

It's a masterpiece.

I agree with this.This album won't make any sense to a person who doesn't really "get" Prince.

206Michelle said:

It is a really good album. I think that a person really has to be a Prince fan in order to like Lovesexy. You have to "get" Prince in order to "get" Lovesexy. If I were introducing someone to Prince's music, I would not start with Lovesexy.

I remember coming home from college to buy the album from Our Price, remember looking at the cover. The writing style on the album, seeing the video for Alphabet street on a Saturday morning TV show, a simple but great video. I just felt this album, not everyone's cup of tea, I,m sure, but my love for this album grew and grew. At this point I hadn't heard anything from the Black album, I only new It had been shelved for whatever reason, and there were a few reasons going around. A snippet of the opening night show from France on the Wire only made my juices flow even more. The biggest regret was that I never went to see the tour myself, but not many people I knew liked Prince, didn't fancy going on my own. Then the show was put on Channel 4, the circle was complete, this man smashed it, I get goosebumps just thinking about it. I remember during the Tv footage the camera focused on a lady in the audience holding and playing a guitar, and sat next to her another lady had her hand on her face, just smiling ! Where the hell did Dance on come from? there's been nothing like this piece of space funk before or after. I don't know if the Black Album inspired him to write this album. I don't think this album sold that well, I know the critics loved it and that it was reported that Prince lost a lot of £ due to the tour expences. Looking back I'd have wished a better produced Black album could have been combined with Lovesexy for a great double album, and it could have followed the idea of the tour, a spirtual change half way through. I'll never forget this time In my life, nobody I knew liked Prince, and I became a bit obsessed, but hey, we were all young once. The fact that the album was in one sequence, and indivdual tracks couldn't be played was mad also, but, that was Prince, missed by yours truly every day. Like a lady said on the BBC special, Even if you're not a big fan, It's great to know he was around !

yeah,you.....you want me to walk right down your halls! Um hmm.....You want me to swivel in your love seat,dontcha baby??

I recall,many years ago,we had a thread on here about whether Prince was saying "swivel in your love seat" or "swim in your love sea"

jaawwnn said:

Great posts Bonatac. I'm never going to be convinced its as good as others think but great defence nevertheless, I can't even disagree. Lovesexy reminds me of Give em Enough Rope by the Clash in that if you play me any individual song off it I'm bouncing around the room high fiving everyone but as a whole piece, start to finish, in one listen; I feel fatigued and a little bored by the end. There's too much going on or something, its a little TOO perfect. You know that religious architecture thing where they'd purposely put a mistake in the floor or wherever because only God can be perfect, I feel this album is lacking that humanity. Hmm [Edited 7/14/17 21:36pm]

I totally agree. He's at his most Bach-esque.
It's definitely take it or leave it, but why in Sweet Heaven would you leave it?

Sonically it was a long time ago, you have to spend some time with an 80's internet radio, or the 1988's Billboard. Just for readjusting and train your ears.
At a time when everything drenched in reverb and delays, what a radical 180° Lovesexy is. The space is pure hot white, dark electric blue or light pink.

There was this gap between him and the rest of pop music, I don't know quite to describe it.
It's not that there wasn't good stuff, but Prince in 1988 was Madonna, Michael, Bruce rolled in one joint, except we're just talking about Sex politics, stage bravadoes and Telecaster's twangs.
But add basketball, a real Daddy's Car™ and a brass bed, a pimp, a drum solo, St. Peter's-like horns oozing in big warm splatters over electronic despair, and a Blue Angel, screaming for the soul's salvation in the back of your head.

Camille leaves a life of debauche for years. Gets into SM.
He's tired. She didn't take the cab, nor the metropolitan.
Does he still believe in God?
Does he still believe in himself?
Will we still believe in him?

Pop music business? I'm gonna free ma mind from this rat race.
Let's do a Gospel album. I have to cleanse myself.
What's this new D-50 sounds like?
Gosh, that's translucent. Mmm...

For those of you on Valium,
you have to listen to the Clare Fischer interlude.
Cuz it calls you. It says "Cross the Line".
Clare tops, for some seconds, or at least gets to Crystal Ball levels.
I can't tell you how marvelously appropriated this sounded in halls as Our Hero was taking a short break.
Prince left you exhausted. To think he jumps in a car and goes to the Trojan Horse, amongst many others... Then gets back to the studio, and moves from town to town, continent to continent.

I remember my 24 hours tinnitus after SOTT in Paris Bercy.
A quarter of Quadraphonics with nothin' between the speakers and me, myself and the music.
Man, you earn Prince!

Oh, I almost forgot an important part of my Pedantic Doctor's Order®: The 8mn and some of the BBC Omnibus are mandatory. The one that starts with "Happy Birthday Cat" and ends on an haunting "The Ladder". It's the guitar phrases just before the "Everybody's looking"'s that could make you slowly smile and grin at the same time, before a warm tear rolls from your eyes when thinking about how gentle and generous he has been to open himself like that.
We learned something in the process, just by taking it in.

206Michelle said:

I wish that there was a version of the album on which each track is separate. My 2 favourite songs are Anna Stesia and Lovesexy, and sometimes, I want to listen to those 2 songs on repeat without having to rewind.

Well, there is.. the later CD releases have the tracks split.

Don't remember when I bought it on CD but it has the nine tracks and not just one.

jaawwnn said:

Just get any of the European CD's for 20 cent + delivery online. I've never come across a non-tracked version, they're America only?

My guess is the one-track version was on the market for the initial pressings, maybe during the first year or two. Still means quite a lot in circulation, but they're probably CDs from 1988-1989. Subsequent repressings by WB were sequenced by song.

AnnaStesia10 said:

Guitarhero said:

sonshine said:

214 said: [Edited 7/13/17 21:37pm]

Am gonna whip your asses (joke)

[Edited 7/14/17 8:06am]

Sounds great.

AnnaStesia10 said:

bonatoc, you are awesome I luv the way your mind works. I quite enjoy your vibrant posts. You are a trip and a half!

We all love the way his mind works.

"You, you guys..." (à la Susan)

I'm getting fanmail orgnotes and shit, like, I mean, proposals.
I'm touched. I'm speechless. Give... give me time.

Just trying to give little blasts from the past, while others give others other kinds.
"Take this beat, I don't mind", the self-coaching motto of 'em all, for creative minds of any kind.
Getting harder every day, to come up with good spirits.

Best we can do, among other things, is blast him outta windows,
screaming "Can you make it funkier?"
to our apathetic naybots around the world.




"Angels fly over cities" — unknown, 1988.

Prince's Lovesexy '88 Tour central stage, Blue Angel guitar and blue piano over the surrounding secondary stage hydraulic systems and the Thunderbird's circuit rails.

Yewdale said:

sonshine said:

214 said: [Edited 7/13/17 21:37pm]

From the day I bought Lovesexy back in May 1988, through to today, I have always thought of it as being the perfect example of an album that is far greater than the sum of its parts. For me at least, singling out certain songs on Lovesexy to determine its greatness (or lack of) misses the intended point of its creator. This album was designed to be listened to as one piece of music, and just as Mozart's Don Giovanni isn't riveting throughout, boy is it an amazing experience as a whole if you stick with it.

Lovesexy wouldn't rate in my top 10 Prince albums if judged on a track by track basis, but it rates in my top 5 as an overall piece of work. But of of course it's all subjective and whatever Prince intended Lovesexy to be as a listening experience, you hear his music through your own ears.... not his, and so if for you two there's nothing great about Lovesexy then that's cool. There is love on here for albums like The Rainbow Children and yet I wouldn't even tarnish a good coffee mug on the CD using it as a coaster.

I never fail to be fascinated by the differeing tastes of Prince fans within his own body of work.

Yep! I totally agree! (There was a reason why the CD was 1 track.)

I feel the same about Marvin Gaye's What's Going on

brokenhearted1972 said:

Dandroppedadime said:

it's the whole experience that makes it so good (maybe why he joined the tracks together for the CD - which i think has hindered it's spread into the masses - it's very low selling on itunes!), I love the cohesive sound and concept. not one i've listened to in a while (as it does demand attention!) but when I do listen i really get into it for a few days.

You made a pretty interesting comment about how this album demands attention. It really does! I still listen to it from time to time, and my attention is always drawn from whatever I'm doing to listening this it. I've always had a soft spot for this package because it really is an inspiring album with two of my favorite P tracks of all time(Glam Slam & AnnaStesia).

amens all round. Just hit 'play' & let it wash over you.

bonatoc said:

"You, you guys..." (à la Susan)

I'm getting fanmail orgnotes and shit, like, I mean, proposals.
I'm touched. I'm speechless. Give... give me time.

Just trying to give little blasts from the past, while others give others other kinds.
"Take this beat, I don't mind", the self-coaching motto of 'em all, for creative minds of any kind.
Getting harder every day, to come up with good spirits.

Best we can do, among other things, is blast him outta windows,
screaming "Can you make it funkier?"
to our apathetic naybots around the world.




"Angels fly over cities" — unknown, 1988.

Prince's Lovesexy '88 Tour central stage, Blue Angel guitar and blue piano over the surrounding secondary stage hydraulic systems and the Thunderbird's circuit rails.

Hey, I was FIRST, you're mine....AND you promised to come swivel in my love seat. I'm waiting...