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Thread started 08/18/17 11:24pm

BartVanHemelen

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Owen Husney found a 1977 telegram from A&M Records anxious to be in business with Prince

From his Facebook page:

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From the I just found this in a box dept: While researching for my upcoming book, "Famous People Who've Met Me," I came across this telegram from A&M Records, May 1977, Re: Prince. A&M was a great label, and we seriously considered signing with them. However, in the end we went with Warner Bros Records because they stepped up with three albums firm. A&M and Columbia only offered two. We held out, and received this telegram from a, "very nervous" A&M.

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We're in process of setting up an Author Page for my book on Facebook. When finalized I'll share many items from my career and the signing of Prince. Look for my book this fall on Rothco Press.

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pfXhfdM.jpg

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Also check this thread about his upcoming book.

© Bart Van Hemelen
This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties, and confers no rights.
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Reply #1 posted 08/19/17 8:19am

ufoclub

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Can you imagine the self validation and confidence Prince must have been feeling with the record company sending such an openly complimentary on-the-sleeve letter at that early stage?
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Reply #2 posted 08/19/17 8:39am

joyinrepetitio
n

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Look at the name list: Herb Alpert- Been chasing that MPLSound since the beginnings.

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2 words falling between the drops and the moans of his condition
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Reply #3 posted 08/19/17 8:41am

BartVanHemelen

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joyinrepetition said:

Look at the name list: Herb Alpert- Been chasing that MPLSound since the beginnings.

.

He's the A in A&M. Seriously, don't you kids know anything?

© Bart Van Hemelen
This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties, and confers no rights.
It is not authorized by Prince or the NPG Music Club. You assume all risk for
your use. All rights reserved.
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Reply #4 posted 08/19/17 9:45am

lemoncrush19

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BartVanHemelen said:



joyinrepetition said:


Look at the name list: Herb Alpert- Been chasing that MPLSound since the beginnings.



.


He's the A in A&M. Seriously, don't you kids know anything?



no. but we're endlessly grateful for all those kind words you find to enlighten us.
🙏💜💫
the only love there is is the love we make heart
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Reply #5 posted 08/19/17 9:50am

RJOrion

BartVanHemelen said:

joyinrepetition said:

Look at the name list: Herb Alpert- Been chasing that MPLSound since the beginnings.

.

He's the A in A&M. Seriously, don't you kids know anything?

i think what he's referring to is, Herp Alpert having his 1987 album 'Keep Your Eye On Me' co-produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis... several years after he tried to sign Prince to his label

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Reply #6 posted 08/19/17 10:59pm

joyinrepetitio
n

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RJOrion said:

BartVanHemelen said:

.

He's the A in A&M. Seriously, don't you kids know anything?

i think what he's referring to is, Herp Alpert having his 1987 album 'Keep Your Eye On Me' co-produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis... several years after he tried to sign Prince to his label

Exactl! RJOrion you're vibing what I was talking about.

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Reply #7 posted 08/20/17 12:37am

BartVanHemelen

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joyinrepetition said:

RJOrion said:

i think what he's referring to is, Herp Alpert having his 1987 album 'Keep Your Eye On Me' co-produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis... several years after he tried to sign Prince to his label

Exactl! RJOrion you're vibing what I was talking about.

.

So Alpert tried to sign Prince in 1977 because of a sound Prince did not have yet developed and which Alpert would then try to employ by hiring Jam & Lewis ten years later? Seriously? That's your grand theory?

.

How 'bout this one: in 1986, Jam & Lewis (who were already very successful) gave Janet Jackson a massive hit album with Control, which was released by... A&M. And Alpert simply saw a way to get another hit by teaming up with the producers and JJ. Oh look, simple cause and effect. When you hear hooves, think horses not zebras. Also note that Alpert's album only employed J&L for not even half of its songs.

© Bart Van Hemelen
This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties, and confers no rights.
It is not authorized by Prince or the NPG Music Club. You assume all risk for
your use. All rights reserved.
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Reply #8 posted 08/20/17 7:12am

joyinrepetitio
n

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BartVanHemelen said:

joyinrepetition said:

Exactl! RJOrion you're vibing what I was talking about.

.

So Alpert tried to sign Prince in 1977 because of a sound Prince did not have yet developed and which Alpert would then try to employ by hiring Jam & Lewis ten years later? Seriously? That's your grand theory?

.

How 'bout this one: in 1986, Jam & Lewis (who were already very successful) gave Janet Jackson a massive hit album with Control, which was released by... A&M. And Alpert simply saw a way to get another hit by teaming up with the producers and JJ. Oh look, simple cause and effect. When you hear hooves, think horses not zebras. Also note that Alpert's album only employed J&L for not even half of its songs.

No Bart, it's not a grand theory. Herb knew and saw a great talent in Prince. I'm sure he followed Prince's career and when he had a chance to work with Jam and Lewis, he jumped on it because he knew that if they worked with Prince, he knew he would be working with quality musicians.

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Reply #9 posted 08/20/17 12:23pm

RJOrion

joyinrepetition said:



BartVanHemelen said:




joyinrepetition said:



Exactl! RJOrion you're vibing what I was talking about.



.


So Alpert tried to sign Prince in 1977 because of a sound Prince did not have yet developed and which Alpert would then try to employ by hiring Jam & Lewis ten years later? Seriously? That's your grand theory?


.


How 'bout this one: in 1986, Jam & Lewis (who were already very successful) gave Janet Jackson a massive hit album with Control, which was released by... A&M. And Alpert simply saw a way to get another hit by teaming up with the producers and JJ. Oh look, simple cause and effect. When you hear hooves, think horses not zebras. Also note that Alpert's album only employed J&L for not even half of its songs.



No Bart, it's not a grand theory. Herb knew and saw a great talent in Prince. I'm sure he followed Prince's career and when he had a chance to work with Jam and Lewis, he jumped on it because he knew that if they worked with Prince, he knew he would be working with quality musicians.




word...even though i greatly respect Bart's ability to analyze Prince's career from a rocket scientist's perspective, this one aint rocket science...
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Reply #10 posted 08/22/17 5:46am

BartVanHemelen

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joyinrepetition said:

BartVanHemelen said:

.

So Alpert tried to sign Prince in 1977 because of a sound Prince did not have yet developed and which Alpert would then try to employ by hiring Jam & Lewis ten years later? Seriously? That's your grand theory?

.

How 'bout this one: in 1986, Jam & Lewis (who were already very successful) gave Janet Jackson a massive hit album with Control, which was released by... A&M. And Alpert simply saw a way to get another hit by teaming up with the producers and JJ. Oh look, simple cause and effect. When you hear hooves, think horses not zebras. Also note that Alpert's album only employed J&L for not even half of its songs.

No Bart, it's not a grand theory. Herb knew and saw a great talent in Prince. I'm sure he followed Prince's career and when he had a chance to work with Jam and Lewis, he jumped on it because he knew that if they worked with Prince, he knew he would be working with quality musicians.

.

Lemme quote what you wrote initially:

.

Been chasing that MPLSound since the beginnings.

.

© Bart Van Hemelen
This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties, and confers no rights.
It is not authorized by Prince or the NPG Music Club. You assume all risk for
your use. All rights reserved.
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Reply #11 posted 08/22/17 9:40am

luv2tha99s

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Haha. You guys are saying the same thing, only in different ways.
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Reply #12 posted 08/22/17 10:11am

HerecomethePur
pleYoda

In ways only different, the same thing you guys are saying. Haha.

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Reply #13 posted 08/23/17 7:01am

dave1dmarx

HerecomethePurpleYoda said:

In ways only different, the same thing you guys are saying. Haha.

Wow! You really ARE Yoda! lol

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