{{{[Apparently this writer is sympatico! -Ben]
{{{[b]A lack of remasters slights Prince's mastery[/b]
April 19, 2002
By BEN WENER
The Orange County Register

"Apply whatever aphorisms you like - artists should be free, corporations are bad, the Purple One answers to none - but it's still a shame things went sour between Prince and Warner Bros., the label that released everything (save for a single) from his tenuous debut in 1979 to his completely ignored rock workout "Chaos and Disorder" in 1996.

Not that the prolific artist formerly known as the Artist Formerly Known as Prince has suffered waning creativity in subsequent years. If anything, he has exploded with fresh ideas. Too many ideas, actually.}}}

Since setting out on his own, he has issued the unwieldy three-disc "Emancipation" (which could have been a single-disc masterpiece), the massively mixed-up five-disc "Crystal Ball" (purely for the committed), the enjoyably cameo-studded but hardly revelatory "Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic" and his recent funky biblical opus, "The Rainbow Children," his most audacious in a decade, though it needed an editor.

That's the thing: For his work to shine and find an audience beyond a rabid cult (the one that will fill the Kodak Theatre for two nights this weekend), he requires an editing process, someone or something that challenges the know-it-all to trim the fat. Compare the conciseness of his '80s efforts to the elephantine epics he's been cranking out ever since. "Rave" and "Rainbow" are longer than double albums like "1999" and "Graffiti Bridge," let alone something as fleetingly perfect as "Dirty Mind." He forgets: Geniuses are capable of blunders. Many blunders.

Clearly Warner's constant demand for "hits," however they may be defined, produced an impasse. But that give and take, I think, was once as helpfully supportive as the Revolution.

Cut the label some slack: When the guy had two discs' worth of masterful music (see his pinnacle, 1987's "Sign o' the Times"), Warner happily released it - and financed an accompanying film, too. When "Graffiti Bridge" suggested maybe he didn't have his finger on the pulse of a generation anymore, it naturally thought twice about dumping his detritus into the mainstream. And when he decided to change his name to a glyph and insisted he would offer only vault material indefinitely, it grew frustrated.

But that rift, which seems impossible to patch up, is depriving us Prince-aholics of what by now should have been a reissue campaign in full flower. Rhino Records, for the time being, has access to the Warner archives, yet all we've seen is a paltry best-of.

With astute promotional backing, there's no telling what sort of resurgence the rerelease of his catalog could create. Imagine: Remastered editions of "Purple Rain" and "Controversy" and "Lovesexy" and so many others, complete with B-sides, alternate versions, outtakes, whatever the freak is willing to share. As with Joni Mitchell's rich history, it's a crime Prince's past languishes, waiting to be rediscovered.

Personally, I'm dying for a revamped "Parade," his kaleidoscopic wonder from 1986 that, despite the chart-topping success of "Kiss," was buried by bad press for his second movie, "Under the Cherry Moon." And I suspect I'm not alone: I've noticed everyone from Jill Scott to Elvis Costello celebrating the album recently, singling it out over more obvious fare.

It's easily his most varied work, far surpassing the half- hearted shifts of its predecessor, "Around the World in a Day," while setting the stage for the grander pastiche of "Sign o' the Times." Veering from "Sgt. Pepper's"-esque fanfare to wicked grooving, from Parisian balladry to baroque pop, it's a dazzling array that rarely lingers on one notion for too long.

It boasts two of his funkiest pieces, the wound-up "New Position" and the dark dance feel of "Anotherloverholenyohead," not overlooking the playful "Girls & Boys." And it has one of his most poignant ballads, "Sometimes It Snows in April." It's lush yet lean, catchy yet profound, and what's more, the whole thing storms by in 41 minutes. Not one second of filler here.

Excepting "The Black Album" - a myth-making piece of salaciousness from 1988 that, until its limited release in 1994, was oft-considered the Holy Grail of Funk - Prince albums rarely have been so condensed. "Lovesexy" and "Batman" got lost inside their own heads. "Diamonds and Pearls" was littered with offhanded disposables. And from that point to today, things have become increasingly unmanageable.

He doesn't care, of course. He stopped caring the moment his rebellion spilled out of his artistry and into his business practices. He does what he wants, thinks nothing of overloading great albums with inconsequential cuts and thus further pushes himself to the fringe - exactly where a talent of his immense stature doesn't belong.

Maybe that pleases him, but I bet the egomaniac wants more. My contention: If he'd just pay attention to his past once in a while he could rule the world again."

RUBBISH!

If Prince ever released anything through Warner Bros. again and didn't own his masters then he would be a hypocrit to himself. It'll never happen. This article is badly researched and doesn't explore why he changed his name. Eccentric, yes, but he did it 4 a reason. Its funny how when they mention Chaos and Disorder or The Vault, they never mention the disclaimer on the inside. "Originally intended 4 Private use Only"...Prince will never be as popular or famous as he ever once was...people need to accept that...but as long as he keeps creating new music, puts on brilliant live shows he will regain a lot of credibility that he lost through the symbol years. A lot of reviewers seem to "talk down" to Prince (no height jokes please!!!). This article seems very condescending. Does it mention all the money that Warners were getting from sales of these records? No. As the sleevenotes to New Power Soul say, "The Art U Create Is An Xtension Of U"..the artist that creates the art should own it. C Ani Difranco.
Just my 2 cents, n e way.

Peace,

Dan

I hereby award Prince the following award.

"THE FREEDOM AWARD" for being FREE, unrestrained,
independent, unhindered, disburdened, unblocked, unattached, fancy-free, uncommitted, unsuppressed, ungoverned, unstopped, unlimited, wild, unconfined.....and the list goes on & on.



Congratulations Prince! GET FREE.....YEAH




NPG MUSic CLUB.....YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH

wellbeyond said:

Why not include the URL?

http://www.ocregister.com...9cci.shtml

Whatever drawbacks that come with being able to call your own shots is worth it and he will probably find a way around some of those loopholes.

i like how he answers 2 no one. my problem is he does not listen 2 anyone. prince should release albums with some type of promotion 2 let folks know its out. he buisness sense is nothing 2 write home about. no videos or singles is a ticket 4 an album 2 go straight 2 the old muisc section in the record store.when his music is 2 good for people not 2 know its out.some home concert videos or something.ever lp needs some kind of promotion so it can substain or even have a chance 2 b heard and respected 2 me he is selling his music short of it not being out.

Interesting article - I agre with the author's point that it would be nice to see the 80's albums reissued with outtakes etc. - we all know the quality of the outtakes from the period and it would be interesting to see the reaction of critics. We all know that Prince does things his way and we respect that but it's a shame to see these amazing albums languish when they could be blowing the minds of a new generation of fans.

Since setting out on his own, he has issued the unwieldy three-disc "Emancipation" (which could have been a single-disc masterpiece), the massively mixed-up five-disc "Crystal Ball" (purely for the committed), the enjoyably cameo-studded but hardly revelatory "Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic" and his recent funky biblical opus, "The Rainbow Children," his most audacious in a decade, though it needed an editor.

What about "The New Power Pak", "HIGH", "Rave in2 the Joy Fantastic (may favorite) plus Ahdio's, video's and stuff.

and all this crap from someone



called WENER!!!!!