http://people.aol.com/peo...s/review/0,10950,395970,00.html (Apparently, at least for Reviewers, the One Night Alone Piano cd is included as a special 4th bonus disc)

December 5, 2002 One Nite Alone . . . Live!
Prince (NPG)
reviewed by Chuck Arnold

"If you drove up here in a 'Little Red Corvette,' you might be surprised at what you gon' get," says Prince on his first-ever live release, warning concertgoers that this is no greatest-hits parade. "Raspberry Beret," "Alphabet St." and "Diamonds and Pearls" are the only Top 10 singles included on three discs recorded during this year's One Nite Alone tour and the aftershow held in select cities. Turning to material from 2001's little-heard The Rainbow Children and cult faves like "When You Were Mine," His Purpleness shows why he still rules as a live performer. Displaying nonpareil versatility, Prince, backed by a classically funky band, works in a jazz motif for the Rainbow Children songs, while jamming old-school style with guests George Clinton and Musiq elsewhere. Best, though, is when he sits at the piano for a showstopping suite that brilliantly segues from "Adore" to "I Wanna Be Your Lover." He remains on the keys for a bonus studio disc of mellow new material, including a gorgeous cover of Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You."

BOTTOM LINE: Gets a standing O

If the general public REALLY are getting the ONA piano CD thrown in with the 3 live CDs then THEY get a fabulous deal and the NPGMC members have been completely robbed!

It would mean:

- no exclusive music
- for many not even getting it first (not received mine yet because NPGMC batch mail)

Sorry Prince but as I said in a thread I started DON'T SCREW UP - you're loyal fans deserve to be treated better.

Before anyone starts flaming read my own thread - I'm no naysayer and all the concert perks are brilliant. But we should ALL be getting our CDs first and really there should be something xclusive as indicated in the footer of the press releases AND as was originally stated on the website before they changed it!

Eye just got my One Nite Alone... Live today and eye am currently playing it while typing this. As a NPGMC member, eye don't feel cheated. If it wasn't 4 my membership eye would have never made it into the front row of his concert in Dallas! My only ? is where do eye sign up 4 next year? Eye would still like to have the other cd's listed in the tour book 4 free, but even if eye don't get them, I'll b alright.

LOVE4ONEANOTHER,
childotheRAINBOW

an aol/ warner bros company to boot!

I am starting to get a little irked by the amount of time this is taking. By the time the set ships, gets to my school, and then gets forwarded to me, I would be better off just going out and buying it.

At this point, I'm looking forward to the retail release date since it's approaching faster than my package is! I doubt that mine has even shipped yet.

The man's a gemini, changes his mind more than i inhale & exhale in a day. I agree his loyal fan base deserves better as far as timely deliveries & EXCLUSIVE merch. The concert perks are fantastic but don't wet our appetites with oft. promised music & then blame it on his track record. It's like i told ya so oh by the way thanks for the $100, it comes across as insulting. I think you have an artist that is so consumed with his music which is the reason we love him but he often reaches beyond his grasp to be all things to all people. He needs to stop relying on a handful of individuals to do everything & expand his inner circle assuring us of better service & less disatisfaction with the club.

While this review doesn't begin to delve into just how amazing this box set is, (it IS People, so I wasn't expecting much from them anyway) it's nice to see it's so positive.
These mainstream mags have written Prince off so many times simply because he hasn't had a chart hit in ages. Maybe ONA Live! will finally open their eyes to the fact that true talent needs neither major record companies or chart success to thrive.
Prince is a brilliant musician and the best live performer around. He's not a pop star or a rock star.
I hope they finally get it, but I ain't holding my breath.

Now I'm just irritated that my set hasn't arrived...I thought it would come before Thanksgiving...then I thought it would be here today...the set will be out soon...damn, Prince.

shygirl said:

jaypotton said:

Read what Prince said to FunkyStrange in Japan about this very thing, and you'll get Prince's answer to our complaints: http://www.prince.org/msg...&tid=29130

NPGMC has said in emails that the piano CD will NOT be in the retail version. At the time of reviews, only the Club box set was available as they were manufactured before the final retail version. That's why the reviewers got the piano CD. If NPG had waited until the retail version of the box set was made (without the piano CD or the poster) then it would have been too late to get press reviews out before the retail release. Simple as that. You can relax now. Why is it some people want to start fights way before thay have all the facts?

childotheRAINBOW said:

I just have to point out...I got front row at a john mayer show...off a presale for his fanclub..which is FREE...now that's STYLE

childotheRAINBOW said:

Thanks to this guy for speaking up for members wholove NPGMC and took FULL advantage of it with front row concert seats and aftershows - not just CDs. And, even if the ONA CD is thrown in for retail customers, we got it months ago AND we had the options to take other benefits. They didnt

endorphin74 said:

That is not style - that is a broke ass wanting someting for nothing

donnie "the snarko" darko said:

"NPGMC has said in emails that the piano CD will NOT be in the retail version."

they've said LOTS of things, cuddin'. get ready to eat your words...on toast!!! (you don't get that? well, then sit down, son.)

THe ONA disc is included for reviewers and promotions - it wont be in retail version. Get over it already

BLACKMF said:

You know, EVERYONE didn't get the "Opportunity" to shell out $100 - $150 for these concert perks, only those with that kind of extra cash, the free time, and access to a venue where a show took place. What do you say to them?

theblueangel said:

Allz I iz sayin' iz what until the box hits retail and someone pops it open before rushing to judgement. Common sense over mass hysteria. Try a cup, tastes great.

BLACKMF said:

learn how to play that cloud guitar yet, FACE?

maybe you should start your music lessons with a tambourine...

punkass.

At this point, I'd simply be happy to receive my promised copy so that I can decide if I agree with stinkin' People Magazine! It ain't right to have such disparity in the arrival of the set among members.

I just got my ona cd.. it's an instant classic!!! it isn't cheaply packaged either.. a big box, with Prince's pic on it, a huge book with pics and quotes, and the ona classic disc which i will give to someone for christmas, and a poster.. damn.. npg get rowdy, get rowdy now!!! can't wait for next year..

I just got an e-mail from th NPG Music Club,they want to know how many members in the USA have yet to receive their box set as of 12/06/2002 i was told to reply.

well darnit, eye was almost for sure the NON NPGMC Members would find ALL Four cd's mentioned in the tour book plus the live cd with there..

Gosh darnit.. billy wap slope-E-Wanna kowl loptadoue

[This message was edited Fri Dec 6 23:43:49 PST 2002 by Sdldawn]

BLACKMF said:

I still did not get my copie of the ONA studio album.

someone should write to People. (besides me since i'm not, nor will i ever be a member.)

the fact that the reviewer received a copy of "ona" (the studio album) and some members still for some reason haven't received it is a damn shame.

i mean, it's believable since the concept of customer service at the npgmc is still non-existant, but... it's still a damn shame.

these kind of reviews are used by prince to hype the membership for next year. someone who's already a member should step up and tell it like it really is since he still doesn't understand what's important to us.

honesty.
trust.
communications.

the basic necessities for any type of respectful relationship. the glaring lack of those 3 things when it comes to being a npgmc member is why year after year, the only folks staying on are sheep. the rest are coming to their senses, and continue to support him completely as an artist, rather than as someone drunk on purple kool-aid.

I only have one thing 2 say in response... Baaah

suomynona said:

I have not recieved my One Nite Alone Box Set as of today, Saturday December 7th 2002. I am not disappointed because I know that it will be coming! Yes It will be released commercially to the stores on Tuesday December 17, but The NPG Music Club has given their members a lot of music by Prince and from many other artists whom are free to the music just as Prince has been exclusively through the club in 2001. I will admit this years membership took a different turn from the previous one and Prince tried to give his friends of the club something tangable to have for their collection! In 2001 I thought that it was cool to download all of the tunes that he gave the members every month, but if you think about it, by the years end if all of those songs were released as official cd releases, you would have had about 7 albums worth of music! It did not count officially as Prince albums! Be patient because I feel that Prince will eventually release to the club members a box set of all of those jams from last year on official cd's soon enough! I know that there were many fans who felt that as much music there was to download that they were preferring actual cd's and artwork from the artist himself! So he listened to many of the members and tried something new this year! Maybe next year Prince will offer us 4 or maybe even 5 cd's for the 2003 year along with a monthly flow of tunes to download as well! Hang in there NPG Club Members cause it's gonna get better as the years go on!!! Tuztones

John Mayer???
He may be good and all, but he sho ain't worth a $100 membership fee.
IMO, Prince is. Actually, imo, Prince is worth more than a $100 fee, but I'm glad that's all he's charging.
And before the haters say it, I know the price is going up.

So as "live CD hit of the week," what was it up against? The Bulgarian Tennors Live in Philadelphia?"