I've never heard the Black Album, or ever considered obtaining it, but for some reason I've been thinking about it lately. A used record store here was selling it for 30 bucks, but it's long gone.

Now from what I understand, Prince told everybody not to buy it, and that he made it under the influence of Spooky Electric.

Now, does he REALLY not want anyone to buy it because it's either not his best work, or maybe, it's cursed and by listening to it, Spooky Electric will possess us ?

Or does he not want us to by it because chances are we'll be buying a bootleg and he won't be getting paid for it?

And all in all, is it worth pursuing it or paying roughly 30 ?

Thank you.

EcstaticFanatic said:

There are so many stories about this album I can't be sure of what really happened, but the album is definitely worth it.

lol get possessed by spooky electric? hahahhaa shit spooky is my dog! but uhhh u aint gotta pay no 30 bucks for it..don't get ripped off...u can go on ebay and find it hella cheaper.

Two real kick ass numbers: 2 Nigs United For West Compton, and Rock Hard in a Funky Place. The rest of the album is forgetable IMO (of course, we opinions do differ here).

buy the black album.

prince was tripping when he said otherwise.

and frankly, who cares what prince says anyway? the music's great (though the CD quality sucks ass - that thing BADLY needs remastering).

There's two or three really great songs. The rest is a waste. I bought it when WB finally got around to releasing it and was REALLY disappointed. The critics had been playing it up as the best thing he had done, for years.

Stupid critics.

Luv & Peace,
Alex
Clubbin' in Mpls/A Night w. Prince

My favorite albums fluctuate all the time, but the black album consistently makes the top of my list.

Just my opinion, but I think this is an OUTSTANDING album, probably my most frequently played one of the bunch. The interesting thing is I hated the album (except 2 Nigs and Rockhard) the first couple of times I played it. Eventually I grew to love everything on it. It's such a dark, brooding, pent-up, raging, sexual funk workout, it just emits a really unique vibe which I never tire of listening to.

However, it's not worth $30, because I'm pretty damn sure you can get it for a helluva lot less on ebay. I think I bought mine on Ebay for under $10. Look there first.

Prince had Warner Bros. officially release it in 1994, so I don't think he minds if you listen to it anymore.

The black album is prince's most underrated album. I bought a bootleg copy back in 89 and loved it. it's still one of my favourite prince records. all songs are fantastic except for the jazz fusion debacle 2 nigs united 4 west compton.

Hmmm, the black album is definitely prince's most consistently funky album, but like with Chaos and Disorder, NEWS and For You, it proves that prince is best when he's mixing styles rather than doing anything straight. Imagine an album consisting almost entirely of songs like "Hot Thing" and "Housequake", which IMO are the weakest (almost unlistenable sometimes) songs from SOTT. The grooves are solid but there really isn't anything special on it. The ballad, When 2 R in love is generic (though I'm not a big fan of most of prince's ballads). The two best songs are the ones that only slightly deviate from the formulaic feel of the album: 2 Nigs United 4 West Compton, which has no singing and has a JB feel, and Rockhard in a funky place which is more laid back than the others.
[Edited 9/12/04 2:23am]

savoirfaire said:

Buy it!

"BOB. What's he do for a livin'?

Manage rockstars? Who?

Prince? That skinny motherfucker with the high voice?



He only said don't buy it so it would become the most bootlegged album in history. He even performed the songs live during "livesexy"

MrSquiggle said:

However, it was a limited edition, and the album has long been out of print. And elsewhere on the .org, it's been suggested that Prince agreed to its release mainly because it would count as one of the albums due under the WB recording contract that he was trying to get out of.

more than interested now...
its just so hard to find it, especially around here (canada )
and i've seen so many versions of it, how can u tell you're getting the closest thing 2 real (considering there are so many bootleg versions out there)



i really dont intend on jackin this thread, if i am lemme know sorry

If you do a little digging her on .org, you can find tons of (accurate) info on the original '87 (non-)release of the album, and the eventual '94 official release.

For those still searching for this classic Prince album:

http://www.amazon.com/exe...000008JLN/
(Currently 19 used & new from $16.99)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/e...000008JLN/
(Currently 5 used & new from £15.00)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/e...B000057PXL
(Vinyl 1 @ £12.99)

http://search.ebay.com/pr...-album_CDs
(Several for auction)

http://www9.gemm.com/c/se...lack+album
(Loads of CD/vinyl - scroll down to artist 'Prince'

http://eil.com/shop/artis...ce&page=17
(Some expensive vinyl promo's - cheapest at £18.00)

http://www.madhousemusic...._3_33.html
(Regular CD, £12.99, plus promos)


These are just the places I've personally purchased music from myself, I didn't even bother searching Google.

I know a lot of people don't dig this album, but I truly think its one of his best ones out there. It took me awhile to warm up to the Black Album. I got a taped copy back in 88 and didn't really know what to think of it back then...but over the years I would always be reaching for it more and more. If you just take it for what it is, this funky and fun little album (kinda like Come) you might appreciate it more. Bob George, Superfunky, Cindy C, and LeGrind are just awesome jams period.

EcstaticFanatic said:

The album is not worth $30. Get somebody to put the thing on cd-r for you.