I remember me walking every store in and out just asking when this album finally would be released! Man it was frustrating at the time.. Aftyer 1.000.000 times I finally heard it got cancelled... AARGGHH

Actually the 1st time I heard it a dutch radiostation (veronica) played it all in one hour, without talking, so I recorded that, later I got it on a great boot, and finally the original one!

Ok, it all ended happy as we all know, but what were your experiences back in the day waiting for this album?

i just figured i'd never get to hear it, because you never came across cool stuff like that in indiana in 1987. but my first month in college, i met a friend who, as soon as i said i liked prince, said "have you heard the black album yet?", and i said no, and she said "you wanna?" - i nearly peed myself. she made me a copy of her cassette copy of someone else's bootleg, and that's how i heard the black album for years, till i found a nicer sounding boot, also on cassette, which i listened to till the WB version came out.

I'm still looking for this album, dying to hear it. I have almost everything by Prince, alot of which I acquired recently. I see it on ebay all the time, but I'm afraid to buy CD's there. Too much fraud, etc.

Bought my copy on vinyl (which was a copy of a cd , according to the guy i
bought in from) in 88, after hearing it on tape

I hated it went it eventually came out , that destroyed the myth surrounding it
[Edited 11/22/04 11:35am]

Anxiety said:

That sounds a lot like me. First year at University, met a guy who was a big Prince fan, he made me tape of rare 12 inch records I played over and over and also a good quality tape from a Black Album CD he claimed was an original, I think he payed £50 for it! That was back in 1989.

So I was quite happy when they finally released it, finally had a proper CD version of my own!

1sexymf said:

You'd have to be **EXTREMELY** unlucky or **VERY** stupid to come across fraud on Ebay - that's what the user rating is there for, so you can see what others have to say about that user, with concerns to their past transactions.

There's always a few copies up on Ebay, failing that, you can always get it from the sellers on Amazon, just do a search for it, and click on "Buy it Used/New" - Badda-bing, badda-boom.

Is the damn thing out of print now? I better make a copy cuz mine has been from here to hell and back.

I recall hearing about the album and knowing about it. I also know that he played 2 song from it in concert when he did the Lovesexy tour. I knew it was out there somewhere. I even came across it in a wrecka stow on vinyl (Not sure if it was real or not...had a matte finish of his face on one side and the lsongs listed in a matte finish on the other...very much like medulla is) and I didn't get it as I had no turntable at the time and it was pricey for my very meager salary.

It wasn't until the WB release came out and a friend had gotten it and I heard it that way. It didn't impress me at first. It took a few years for me to actually like it and get it myself. Now it's in my top 5 of P albums.

Anxiety said:

I have the very same experience, except I still listen to the cd-boot I found in a wrecka stow in '89, paying $15 for it. I never bought the WB-version (Prince should like me now!!!!).

I got it by trading a tape of 12" mixes for it (see, I didn't "buy" it). It was kinda cool, having something you shouldn't have, coupled with the darkness and naughtiness of the whole album.

i think the black album is out of print - i seem to remember when the WB version came out, there was a sticker that said "limited edition" - but it's not hard to find used online or at the wrecka stow for a reasonable price.

I remember calling wreka stows after hearing a new Prince album was released. After calling a few places, one guy explained that it was cancelled. I was SO bummed but I wasn't convinced this dude knew what he was talking about. Then a few days later I heard on MTV or somewhere that WB cancelled it because it was too dirty. I just was DYING to hear it after learning that.

A fellow Prince-fanatic got a tape of it right around when Lovesexy came out. It was horrible quality but it was SO funky. My girlfriend at the time would BLAST Bob George in the car. Everyone I knew, even Prince haters, thought it was cool that I even had it. I taped it for a bunch of people in college. When it was officially released I was kinda disappoined since it seemed the bass was thinned out a bit. But its now one my favorite Prince albums by far. Its just fun, funky, meaningless, and total party music.

...i liked the Black album cuz it seemed 2 reveal his off stage persona more than other stuff released at the time...his stuff is always given 2B & a musician friend gave me this project...
i've told folks B4 on the org:if u live n the US=get a library card!!! the library has everything Prince has ever released & if your local system doesn't have it u can request an "InterLibrary Loan": they search the country & bring it 2 u @$1.00 postage...as 4 the folks across the big pond; go 2 a library & ask ya' just nevaknow

Anxiety said:

it is out of print and we all know that.but heres my theory if walmart doesnt have it u can 4get ever finding thats why im desperatly looking for Gold

ABeautifulOne said:

just check gemm.com or half.com and get it online.

It think it's still being sold on Amazon, as well...

A guy in school said he'd tape the black album for me for a fiver but it turned out he had an album by the singer who called himself black. I got it on O'Connell Bridge from the guys with the cases full of copied tapes.

ABeautifulOne said:

WALMART?? WALMART?? Please tell me you dont go lookin for variety at Walmart

Dont get me wrong, I love it there but the only P CDs they have are
The Best of, Purple Rain, and Musicology (sometimes)
Sorry to rant but thats just not the place to go for music

...as for the Black Album...Im still searching...

EVERYONE LISTEN UP. You can all go to MUSICSTACK.COM and look for GOLD or THE BLACK ALBUM. I do not work for them. I've bought stuff from them with no complaints. They actually list different places that carry specific titles, used, new, you name it. Some are expensive, some are not. GO FOR IT!!!!


Miguel

I remember hearing about what I thought was a mythical album. My best friend had gone to Los Angeles and when he returned he came over my house and said. "Guess what I got for you" Of course I didn't know. He brought it out and I thought I was going to die. It was a boot. I must have played it sooooo many times. It's still in great shape. I think I have two. When the official CD came out I purchased it. Sometimes I don't understand the issues with bootlegs. Even though I have tons of songs, if Prince were to release them officially I would be right there buying them.

Miguel

thekidsgirl said:

u would be surprised @ what u really thought u would never find @ walmart but i find more rare stuff @ FYE because nobody likes prince there so i buy all i can and the owners know im looking 4 certain cds and then their used so i know ttheir in good condition

...don't listen 2 B then...my library system has a few copies of the Black Album circulating N good condition...check 'em out, its up 2 U what u do after that(copy/burn/faint)...once again, if u really want it u can get it @ the library!!!

ABeautifulOne said:

Gold is in like,every used cd shop.I have a weakness for buying it whenever I see it. I have never seen The Balck Album in a used shop. I will buy it if I do.

I have Black on the vinyl boot from long ago,a cd boot,and an official copy.Oh,also a cassette copy.