Many say that Prince’s most creative period was from ’83 to ’88 (or there abouts) and maybe its true. But I managed to get my hands on a DVD the other day which had a load of ‘stuff’ on it which made me realise that the period ’92 to ’96 (Symbol album to just before Emancipation) was just as, if not more creative than the 80’s.

The Beautiful Experience, a VH-1 special, a couple of aftershows (bootlegged with poor quality) – I watched these with a small amount of regret that the feud with WB seemed to dilute what was actually going on behind closed doors in his recording studio.

He had a whole new sound going. A whole new kind of funk. Dark, deep and quite disturbing (in a dramatic ‘genius’ kind of way). Watching the DVD it brought together what he was trying to portray at the time and what kind of sound he was inventing (as he always did in the 80’s). It was definitely a sound that would have worked had it not been for the WB fiasco.

I don’t think he released this new sound with any kind of continuity and instead diluted it with other ideas and throw away tunes to honour his contractual obligations. I don’t think he gave it enough of a chance in the end and seemed to make a conscious effort to steer away from it. [Enter stage left – Emancipation].

I think that Come and TGE captured a sound and an image that was never truly realised. That whole period of Prince never really saw the light of day and was, in the end, rushed out and left alone way too quickly. He released scraps of it on Crystal Ball and maybe a few of the ideas surfaced a little later on, but the natural progression from the symbol album through to the Come/Gold ‘sound’ wasn’t a smooth one in the end. I think the only criticism I would have with that period is the over production. But I think a lot of that can be down to the fact that he kept sitting on it for so long and not being able to release it…

Now we look back at his ‘gangsta bling bling’ image with his deep basses and hard drums (Days of Wild anyone?) as a beginning to the end in as far as the 90’s go, but really I think it was the beginning of a whole new chapter that just never materialised properly.

I would really like to see Prince take it back to there and see where he could really go with it. I would rather that than the Musicology route or ‘Prince does Unplugged’ as is the rumour… It really was a great great sound and the video footage, TV specials and aftershows of that time really do kick ass and have a dark, haunting vibe to them. There really is no other sound like it. Ive heard people say Prince started to jump on the bandwagon instead of creating the bandwagon in those days, but I just don’t think that is true. How could Race, Acknowedge Me, Days of Wild, Interactive etc give any indication of bandwagon jumping? That was a new sound, a Prince sound that was quashed by the politics of the business.

But alas, no more swearing, no more pushing the boat out it seems…

Incidently, the Beautiful experience is a kickass ‘show’. The version of Come is absolutely brilliant!

Yeah. Musically I think the Come/Gold/Exodus era is deeply underated (at least among the general public). He was definately going in a darker direction. The music was really earthy and guitar driven, and he seemed to have this "F*** You" attitude that just reaked of arrogance (which is good!). I love watching Prince on the one-eyed bass during this period.

I think if he wasn't already a household name the music would have been recieved better. The problem was that everyone already "knew" Prince and had their own idea on what he was all about. Suddenly he changes his name to , appears in public with the word "slave" on his face and is seemingly always in the media about his contract dispute. Add to this the fact that the music suddenly got darker, then it's no wonder that people turned his back on him.

Anway, I wasn't a fan back in those days so I can't really speak from experience, but when I listen to the music from that era I can't say it's any better or worse that Purple Rain or SOTT - it's just different!

Wow, what a great thread !!
Once in a while someone comes up with an interesting topic like this...exactly my thoughts. I don´t really want Prince to go back to swearing and cussing again, but just like you said above , some of those jams just don´t sound right with altered lyrics, and yes, the funk was dark, different and hard. I love that whole rebel era and I´m really glad he came out of all that sane and alive. Most other artists would ´ve gone down the drain .
Especially the powertrio Micheal B/ Sonny T and Prince was one of the baddest bands ever.
I´m glad I had the chance to witness these keepers and innovators of the funk in the mid nineties during the Gold Experience shows...
You´re so on point with your thoughts...

toejam said:

Exactly, it could have been made by two completely different people... I just wish the early 90's phaze lasted just as long as the 'Purple' phaze...

for me,this was
the real Prince...
(photo courtesy of housequake.com)

toejam said:

no, more like generally ignored. to be underated they have to have heard and judged it. most of his music from that time just wasn't popular at all with the public. there is a difference.

toejam said:

no, it's differnt AND not as good. that is not to say it isn't good at all, just not as good as his most creative period of work. I don't know why Prince fans are so afraid to judge his music sometimes. everything Prince has ever done isn't genius.

dumbass said:

No, not everything he has done is genius. I certainly dont rate musicology very much (or TRC, NPS, Rave, Emancipation, Kamasutra, Truth...etc etc), but I have to say that his early 90's stuff WAS some of his most creative work. But as you said, it was simply over looked.

Its all a matter of taste....

I personally love...(and dare I say? prefer) "90's Prince"
Maybe it's cause I was born in 85 but I just love his sound (minus the TonyM. factor),look, and persona during this time.
I think its underrated definately.

but what I LOVE most about Prince is that hes constantly changing and
trying something experimental and different from before.

Unfortunately, some fans get stuck in a time warp and can't understand or
fully take in the new stuff he puts out, but I think its the mark
of a true artist thats more interested in expanding his musical knowledge, rather than making money but remaining predictable and boring.

dumbass said:

(not directed at you)

I don't know why Prince fans are so afraid to judge his 80's music sometimes?

Not everything pre-1990 is perfect and certainly not everything post-1990 is poo

The 93-95 period was great, it was like a 2nd-wind.

Here's to a third.

Jon!!!! i REALLY feel as u do 'bout early '90s stuff....(i'm listening 2 "The Undertaker" right now!!! ).....i became a fan during that period and i loved (I LOVE!!) the music vibe & Prince's attitude back then....darker but still funky sounds with lots of guitar and raw bass...wow!!!
4 me it would b simply AMAZING if he decided 2 take that musical direction again...WOW!! we'll see about that....let's keep our fingers crossed!

The mid-90's seemed to be the glory days of the NPG, which is seen through many of the incendiary live performances they gave during that time. But the dispute with the label overshadowed this glory.

good to hear it