I was at the thrift store and bought 3 chains o' gold. I brought it home and watched it and it dawned on me that the album was a concept record. Do you think that it works as like a rock opera kinda thing? Does the Kirstie Alley actually help the story or does she just interrupt the flow of the jams?

Personally, I think it's interesting as a concept album and was wondering what you guys thought.

It used to be a bit easier to understand in it's original configuration.

Then, at the last minute, Prince recorded a song that was intended to go
onto a b-side of one of the album's singles.

That songs was "I Wanna Melt With U".

Prince liked it so much that he decided it deserved a place on the album
and in order to be able to fit it on the album, he had to delete some of
the more elaborate segues that used to narrate the story.

Hence, half of the "story" as narrated by the segues got lost in editing
and the whole concept of the album became rather unclear to the general
public.

The "lost" segues have been circulating for a few years now and I must say
they don't really make the album "better". If you enjoy the songs now you
won't enjoy them more, having the whole story of the segues.

If anything, the segues are cheesy as hell and would probably make you
cringe after you'd heard them 2 times and make you want to throw the cd
out the window by the 4th time.

IstenSzek said:

How annoying are those segues on Prince records! I am happy that he seems to have finally got tired of that concept.

David.
--

demob said:

now, if only we could say the same of Janet

IstenSzek said:

Amen to that

I've said it once, I'll say it again

No album ever, EVER needs intros, outros, segues, skits, spoken parts intermissions or any of that crap.

All they do it interupt the flow, take up space, and lower the quality
of otherwise great albums

Its and album! Not a book on tape

ok, Im done

thekidsgirl said:

TALK!!!!!

funkpill said:

u c, the problem is, back in the day "concept albums" were a novalty!! very few artist could pull it off (prolly started with beatles "sgt. pepper") but now, thanx 2 many rap/hip-hop artists every album is a "concept album" with intros and segues and skits!! true, it IS overkill!!
that b-ing said, "the symbol" album DOES work as a concept (opera!) it takes true talent 2 combime the diffrent thoughts and ideas and string them in 2 tell a story, but prince does it!!
thats MY rant and vent, anyway!
b-sides, its HIS work...we (the true fans) need 2 admire his talent in pulling it off well!!!
[Edited 3/18/05 10:45am]