alexnvrmind, do u disagree that the 'act' of discarding the PRINCE name inevitably gave rise 2 spiritual growth?

2 reiterate, during those tumultuous years, the name 'change' can b viewed of as 1 of the pivotol factors that P held on 2, n that pulled him thru. Eye suspect he let go of the notion ONLY when he no longer felt he needed it's support.

love

alexnvrmnd said:

You could also argue that initially he was telling the truth, but came up with a more practical explanation later when it suited him.

After all, if it was purely business reasons, why did he continue to use the symbol name for Emancipation, Crystal Ball and Rave which were all recorded when his contract for Warner's had been completed? On Rave he announced that 'Prince' was the producer - as though he was easing himself back into using the name.*
*After reading the Vault, it appears he still had a publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music (which I gather is slightly different to Warner's proper) up until the end of 1999, which is why he kept using the symbol name. Prince has registered a lot of unreleased songs, perhaps those he registed while under Warner Chappell are the vault items he can't release?

You can look at it that he had finally realised his symbol name was a hindrance, alienating his audience, and so came up with a bunch of digestable practical business reasons why he had started the symbol name in an attempt to get back to using the more marketable and seriously-taken name 'Prince' while still maintaining some dignity.

You could also argue that he changed his name to try and get out of his record contract, but that his spirit picked the ACTUAL name to use. That way, both sides of the statements are valid.
[Edited 12/29/05 11:33am]

Wow, what beautiful feelings that read brought back for P's music!

MarcelJ said:

Those loops that you are speaking about were all probably related to the tracks that Kirky J was involved in. -Mg

dewalliz said:

Oh yes, Prince Wendy & lisa need each other bad, thoser 3 were born to compliment each orther's music!!

GREAT INTERVIEW! Please, bring Susan ROGERS next!

I sure learnt a lot today. Thanks BC!

Good read. One man amounts to a great deal more than another man's opinion of him.

baXtos said:

I'm sure that would be equally informative and interesting!

baXtos said:

I think not!!! HE needs Andre, Brownmark and Dez back. Skip Lisa and Wendy, although I will keep Lisa because I like her better pre-Purple Rain the days when she was told what to play and to sing. When Wendy came along, her and Lisa ruined Prince's records with their weird psychedelic influence. Thank goodness Prince left that alone after he fired them, although Prince's work declined after he made SOTT which I considered his comeback album since 1984.

Also he needs to bring back Dr. Fink and get Sheila E in the mix.

dewalliz said:

But what about Parade? Do you hear a psychedelic influence on there? I don't think W&L should be held accountable for the sound of ATWIAD, that was Prince's idea.

CandaceS said:

Are you deaf? L&W's influences were everywhere on those crappy albums like ATWIAD and Parade, psychedelic or not. Isn't funny the Prince's albums from 1978-84 there wasnt trace of that sound that you can hear on ATWIAD and Parade. Even Lisa and Wendy said themselves they have heavy input on ATWIAD and Parade. Yes Prince does make the final decision on what songs going on those records still L&W's influences on ATWIAD and Parade was very heavy my dear. Even L&W's hardcore fans would agreed.

Anyway back to the subject I think that Alan was very informative and detail oriented with the interview. I hope the org going to do more interviews from Prince's former associates.

While I can understand the thought behind "Bring Wendy and Lisa back" or "Bring (insert random former bandmember here) back", even "Bring the Linn drum and Oberheims back", I think it may be missing the point.

I'll go on record to say that my favorite "Prince era" did involve collaborations with some amazing people, but life isn't about going back to repeat the same old stuff, is it? Wendy and Lisa have matured and (to me at least) always been great songwriters and musicians, but I can't help but think that if Prince, Wendy and Lisa locked themselves away and recorded a new album, that most of those wishing for it would be disappointed. Why? They have all grown older and lead different lives than they did in the 80's. The end result, as beautiful and breathtaking as it would be, would not be Purple Rain part deux, Parade Returns or Sign of the Times - the six disc set.

Here's my idea of a more sensible wish for the future of Prince. I'd like to see Prince to collaborate with some talented new people. I'd like to hear him pushed in new directions, not pushed back to where he was 20 years ago.

Ok, now I'm stretching, but I'd also like to see Prince as part of a band that's not his own. I'd love to see him just jam on bass for a tour for someone else, just because I love his bass playing so much. However, I can't think of any existing group that he could do that with.
[Edited 12/29/05 18:58pm]

NightGod said:

I agreed. Also I don't expecting Prince to repeat himself but damn he needs to bring that hardcore funk and rock that I missed but no I dont want a rehash since this is a different era. He can still have the sound that I missed in his new album but with new flavor though.

Just so everybody is in the loop here, constructive criticism is welcomed on this thread, as are thoughts on Alan and his answers. However...ANY sign of veering too far off track, and I will ensure we get back on it - swiftly.

Just so we're all on the same page...mmmk?

Do continue.

He's collaborating with Clare Fischer again so maybe there's more truth to these W&L rumours than meets the eye.

I agree with someone here who wrote that the 90's music was overrall pretty good--actually, the shit was great, at times. The slog, musically, has more to do with Prince's religious ideals, where risk is not part of the plan. His lyrics have to please the Watchtower masters, and his sound has to be pleasing to his new ideas about a more fascist and controlling God. Hardcore religious people just don't make good music. The religion stunts growth in the psyche--democracy is what brings out the fire and artistic want in artists. Prince is fried, in that respect.

Leeds pretty much summed up my thoughts about Prince. He is a man or honor and truth, and he seems to still really care about Prince. The Church only cares about controlling Prince's mind and money.

Real friends know when to pull the cold water in the face bit. Prince is afraid of having real friends. He looks in the mirror and that man staring back, doesn't smile. He is calculating, at this very moment, in becoming a by the numbers pop artist, devoid of any real artistry. It is all about the surface now--so we all better get used to it.

Many thanks to Mr. Leeds and 'nana for taking the time to put this together. It is a great read!

JimmyNothing said:

But he never stopped working with Clare Fisher.

2freaky4church1 said:

That's your view of it. None of us is are Prince's mind, and we don't even know any details of what's to come yet.

thank you to Alan and all the orgers involved in this !!!


nickfunk

BIG THANKS FOR YOUR TIME...

Excellent read for me as long time follower.

eugnj420 said:

First I have to say that Mr. Leeds seemed really sincere in his comments; I agree for the most part with his statements....Also, I agree that Prince had no business fucking with hip-hop, But the way I'm reading your post eugnj420, is that you are basically saying that hip-hop artists are talentless hacks... Prince wasn't above incorporating hip-hop because hip hop artists lacked artistic merit...During the early '90s D&P era, hip-hop was truly a beast...I love the homie Prince, but, at that point Nas, Dr. Dre, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Wu Tang Clan, Notorious BIG, Black Moon, and Mobb Deep were all releasing some of the genre's most influential and groundbreaking albums and collectively was making the same cultural impact P, MJ, and Madonna made in the '80s...Yeah, Prince was above trying to jump on the bandwagon; However, what it really comes down to is Prince lacked a fundamental respect and understanding of hip-hop music and culture as evident by his recruitment of Tony M. That's the real truth, not that fact that a Nas couldn't play guitar, bass, drums, or keyboard...

thank you very much for putting this interview together! it was a great read!

I guess this puts to rest the idea that DMSR and POSSESSED were accurate. Now maybe I can get some rest! lol

There ain't no arguing with a man that was there!

this was wonderful....thanks to all involved in putting it together.

I think fans of hiphop/rap can be far too precious about the genre of music. There's far too much concern about the artist being 'real' and from the street. Even within the field, acts have a go at each other for not being 'real' enough; it seems like you are not taken seriously unless you have been shot in a drive-by!

If you're not too precious about it, you can see it more simply as a genre of music that bits and pieces can be borrowed from, much like hiphop borrows heavily from rock and funk. In that context, Prince was actually quite successful - somebody must have liked his hiphop imitative work, because Diamonds & Pearls was one of his biggest selling albums.

metalorange said:

word

.

Actually Irresistable Bitch and Heaven Must Be Near are arguably hip hop cuts although that prolly wasnt his intention. Funky as a mofo too.

Wonderful interview!