Ladies and Gentlemen,

today at 10 o'clock in the morning I jumped out of my bed after having slept about 3 hours, since the postman was near my house... Yes, he had a nice parcle on his shoulders...

So, hastily I ran into the house and set everything up; my first impressions are somewhat mixed: Cindi C. and 2 Nigs... are damn fine, Dead On it and Bob George might need some time...

I am so happy! Yesterday I had an awuful ***** shitty day, today was very different. And I have a "new" nephew by the name of Felix, a new haircut and got some money in my wallet. That's what I call a rebirth. Btw, the postman also brough "Rio Bravo" (yes, it's John Wayne and Dean Martin time again), as well as the soundtrack to "The Fearless Vampire Killers", aka "Dance Of The Vampires"...

Now my "official" Prince from 78-88 is really complete (I don't have any of the extended mixes yet etc.)

I LOVE YOU ALL!

congratulations...If u got it in the late 80's like i did on a 20th generation cassette tape u might feel the specialness of it more...at the time it was like a rare piece of gold...a peek behind the walls of prince' creativity...enjoy !!!!

Good on ya, it's one of the best.

SenseOfDoubt said:

The Black Album still gets me excited too. And like I just posted over in another forum, it has a strange effect on driving habits, so be careful there.

Seriously, though, this album just gets better and better. It's like the layers of funk have to sink into the very marrow of your bones, taking their time so that each time you hear "Superfunkycalifragisexy" or "Cindy C" you get a new and different jolt of "holy shit, there is no experience on Earth like this!"

His most over rated album. Sounds like he recorded it on a quiet weekend because he couldn't think of anything better to do. Its fun but, despite its reputation, its not particularly funky ( unless you're very VERY white ). I've heard all the explanations, official and otherwise, about why it was never released but I'm sure its all bullshit. The guy realized it just wasn't that good. Of course he was never going to admit that that was the reason so we get all the "it was to dark", "he was reminded of his own mortality on an ecstacy trip" rubbish.

I'm sure the fact that it was available only as a bootleg for so long is what created its legendary status. Afterall, forbidden fruit tastes better doesn't it? More like a ham sandwich IMO.

Congratulations! I got it when it was re-issued in '94 (I think) and I loved it then and still do.

SDNafka said:

You've confused TBA with the album that replaced it. But yeah, although TBA has some fonkay moments, it ain't all that.


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[Edited 1/13/06 13:20pm]

thanks for your answers so far!

@prettymanson: I think I know what you mean. Furthermore I sometimes believe that the digital revolution has led to a "depriciation" of music. We never had vinyl at home, we used tapes, and skipping a track on tape is a boring experience. I believe that I have adopted the digital "listen to 5 seconds - don't like the intro - skip it" somewhat. So sometimes it takes just some time to realize that there is a great song. The fact that I buy a CD, rip it immediatly to my PC (i don't have a cd player on my stereo anymore), and listen to it via my "digital archive", makes skipping just easier. I love my "archive" (around 40 gigs in high quality OGG), but sometimes I miss the old "tape"-feeling. And I can't go back since I am used to technology.

@funkMistress: hey, I am glad that I don't have a car;-) "Bob George" gave me a claustrophobic feeling just a few minutes ago...

@SDNafka I can't decide by now, if TBA is overrated (and I will possibly never be able to do that), but at least it seems to be big fun. It's different, and a good companion to Lovesexy.

@to all the others I did not mention now: thanks very much for participiating! further comments still welcome!

Thanks for reminding me, I think it's time for a spin.

Yeah, I remember getting my hands on a bootleg cassette of the Black Album back in the day. It seemed so dark and mysterious and that made it really exciting to hear. Le Grind and Cindy C and Bob George are Prince at his funkiest and nastiest. Gone are those days.

MSERMA said:

...& a co-spin!

Can someone help me out here, I have the black album on cd and i got the black album on vinyl for christmas its a 1988 bootleg and the sound quality is excellent, however is the official album worth more than the bootleg?

Not bothered really its one of my fave albums lurve it!!

It's not over-rated but maybe it's not really that "dark" either.

As for Bob George it's one of my all-time favourites Prince songs. I think it will definately grow on you.

The whole seriousness of the Black Album makes me smile. Whenever I talk to trendy music types about Prince they always mention this album like it somehow elevates Prince to "cool" status !!

It's a fun album. Really some brilliant stuff on there.

Does anyone have an idea who that omnious "Frankie" is?
[Edited 1/13/06 15:34pm]

My favorite thing about Cindy C is the thoughts it conjurs up. I can imagine Prince standing on his tippy toes reaching up to tweek Cindy's nipples.....and the shocked look on her face to be stalked by an imp

This album kicks ass.....still

SDNafka said:

Yea, I remember that one "it's too dark". To me, Come was darker than the Black Album. I remember not being very impresed with the Black Album after waiting for what seemed like an eternity for someone to get me a copy of the bootleg. I was about 19. I think that was the first time I experienced disappointment with P's music.

Diananeith said:

What a difference in experience. I will never forget the first time I heard it. I was in my friend Jamie's car and she just non-challantly popped in a tape into her player and this slamming music comes on and she doesn't say anything and it dawned on me.....this is Prince!. I was all hysterical because I had no idea there was a new album out and she told me it was a bootleg. I left the car with that tape and she never got it back

SDNafka said:

At least not as a proper release from someone of his stature at that time, and definitely not coming after SOTT. Hell, even Lovesexy was a weak follow-up imo.

Love this album. I was a bit worried I'd be disappointed since I'd heard so many good things about it; but it lived up to my expectations. One of my favorite Prince albums.

Now that I am older, maybe I'll give it another try. I just need to find the tape.

SenseOfDoubt said:

Hey sense! Check your orgnotes

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

i can dig where u are coming from...I heard it believe it or not...in a barbershop...I used to give guitar lessons to the guy that used to cut my hair...we even went together to pick up a natural wood colored fender telecaster for him...he was a prince freek...anyway...during a haircut he said "dont ask to hold this ..." I had to promise....then he played the tape...BUM BUM BA BUM BUM..NEW COAT HUH...THATS NICE...DID U BUY IT ??? YEAH RIGHT U SEEING THAT RICH MOTHERFUCKER AGAIN....MY mind was blown that afternoon..."and i got to leave with the tape!!!!
[Edited 1/13/06 17:12pm]

what would the music world be without albums like that, afflicted with myths, legends, secrets, whispers... and source for some fine anecdotes!
[Edited 1/13/06 17:27pm]

prettymansson said:

One time on a drug binge with a cousin I started reciting the lyrics to Bob George and when my cousin started tripping out I told him it was a dream I had. He believes that to this day

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

hope for your sake it was a jim morrison jimi hendrix type of binge...If it was ( u know where im commin from ) then that would be kool...

@SDNafka I can't decide by now, if TBA is overrated (and I will possibly never be able to do that), but at least it seems to be big fun. It's different, and a good companion to Lovesexy.




I've looked at these two albums being a further progression (color/black white) as ATWIAD- Parade compared to The Black Album - Lovesexy. Superfunky and Rock hard..., genuine funky!

Enjoy - I got my LP copy on Christmas day 18 years ago. One of the best days of my life.

Go in there, and put on that lil' wig I bought ya.
No, no! No, no!
The reddish-brown one...

I love The Black Album.

Makes me wanna have a TV dinner...

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said: