What's your favorite album packaging gimmick? I'm not talking artwork, but the design of the gimmick itself.

The Batcan?
The D+P hologram?
The embossed case?
The Crystal Ball hockey puck?
The Rave Un2 case?
The Rainbow Children digipak?
The ONA cardboard case?
The NEWS fold-over case?
The Musicology digipak?
The 3121 digipak?

Oh, uh, for me I guess it's the Batcan (even though mine is totally scratched up now), followed by the embossed case.

my favorite gimmicks are when he throws in free extra albums.

Rainbow Children frightens me

D&P hologram. It was cool!!

Daniella said:

The cover art for Rainbow Children is great. It kinda remindes me of one of JJ's paintings on Good Times.

Krystal666 said:

The question was about album packaging not the cover art.

rainbowchild said:

I know I just wanted to say that.

The Rave packaging was pretty freaking slick, I've gotta say.

That D&P hologram is stupid.

It wasn't really a gimmick, but I love the ATWIAD CD package. Tri-folk 12" cardboard case with the lyrics and a little slot with a cardboard sleeve for the CD. Even had an inner sleeve for the CD just like an LP would have.

Of course this about the time when CDs were just going mainstream and they hadn't really standardized the packaging approach yet.

Damn, I'm old.

eccotides said:

I totally agree! That case design for RAVE UN2 was just cool, That's what the packaging for Musicology should've been like. Someone please answer this question for me:

What was up with the digipak for Musicology? There was no slot for the booklet, so it just had to be placed inside the digipak and that annoying flap couldn't stay closed.
[Edited 3/29/06 19:45pm]

I liked the Controversy poster. I had that on my wall and everything thought I was Gay. "1999" came out and all of a sudden I was known as the guy who "discovered" Prince!

UndercovaBrotha said:

Yeah! This was tha best for me also.

I love the Diamonds & Pearls Box - The Paisley Shaped box with the CD / Numbered Cert and Fake Diamond and Pearl Ring inside.

Then TMBGITW Collectors Valentine Card

Then Batman in a Can

I don't know if this falls under album packaging gimmic, but the Black Album posters and postcards were priceless smartassery.

silverchild said:

later editions did have a slot!

I have Lovesexy in japanese long box thingy, I love it, its squashed but its my favourite.

I remember being so in awe of my symbol gold box that i did'nt slit the wrapping for hours just stared at it .


Why do the stickers go on the cellophane, its so hard to keep them nice.

The full-page poster that came with Controversy.

loved the purple 45 for purple rain

i absolutely HATE the CB hockey puck... i hate getting the cds lined up to go back in and close it. GRRRRR

the only reason i liked the DP hollogram is because of the funny story about how it came to be... i can just see Prince like a child pouting then saying "why can't i have one of these?"

AND THAT ONE NIGHT ALONE Boxed set with snoop dog on the cover

i wonder if anyone will get that

The Diamonds & Pearls hologram cover was cool too, but I hate to touch the cover because fingerprints and scratches always appear!

NEWS triangle fold over flap thingie

Barbefunkoramaque said:

Is there a true story about him wanting the hologram or are you just imagining yourself as a fly on the purple wall? I remember thinking that hologram was so cool...and I passed up buying the Batcan years ago at Best Buy and still regret it.

u2prnce said:

yes in the hahn book... goes pretty much like i said lol

Hologram and the Lovesexy nude.

I'm quite intrigued by the format of the "Rave" -packaging. It's quite unique, I still haven't seen too many CDs shipped like that. I think with some development it could have become an even more appealing and widely-spread format.

Novabreaker said:

LIKE EVERY NO LIMIT CD EVER DID IT FIRST

BACK ON TOPIC POOK LIKE BATMAN IN CAN IN POOK HAND!