With the release of 3121, I thought I'd compare it to some of the Prince i loved in my childhood, and Graffiti Bridge is one of the first.

The film...is okay It's silly and cheesey, but the album (with the exception of a few songs like Release It! and the title track) are actually rather nice. They're rich, well written, solid Prince lyrics with distinctive arrangements and a true sense of 'joy' in the music.

Favs:

* New Power Generation
* The Question of U
* Elephants & Flowers
* Tick, Tick, Boom
* Theives in the Temple
* Joy in Repetition
* Still Would Stand All Time

Really, this is one of the most lyrically interesting albums Prince created. I don't see a lot of love being given, and it should be. I miss this Prince.

What about We Can Funk?!

My favorite cut.

I was listening to it just now Great song. The line about peeing is a little...on the nose, but the rest of the song is awesome.

Perfect example of the LONG, DEEP songs that Prince is capable of.

THIS from Graffiti Bridge:

"Talking 2 no one in particular, they say "the baddest I am tonight"
4 letter words are seldom heard with such dignity and bite.

All the poets and the part time singers always hang inside
live music from a band plays a song called "Soul Psychodelicide".

The song's a year long and had been playing 4 months when he
walked into the place.

No one seemed to care, an introverted this-is-it look on most of their faces.
Up on the mic repeating 2 words, over and over again
was this woman he had never noticed before he lost himself in the
articulated manner in which she said them.

These 2 words, a little bit behind the beat.
I mean just enough 2 turn u on."


Versus THIS from 3121

"U're a VIP at least 2 me
Come here and show me some ID
Eye know U're fine from head 2 pumps
if U were mine we'd bump bump bump
U're much 2 young 2 peep my stash
U're tryin' 2 write checks Ur body can't cash
U can't hang with this, girl"

*****

That's what i miss most about the "old" Prince. Not so much the sexy/raunchy aspect, but the more introspective Prince that had something interesting and original to say.

I dunno..I'm rambling and being sentimental.
[Edited 3/30/06 19:54pm]
[Edited 3/30/06 19:55pm]

bleutuna said:

I let the "pee" thing slide just because it's George Clinton. It's to be expected, lol.

But yeah this song is very dynamic. Love it!
Have you heard the alternate/unreleased/whatever you call it version? That's a cool one too.

Imago said:

YOUR AVATAR!!!!

YEAAAAAH! I've got the SOAP fevah!!!

bleutuna said:

Hmmm! Interesting.

You are a young newbie, but I will back you up, like a big brother. I am the resident Prince expert here. Graffiti Bridge is his last 80's sounding, mind expanding album. Full of flare and surprises. Beats so powerful, they make your booty run away with the beat. Sure, some of these numb nuts diss it, but remember, at the time, this got praised by the critics, who are not usually on Prince's side. This album sure in the fuck beats 3121 by a mile and a leap.

I'm a HUGE fan of the Graffiti Bridge album -- it contains some of the BEST compositions EVER written by Prince. I really don't know where people get off dissing this album.

The Question of U
Elephants & Flowers
Joy In Repetition
We Can Funk
Thieves in the Temple

No one can't mess with this stuff!!
They can't come close.

Personally, I also love...
Can't Stop This Feeling I Got
New Power Generation
Tick Tick Bang
and when in the right mood...
Still Would Stand All Time

I go back and forth with this album constantly. It's arguably his spottiest ever, but the material that registers as great ranks among the very best stuff he's ever done. I'll never question the greatness of tunes like:

The Question of U
Elephants and Flowers
Joy In Repitition
Thieves in the Temple
Still Would Stand All Time

Those are all easily among the strongest cuts he's ever done.

It certainly has its flaws, but lately I've been digging the album moreso than usual. There's an exotic, mysterious quality to so many of the songs, but it also feels like quite a whimsical record. Really unique in terms of sound.
[Edited 3/31/06 0:49am]

2freaky4church1 said:

Hello "resident expert", I also remember GB getting rave critics. I remember Rolling Stone magazine giving it a rare 5 star rating, and the text was along the lines of "what Prince achieves here on the first 4 songs alone (disc 1 of LP) is so incredible that most other artist fail to conceive in a lifetime".

And yes, what power do these songs have - just compare the musicality and power of CSTFIG with 3121. Or "Release it" with the somehow meant to be similar Lolita.

But I do like 3121 - but I know which records I prefer to it...

Graffiti Bridge IMHO would have benefited from being JUST a Prince album and dropping all those tracks by The Time (add these to Pandemonium) Mavis Staples and Teven Campbell.

In their place I would have used a few more similar era vault tracks (in case some newbies don't realise virtually every song except New Power Generation and Thieves In The Temple had been pulled out of the Vault and reworked by Prince for this album). Tracks I would have liked to see on the album include:

Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic (originally scheduled for the 1989 album RUTJF shelved in favour of Batman)
God Is Alive (also intended for 1989 RUTJF)
Last Heart, Witness 4 The Prosecution + We Can Funk (original version with Miko's funky guitar solo).

So the track list would have been:

Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic
Can't Stop This Feeling I Got
New Power Generation
The Question Of U
Elephants And Flowers
We Can Funk
Joy In Repetition
Last Heart
Witness 4 The Prosecution
Thieves In The Temple
God Is Alive
Still Would Stand All Time
New Power Generation pt2

With Tick Tick Bang as a b-side and Graffiti Bridge in the trash can. Now I realise this album would not reflect the film (ie Prince does the spiritual music and The Time and George Clinton do the "sexy tracks" BUT the album could have "featured music from the film Graffiti Bridge")

Personally I think this would have been a killer album and would have been a huge success following on from Batman.

On further thought in 1990 we still had albums being sold almost equally on vinyl and CD. That means Graffiti Bridge would need to be a double vinyl album so...

Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic
Can't Stop This Feeling I Got
New Power Generation
The Question Of U
Elephants And Flowers
We Can Funk
Joy In Repetition
The Voice Inside
If I Had A Harem
Last Heart
Witness 4 The Prosecution
Tick Tick Bang
Thieves In The Temple
Melody Cool
God Is Alive
Still Would Stand All Time
New Power Generation pt2

So I have relented and put TTB back in and also included three other tracks rumoured to have been on 89 RUTJF, TVI, IIHAH and Melody Cool (with Prince on lead vocals).

However, I still can't bring myself to include Graffiti Bridge which I guess brings into question the name of the album!

FruitToAttractBears said:

I can't actually listen to the released version of "We Can Funk" knowing that any of the earlier versions own it. "Can't Stop" was better originally, too.

FruitToAttractBears said:

Fantabulous avatar.What was the topic..... Oh The Bridge Lp, one of my personal favs for whatever it's worth PEAS ALLDAC

Actually I think Graffiti Bridge is full of great material, and it's a very
good album. It just gets a lot of flak due to the movie sucking. I also think
it would've been better to release as seperate 'Prince' album and 'soundtrack'
album...

1. Can't Stop This Feeling I Got
2. We Can Funk
3. The Question Of U
4. Elephants & Flowers
5. Joy In Repetition
6. Thieves In The Temple (Remix)
7. Tick Tick Bang
8. Still Would Stand All Time
9. New Power Generation (Pts I&II)

1. Seven Corners (Ingrid Chavez)
2. Release It (The Time)
3. Round And Round (Tevin Campbell)
4. Love Machine (The Time & Elisa Fiorillo)
5. Number One (Robin Power)
6. Shake! (The Time)
7. Melody Cool (Mavis Staples)
8. The Latest Fashion (The Time & Prince)
9. Graffiti Bridge (Prince, Mavis Staples & Tevin Campbell)

I think this one is more hit-and-miss than any other Prince album. Some of his stuff on there is great, almost everything by the related artists sucks.

calldapplwondery83 said:

its my second fav album, my first is chaos and disorder

its got joy.. on it , nuff said , its just a shame that we can funk was an anti climax compared to the original and also the original version of cant stop is a lot more interesting...but i think release it and question of u are great.

This is actually my favourite Prince album.
The main reason is that it is very visionary - its positive too and the songs have great melodies and addictive beats.

I never get tired of Question of U or Joy in Repetition.

I also love the parts with Tevin, Mavis and especially The Time - they are so much fun and a great band.

Its so spiritual too - it touches my heart every time i listen to it.

My favourite Prince song is also on there: Still Would Stand All Time.
A masterpiece - it creates a heart rending tingling sensation whenever i hear it.
[Edited 4/1/06 10:21am]

TheFreakerFantastic said:

I dunno. I felt this was the start of the phony Prince era. It was as if his exposure to the Batman set and working close Tinseltown set him off in a plastic, superficial direction. Graffiti Bridge is so It's A Small World After All I couldn't believe my ears. Can you imagine that turd on "Controversy?"

I really think the whole "positive" vibe was forced and Hollywood-influenced. Prince was sliding into movie conventions, making albums with "happy endings." But his best work was never about happily ever after, but what ifs and why nots and fu's.

Its all opinion, opinion, opinion though - every1 feels different.

calldapplwondery83 said:

I'm with u on this one.
Joy In Repetition- To this day never heard anyhing like it by another artist.
S.W.S.A.T- Makes me Sad and joyful at the same time.
Thieves- Brilliant
Cant Stop this feelin I Got- LOVE the way it opens with,"Dear Father" and then the explosion. My man then proceeds to Rip it!
NPG-corny silly but dig the music.

The Latest Fasion and a few others make my stomach hurt and wanna throw up.

TheFreakerFantastic said:

Well you can dismiss my thoughts as mere opinions if you like, but you gotta admit, I'm pretty darn articulate.

But that's just my opinion.
[Edited 4/1/06 11:34am]

jaypotton said:

After reading the inputs - I feel that this hits the "nail on the it on the head." I personally like the album, but could understand why some may think it's not his best work. Arranged as above, it would have been a steller album. So, yes, it is strong especially if shaped as a Prince album and apart from the err - movie?!

Its a busy album, but there are some def. standouts. I can remember the first time i heard "Still would stand all time" my mouth was hanging open in awe. I was happy just having that

A few unfortunate songs aside, I think it's a pretty good album. It's strong points far outweigh it's various flaws.

Imago said:

Yo,Cuz how did u get angie up on ur avatar??THANX DAC

[b][i]1 of my personal favz, Love it from start to finish DAC