PRince set a record for being one of few artists to release an album every years from 21 years. He did from FOr you in '78 all the way into RaveUN2.

Then he hit the 20th century. Now in his forties Prince is only releasing an album every 2 years. Is this his new pattern now? Seems we get tours every 4 years now. It's nothing to complain about. 2 years is pretty quick for any artist. Prince isn't the only one, Madonna goes every 3 now. Michael is supposed be his sual 5 but he has trouble finishing albums.

fluid said:

The album he released in 1983 being ... ???


He'd been living in the 19th century up until then???


Prince turned 40 in 1998:

1998: Crystal Ball (3CD), The Truth
1999: The Vault... Old Friends 4 Sale; Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic
2000: Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic
2001: The Rainbow Children; The Very Best Of Prince
2002: One Nite Alone...; One Nite Alone... Live! (2CD); One Nite Alone ... The Aftershow: It Ain't Over;
2003: Expectation; C-NOTE; N.E.W.S.
2004: The Chocolate Invasion; The Slaughterhouse; Musicology
2005:
2006: 3121; Ultimate (2CD)

Even ignoring the greatest hit compilations and download-only albums, there are only two years since he has turned 40 that he hasn't released an album through retail, and only one of those when he hasn't released a CD album at all.

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[Edited 10/9/06 23:14pm]

Incorrect RaveUN2 was 1999.

Prince has definitely slowed his work rate down, but he still releases more to his fans than most artists do. That said, alot of artists are highly prolific, not just prince (Ryan Adams released 3 albums last year, one a double, and apparently he plans to release more this year also).

It was the norm in the 60's and 70's to release an album per year and then the 80's hit. I partially blame MJ. The phenominal success of Thirller which was milked for 2-3 years set the blueprint for marketing an album. It meant that other artist followed suit, however fans are rarely prepared to wait longer than 2 years.

Prince has released 6 studio albums (in the classic sense) since Rave Un 2. I dont consider this a bad return for our loyalty, but agree his work rate has decerased (as it does with all artists).

Michael took 4 years between OFf The Wall and Thriller.

fluid said:

I thought it was only 3 years. Also, you have to remember that at this time he was still recording with the Jacksons so it wasnt like he was in the late 80's & 90's, sapping the life out of every album and doing nothing else.

Its worth pointin out that since the introduction of CD's, artists have been more inclined to released fewer but longer albums. Id love my favourite artists, prince included, to release an album per year, but not if it will compromise the quality. Id rather wait a little for a good record than have them rush a load of rubbish out for the sake of a record contract.

fluid said:[quote]Michael took 4 years between OFf The Wall and Thriller.[/quotno offense to any Michael fans, but he could take the rest of his life off and I personally wouldn't lose ANY sleep...

It comes when it comes. I've been a Prince fan since 1976, and there have been very few times where that wasn't new music to listen to.

I think Willie Nelson did the same thing.

Hate to nitpick at your post, but he has toured more often than every four years. I think I have seen him every two or three years in Chicago.

One Nite Alone was 2002
Musicology was 2004
I don't know if the Tamar shows count, but those were 2005.

What years were Hit N Run and Jam of the Year? I know I saw him in 1997 for Emancipation, then I think '98 or '99 for Jam of the Year with Larry and Chaka, Also either 2000 or 2001 for Hit N Run and 2001 for the NPG Music Club party - we had a full concert here.

He still performs live quite often. His fans just have voracious appetites. I'm always ready for Prince live!!!

bellanoche said:

that was earlier this year.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Oops, my bad. Thanks. Yeah Feb. 2006, was when I saw them at the Congress Theatre here in Chicago - great night!

bellanoche said:

i was there too...and yes, it was a lotta fun!

fluid said:

That's what I wrote!

Incorrect on the touring too.

1979-80 Prince tour (USA)
1980-81 Dirty Mind tour (USA)
1981 European tour (Europe)
1981-82 Controversy tour (USA)
1982-83 1999 tour (USA)
1984-85 Purple Rain tour (North America)
1986 'Hit & Run' tour (USA)
1986 Parade tour (Leg I: Europe)
1986 Parade tour (Leg II: Japan)
1987 Sign O' The Times tour (Europe)
1988 Lovesexy tour (Leg I: Europe)
1988 Lovesexy tour (Leg II: North America)
1989 Lovesexy tour (Leg III: Japan)
1990 Nude tour (Leg I: Europe)
1990 Nude tour (Leg II: Japan)
1991 South American tour (Brazil and Argentina)
1992 Diamonds & Pearls tour (Leg I: Japan)
1992 Diamonds & Pearls tour (Leg II: Australia)
1992 Diamonds & Pearls tour (Leg III: Europe)
1993 Act I tour (North America))
1993 Act II tour (Europe)
1995 Ultimate Live Experience tour (Europe)
1996 Japanese tour (Japan)
1997 Love 4 One Another Charities tour (North America)
1997-8 Jam Of The Year tour (North America)
1998 Newpower Soul tour (USA)
1998 European tour (I) (Europe)
1998 Newpower Soul Festival tour (USA)
1998 European tour (II) (Europe)
2000-1 Hit N Run tour (USA)
2001 Celebration tour (USA)
2002 One Nite Alone... tour (Leg I: USA)
2002 One Nite Alone... tour (Leg II: Canada)
2002 One Nite Alone... tour (Leg III: Europe)
2002 One Nite Alone... tour (Leg IV: Japan)
2003 World tour (Australia)
2004 2004Ever tour (USA)
2006 Tamar and Prince tour (USA)

.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Wasn't it? As much as I love to see P get the adoration from the big crowds like the Musicology tour, I LOVE seeing him in smaller venues. He seemed so relaxed at the Tamar show that night. From what I saw, as I stared at him all night (I picked the correct side of the stage ), he was REALLY having a great time, killing that guitar, singing covers, kidding around, etc. And the place seemed to explode when he did that bit of Partyman.

Can't wait to see what 2007 holds!

langebleu said:

Thanks, I knew I'd seen him on a pretty regular basis in the 1990s/2000s, but I'm getting old so it's all becoming a blur. LOL!!!

Do you remember what year the NPGMusicclub.com parties were? That wasn't the the Celebration tour was it? I remember at some places there was no performance and the buzz was that Chicago would get a concert. It was at the ParkWest and around midnight we certainly got a concert. He took the stage and kicked it off with Uptown. I think it was the same year as Hit N Run. I can't find my stub, but it might have been around March/April of 2001. Hit N Run might have been in Chicago in Novembmer/December 2000 or January 2001, because I remember FREEZING outside the Riviera waiting in a line that was blocks long, then FREEZING outside the Metro for the aftershow.
[Edited 10/10/06 12:42pm]
[Edited 10/10/06 12:52pm]

bellanoche said:

Park West, Chicago - NPG Music Club launch event - 30 March 2001

Fonky Bald Heads | Milenia | Prince

The set list was not unlike the Hit N Run tour which relaunched shortly afterwards.

It had begun in November 2000 and ran for a month. You attended the Riviera performance on 16 November 2000, followed by the Metro aftershow - 17 (am)November 2000. The aftershow is possibly alluded to in 'Mellow' when he sings 'Macy and Common were there'.

The tour resumed in mid April 2001 running for about 3 weeks.

The Celebration tour was a very brief, and curtailed tour later in the year.

.

.
[Edited 10/10/06 13:42pm]

It's was for years since he technically did a tour with all the hits. One Nite Alone was just the songs off that album.

ANd if you want to you can discount Hit'N RUn cause it wasn't a fullscale tour. It was 7 years between when he was doing large arenas from Jam Of The Year in 1997 and Musicology.

And Michael Jackson, he technically took 3 years between Offf The Wall and Thriller.. OTW was released in 1979, Thriller was released in the very end of 1982. While it was in '82 it was really '83 that it gained popularity and we heard all the songs.

fluid said:

The 'One Nite Alone... tour' was definitely not'just the songs off that album.

If it had an album focus, then the album was 'The Rainbow Children'. Songs from 'One Nite Alone' featured far less frequently. In the course of three consecutive shows on the tour, I saw him play 51 different songs, excluding sound checks and after shows. It included many hits - but not songs such as 'Purple Rain' and 'Sign O' the Times' which were also played during the tour.

I'm not sure why you are now bringing up the number of hits played on a setlist and the size of the venues. It still counts as a tour, regardless. And for some, the avoidance of a greatest hits rollercoaster in more intimate venues made such a tour more attractive.

.

langebleu said:

thanks for posting this Lang. So 1994, 1999 & 2005 are the only years he hasn't been touring somewhere in his entire career. I'll be keeping this list handy so when people bitch about him playing in one place (Vegas) I can post it and tell them to fart off.


.
[Edited 10/10/06 16:31pm]

langebleu said:

Langbleu, who are you? Wow, you are good!! Yes, I recall that Macy was high that night and it pissed Prince off. It was very funny.

This further illustrates that this man is one of the hardest working musicians on the planet!! He puts so much into it. Boy, do I feel lucky to have experienced so many wonderful moments courtesy of his live shows whether they were full-scale arena tours or not.
[Edited 10/12/06 13:25pm]