Did Warner Bros. gain anything monetarily from the release of the Crystal Ball CDs? I wondered about this and I'm sure it's been answered befroe, so yes, I am lazy to look it up. But I just kept on thinking about folks wondering about prince releasing songs from the vault and how likely WB would interfere with such a plan. This is where you insert the "masters" questions and who owns them and such.

So again, did warner get anything from the release of Crystal Ball? If so, what? And if not, would that eliminate WB from interfering with future "crystal ball" types of releases?

Or is Prince the true obstacle that we have preventing us from listening to something like Computer Blue (extended) in pristine condition?

1nonly said:

I will say a resounding 'No'.
With the proviso that this answer is based entirely on what we know, not on any contractual/legal basis that is unforeseen to plebian music fans such as us.

1nonly said:

Warners have no input or rights to Prince's unreleased material whatsoever (again, above proviso stands).

1nonly said:

Yes. It is his right after all, regardless of what the consumer (us) wants.



[Edited 1/5/07 16:23pm]

Yes, I'd agree with what NouveauDance says. We don't know the ins-and-outs of any contracts with Warners, but it does seem he had contracts based on delivering complete albums, not lots of material he simply handed over, therefore anything that didn't make the albums remains his own property.

Crystal Ball had material from 85 to 96 I think, which spanned several contracts with warners and his own independence. There is no credit to Warners on the album, so it would seem all that unreleased stuff plus non-released remixes are his to do with what he wants. There was plans to release a Crystal Ball II but it never happened.
[Edited 1/5/07 17:44pm]

Thank you both. I was just wondering about this, that's all. And you both answered in full. THank you, again.

Also keep in mind that the songs on CB that were already released on WB were remixed or slightly edited / changed, which seems to work as a legal loophole for him.

KoolEaze said:

Right,but I was really referring more to the following:

Crystal Ball; Dream Factory; Acknowledge Me; Hide the Bone; 2morrow; Moviestar; Da Bang; Calhoun Square; What's My Name?; Crucial; Sexual Suicide; Cloreen Bacon Skin; Strays of the World; Days of Wild; Last Heart; PoomPoom; 18 & Over; The Ride; Make Your Mama Happy; and Goodbye.

But yes, remixing and overdubbing good be a loophole for things, or even renaming tracks, maybe? Like So Dark or Get Loose?