Is Prince's classical album Kama Sutra worth seeking out? What year did he make this recording?

yes, it's a beautiful piece. It came as part of the crystal ball set. You'll like it.

No. Absolutely, positively, unequivocally no.

Kamasutra is the most truly cringeworthy thing Prince has ever done. You think Jughead was bad? Kamasutra isn't fit to carry Jughead's jockstrap.

The very thought of Kamasutra makes me want to rinse my ears with Clorox.

I've heard a lot of Prince fans say negative things about Kama Sutra but I don't mind it at all. It's not my favorite Prince work but it's not my least favorite either

djdaffy1227 said:

same here. i don't think it's awful, but it's not especially amazing either. it's interesting in places.

I really like it. I enjoy hearing Prince's instrumental works, because it showcases his theme writing abilities. Kamasutra/Overture #8 is my favorite, and I am considering using it for my own wedding. The one beef I have with it is that he uses synthetic strings in places, when it would have sounded better to use real ones (imo). He used real strings for part of it, so I don't understand why he didn't use them for the whole thing.

Alot of people don't like it cause it's obviously done with synths and not a real orchestra. It shouldn't really matter cause alot of great music is made using synths or midi, take the Final Fantasy soundtracks for instance they are classics, and wouldn't sound as good without those funny midi synths! As for the actual material itself most of it is ok, although it does have one or two gems.

FunkJam said:

I need to know what year he made this recording. I'm kind of obsessed with knowing when he did everything.

markpeg said:

He recorded it in time for his wedding on Valentine's day of 1996, so sometime before that.

UCantHavaDaMango said:

Hmm I didn't know it was made that early. I always thought it was 97 for some reason.

FunkJam said:

It says on Wikipedia that it was recorded in 1995. An excerpt appeared on Emancipation in 1996.
[Edited 4/13/07 13:09pm]

UCantHavaDaMango said:

Yeah, it's pretty obvious now that I think about haha but I guess I really didn't pay that much attention!!

FunkJam said:

It's cool! I keep forgetting when New Power Soul came out!

I thought it was ok. There was one track I really liked... the jazzy, groovy, catchy one. I forget the name. It didn't really fit in with the others.

There's a good track, I think it's called "Barelona", with sax. I think it's Eric Leeds, but can't be sure.

UCantHavaDaMango said:

Small parts of it could already be heard on the NPG sample tape that was given away free during his Gold Experience/Ultimate Live Experience tour in March 1995.
It contained snippets from various albums, TGE, Exodus, Kamasutra, 1800New Funk etc.

markpeg said:

If you like a little inspiration while you're practing the art of baby making, then pop this little disc into the drive. Wait...that didn't sound right...

Can you fit a 12" in there??

If you want something to play in bed when you can't get to sleep, it's the perfect album.

It's another one I play in the classroom as "background music" when my students are working. It's peaceful...

Possibly his least essential release. Still, adds another string to his bow.

doeineffect said:

That's the one!

I quite like it the best out of all his instrumental releases.

FunkJam said:

It does have real strings on, and real horns, harp and percussion - all of the players are credited in the cassette tape sleeve notes. The orchestration is arranged by - and the orchestra conducted by - Clare Fischer.

(It does, of course, also have synths on it.)
.

langebleu said:[quote]

FunkJam said:

It does have real strings on, and real horns, harp and percussion - all of the players are credited in the cassette tape sleeve notes. The orchestration is arranged by - and the orchestra conducted by - Clare Fischer.

(It does, of course, also have synths on it.)
.[/quote

Well I was aware it had real instruments also but that's the main reason I've seen people putting it down, for it's use of synths.

langebleu said:

So it was recorded in time for the 1996 wedding. Was it first made available to concert attendees on the 1997 tour (cassette format), then tagged onto the versions of Crystal Ball in 1998 (CD format) which were sold through the website (but not to the versions sold in stores)?

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gcu1 said:

I'm not sure whether it was sold first on the concert tour in cassette form.

It was oficially released in that format through 1800-NEWFUNK in 1997 before the Crystal Ball release.
.

eeww- you want to buy the book? there's a song abt it?

langebleu said:

Thanks. I always appreciate your expertise!

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