reading the Shelby 'interview' from 3121.com the message is loud and clear i.e. Larry is seen as a good and positive influence, lay of Larry and deal with Prince as he is now and quit wishing for the Prince of the 80's. In other words that was then this is NOW!.
I think this is only fair. Face it those days are gone, we can argue til we're blue in the face about his lack of creative spark etc but he seems happy, we have more music than we can handle and more amazing memories than any other artist can give ;so lets give him his due. Agree?.
[Edited 4/19/07 9:45am]
[Edited 4/19/07 9:45am]

The chances of this wish coming true are roughly equal to the chances of him screaming "Answer me, motherfucker!" at a concert.

I don't really see much of a difference in Prince's persona before/after Larry Graham. If you read that Alan Leeds interview at housequake--he speaks along these lines as well.

To me, Prince is still Prince. The rest if fanboy obsession and reading too much into things...

People change. Listen 2 Emancipation. It was recorded 1996 before Larry.

skywalker said:

yep

Graycap23 said:

fine point actually, i think though that P was going for the commercial juggular with that one until events unfolded.

I'm so new that I won't have this problem... most likely.

But in all seriousness, I don't wish for him to be back to the way he was in the 80's or even the 90's. He's already been there and lived it. You can't grow and move on with your life unless you move away from the past and go on to do new things.

As far as I'm concerned, he was always a bit arrogant, no matter what era you're in... but now, he's more level-headed than he was in the "old days" (I'm talking 1999-PR here).

He's come a long way and changed so much and I respect that. And I understand from my own perspective. I wasn't the same person now that I was, say, 3 years ago. Everyone changes.

And yeah, his happiness is all that really counts here and I say he's a lot happy these days (to me, he seems that way, but we barely see him outside of the music itself during the 80's)

Graycap23 said:

And it doesn't sound that much different from New Power Soul or Rave both of which were recorded after Larry.

skywalker said:

That's my point.

skywalker said:

I totally agree with u here. If anything Prince just became more slick. He wasn't using graphic language anymore but if u listen closely the same message is still there. All Prince albums bascically have the same theme Love, God, Sex not neccesarily in the same order.

funkyhead said:

come again????? hasn't the boredom around here been obvious lately? Prince fans NEED more music.
I do respect him now- fully, but cannot for the life of me understand why I have to wait so long for new music. I supported his whole fight to be "free". But under WB, we could count on an album a year. Now? Not. So. Much.

Except for adding shit hop to his music every now and then, I don't see any difference in Prince today than he's been since 1985. Now....before 1985 is an entirely different story. That's when Prince was bad as hell and could do NO wrong.

paisley16 said:

I only own 4 albums and I already feel like I have my hands full.
But I'm still a newbie, so I've no reason/right to lecture anybody.

He has much more music out there than I can handle... that's why when I come into more money, I'll have to take it slow... and get only maybe 2 albums at post per venture per month or something to that effect.
This actually makes me glad I go to the party so late. I won't have to worry about having to rush out every year just because he has a new album out. I've trouble enough keeping up as it is.

Graycap23 said:

Your point was what? That Prince is basically the same as he was before Larry? I agree with you.

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

wow, 4 albums?, enjoy the great journey ahead. Which 4 do you have?. [somebody hook this dude up quick with funk!

vainandy said:

what!, so you'd put Rave, NPS, Musicology in the same league as SOTT, Parade, Lovesexy, . Get off the crack quick!

skywalker said:

That is my point. I don't care 4 Larry but his influence is less than it's made out 2 be.
[Edited 4/19/07 12:49pm]

funkyhead said:

Every day for the past 2 months, I've enjoyed the journey.

Currently I own (in order of purchase):
Purple Rain (my dad's had it for 23 years, that's right, u know what that means)
Musicology
3121
The Gold Experience (used, but in MINT condition)

I've been listening to them for a month now. Although I know I want more, I still feel like there's so much more to do. I've gotten the total jist of 3121 yet... not to mention Musicology hasn't been getting any love 4 a few weeks now.

If you wanna pass on your advice about my next move, I welcome it. I have 8 albums on my "wish list" posted on my blog http://www.xanga.com/DreamyPopRoyalty a couple of posts down. I don't feel like typing them all up 4 fear I'd forget one.
I'm all 4 listening to everyone's advice about my next move.

The final decision's always mine, but the last time someone told me to get a particular album and I did... I fell in love with it... given some time & attention, of course.

and it's dudette

Graycap23 said:

agreed

Well, maybe not "Rave" or "New Power Soul" since those are sell-out embarassments. Yeah, I'd put "Musicology" in the same league as "Sign O The Times" though.....retro 60s/70s vibe over a "Princely" type sound.

vainandy said:

Lord forgive him 4 he knows not what he says. Pray for this dudes soul tonight everyone!.

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

dudette [lol], i'd go for SOTT , 1999 , TRC and Lovesexy. Enjoy!

funkyhead said:

no, I think vainandy knows exactly what he is trying to say- just not many agree. If I understand correctly, andy is hardcore for early Prince and I love that about him. He's the one of the best around here to talk to about that era. I wouldn't agree that Musicology is in the same league as SOTT, but it's def. as good as LoveSexy (excepting anna stesia of course ) imo.

Thank you.

funkyhead said:

Vainandy is remnant of the old guard who still makes a distinction in Prince's sound from 1984 to 1985. Most people stopped with that in the 90's, but vainandy likes his MPLS sound cold, funky, and synthed out. That's all.

Yep.

skywalker said:

vainandy said:

and that's cool with me!

That's the truth, but you can't teach an old horse new tricks, some of these folks are gonna be stuck in the 80's forever and not just with Prince!

wlcm2thdwn said:

Is the phrase "old horse"? I thought it was "old dog".....You can't teach and old dog new tricks.....

skywalker said:

It is "old dog"...

whoever heard of "you can't teach an old horse new tricks"...

actually, I think you can teach an old dog new tricks... not that Prince is old... far from it.