Here I have listed probably the 5 most common and popular bootleg albums of all time in music history. And they all come from one man: Prince. So which is your favorite. I've had a tough time with this one because I like them all but I probably will give the slight edge to Exodus for the hard funk content and humor on the Cd. I love the others as well. Crystal Ball would finish a close second place to me. Songs like "The Ride", "Days Of Wild", and "Hide the Bone"(one of the funkiest songs ever made in history) keeps my interest going but I'll bow down in the end to Exodus. What do you think?

Neither are Bootlegs.

The only album you list that ever was one ( and yes one of the most popular ones ever ) is black, buit it was released later... so WTF?

GuardianAngel said:

May you stand corrected my friend. If you look it up there are all sort of bootlegs. I know. I'm a huge Prince fan and read Prince magazines and know people with illegal copies of stuff (not necessarily Prince) to know. First of all, yes The Black Album was a bootleg before being officially released by WB. You're right. But before the B.A. was Crystal Ball. Before Prince tossed some songs to the side, condensed it, and later became Sign "O" The Times. Therefore, creating bootlegs of the original sessions of Crystal Ball. Also, although released in Europe, Exodus wasn't officially released by WB or in the U.S. creating also more bootlegs of this Cd before you were able to get it through NPG Music or import through most record markets. And News wasn't a big time distributing Cd, so also considered more lost recording than bootleg but still the same. So, which proves that I'm sort of right.
[Edited 5/4/07 22:31pm]

LoDog said:

Really? How uncommon here...

I bought Exodus in a USA wrecka stow....
the Truth came with Crystal Ball, also bought in same store.

Is this April Fools Day?

So do you actually know what a bootleg is?

How about this definition from dictionary.com

boot·leg noun, verb, -legged, -leg·ging, adjective

–noun

1. alcoholic liquor unlawfully made, sold, or transported, without registration or payment of taxes.
2. the part of a boot that covers the leg.
3. something, as a recording, made, reproduced, or sold illegally or without authorization: a flurry of bootlegs to cash in on the rock star's death.

–verb (used with object)

4. to deal in (liquor or other goods) unlawfully.

–verb (used without object)

5. to make, transport, or sell something, esp. liquor, illegally or without registration or payment of taxes.

–adjective

6. made, sold, or transported unlawfully.
7. illegal or clandestine.
8. of or pertaining to bootlegging.


I would say exactly none of those are bootlegs. The Black Album was one of the most bootlegged albums but once it got officially released, well, it becomes an official release, duh

Yes there was a bootleg called Crystal Ball prior to the NPG Records release but none of those had The Ride, Days Of Wild or Hide the Bone on them. Those were released with Princes approval. As were Exodus, The Truth and News.

So if the question was which one of these officially-released-recordings-that-you-probably-can't-walk-down-to-your-local-record-store-and-buy do you prefer then I would say Crystal Ball but I don't think it would make my top 10 of all official releases. And I can think of plenty of unofficial recordings that are far superior to all of those you've mentioned.
[Edited 5/5/07 1:00am]

LoDog said:

To summarise:

You have not, as you claim 'listed probably the 5 most common and popular bootleg albums of all time in music history'.

You've listed five albums, all of which have been officially-released.

Of these, one ('The Black Album') was hugely pirated before its official release; one ('Crystal Ball') shares the same title as a collection which did leak but is wildly different from the official release to which you originally refer.

But, were we to pretend for one second that all of these were bootlegs, only one of these would stand any hope of being considered as ranking in "probably the 5 most common and popular bootleg albums of all time in music history".

.


.

I love Neon Rendezvous, i cant remember whom it was but someone on the org reccommended that gem to me, for that i will be eternally greatful

Just

I feel passionately that none of these are his best bootleg albums. As the definition of bootleg applies, all these albums suck!

none of those are bootleg albums

Ohh larwd.....

None of the albums listed are "bootlegs".

LoDog said:

I got all of those in the record store a legit one they still had copies of news too

LoDog said:

as has been stated, you couldn't be more wrong. defend your position all you want, it is incorrect, and dependent upon ignorance (which is not an insult, merely the level of knowledge you posses on the subject matter) of bootlegs. just because music gets bootlegged doesn't mean that the official releases are boots because they contain tracks that have been available via bootlegs. by your logic, the Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale is a bootleg because all the tracks on it were available via bootlegs for years. but it was released by WB, and by your argument for NEWS, the size of the distributor affects whether it is a boot. well, that was WB, a big time distributor, thus by the logic your own argument depends on, it has to be a boot and not a boot. but that isn't possible, it can only be one or the other. when your argument contradicts itself, it is a faulty argument.

furthermore, a boot is completely different than an import. saying they are one in the same is either ignorant or dishonest. that is why they have completely different terms, bootleg and import, because they mean completely different things.

heck, I have boots with NPGMC tracks, does that make the NPGMC downloads bootlegs because they weren't released by WB or a major distributor? no. your logic is faulty and your argument awful at every turn.

this thread is silly.

My favorite bootleg is The Gold Experience.

alot of his albums are bootlegs...i remember Parade in bootleg hands before it hit the streets

I define:

Bootlegs = Previously unreleased material, put in the consumer market by an unauthorized source.

Pirate and/or counterfeit = Previously released material, put in the consumer market by an unauthorized source. Federal law prohibits this, and is more likely to be prosecuted than a bootleg.

The Black Album straddles the two definitions. The other CDs sited would be the latter.

Crystal Ball was one of my first bootlegs, and it really had nothing to do with any of Prince's original CB configurations as stated above.

There are other, more recent boots of the original Crystal Ball tracks, put together for shits and giggles.

my favorite prince bootlegs is probably dirty mind because they went all the way up his thighs and i thought that was a cool look at the time.

mynameisnotsusan said:

Is a fair enough question, given what we usually understand a bootleg to be.

But the definition you posted :

means that all the albums listed qualify as bootlegs. In fact, every Prince album would qualify - I've seen illegal copies of all of them for sale at one time or another.

Pedantic of me to point this out, I know, but there you go.

Anx said:

The only logical answer on this thread so far.

thedoorkeeper said:

nah. It's purple rain.

I had a CDR copy of The Truth back in April 1997, well before it was ever released.

dumbass said:

yatta, yatta, yatta. yackity, yackity, yack. I don't have to defend myself partner. I know what I'm talking about. I'm not stupid if that is what you think I'm am. If so, you don't know me or anything about me. You don't know where I'm from or who I know or what I know. All I can tell you is that copies were dished out around the neighborhoods around here and sold (illegally of course) before they were even on the market. That is a bootleg. I'm not saying which cd or album it was but trust me I know. having seeing saomebody in positon of a record you can't even find in stores yet. That's a bootleg partner! So don't judge me. Just shut up and listen what I'm trying to say. i'm not saying you're wrong in general, I'm just saying I don't like the way you try to contradict me. Or anybody else for that matter. So go have a donut or something and call it a day.

The Black Album is one of his best albums period...it is way better than those others.

I choose the black album

My favorite bootleg would be Dream Factory.

Settle down LoDog, no one is trying to disrepect you and call you stupid. It's just that this site in particular has a lot of people who are PhDs in Prince's music, especially bootlegged albums or cds or tapes, etc... I consider myself one of them, the albums you have listed have been easily gotten through legal means for a long time. You should see the "real" bootlegged stuff they've got names that are too good. But please don't take this thread so seriously, people here mean well and your thoughts are welcome but relax and laugh with us not against us.