Do you have to own everything Prince has ever done? Every album, b side, every picture disc and special edition, etc.? I'm curious how people draw the line or define their collections. For example, do you have to get a copy of every song he wrote for others? Do you consider every associated artist's album that he did the work on to be a Prince album too and therefore have to have it?

For myself, I'm a completist for every official release but not so much for the "unofficial" ones. Or at least I was--I became less obsessive about it over the past 10 years or so and didn't have to have absolutely everything as long as I had all the songs (like I didn't have to buy a single that didn't have a new b side).

What about you?

I'm pretty much the same. Have every official release of his (CD only), with the exception of Goldnigga. Just can't bring myself to shell out the cash for that one. I draw the line at all the b-sides, picture discs, redundant releases (I'm talking about you, Very Best of Prince).

Also, I have most of the associated artists releases, too. The Vanity 6, The Family, and Jill Jones CDs were quite the bitch to get a hold of.

GUILTY! Having worked in music retail from 1981-1989 and the having some serious connections after my stint, I was able to pretty much get it all including associated artist, CD's, 12" vinyl, 45rpm, LP Vinyl, special editions, promos, you name it. It if was (MPLS related) released, I got it.
I've ripped most of the non CD releases material to mp3 for the iPod.

What do I do with it all now?

sagelri said:

i'm pretty much the same...i'm a little relaxed about the paisley/associated releases. if i stumble across one i don't have at a decent price, i buy it. otherwise, i won't be shelling out fifty bucks for dale bozzio's paisley park album, thanks.

I definitely don't want to become one.
Or else, I'd become as obsessed as Prince was in the studio in the 90's (thus becoming a slave to that addiction of having to record constantly).
I've never exactly been the most level-headed person when it comes to my biggest interests. So no, I don't want to own every single thing.

I want to complete his life's "storylines" that I've already began for myself, but I don't want to feel like I have to own everything.

I have a clear idea of what I want to get and that's keeping me grounded. and that's how I want it to be

i left my mans P alone for a hot minute and missed out on quite a bit. esp. all the NPGMC stuff. kinda pissed about that. so i only have all the "official" non-internet stuff. just found Crystal Ball used. but for unofficial releases, etc. i'm quite curious but now i'm skeptical because so far the hard to find items have left me wanting more. like the ext'd Mountains, Computer Blue and Crystal Ball itself. its like i want the best of the hard to find stuff but i don't want to hunt it down and be disappointed. the vault and chaos and disorder were missing but when i got them i was like, ahhh, not much here anyway. don't have a lot of associated artist stuff. pretty much just The Time.

I want it all!

sexxydancer said:

I used to be a completist up until the mid-90s but I've let it slide since then. (I'm fortunate in that I'm a music journalist, so the big official
releases are sent to me for free... so I'm kind of a 'passive' collector nowadays.)

If I see something I haven't got in a second-hand shop, I'll pick it up. And I do like checking out associated stuff like Jill Jones, Andre Cymone, Sheila E, The Family etc once in a while.

I only buy what I like of Prince's music, and have never felt the desire to fly outside the country to see him.

wlcm2thdwn said:

Same as, I listen to it first, then buy if I like. So I never bought anything after Come, not until Rainbow Children, and I didn't buy Musicology.

I'm afraid to admit that I am one of those people who get everything. I couldn't possibly NOT get an album - there is always something on it that you're sure to like!!

Over the last decade + I have got just about everything... just a few picture discs that are slightly out of my price range now....

Gotta say - someone mentioned missing out on a lot of the NPG stuf... I'm glad I managed to get all the downloadsoff the NPGmusicClub site before it all stopped!!

It makes for one HELL of a collection. There is always something to suit your mood!

I have most of his released stuff
Still working on crystal ball and the black album
I'll be happier once i get those on board!
I have every 45 and 12" he's put out since controversy. Makes for some interesting conversation when company comes over! I could kick myself for not being part of the NPGMC until it was too late to get the goods/downloads. I'm trying to find some of it, but not having very good luck at it. Anywho, I'm going to keep going until i have it all! I will also aquire the TIME stuff too. I have some older cassettes of them and Vanity but they don't play anymore! worn out! I was going to get vanity off of Amazon but it was 100 dollars! screw that!

once I get these on vinyl:
For You
Vanity 6
Apollonia 6
The Glamorous Life
Sheila E
Batman
The Black Album
both Madhouses

then I'll have all of the studio albums
released during 78-89

I have and handful of 12" singles:
Glam Slam
The Screams Of Passion
and SIX (Madhouse)

like sexxydancer though
I want aaaaall of that stuff though (78-89)
the 12" singles, the 45s
foreign versions of albums
as much as I can get my hands on
I WANT IT!!!

I plan to have it all
by the time I turn 28 I guess
[Edited 5/22/07 18:10pm]

DirtyChris said:

Was the Black Album released on vinyl?

every song, yes. but i don't need to own every physical product ever put out.

Efan said:

I don't think it was ever released
legend say only 6 copies exist

but Alan Leeds says there were more
but they were hand given out
by Prince to close friends, bandmembers etc etc

I wish I could get my hands on one
but now that you mention it, and research was done
I don't think I'll ever find one on vinyl

sure would be nice though
[Edited 5/22/07 18:09pm]

DirtyChris said:

Wow, that would have been cool to have. I miss the big platters and the artwork on the album covers. Even though this is just all black, it would have looked good in the record collection.