** a thread on here reminded me that I hadn't posted this in the set **

I was late to One Night Alone. It was during a time when my membership to the npg had lapsed, and I missed out on the “official release”. It wasn’t until it became available as a download that I got to enjoy it.

The first reversed sustained chord kind of pulled me from my chair into the song, giving it a very haunted feel. All piano pieces of Prince’s will always take me back to How Come you Don’t Call Me Anymore and Another Lonely Christmas, both songs with their own degree of lament. Listening to the album I couldn’t help but think of it being a twin to The Truth. Stripped back to the bare essentials and in place of a guitar, Prince commands the ivory keys.

One Night Alone is a mix of light and shade, a haunting melody that underpins the vocals in a way that gives it a sense of energy and intimacy that a full on production would struggle to achieve. I love hearing Prince stomping his feet during the frenetic piano solo, you can almost see him just getting lost in the moment. The song has a “soundcheck” “demo” rawness to it that is just pure and intoxicating.

U’re Gonna C Me reminds me of the more pianocentric songs off Parade. Once again Prince’s vocals are serene, washing over you with ease. The song feels a little disjointed and you sometimes get the feeling that it lacks focus, with Prince more willing to let the song take him where ever it wants to go and occasionally it finds it way back to the structure of the verses. You could see this being one of the live moments where people are enthralled but not 100% sure what to make of it.

The interesting thing about Here on Earth is unlike the pure sounds of the preceding songs this has a fuller arrangement and even begins with the sound of crackling record softly mixed into the intro. The mix on this is sublime. With the introduction of more and more instruments they all find their rightful place and balance, still allowing the concept of the album being piano and vocal to remain at the fore. This is and ethereal song that just floats around you for 2 minutes until it swoops down to gather you in its arms. I find this song has a similar vibe to it as letitgo from Come, maybe it’s the similar synth line.

Very few artists can take someone else’s song and truly make it their own. However, with his reworking of A Case of You Prince takes this beautiful Joni Mitchell song and not only pays homage to its beauty but also adds to it. With wonderful backing vocal arrangements and layering of accompaniment you can’t help but love it. A true joy to see him perform live in a sound check, this is one of the highlights of the album.

Have A Heart has a rather pompous intro to it that could easily collapse under its own weight and I was ready to fast forward it, but then the lyric came in and that cheeky Prince structure of the set up of pain flipped to a subtle biting anger, it’s his ability to flip and twist expectations in the construct of the lyrics that make it a surprising joy to listen to.

I love the irony in Objects in the Mirror with regards to the line about parental advisory, considering it was Darling Nikki that sparked that whole debate. I love how this song builds celebrating the joys of domesticity or is it? As with several of Prince’s song the first glance at a subject matter might not reveal the whole truth. As does the line Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear – relate to the two people in it, and the state of the relationship? On the surface it seems a love song but is it more of a love lost or love dying song? A gorgeous musical breakdown rounds out this song and slides us into Avalanche – a song that is powerful in its lyrical content and dutifully supported by the melody. The chorus’ beautiful harmonies with their descending melody bring to life the snowballing effect of the one snowflake causing an Avalanche. A truly powerfully song that perhaps would have been more at home on The Rainbow Children.

After such a powerful song the mood had to be lightened and while Pearls B4 the Swine certainly does it I wasn’t immediately hooked. It just felt a little light on, and even though it has quite a full ensemble it still feels a bit empty. Points for mentioning Baklava. And whilst now I appreciate the simplicity of the singsong structure of the song I still don’t fully dig it.

It’s funny how some songs will get from the first note while others will struggle to get your attention even by the third verse. Young and Beautiful was one of these first note hook songs. I think it was the extended intro with its mystical meets whimsical melody and then how the song (which is in essence a rock track) unfolds. To me the beat and structure of it could easily be a sister to When You Were Mine – just imagine a guitar playing the melody in place of the piano. Wonder if Prince has ever given this a full band rock out treatment.

And in case there was any doubt left that the man knows how to play piano we have Arboretum – with its lush melody and love theme groove. Aside from making me pick up a dictionary to find what it meant (a botanical garden devoted to trees for those whose dictionary is out of reach) the song truly touched me. Listening to it you can’t help but put images to it, for me it was a slow montage of friends here and now and long gone. I love how the song ends with Prince turning the page and exiting the studio leaving us with 1:11 worth of silence.

Just enough time to sit back and reflect on this album that was more of a gift from an artist to his fans than an artist more intent on getting a hit.
Like many of the albums from around this time One Night Alone isn’t an album I listen to that often, when I do I am always reminded of the treasures hidden within.

Swa


For other reviews of Prince's catalogue check out: http://prince.org/msg/7/312438

Great album, i love it. 9.5/10

There are days when I think that this album and The Truth are his best work if what you want is pure musicianship and intimacy, and both albums are impervious to sounding dated in any substantial way. In the same way that The Truth helped me appreciate what the man could do with the focus being primarily on the acoustic guitar, One Nite Alone is an amazing work for piano.

I would place this up there with Mingus Plays Piano or Mike Garson's improvisational records of the last ten years in terms of quality.

Absolutely adore it!

nm, now I see it.
[Edited 8/24/09 8:44am]

exenn said:

Great observation and I agree that seeing the artistry without the overblown production does give a better glimpse into the way prince composes and arranges music for each instrument.

Swa

I'm still waiting to be blessed with owning this album...

A hungry thirsty Prince fan of thirty years...what a purple shame.

Tame said:

Might be a looooong wait.

Swa