Dayclear said:

How can u not like the black album.
wow! shocked! masterpiece!

RakelRosalita729 said:

Please tell you are joking..

Look for the CD notes to the Sign O' The Times album, in case you own this masterpiece...

Camille is superfunky.... the high pitched vocals of an alter-ego Prince was using on songs like Housequake, If I Was Your Girlfriend and more..

There was supposed to be a Camille album, but it was never released.

Camille.....

December1984 said:

Well true, Camille would have come before the Black album, before SOTT even
so it would have not ended up on the Black album to begin with,

To me it fits the Black album as well yet it doesn't because Susannah Melvoin is on that track, the time period for the song would have made more sense on the Camille track

Something more rock oriented but naughty would be a good replacement

DamnUSexyMf said:

Released as a double album? I have never thought about that-that's a really good idea. Coz not only would it have been more ecclectic it also would have put the other into context. Obviously we know the story that the Black album was shelved coz P thought it was too dark and Lovesexy replaced it as a release. But as a double album that would be that story as a single product-it would be like ying and yang. Also I think that concept would have grabbed the listener more than just a single "Spiritual" album or a single "Dark" album. It would have distracted the genereal listener away from the fact that they are not really "Singles" albums.

Also the point about the Black Album ot selling loads on 1994-isn't that mainly down to the fact that everybody who was gonna own it had it anyway. Up until 1994 I'd read that it was one of the biggest bootlegs in history

Tremolina said:

You have to remember the timeline..If promoted right,they could've worked.Prince was still relevant to the masses and the concepts of both would've stirred interest

It was a huge underground hit....was one of the most bootleged CDs. As for mainstream I think it was too dark a cd from mainstream and for P's average listener.

One of my fav P projects

SavonOsco said:

Back then Prince had put out several albums that underperformed their sales expectations. Black album would have added to that list.

The Black Album had much of its appeal because it wasn't released and became this huge bootleg. Was overrated because people wanted what they couldn't have. Frankly, most of the songs weren't that radio-friendly and it probably wouldn't have sold that well if it was properly released.

Just picked up that there Black album (and Chaos and Disorder and Old Friends 4 Sale) four days a go. I'm 19 and I'm digging it big time. Double album would have been awesome.

If it had been released when it had supposed to have been in 1987/88 it would have been a hit. I don't think a number one, due to the overkill at the time. People were still digesting the brilliance of Sign at the time (I am still digesting the brilliance of it now!) and I think it would have only got o about number 25 and sell about 1 million. The album's short length, lack of promotion and negative material in some of the songs, would have muted radio reaction, even though I think Le Grind would have been a great lead off single, with Cindy C as a B side and maybe When 2 R in Love as a second single (That song is really too good to be a commercial hit). Others, Dead on it, is ridiculous, Bob George way 2 brooding for radio, The next two are funky, jazzy for 80s pop and the Camille gem "Rockhard in a funky place" maybe a bit too explicit for radio.

Agreed, the Black Album would have sold well by today's standards but would still have 'underperformed'.
The slide in sales seemed unstoppable, just by the nature of what Prince was releasing - tracks which didn't quite have the mass appeal like those from 84 - 86.
That would have been exacerbated by the factors mentioned already, a short album length and material that was challenging albeit brilliant...and not likely to be on Radio 1's playlist anytime soon. I still have the Smash Hits review of the Black Album that was damning, as they said it was no wonder Prince hadn't released it.. Critically I don't think people were ready to make the leap to such hardcore funk.

As it turned out, it became the most bootlegged album ever and gained a real mystique. Those factors made it sound even better to my ears..I had a grainy version on CD, not first generation, and the rough sound quality suited the dirty nature of the tracks. It's pure inspiration from start to finish in my opinion - the last time possibly that Prince really cut loose.

thedance said:

I agree...in my top 5. I don't understand how Prince fans DON'T like it. Funky, funny, nasty, gritty, and just plain cool. It sounded like NOTHING else at the time. I think it would've been a big dance/club hit...But a hit in the mainstream? Probably not since it didn't have anything on it that could've been a single (besides When 2 R In Love).

Nope. The mainstream record buying audience were not even going to be feeling the negro album. So it would not have been huge.

I really doubt about the Black album.

There were more 'jams' on it then 'songs' to really go for commercial appeal.

'Camille' would have fared a lot better, i think: there is a 'pop' sensibility to songs like Good Love and Strange Relationship that could connect with the big public.

When it comes to my own, personal view: The Black Album is very overrated among the 'fams'. IMO its no classic.

Le Grind has a great groove and its the kind of dense 'hard-funk' I love from Prince, but i goes on too long. The same goes for Cindy C.

Dead on It is ridicolous, a throwaway track. I know he is taking the 'piss' of rappers, but that doesnt mean he should do it THIS way.

When 2 R in love simply sounds out of place on this album.

2 Nigs united for west compton shows splendid musicianship, but could have been put on a Madhouse album.

Rock hard in a funkyplace is a fine jam, but a tad overrated.

Superfunkicalifragisexy is a great track, a nervous, energetic funk-dance hybrid. The highlight of the album IMO. But together with three quarters of Le Grind and an edited Cindy C, it doesnt really make up for a 'classic'.

IMO Both 1999 and 'Camille' piss all over the Black album when it comes to being his best dance / funk record.

Dead On It: Prince doing Fresh Prince.