Imo. only The Rainbow Children and Lotus/Mpls reaches the great Warner Bros. era. Most of those other albums 1996-2009 are substandard, average easy to forget albums.



1) When Prince's music history is written one day, looking back on all of his career, looking at all those albums: don't you think Prince legacy will be: "Prince made history with the Warner albums, but it all went downhill after 1995"..... isn't this the final verdict.... ?

2) Or - do you still believe Prince has the ability, at age 51+ to get inspired for another album masterpiece... ?



- even though I think Lotus/ MPLS was an improvement to the very weak 3121 / Planet Earth albums, I'm still not too excited about his recent music: the LF set is imo just OK, about 8/10.

Honestly I'm about to give up my hope for another great Prince album. Prince's music is not touching me like it used to.

What do you believe the final verdict will be on Prince's career, especially after 1995....

thedance said:

WHAT?

^ what do you mean "what"??
[Edited 4/7/10 15:17pm]

thedance said:

I think those of us who were "touched", as u put it, by Prince's music, will always be.

He's not for everybody,for all time, hes truly only for the sexy people..forever. The final "verdict": it'll be a Hung jury..

first let me consult the mighty purple mist.

thedance said:

Prince had a huge surge in his musical growth in the mid 90's, just like he did most of the 80's (I think the lulls were Graffiti Bridge and Diamonds and Pearls and the upswing starting with the album).

There's no way The Rainbutt Children holds a candle to anything he did from 1978-1989. Not even close. I'd even take "4 The Tears In Your Eyes", which is quirky and B-rate at best, over anything on The Rainbutt Children. Lotusflow3r isn't worth the coaster it's become for most folks. Prince said he was going back to his old sound on the most recent MPLSound, but he said the same thing 10 years prior when he released Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic, again pulling out the Linn drum machine (as well as an 80's song from the vault), and using the "Prince" moniker as "producer" while was the artist.

I'd question anyone's hearing who thinks Exodus or The Gold Experience is trumped by MPLSound or Lotusflow3r. And how is 8 out of 10 being "okay"? Okay dictates average, or fair, which is more like a 5 or 6. If 8 is "okay", then I wonder what is a 10 on that scale.

I've given up hope on a great Prince album. I know they'll always be okay, fair, or average at best. Sometimes he'll have stronger moments (3121) than others (One Nite Alone), but that happens in any career.

Prince's WB career stopped after 1996, not 1995. The only way we'll know the final verdict is once he's dead, and we have his pre-dead catalog to look on and judge as a whole.

thedance said:

I think that it is only some hardcore Prince fans hold to the idea that there was some kind of "shift" in Prince's material after he split with WB. Most casual fans, or newer fans, that I run into don't even differentiate pre or post WB Prince. I don't either, I guess. Example: Chaos and Disorder was with WB. Was it really some landmark album/era/sound that he'll never recapture the glory of?

Also, many hardcore fans have a wide range of differing opinions on if/when/why/how the quality of Prince's output changed. Some point to Prince leaving WB, others point out 1985, or Lovesexy, when he embraced hip hop, became or after he became a Jehovah's Witness.

Ultimately, I think Prince's legend will only grow and be more respected as time goes. I mean, look at the shift in public perception/appreciation when MJ died. MJ was a joke, and now the masses love him again and he is the King of Pop.

Also, I think his Prince's newer work will be more appreciated as time goes as well. Years ago, people slagged off on albums like Come, Around the World in a Day, Lovesexy, etc. Nowadays, I even see New Power Soul getting some love around here.

Most of Prince's legend has been likely been written, but there is still uncharted territory for his royal badness and his career. Look at other musicians who are much older than Prince, and see what they are capable of. A lot of folks thought Prince was done in the late 80's or early 90's. He is still capable of doing record setting tours, having #1 albums, all while being exciting, daring, and an artist.




[Edited 4/7/10 17:01pm]

thedance said:

I don't think there will ever be a final verdict. His music has and will transend time...forever. Therefore it'll always be talked about and hashed out. There will be a resounding "never be another like him", but we already know that. No one has ever or will ever leave the amount or quality of music he's given us. That is the beauty of the man and there are so many beautiful things about him. His music can't be pigeon holed into any box because of its eclectic nature. His music hasn't ever been his career... to our great benefit, music is his life. Like he's on a mission from God...so much more than a mere career. God made him and broke the mould.

Who knows .....

luv4u said:

Bingo. Even after he's died, the verdict will be as varied as it is on anyone else who has died and left a legacy of whatever behind them.

For all his noteriety and fame, his career/ legacy could have STILL been So much more! All the concert tours that SHOULD have been released on dvd; all the unreleased music that SHOULD have been put out. He could have twice the respect he has now.

If you look at how he disrespects his own new releases with cheap packaging, no booklets, or in the case of "Planet Earth" not even printing the tracklist! How can he be expected to even show proper, historical, respectful releases of say, "Roadhouse Garden"? The dream of a beautifully packaged vault box set is really unlikely.He's just too nuts now. I used to think he was holding back on every new release; now I think these new cd's are mentally the best he can do. There's no "All My Dreams" quality outtakes being recordded these days.Songs like "Life O The Party" ARE amoung the best in recording sessions.

I think he is destroying his own legacy by burning bridges with old bandmates, record labels and fans. I think things are at the point where his website is a financial failure, his attempt in the publishing world is a failure, (21 Nights), his film "career" is D.O.A., his catalogue isn't stocked well considering there is 35+ releases, his post WB albums are all going to be out of print. He doesn't allow people to enjoy his work, or get into it via Youtube and other outlets.

Look at the mess he leaves behind when people interact with him- sued in Ireland, the comments of the Lotusflower website guy, Lisa Coleman getting a cease and desist for just talking about her experiences, Simon Cowell about his unprofessionalism on American Idol, Clive Davis getting burned on Rave, the WB execs "relieved" to be rid of him,the BBB file around "Crystal Ball/1-800-New-Funk, & on and on and on.....

We're talking about a First Rate Asshole who was fun and different in the 80's,(and actually acted like he was enjoying himself) and continues to put out the odd good song now and is still a great live performer. Just because he is talented and intelligent in interviews does NOT make him a good guy, and his attitude toward his fellow associates and fans will not make him fondly remembered or listened to beyond the 80's hits.

I don't think his music will be greatly available or enjoyed for the generations to come. I think the media will use the words "Icon" and "Legend" when he dies, but I think the general public will move on.

Cheers!

Dude it's not even over yet.

warning2all said:

I believe that this is true. Sad, and true.

thedance said:

The final verdict on Prince's career will be what he thinks about it...no one else. Just as with anyone else's career or life.

I think when it's all said and done, the final analysis will be this:

Brilliant musician that railroaded his career by handcrafting his own personalized stop signs.

You're right Skywalker in that I really don't what the fuss is about TGE or SOTT, I much prefer LF & MPLS.

We seldom appreciate people when they're here. It's when they are gone that our memories linked to our youth awaken and we realise our mortality. Prince will be greatly missed and revived like MJ. Only not as big, and that is not because he is any less. It's because MJ's music was always acessible to children in the simpler lyrics and tunes. Prince's music has always been geared towards adult listners.

By the way, I thought in most law systems, verdict applies to criminal law not civil law.ie. for serious felonies. Not tort.

Prince still has many surprises up his sleeve. Everybody goes through cycles, and through it all, he remains one of the most mysterious artists to date. Part of being a Prince fan entails sitting on edge, wondering what his next move will be. We're fortunate in that he releases so much music; perhaps its because we link his art so closely to his real life.

we have yet to hear the last of this man named prince.
much more music and much more surprises.

I think 3 out of his last 4 cds were great. Didn't like Planet Earth much. Sure, his music isn't making the hair stand up on my neck like it used to, but still great music. I think the verdict will be, he peaked in the 80's but still kept rocking till the end.
[Edited 4/8/10 18:16pm]

...the 90s is my fave period....so dont think all of us just adore his 80s work the most...however his music is getting lamer IMO

optimus said:

All of the 80's was primo stuff. I loved the 90's too. The holy trinity of 90's albums are probably COME/EXODUS/GOLD. We can't forget treasures like , and most of Chaos. Even Emancipation is a good ending for me on his career. If he had stopped there I would have been happy still.