Poiple said:

shonenjoe said:

No, not SOTT itself. It's now sold in a single disc jewel case that houses two cds. Eco-friendlier.

The larger, two disc case is out of print. I bought it used from a shop and I find it odd, because the back only lists the first disc's songs. The front says "Two Disc Set".

But that new Japanese reissue has a bigger case. And all of the artwork/inserts of the original vinyl.

So does that mean all the songs of the two-disc set are now on one disc? I bought a copy at the used store a few months ago that matches your description, but I immediately returned it because I thought one disc was missing (I thought there may have been two discs in the case)! Damn! And I bought it for $6!

The standard issue SOTT cd they print now is a standard single jewel case with two cds. Has fold out plastic, I assume.

The original cd press with the double case that only has only the first disc's tracklisting is confusing. It makes me wonder if it's a boot sometimes.

That's too bad, the copy you bought was probably fine. Was it sealed? I got mine for 10 like 5 years ago... A record store near my house stocks a lot of prince, and they have an OOP cd section, and the double SOTT jewel case was filed there.

Poiple said:

shonenjoe said:

No, not SOTT itself. It's now sold in a single disc jewel case that houses two cds. Eco-friendlier.

The larger, two disc case is out of print. I bought it used from a shop and I find it odd, because the back only lists the first disc's songs. The front says "Two Disc Set".

But that new Japanese reissue has a bigger case. And all of the artwork/inserts of the original vinyl.

So does that mean all the songs of the two-disc set are now on one disc? I bought a copy at the used store a few months ago that matches your description, but I immediately returned it because I thought one disc was missing (I thought there may have been two discs in the case)! Damn! And I bought it for $6!

There are no authorized single disc versions of Sign O The Times.

As for The Black Album I bought it on vinyl and 2 copies of the CD when it came out. (1 is still sealed) Around my area you can still purchase sealed new power soul and rainbow children.

shonenjoe said:

Poiple said:

So does that mean all the songs of the two-disc set are now on one disc? I bought a copy at the used store a few months ago that matches your description, but I immediately returned it because I thought one disc was missing (I thought there may have been two discs in the case)! Damn! And I bought it for $6!

The standard issue SOTT cd they print now is a standard single jewel case with two cds. Has fold out plastic, I assume.

The original cd press with the double case that only has only the first disc's tracklisting is confusing. It makes me wonder if it's a boot sometimes.

That's too bad, the copy you bought was probably fine. Was it sealed? I got mine for 10 like 5 years ago... A record store near my house stocks a lot of prince, and they have an OOP cd section, and the double SOTT jewel case was filed there.

No, it wasn't sealed--it was a used copy. But the disc and its jacket were encased in one of those anti-theft plastic cases, so I couldn't open it before I bought it to see if two discs were inside. So, it sounds like I did the right thing in returning it since it only had the one disc, even though the front was stamped "2 disc set." On a side note, the wrecka stow didn't want to give me my money back since it was a used CD, but I showed them they were selling only one disc of a two-disc set. I had to settle for in-store trade, which was fine.

I have both versions of SOTT.

One is the two disc 'fat box'.

The other is the newer TWO disc jewel case, it looks like a single disc case, but the tray inside folds out to hold two discs.

MikeyB71 said:

I have both versions of SOTT.

One is the two disc 'fat box'.

The other is the newer TWO disc jewel case, it looks like a single disc case, but the tray inside folds out to hold two discs.

there is a third version-When it first came out on CD each disc came in its' own jewel case.

kewlschool said:

MikeyB71 said:

I have both versions of SOTT.

One is the two disc 'fat box'.

The other is the newer TWO disc jewel case, it looks like a single disc case, but the tray inside folds out to hold two discs.

there is a third version-When it first came out on CD each disc came in its' own jewel case.

Thanks for that info.

Never seen it before.

MikeyB71 said:

I have both versions of SOTT.

One is the two disc 'fat box'.

The other is the newer TWO disc jewel case, it looks like a single disc case, but the tray inside folds out to hold two discs.

does your fat box version only have the track listing for the first half on the back?

shonenjoe said:

MikeyB71 said:

I have both versions of SOTT.

One is the two disc 'fat box'.

The other is the newer TWO disc jewel case, it looks like a single disc case, but the tray inside folds out to hold two discs.

does your fat box version only have the track listing for the first half on the back?

No, is it supposed to?

I purchased this back in 1990 in HMV London, as far as i know it is the official release.

MikeyB71 said:

shonenjoe said:

does your fat box version only have the track listing for the first half on the back?

No, is it supposed to?

I purchased this back in 1990 in HMV London, as far as i know it is the official release.

Weird. Sounds like the fat box American version only has the track listing for the first half on its back. Can any other owners confirm this?

kewlschool said:

MikeyB71 said:

kewlschool said:

there is a third version-When it first came out on CD each disc came in its' own jewel case.

Thanks for that info.

Never seen it before.

Your welcome. I might add I have a spare original release version sealed in its long box, along with all other sealed long boxes during the WB years. (except 1)

SOTT. Makes sense that there's no single disc version, because it's like, 90 minutes long. I listened to it for about three years straight on cassette, each side of which gives a 44 minute and change run time... I think. It's been a while since I've pulled that sucker out (still have it with no case or cover). I've been listening to the double vinyl and/or the vinyl singles exclusively for years. Don't even have it on CD. Disappointing that anybody involved would care so little as to only get half the song titles on any version of the cd case, though.

Edited to post random memory. For my 16th birthday I was given a red cassette playing (because that's what they did back then ) Walkmen with a gift certificate to local record store. That very SOTT cassette is what I chose to purchase because I knew it was really long.

[Edited 6/10/10 23:27pm]

squirrelgrease said:

soulyacolia said:

I recently bought a brand new CD of the Black Album. A guy who runs a local record shop found some in a warehouse so copys still surface. The new one went into the Prince storage cupboard and I continue to play my older slightly more worn copy.

That always a cool find. It's nice to know someone at that warehouse didn't chuck them. I find them used very rarely at the record store bins. I want to find a gold stamped promo CD on the cheap - I passed on these when the CD was released in 1994 now they seem to be pretty hard to find. Actually, the regular version almost never shows up used. Peeps are obviously keeping their copies.

The OOP CDs that I see most often at wrekka stowes are:

1) Emancipation (Clean)

2) Emancipation (Parental Advisory)

3) Newpower Soul

4) The Gold Experience

5) NEWS (NOS)

6) The Vault - Old Friends 4 Sale*

7) Chaos And Disorder*

8) Crystal Ball (4-disc Petri Dish and Jewel Case versions)

9) Girl 6

10) Exodus

*Assumed OOP

They have multiple copies of all formats of CB almost every time I'm at Amoeba in SF or Berkeley.

Cerebus said:

They have multiple copies of all formats of CB almost every time I'm at Amoeba in SF or Berkeley.

Still have my original one (plain jewelcase) but I'm going to have a look aroynd to finad more. But I guess Belgium isn't SF

zobilamouche said:

Cerebus said:

They have multiple copies of all formats of CB almost every time I'm at Amoeba in SF or Berkeley.

Still have my original one (plain jewelcase) but I'm going to have a look aroynd to finad more. But I guess Belgium isn't SF

http://users.skynet.be/yo...orsale.htm These guys are in Belgium, take a look.

MikeyB71 said:

zobilamouche said:

Still have my original one (plain jewelcase) but I'm going to have a look aroynd to finad more. But I guess Belgium isn't SF

http://users.skynet.be/yo...orsale.htm These guys are in Belgium, take a look.

Oooo. They've got a peach colored promo pressing of the Black Album. That's kinda sexy.

They actually have A LOT of great stuff if you're willing to pay serious money for it.

Cerebus said:

MikeyB71 said:

http://users.skynet.be/yo...orsale.htm These guys are in Belgium, take a look.

Oooo. They've got a peach colored promo pressing of the Black Album. That's kinda sexy.

They actually have A LOT of great stuff if you're willing to pay serious money for it.

Yes, i thought the madhouse guys were expensive till i checked out these guys.

A lot of Yormeister stuff is overpriced. (in my opinion)

MikeyB71 said:

Cerebus said:

Oooo. They've got a peach colored promo pressing of the Black Album. That's kinda sexy.

They actually have A LOT of great stuff if you're willing to pay serious money for it.

Yes, i thought the madhouse guys were expensive till i checked out these guys.

A lot of Yormeister stuff is overpriced. (in my opinion)

I totally agree. With the internet and some patience, unless you're buying the rarest of the rare, it's pretty easy to find a lot of that stuff for less.

Cerebus said:

MikeyB71 said:

Yes, i thought the madhouse guys were expensive till i checked out these guys.

A lot of Yormeister stuff is overpriced. (in my opinion)

I totally agree. With the internet and some patience, unless you're buying the rarest of the rare, it's pretty easy to find a lot of that stuff for less.

I agree, i have purchased a lot of Prince stuff online, places like Madhouse are great and i have used them a lot, usually for the rarer stuff. But i still swear by Ebay, if you are patient, know your product, are willing to keep checking for what you want at least once a week, and make sure you buy from sellers with a 100% positive rating, then what you are seeking will pop up sooner or later.

Great bargains can be had.

Can someone explain why it sounds so bad.

The album just sounds terrible. Like it was copied from an old cassette or something.

FoFur's 'remaster' made it sound 10 times better, but I'd love to hear a remaster of this thing.

TheVoid said:

Can someone explain why it sounds so bad.

The album just sounds terrible. Like it was copied from an old cassette or something.

FoFur's 'remaster' made it sound 10 times better, but I'd love to hear a remaster of this thing.

What is it you are asking about?

MikeyB71 said:

TheVoid said:

Can someone explain why it sounds so bad.

The album just sounds terrible. Like it was copied from an old cassette or something.

FoFur's 'remaster' made it sound 10 times better, but I'd love to hear a remaster of this thing.

What is it you are asking about?

I was going to ask that, too. But I decided to let it go.

TheVoid said:

Can someone explain why it sounds so bad.

The album just sounds terrible. Like it was copied from an old cassette or something.

FoFur's 'remaster' made it sound 10 times better, but I'd love to hear a remaster of this thing.

There is a ton of tape hiss on the official 1994 CD. It doesn't sound much better than my 1988 Black Album bootleg CD. That was a major disappointment to me when hearing the official CD after it was finally released. Prince was apparently pissed to have to give up the Black Album to Warner Bros, so I can see how he would refuse a clean up of the master he originally sent WB.

Huh. If memory serves, both my vinyl pressing sound fine. Since he didn't ever want to release it, but then used it as part of the contractual obligation six years later, I'm sure you're right about the not caring part.