Madhouse 8, 16 and the two versions of 24

Xpectation

N.E.W.S

C-Note

Which is your favorite?

Are there any you really do not like?

Would you like to see Prince release another instrumental album?

Surprisingly they are all disappointing. It's been years since I listened to any of them.

Yes, another Piano album would be nice to listen to;-d

Coincidentally I was just listening to NEWS this morning, and I probably listen to it more than the others, so I guess that answers that question.

But I do like all his instrumental albums, and yes I'd love him to do more.

Least liked: Kamasutra

AsylumUtopia said:

Coincidentally I was just listening to NEWS this morning, and I probably listen to it more than the others, so I guess that answers that question.

But I do like all his instrumental albums, and yes I'd love him to do more.

xlr8r said:

Least liked: Kamasutra

I left this one out because i was not sure if Prince performed on it.

Maybe someone can correct me if i am wrong about this?

^Of course: Kakasutra was an all-Prince disaster.

Of all these albums, my favourite are the 2 first Madhouse albums (mainly for nostalgic reasons) and especially Xpectation.

I don't dislike N.E.W.S., but I've always maintained that the 4x14' just doesn't work for me. I think the album would've been much better if all different musical ideas were split into independent tracks.

(And, maybe, it should/could have been released under the Madhouse moniker).

Madhouse 8 & 16 were the best for me. I did enjoy N.E.W.S. also. Haven't really given Xpectation a good listen yet. I love Kamasutra though, like you said I don't know how much Prince played on it, if any at all.

[Edited 6/6/10 11:15am]

MikeyB71 said:

xlr8r said:

Least liked: Kamasutra

I left this one out because i was not sure if Prince performed on it.

Maybe someone can correct me if i am wrong about this?

I like this one too. I never really gave much thought to whether he performs on it or not - although it would be a reasonable enough assumption that he doesn't. I assume he composed it though?

langebleu will know.

The Madhouse albums are the only ones worthy of repeated play. I love "12". It's like a big show tune or something. The whole album of 8 is monumental in Prince just being Prince.

I tend to think that the 1987 period was even more prolific for him than the 1983/4 period where he wrote music for Sheila, Apollonia 6, & The Time and eventually The Family, and his own band. 1987/8 saw the Camille project, the aborted Dream factory and Crystal Ball albums, both chocked full of material, some released and some not, Jill Jones, more Sheila E., both Madhouse, The Black Album, then Lovesexy by 1988. The material was just as strong, but a different direction musically.

ernestsewell said:

I love "12". It's like a big show tune

...

ernestsewell said:

The Madhouse albums are the only ones worthy of repeated play. I love "12". It's like a big show tune or something. The whole album of 8 is monumental in Prince just being Prince.

I tend to think that the 1987 period was even more prolific for him than the 1983/4 period where he wrote music for Sheila, Apollonia 6, & The Time and eventually The Family, and his own band. 1987/8 saw the Camille project, the aborted Dream factory and Crystal Ball albums, both chocked full of material, some released and some not, Jill Jones, more Sheila E., both Madhouse, The Black Album, then Lovesexy by 1988. The material was just as strong, but a different direction musically.

Definitely agree with you there. I can throw Madhouse on and it's just as fresh and exciting as when I first listened to it.

ernestsewell said:

The Madhouse albums are the only ones worthy of repeated play. I love "12". It's like a big show tune or something. The whole album of 8 is monumental in Prince just being Prince.

I tend to think that the 1987 period was even more prolific for him than the 1983/4 period where he wrote music for Sheila, Apollonia 6, & The Time and eventually The Family, and his own band. 1987/8 saw the Camille project, the aborted Dream factory and Crystal Ball albums, both chocked full of material, some released and some not, Jill Jones, more Sheila E., both Madhouse, The Black Album, then Lovesexy by 1988. The material was just as strong, but a different direction musically.

Yes, the Madhouse albums are great, i really like the '88 version of 24, i love the electronic feel to it.

I have yet to meet anyone who likes the '93 version of 24 as much as i do though.

I listen to the Madhouse albums on a regular basis, even more so than certain actual Prince albums.

Why are people assuming Prince didn't play on Kamasutra?

It's just keyboard wank wanting to sound like classical music made by a guy who has no idea of what classical music is about.

well for me-its NEWS. I like every track-listen to it loads still-in fact-more than Lotus

love the guitar work-the drums-the vibe they create makes you wanna plug in and play-incidentally it is cool to do just that-and jam along

never really got into madhouse

vitriol said:

Why are people assuming Prince didn't play on Kamasutra?

It's just keyboard wank wanting to sound like classical music made by a guy who has no idea of what classical music is about.

It's probably safe to assume that he just wasn't sure or didn't know.

It seems quite easy to get slaughtered on here whether someone assumes Prince plays on a song, or whether he wasn't part of it at all. I suppose he err'd on the side of caution.

I prefer the Madhouse stuff. 8 and 16 are especially funky and Eric Leeds brought some added flavor to the mix.

ernestsewell said:

It's probably safe to assume that he just wasn't sure or didn't know.

Well, assuming that Prince might not have played on one of his records is a really bold assumption.

We're not talking about a composition written by him note for note ON PAPER and intended to be played by an 80-voice orchestra (on which he would've played himself the piano parts anyway).

I agree that the Madhouse albums are killer, but I'll also throw a little support out for NEWS. That CD really grew on me. I like to put it on when I've got a big project to work on; it's very nice to have on in the background.

news is amazing album

thebanishedone said:

news is amazing album

M A D H O U S E ! ! !

vitriol said:

ernestsewell said:

It's probably safe to assume that he just wasn't sure or didn't know.

Well, assuming that Prince might not have played on one of his records is a really bold assumption.

We're not talking about a composition written by him note for note ON PAPER and intended to be played by an 80-voice orchestra (on which he would've played himself the piano parts anyway).

No bolder an assumption than any of the 3 you've just made in one sentence.

MikeyB71 said:

Madhouse 8, 16 and the two versions of 24

Xpectation

N.E.W.S

C-Note

Which is your favorite?

Are there any you really do not like?

Would you like to see Prince release another instrumental album?

I don't have any of the madhouse 24 versions:-(



but the previous two albums are great.
I find it hard to compare NEWS with thos original teo madhouses.
I really like news - must play it again soon!

Depends on my mood - I love all Madhouse, N.E.W.S, Xpectation and C-Note and I even find myself listening to Kamasutra from time to time.

But the album I listen to the most out of these probably is Xpectation.

For me it's Xpectation by a landslide, and that's not saying a truckload.

When I listen to big chunks of NEWS and C NOTE I tend to think of Yanni. And that's definitely not a good thing. They really just FEEL like improvised jams with no real stucture/chord progressions/soul/life. A few times they work. Most of the time it's just background noise.

The Madhouse albums are good and certainly have their moments. I don't revisit them often enough.

No particular album more like fav instrumental songs:

West Gamillah Xcogitate Venus DeMilo 77 Beverly Park

Prince does not get enough credit for these beautiful songs especially West-his guitar work on here is spectacular.