January 29, 1998 - 1-800-NEW-FUNK started shipping the 5CD set Crystal Ball, including Crystal Ball, The Truth and Kamasutra, in a curious plastic hockey-puck. The set had been delayed for months, and several people didn't receive their sets before they were available in stores (how things have changed in 5 years - lol).
I received mine on Feb. 12, the day after my birthday and spent most of the day listening to it. Not sure I ever wore the t-shirt, though.

Nowadays, I listen to different tracks from Crystal Ball, rather than as a cohesive album. Some great tracks on there, although several great tracks which could have been included weren't. I was always a big TGE-era fan, though, so there was plenty to satisfy me (and since I received Fantasia, Deposition and Dance With The Devil two days before, I had no complaints). Since then I've been much more interested in his earlier recordings - now I'm all for Roadhouse Garden being released.

The Truth was the big surprise for me - I absolutely loved it, and I still listen to it pretty regularly. Although mostly-acoustic, it still carries with it some of that 1997 sound, and I would love to hear a new acoustic album, with the production of One Night Alone. Still, The Truth, Don't Play Me, 3rd Eye, Comeback, the list goes on - there are some amazing tracks on here.

I'd already bought Kamasutra on cassette the year before, but having it on CD made me happy, although I've probably only listened to it once or twice in the last 5 years. I'm listening to the whole set again now, and I'm actually looking forward to hearing Kamasutra again, considering how much I've fallen in love with Xpectation and the Madhouse albums in recent times.

So Happy Birthday Crystal Ball! Thank you for finally making it to our mailboxes in your crappy plastic packaging.

The Truth = Prince's last great album.

Just an opinion.

Yeah, I love that set. The Truth is brilliant work, Crystal Ball has many great moments, and Kamasutra is, at the very least, interesting. The scissor sounds make me insane, but some parts are very beautiful.

I can imagine history viewing The Truth as his lyrical last gasp before permanent descent into Bible-fueled madness. I hope not.

Doves,
Mel!ssa

One of his greatest releases.

And it got released to stores on my birthday!

TRON said:[quote]One of his greatest releases.

Are you NUTS?!?!?!


CRYSTAL BALL is nothing short of a HUGE disappointment! Any NEW fans buying Prince cd's: skip this one until the END!

1) CRYSTAL BALL did NOT live up to it's promise:

Crystal Ball, Acknowledge Me, Movie Star, Crucial, Good Love, Last Heart, The Ride, Goodbye: These are the only QUALITY tracks in the WHOLE bunch!

2) there is SO MUCH FILLER IT ISN'T FUNNY! I know it, Prince KNOWS it, and YOU know it too! Reason: this album was just an experiment; Prince didn't even know if it would flop as a concept, so he held back on tossing away the good vault stuff!

3) Placing CLOREEN BACONSKIN on this cd was rediculous;a WASTE of space;filler; some sort of joke? It';s a drumbeat and base for crying out loud that goes on for EVER!! TOTALLY UNSATISFYING!!!

4) Most of the 90's material stinks! "2morrow",and that Broadway reject "2 the World"-thingy! Holy CRAP!!

5) THE TRUTH: NEW Prince fans: do NOT believe the hype on this one. Yes, the songwriting is good beginning to end. WHO listens to Prince for this kind of musicianship though? I WANT funk and roll, baby! Not an album full of twang. Prince fans just want an album to say was decent in the late 90's and this wins by DEFAULT!

6) KAMASUTRA makes a great coaster

The packaging was bad, but give points for the attempt.


BOO CRYSTAL BALL!! BOO!!!

I love The Truth and Kamasutra completely. Call me nuts.

And as for Crystal Ball, I think there are only about 3 or 4 duds on the whole thing. I even like most of the remixes.

"THE TRUTH" - best o(+> record. and one of the very last cds
of the man I ever got to listen to without knowing anything
about it or having heard any songs off it before I got it.
The whole Crystal Ball set was cool [xcept maybe Kamasutra]
with all those outtakes etc. But "The Truth" was the real
winner in this package for me. I absolutely ador that album.