It was the first album I saw some real weakness on. Judhead and Daddy Pop were horrible. There are song good songs on the album but it had some serious cracks in it; the first for a Prince album to me. I can remember how great "Get Off" was and hearing "D & P" on tv--then the album came out. Disappointment.

It perplexes me that Diamonds & Pearls gets a free pass on a lot of the bad talk that gets thrownat newer albums like, MPLSound.

The fact is...most of the good times associated with Diamonds and Pearls were had because it was promoted better than any other Prince album besides Purple Rain.

I've said it once, I'll say it again: No Prince album since has had such an utterly low moment as "Jughead". Prince was biting trends horribly. Sure, there are classics on the album, but it amazes me that people will slam on a song like "Chocolate Box", yet "Push" or "Call the Law" is still somehow under the umbrella of "classic Prince".

[Edited 10/6/10 11:02am]

Not in my opinon! I love D&P and everything that went along with it.

skywalker said:

It perplexes me that Diamonds & Pearls gets a free pass on a lot of the bad talk that gets thrownat newer albums like, MPLSound.

The fact is...most of the good times associated with Diamonds and Pearls were had because it was promoted better than any other Prince album besides Purple Rain.

I've said it once, I'll say it again: No Prince album since has had such an utterly low moment as "Jughead". Prince was biting trends horribly. Sure, there are classics on the album, but it amazes me that people will slam on a song like "Chocolate Box", yet "Push" or "Call the Law" is still somehow under the umbrella of "classic Prince".

[Edited 10/6/10 11:02am]

Album might have not been his best, but i & many think D&P was by far the best tour. Im sure it was Princes highest grossing tour. Every one, knows dat gig, either they went 2 it or knew someone who did.

Sam 8)

Everyone has their own opinion, but I can think of many "eras" that were worse than D&P! Basically anything past 1996.

sambluedolphin said:

Album might have not been his best, but i & many think D&P was by far the best tour. Im sure it was Princes highest grossing tour. Every one, knows dat gig, either they went 2 it or knew someone who did.

Sam 8)

I think Musicology was the highest grossing tour.

The album may be hit-n-miss depending on your tastes BUT the era itself is far from the worst. Indeed, there was an incredible sense of energy emanating from Prince at this point.

After the Revolution had disbanded, it always seemed to me like Prince was sort of clueless about what to do next. Between flip-flopping on what albums to release (TBA/LoveSexy), a shallow soundtrack (Batman), and the vault-purging Graffiti Bridge the late 80's were a bit "meh" and Prince was singing to an audience that had already left him behind.

D&P is "commercial Prince" at his best. It was plainly crafted with chart compatibility in mind but the music, also, sounds incredibly focused and really laid the groundwork for what came next.

luv4u said:

I like the entire album

Me, too. "Push" wasn't great, but the rest of the album and the b-side Horny Pony are some of his best tracks from the 90's. Money don't matter, Gett Off, D&Pearls, Thunder - all great songs, and my fave from the album Live4Love- is a total mind trip. Tony M isn't the best rapper, but you know I could give a shit about hip hop to begin with, rap/hip hop is one of the worst things to happen to music since the blues and rock n roll began.

thebanishedone said:

purpledoveuk said:

thebanishedone said:

Yes there are classics on Diamonds and Pearls album

but half of album was ruined by rapping.

also live tour in a lot of concert time instead of Prince ther was this annoying rapper Toney M.

How did you fans feel during that era?

,did the addition of rap to his sound bother you?

The tour was the loudest and best 'show' (as in spectacle) I've seen Prince pull off...dancing on piano, fireworks, lifts, flying beds - I loved it. Also the album holds a place in my heart as it changed and saved my life...long story told many times.

Go on tell us, I haven t heard it.

ConsciousContact said:

Dogsinthetrees said:

Hated it. Still do. Gett Off is the only song I can deal with, and I don't even like it all that much. I thought the rapping sucked. I don't dislike rap/hip-hop, I like it. I just thought the rappers he had on the album were pathetic. He should have had Ice Cube.

or queen latifah

purpledoveuk said:

ConsciousContact said:

Go on tell us, I haven t heard it.

I went to an all boys school and, on the second or third day, somebody started a false rumour that I was gay. In an all boys school that was the kiss of death - nobody wanted to be friends and others wanted to kick the crap out of me, it even spilled over to afterschool where gangs would wait for me after part-time jobs, beat me and put cigarettes out on me....needless to say girls wouldn't go near me - this went on for 3 years and needless to say I had some seriously, seriously dark thoughts about my future or lack of. Then a new kid moved into the area and started school, he too liked Prince and we got talking about the new album D&P...he had the choice to be my friend or hang with the majority who hated me and he chose me. From there our friendship grew and 'we became totally inseparable. The shit still continued and he stuck it too for his association with me. We remained great friends for 10years doing literally everything together but grew apart when he started to become very unreliable....but either way D&P introduced me to the person who guided me back from the edge and saw me through the stormy years and out the other side. I'll always love the guy i knew for those 10 yrs even if I know hes not the same now (we arranged to meet up for the first time in 10yrs not so long ago....but he let me down again) That album also came when I was really getting into music donut also has that 'first 'love'' fondness. [Edited 10/7/10 7:18am]

Sweeping story even if I can't relate to it cuz I would (can) kick the hell out of any fool who tried to insult/hit me But I can feel how you must have felt during those hard years and your story also reminds me that some strong friendships are not meant to last forever...just for some meaningful/pivotal years

I looooooooved Diamonds and Pearls still bump it , yes I agree the CD would have been really off the chain if Prince would have left that Corny ass wanna be rapper off most of the songs he rapped on, like 99% of the songs he rapped on but 4 the most part it a very nice CD . It's 1 of my favorite from Prince one of the last of his Pop Charts era. I loved the look he had the cd cover was brilliant the Hologram and all the Marketing was gr8 as well. Prince made his rounds from MTV Music awards 2 Arsenio Hall . It was gr8 seeing Prince at that time when Hip Hop music was kind of taking over. He has some flavorful jamz tho like Diamond and Pearls, Gett Off, Money Don't matter, Cream, Insatiable. So hats off 2 the almost 20th Anniversary of D&P it came out Oct 1991 . I remember bcuz it was around my Bday .

JoeTyler said:

I liked Diamond & Pearls at the time though I never listen to it anymore.

daPrettyman said:

sambluedolphin said:

Album might have not been his best, but i & many think D&P was by far the best tour. Im sure it was Princes highest grossing tour. Every one, knows dat gig, either they went 2 it or knew someone who did.

Sam 8)

I think Musicology was the highest grossing tour.

im sure it was, well definetly highest grossing European tour.

Sam 8)

aiden said:

This whole album is a major classic and one if his best works IMO. Unlike a lot of people I love Daddy Pop and Jughead plus all the interludes and rapping. Albums out around the same time were Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch-music for the people and MJ's Dangerous which both also sound dated. I love the early 90's sound and as the years go by it just sounds better to my ears. Not a single duff track!

I'm with you Aiden!

purpledoveuk said:

ConsciousContact said:

Go on tell us, I haven t heard it.

I went to an all boys school and, on the second or third day, somebody started a false rumour that I was gay. In an all boys school that was the kiss of death - nobody wanted to be friends and others wanted to kick the crap out of me, it even spilled over to afterschool where gangs would wait for me after part-time jobs, beat me and put cigarettes out on me....needless to say girls wouldn't go near me - this went on for 3 years and needless to say I had some seriously, seriously dark thoughts about my future or lack of. Then a new kid moved into the area and started school, he too liked Prince and we got talking about the new album D&P...he had the choice to be my friend or hang with the majority who hated me and he chose me. From there our friendship grew and 'we became totally inseparable. The shit still continued and he stuck it too for his association with me. We remained great friends for 10years doing literally everything together but grew apart when he started to become very unreliable....but either way D&P introduced me to the person who guided me back from the edge and saw me through the stormy years and out the other side. I'll always love the guy i knew for those 10 yrs even if I know hes not the same now (we arranged to meet up for the first time in 10yrs not so long ago....but he let me down again) That album also came when I was really getting into music donut also has that 'first 'love'' fondness. [Edited 10/7/10 7:18am]

So sad that people made your life hell because of something that wasn t true. I m glad things worked out for you.

ConsciousContact said:

So sad that people made your life hell because of something that wasn t true. I m glad things worked out for you.

Indeed, very sad... whether what they were saying was true or not.

completely agree. but the 90's pretty much sucked all round. he never should have ended the revolution!! NPG just didn't have a great sound, personally speaking.

I HATE RAPPING!!!

[Edited 10/17/10 1:49am]

Heidi said:

I like the album, I like the era, I liked Prince's style, I like Diamond and Pearl, I liked the tour, I like his confidence .. I LOVE the D&P video ... liked the whole era.

Symbol is n°1 and D&P is n°2 and then come the 80s!

I don't agree completely
but these 2 albums were solid. I don't get the all the negative vibe around this period.
I love ém both.

I don't consider jughead a song, it's more of a segue. just like wedding feast. Folk seem to hate thsese.


LAYDOWN is much, much worse