ufoclub said:

jtfolden said:

I think, even without singles, TBA would have easily doubled the sales of LoveSexy. On top of that, it would have most probably bolstered his credibility as still being a cutting edge artist.

LoveSexy elicited a collective "meh" from the mainstream audience.

That's a fact. Prince would have gained more creative power and freedom if he had released the Black Album becuase of how popular it wold have gotten. I truly believe it would have been much bigger then Lovesexy, and be seen as cool by the mainstream public and critics.

You guys really think so? I never felt that the Black Album would have been a big seller,especially coming so soon after SOTT.None of the songs would have received much airplay.

I don't get these types of threads were people wish certain records weren't released. Isn't better that as many records are released, and then we can compile our own versions from the released tracks.

Even though the BA might have been more well received by the media than Lovesexy, isn't it more preferrable that we were given BOTH of these very good albums?

ufoclub said:

jtfolden said:

I think, even without singles, TBA would have easily doubled the sales of LoveSexy. On top of that, it would have most probably bolstered his credibility as still being a cutting edge artist.

LoveSexy elicited a collective "meh" from the mainstream audience.

That's a fact. Prince would have gained more creative power and freedom if he had released the Black Album becuase of how popular it wold have gotten. I truly believe it would have been much bigger then Lovesexy, and be seen as cool by the mainstream public and critics.

Hmmm. I'm not sure you guys. I do agree, but the non-release of the album bolstered critical cred any way, and Lovesexy was popular in the UK and Europe, even if it didn't do so well in the USA. People know that album over here, they know it like D&P and Purple Rain.

boscho said:

I don't get these types of threads were people wish certain records weren't released. Isn't better that as many records are released, and then we can compile our own versions from the released tracks.

Even though the BA might have been more well received by the media than Lovesexy, isn't it more preferrable that we were given BOTH of these very good albums?

That kind of logic doesn't belong on a net neutral site where everyone's brain malfunctions are laid bare for all to see.

NouveauDance said:

ufoclub said:

That's a fact. Prince would have gained more creative power and freedom if he had released the Black Album becuase of how popular it wold have gotten. I truly believe it would have been much bigger then Lovesexy, and be seen as cool by the mainstream public and critics.

Hmmm. I'm not sure you guys. I do agree, but the non-release of the album bolstered critical cred any way, and Lovesexy was popular in the UK and Europe, even if it didn't do so well in the USA. People know that album over here, they know it like D&P and Purple Rain.

I think the non-release of The Black Album made it more legendary.If Prince had released it in December 1987 as planned,I don't think it would have made the same impact.Lovesexy was indeed popular in Europe and the UK and I think it bombed in America because of a few marketing mistakes:

*the nude photo on the album cover (many dudes refused to buy an album with a nude man on it)

*the wrong singles (the title track should have been the second single instead of "Glam Slam")

But even so,I think it was the right album for Prince to release.It's his most deeply personal album and it reveals more about him than The Black Album does.

Is Lovesexy really that popular in Europe? I knew he did some great live shows over there but I didn't think the album was necessarily a huge hit.

SoulAlive said:

NouveauDance said:

Hmmm. I'm not sure you guys. I do agree, but the non-release of the album bolstered critical cred any way, and Lovesexy was popular in the UK and Europe, even if it didn't do so well in the USA. People know that album over here, they know it like D&P and Purple Rain.

I think the non-release of The Black Album made it more legendary.If Prince had released it in December 1987 as planned,I don't think it would have made the same impact.Lovesexy was indeed popular in Europe and the UK and I think it bombed in America because of a few marketing mistakes:

*the nude photo on the album cover (many dudes refused to buy an album with a nude man on it)

*the wrong singles (the title track should have been the second single instead of "Glam Slam")

But even so,I think it was the right album for Prince to release.It's his most deeply personal album and it reveals more about him than The Black Album does.

I don't know, at that time any male fan of Prince probably would not be bothered by that cover when they watched Prince half naked in videos on stage in photos and posters

OldFriends4Sale said:

SoulAlive said:

I think the non-release of The Black Album made it more legendary.If Prince had released it in December 1987 as planned,I don't think it would have made the same impact.Lovesexy was indeed popular in Europe and the UK and I think it bombed in America because of a few marketing mistakes:

*the nude photo on the album cover (many dudes refused to buy an album with a nude man on it)

*the wrong singles (the title track should have been the second single instead of "Glam Slam")

But even so,I think it was the right album for Prince to release.It's his most deeply personal album and it reveals more about him than The Black Album does.

I don't know, at that time any male fan of Prince probably would not be bothered by that cover when they watched Prince half naked in videos on stage in photos and posters

True but keep in mind the casual fan. It seems likely that most of the folks that did buy Lovesexy were hardcore fans. Someone who is not a huge fan may have heard "Alphabet St." and dug it but when they saw the album cover it may have dissuaded them from buying it.

rialb said:

True but keep in mind the casual fan. It seems likely that most of the folks that did buy Lovesexy were hardcore fans. Someone who is not a huge fan may have heard "Alphabet St." and dug it but when they saw the album cover it may have dissuaded them from buying it.

Considering that a good majority of the buying public thought it was Prince dressed as a girl on the front of the Sign O' The Times single (I even had a record store owner ask me at the time ), I doubt a plainly male Prince on LoveSexy (even a naked one) was much of a factor.

Part of the reason LoveSexy failed to reach Platinum status is down to the musical content - both follow-up singles tanked horribly.

SoulAlive said:

NouveauDance said:

Hmmm. I'm not sure you guys. I do agree, but the non-release of the album bolstered critical cred any way, and Lovesexy was popular in the UK and Europe, even if it didn't do so well in the USA. People know that album over here, they know it like D&P and Purple Rain.

I think the non-release of The Black Album made it more legendary.If Prince had released it in December 1987 as planned,I don't think it would have made the same impact.Lovesexy was indeed popular in Europe and the UK and I think it bombed in America because of a few marketing mistakes:

*the nude photo on the album cover (many dudes refused to buy an album with a nude man on it)

*the wrong singles (the title track should have been the second single instead of "Glam Slam")

But even so,I think it was the right album for Prince to release.It's his most deeply personal album and it reveals more about him than The Black Album does.

All I can tell you is that in 1988-89 some mainstream dudes I knew asked me for copies of the Black Album, and would ask me if Batman was as good, etc (and no, they didn't care for Lovesexy or Batman when they heard parts of each). They didn't care or know much about whether it was bootled or legit... they just liked to play that flavor of track with cussing loud.

Clearly when "Batman" came out, one guy asked me "Is it as good as The Black Album?" I had to say, I didn't know (I didn't think so). He listened to it, and didn't want a copy.