I think it´s very interesting to know the way the different artists work. Being a Michael Jackson fan I know about MJ´s way of working, which was for each album to write and gather between 50 and 100 songs, then maybe record 30 - 40 and then cut it down and choose the final songs for the album. MJ also had another way of working than Prince since he, in addition to writing a lot of own material, wrote songs with other people AND took contributions from other songwriters. That was HIS way.

Now I would like to know if Prince has ever revealed the way he uses to do it when creating an album? Of course I know that he writes and records amazingly much music all the time but does he have "project sessions" where he only writes material intended for one album, or does he use all the material he has written and collected and just puts an album together from this?

I discovered it was a bit hard to describe but hopefully you understand what I mean. If not, please ask. But the basic question is this: How does Prince work when creating an album??

Most Prince releases have consisted of material intended for that project, though album titles and track configurations have changed during the course many of the LPs. Sometimes older songs are culled from previous one-off sessions, or tracks left off earlier records may be placed on a new album.

I have worked with quite alot of musicians and others in the entertainment arena, and from what I've heard, he's very hard on his musicians, not as a personality to work for, but in the sheer endurance it takes to keep up with him. He sleeps very little....when you work for Prince its 24/7.

From what I understand you can get a call at 2am to be in the studio at 4am, it could be a 24-48 hour+ kind of thing. So my feeling is when Prince gets the fever, he runs with it, and edits later.

Well from what I know he usually records a song without stopping, sometimes 2 or 3 songs in one session like he did with Erotic City and She's Always in My Hair.

In regards to albums, I think most of the time he just puts together his favourite tracks he recorded that year but I think some had songs especially written for the album like Rainbow Children & Parade?

[Edited 1/2/11 14:53pm]

I don't mind how Prince works, as long as the material he puts out is good. I can kind of tell a "rushed" album that he put out with execs riding him, and one he put out because he dug the groove and liked what he was making.

i watched the special features to purple rain 20th anniversary and omfg. prince gave them over 100 to choose from . even a song a day. he's got the creative juices overflowing!