Not really trying 2 carry over from one topic 2 another but I must. In another topic on underrated and overated albums one I saw that some folks view the Black Album as a sort of mash of throwaway tracks. I always viewed it as a complete (albeit different) album and was glad it was released after hearing about it for so long. I love when Prince can go off into these focused areas and I considered The Black Album a groovy album where Prince was sort of focused on a few simple topics. Non political. not really overtly religious, etc. My question is didn't Prince decide not 2 release this AFTER it was completed? So were these throwaway tracks or not? Maybe since WB released this one, maybe some exec chose the songs that were included and not Prince himself and I'm completely wrong?

Well, only a couple of those tracks were even recorded specifically for the Black Album. Several of them existed already and were recorded for different purposes. It's a bit of a mishmash.

It was shelved at the last minute. The story I've always heard is that the majority of the songs were made for Sheila E's birthday party in 1987, which makes it seem like it was thrown together. I love me some Superfunkycalifragisexy!

No matter the story behind the tracks really, it's quintessential Prince.

One of the best imo.

cfluid said:

My question is didn't Prince decide not 2 release this AFTER it was completed? So were these throwaway tracks or not? Maybe since WB released this one, maybe some exec chose the songs that were included and not Prince himself and I'm completely wrong?

Yeah, you're kinda off on this. Prince alone decided on the tracks on the album, and the album was 100% complete, pressed and boxed and ready to go when he pulled the plug on it.

You shouldn't take the term 'throwaway tracks' so literally - The tracks were all recorded and finished as complete songs. What it means in this case is that the Black album was largely compiled - rather than a project Prince set out on and to record tracks for. You know then Prince was recording all the time, and not every track was ever intended for his current on the go project or next album.

As said above, several of the tracks were originally recorded for Sheila E's birthday of 1986, and only W2RIL was a new recording (which probably accounts for Prince carrying it over to Lovesexy, since he is often known to favour the most recently recorded material).

A little more background info: http://www.princevault.co...lack_Album

[Edited 2/10/11 16:28pm]

I love knowing a few tidbits about some of my favorites! I sort of saw the album differently. I didn't know Prince put a few songs together and called it an album. I hope it won't change the way I hear the album now. I thought the idea was songs with a jam session feel to them or a live quality (besides When 2 R In Love)

NouveauDance said:

cfluid said:

My question is didn't Prince decide not 2 release this AFTER it was completed? So were these throwaway tracks or not? Maybe since WB released this one, maybe some exec chose the songs that were included and not Prince himself and I'm completely wrong?

Yeah, you're kinda off on this. Prince alone decided on the tracks on the album, and the album was 100% complete, pressed and boxed and ready to go when he pulled the plug on it.

You shouldn't take the term 'throwaway tracks' so literally - The tracks were all recorded and finished as complete songs. What it means in this case is that the Black album was largely compiled - rather than a project Prince set out on and to record tracks for. You know then Prince was recording all the time, and not every track was ever intended for his current on the go project or next album.

As said above, several of the tracks were originally recorded for Sheila E's birthday of 1986, and only W2RIL was a new recording (which probably accounts for Prince carrying it over to Lovesexy, since he is often known to favour the most recently recorded material).

A little more background info: http://www.princevault.co...lack_Album

[Edited 2/10/11 16:28pm]

Interesting. I always thought it was for her birthday in Dec 1987, now I guess it doesn't seem rushed since most of the songs had been around for a year prior to its intended release.