it's a pretty safe bet to say that the new CD will be called 'Welcome to America' and the tour is no doubt underpinnig its release. So assuming that my purely speculative thread is correct[!] have you enough hope left in you that this is a great Album title with a great bunch of songs [yes I will say a 'return to form'!] or will it be more P-Lite!

I am truly hopeful that with a title like this there's going to be some hard hitting lyrics and strong melodies / classics to match - think of Stevie livin' for the city etc.

Or has your well of hope dried up!!.

Seems unlikely to be honest, Prince being Prince, he'd probably consider 'Welcome 2 America' as the past by the time a new CD is ready, and thus would be titled around something new.

there's always hope..

I too think this tour isn't really promoting anything in particular. It's essentially just a Hit N' Run tour. 20Ten is nowhere to be seen, and it's not very sensible, nor common, to tour for an album that hasn't even been announced.

I don't doubt we'll see another new Prince record within a year's time. I just doubt it's related to what's happening right now. As others have said, this is Prince world. He just kinda, does things. Then goes and does something else.

Sorry but the idea of Welcome 2 America was dead in the water.

It was not a real tour yet it was kind of marketed as a tour yet it was more of a residency yet it wasn't because there were a couple venues?? I'm betting LiveNation put him up to that stupid press conference and the whole forced concept.

I doubt Welcome 2 America was ever going to be a real thing.

Spinlight said:

Sorry but the idea of Welcome 2 America was dead in the water.

It was not a real tour yet it was kind of marketed as a tour yet it was more of a residency yet it wasn't because there were a couple venues?? I'm betting LiveNation put him up to that stupid press conference and the whole forced concept.

I doubt Welcome 2 America was ever going to be a real thing.

I think you're right. What happened to the tour he announced at the Apollo? It was a few dates in NY, a few in CA, and a few more in the Carolinas. I guess that's technically a tour.

On Elisa F's facebook, she mentioned some new songs, maybe that'll be on a W2A CD... or a 20Ten Deluxe Edition... or Crystal Ball II... or as bonus tracks on the Parade remaster... or or or...

Chas said:

Spinlight said:

Sorry but the idea of Welcome 2 America was dead in the water.

It was not a real tour yet it was kind of marketed as a tour yet it was more of a residency yet it wasn't because there were a couple venues?? I'm betting LiveNation put him up to that stupid press conference and the whole forced concept.

I doubt Welcome 2 America was ever going to be a real thing.

I think you're right. What happened to the tour he announced at the Apollo? It was a few dates in NY, a few in CA, and a few more in the Carolinas. I guess that's technically a tour.

On Elisa F's facebook, she mentioned some new songs, maybe that'll be on a W2A CD... or a 20Ten Deluxe Edition... or Crystal Ball II... or as bonus tracks on the Parade remaster... or or or...

Well, he never technically announced a tour, in that he never said the word "tour" at any time.

Chas said:

I think you're right. What happened to the tour he announced at the Apollo? It was a few dates in NY, a few in CA, and a few more in the Carolinas. I guess that's technically a tour.

In fairness though, the Carolinas were only announced last week and we have no idea what is in store next, so it's not necessarily (or even likely to be) over yet.

Granted, most tours give a lot more notice and you know dates and cities from the get go, but the W2A pseudo-tour is technically still going and we have no idea how many more cities Prince is planning to visit - maybe a CD will be released while he's still on the road?

Prince himself maybe well ahead in terms of music being recorded, etc... but the next CD he releases may still be called Welcome 2 America.

As for the OP's original question, I'm always delighted with new music from Prince (even the so-called "P-lite" ones ), so there's plenty of hope left in the well here!

[Edited 3/16/11 16:41pm]

Chiquetet said:

Chas said:

I think you're right. What happened to the tour he announced at the Apollo? It was a few dates in NY, a few in CA, and a few more in the Carolinas. I guess that's technically a tour.

In fairness though, the Carolinas were only announced last week and we have no idea what is in store next, so it's not necessarily (or even likely to be) over yet.

Granted, most tours give a lot more notice and you know dates and cities from the get go, but the W2A pseudo-tour is technically still going and we have no idea how many more cities Prince is planning to visit - maybe a CD will be released while he's still on the road?

Prince himself maybe well ahead in terms of music being recorded, etc... but the next CD he releases may still be called Welcome 2 America.

As for the OP's original question, I'm always delighted with new music from Prince (even the so-called "P-lite" ones ), so there's plenty of hope left in the well here!

[Edited 3/16/11 16:41pm]

Right, but I don't think any of that means that Prince somehow planned it to be this way.

So all that you're saying is that as much as it might not be something, it COULD be that way. lol. Well duh! But the likelihood? Small. The W2A idea is already over 6 months old which is beyond ancient in Prince world.

I don't see this as a planned tour.

The possibility of more concerts and their schedules come given by him having to face debts and payment obligations.

This is no art. This is just work.

vitriol said:

I don't see this as a planned tour.

The possibility of more concerts and their schedules come given by him having to face debts and payment obligations.

This is no art. This is just work.

Right again, as usual!

I'm guessing he's ramping up for some kind of album if he's performing on George Lopez in April. Could just be to promote the "tour" but he doesn't normally do that.

Besides a job aspect, I think there will be a new CD.

errant said:

I'm guessing he's ramping up for some kind of album if he's performing on George Lopez in April. Could just be to promote the "tour" but he doesn't normally do that.

Turn me loose.

Best of you.

All along the watchtower.

Hot summer.

Cause and effect.

P.F.U.N.K.

Purple and gold.

Rich friends.

Yeah, he never just throws stuff out there.

If Prince were going to release a new album it would make a lot more sense for him to be playing London, Berlin, Paris, and Arnhem. Because those cities are where the magazines that will pay up for a Prince album are.

billymeade said:

errant said:

I'm guessing he's ramping up for some kind of album if he's performing on George Lopez in April. Could just be to promote the "tour" but he doesn't normally do that.

Turn me loose.

Best of you.

All along the watchtower.

Hot summer.

Cause and effect.

P.F.U.N.K.

Purple and gold.

Rich friends.

Yeah, he never just throws stuff out there.

For a talk-show appearance? Only one of those qualifies. Aside from Turn Me Loose, none of them were a TV promotion without an album. And there are rumors that there actually WAS an album at the time that was quickly shelved by the time he even went on there.

And you can't possibly count the Super Bowl. That's an independent thing that he was sought out to do, many, many months prior. That was the event that Best Of You/All Along The Watchtower being sent to the Stern show was promoting.

jpnyc said:

If Prince were going to release a new album it would make a lot more sense for him to be playing London, Berlin, Paris, and Arnhem. Because those cities are where the magazines that will pay up for a Prince album are.

how would we know? he hasn't actually done it in the US. and if the European ones were so successful for him or the papers and magazines involved, why wasn't a similar deal worked out in the US? or other territories where he sells? he has managed the top 5 (hell, the top 3, I think) in the US with his previous 4 albums, after all.

although I'm sure whoever he's tried to negotiate with in the US has been in a Target or a Borders and seen stacks upon stacks of $5 copies of LotusFlow3r and 21 Nights, respectively.

^Well, that's what you get when you mistreat fans, burn bridges with the whole industry and on top of that deliver CRAPPY products.

It's painful when you discover the only way you have to put out your new cd is a covermount edition with European newspapers that'd be willing to distribute even his farts in a bag.

Oh but, yes, what a poor slave he was...

ANEWALBUMWILLBANNOUNCEDBEFORETHISUMMERMAYULIVE2CTHEDAWNBROTHERS&SISTERSOFTHEPURPLEUNDERGROUND!

Don't speculate too much lol....

Prince is changing his mind about albums, and other stuff, daily.

errant said:

jpnyc said:

If Prince were going to release a new album it would make a lot more sense for him to be playing London, Berlin, Paris, and Arnhem. Because those cities are where the magazines that will pay up for a Prince album are.

how would we know? he hasn't actually done it in the US. and if the European ones were so successful for him or the papers and magazines involved, why wasn't a similar deal worked out in the US? or other territories where he sells? he has managed the top 5 (hell, the top 3, I think) in the US with his previous 4 albums, after all.

although I'm sure whoever he's tried to negotiate with in the US has been in a Target or a Borders and seen stacks upon stacks of $5 copies of LotusFlow3r and 21 Nights, respectively.

Arnhem is in the Netherlands and there was no magazine that supported his release of 20ten. It remains unreleased for the Dutch market (only UK, Germany, France and Belgium if I'm correct).

he now seems to be alternating territories for album releases i.e. LF for the USA via target and 20Ten for Europe. Anyway the Q is more about whether you think he will deliver the goods / return to form IF this CD is released. This potential album title is too damn good to waste and deserves some amazing songs. Have to say that the song sung live so far doesn't bode too well.

OOhh, just had a thought, imagine if 'people without' was on there'!!!

Wasn't there a disputed demo around 1990 with 'Welcome to America'? High pitch helium voice and laughing over an instrumental take that felt in the style of the musical mood around the period of crucial?

edit > or was it living in America

[Edited 3/17/11 4:02am]

dualboot said:

Wasn't there a disputed demo around 1990 with 'Welcome to America'? High pitch helium voice and laughing over an instrumental take that felt in the style of the musical mood around the period of crucial?

edit > or was it living in America

[Edited 3/17/11 4:02am]

That's a fake from the hilarious 'Rude Boy' bootleg. Oldschool!

MY LORD!

MY LORD!

I know but it reminded me...

NouveauDance said:

dualboot said:

Wasn't there a disputed demo around 1990 with 'Welcome to America'? High pitch helium voice and laughing over an instrumental take that felt in the style of the musical mood around the period of crucial?

edit > or was it living in America

[Edited 3/17/11 4:02am]

That's a fake from the hilarious 'Rude Boy' bootleg. Oldschool!

MY LORD!

MY LORD!

That bootleg always freaked me out. I could never work out what the hell was going on. Where did the instrumentals come from? The horrendous My Lord one seemed to be over an instrumental of Sticky Wicket... Is that right? Is an instrumental of that circulating? Was it just a sampled loop from the track?

Then we have the bizarre People Without. Which, if you listen closely, you can actually hear vocals on it. Why create a fake of that? And why make it sound different to the live cut? bizarre.

Sorry, veered a bit off topic there

vitriol said:

^Well, that's what you get when you mistreat fans, burn bridges with the whole industry and on top of that deliver CRAPPY products.

It's painful when you discover the only way you have to put out your new cd is a covermount edition with European newspapers that'd be willing to distribute even his farts in a bag.

Oh but, yes, what a poor slave he was...

Yep. He's at a dead end now distribution wise. He can't even set up a website either now after that last scam. I'm very interested in how a new album is going to get out. Not the content.

Marrk said:

vitriol said:

^Well, that's what you get when you mistreat fans, burn bridges with the whole industry and on top of that deliver CRAPPY products.

It's painful when you discover the only way you have to put out your new cd is a covermount edition with European newspapers that'd be willing to distribute even his farts in a bag.

Oh but, yes, what a poor slave he was...

Yep. He's at a dead end now distribution wise. He can't even set up a website either now after that last scam. I'm very interested in how a new album is going to get out. Not the content.

It's a sign o the times indeed when some of us are more interested in his distribution method than the audio content of a new album.

Should be interesting indeed.

TheDigitalGardener said:

Marrk said:

Yep. He's at a dead end now distribution wise. He can't even set up a website either now after that last scam. I'm very interested in how a new album is going to get out. Not the content.

It's a sign o the times indeed when some of us are more interested in his distribution method than the audio content of a new album.

Should be interesting indeed.

Still no sign of Prince returning on my iPod. It's been months since i bothered to listen to him. He's not being missed.

Marrk said:

TheDigitalGardener said:

It's a sign o the times indeed when some of us are more interested in his distribution method than the audio content of a new album.

Should be interesting indeed.

Still no sign of Prince returning on my iPod. It's been months since i bothered to listen to him. He's not being missed.

I'm still interested and listening to live stuff of old, but not recent live material at all, it holds no interest for me whatsoever.