I don't think it would have been a hit, even if Prince and Warners fully promoted it. In general, after a certain age, radio won't play an act's music unless they do like Carlos Santana, Ron Isley, Charlie Wilson, etc. and get rappers/young singers/"producer of the month" on their songs. Also most young people (who the radio and advertisers are trying to reach) don't listen to their parents music.

If It was released by an alternative rock band at the time ... It woulda generated alot of interest .. Its a great album .. the odd bit of goofing around an prince trying to be not as goodd as he could be .... but THE SAME DECEMBER .. DINNER WITH DELORES ... CHAOS AN DISORDER ...INTO THE LIGHT .. DIG U BETTER DEAD .. all classics ... RIGHT THE WRONG .. VANALEE .. I LIKE IT THERE ... I ROCK THEREFORE I AM .. are also alot of fun an songs I really enjoy .. he kinda goofed on them ones more noticable though ... an I WILL is a pretty damn pretty song .. great melody an interesting riffs .. the album has alot of charm ... an displays a hell of alot of tallent .. the songs i see as classics are amazing an the others are great aswell ... It aint by no means top league prince an has a more low key vibe an feel to it ... but I guess its got something great about it ... songs like GUITAR .. ALL THE MIDNIGHTS IN THE WORLD .. CHELSEA RODGERS ... THE 1 U WANNA C ... coulda sat on the album an stole the show ... so i guess PLANNET EARTH has that same raw low key .. diverse vibe .. but in a more polished an bigger way ... its kinda like INDIE MUSIC ... an i love the way prince does that ... CHAOS AN DISORDER is RAW .. EMANCIPATION was SLICK .. both great ... in there own way

I think it was maybe a victim of Prince's attitude, as well as the perception that he did not really try to make it good, but was simply delivering a contractual obligation.

But listening to it, it has the energy and excitement that we love about any Prince album, as well as some of the darker elements missing from, say, Diamond's & Pearls. It has more rock than anything since Purple Rain.

On the downside, it was the era of post-grunge, and this music rocks in a somewhat dated fashion in comparison. Prince is the quintessential 80's artist, and he was tough to fit into 90's pop culture. It does have a few clunkers, and it does not end very well.

But it is a good album, and I agree, if someone else had released it it might have gotten a bit more attention for the simple matter of the fantastic musicianship and the question of "where did this guy come from?"

NDRU said:

I think it was maybe a victim of Prince's attitude, as well as the perception that he did not really try to make it good, but was simply delivering a contractual obligation.

But listening to it, it has the energy and excitement that we love about any Prince album, as well as some of the darker elements missing from, say, Diamond's & Pearls. It has more rock than anything since Purple Rain.

On the downside, it was the era of post-grunge, and this music rocks in a somewhat dated fashion in comparison. Prince is the quintessential 80's artist, and he was tough to fit into 90's pop culture. It does have a few clunkers, and it does not end very well.

But it is a good album, and I agree, if someone else had released it it might have gotten a bit more attention for the simple matter of the fantastic musicianship and the question of "where did this guy come from?"

You know what? I actually think we could do a topic like this for quite a few Prince albums [after 95]. Which shows how truly talented he is...

i remember Charles Sharr Murray giving it the only genuinely positive review i read here in the UK (Mojo was it?)

"he hasn't spanked this much plank on a record [in a long time]"

the f u attitude obviously didnt help - almost as bad as Extreme's 'Waiting For the Punchline' from the year before (raw and hateful). Still pisses over Musicology though!

Cx