I was watching a video from 88', and in the video Sheila E said that Lovesexy wasn't during to good on the charts. The tour was a beast. The album had some good ass songs. "Anna Stesia", "Alphabet St", "I Wish U Heaven", "Positivity" and "When 2 R In Love". 5 out of 9 isn't bad. But those are the tracks I like.

Maybe the critics and world wasn't ready for it. I think Prince could've done better with singles.

"Alphabet St."

"Anna Stesia"

"I Wish U Heaven"

"When 2 R In Love"

Side one

1. "Eye No" – 5:47
2. "Alphabet St." – 5:38
3. "Glam Slam" – 5:04
4. "Anna Stesia" – 4:56

Side two

1. "Dance On" – 3:44
2. "Lovesexy" – 5:48
3. "When 2 R In Love" – 4:01
4. "I Wish U Heaven" – 2:43
5. "Positivity" – 7:15

-The concerts for this album were great.

-Both Livesexy '88 (recored in Palatrussardi, Milan, July 15, 1988) and Lovesexy '88 (recorded in Feijenoord de Rotterdam, Aug 18, 1988).

I think the fact the album was sequenced as one continuous track on CD made it a difficult album to get into.

I love every single song on there I don't know why it wasn't a hit..

-I sometimes wonder too, about the whole deal with The Black Album.

-I have so much notes on that album that was b4 Lovesexy.

-It did impact Prince in some way.

Simple: he moved on to the next album.

Swa said:

I think the fact the album was sequenced as one continuous track on CD made it a difficult album to get into.

And most of the songs were not "radio material". And that cover also probably had a lot to do with it.

Timmy84 said:

Swa said:

I think the fact the album was sequenced as one continuous track on CD made it a difficult album to get into.

And most of the songs were not "radio material". And that cover also probably had a lot to do with it.

All of the above.

I remember clearly...for a hint; scroll back to the top of this page. The "naked guy" cover was a little much for 1988. I remember picking up a copy at the record store in Minneapolis and they had it hidden behind the counter. I had to ask for it. It was NOT on the floor.

It wasn't any easier for a hetero teenage guy asking for it either. I got a "neat" look from the cashier.

Ah...the things we do as as Prince fans.

Didn't some places refuse to sell the album because of the cover? I remember reading that somewhere..

Amkatnip said:

I remember clearly...for a hint; scroll back to the top of this page. The "naked guy" cover was a little much for 1988. I remember picking up a copy at the record store in Minneapolis and they had it hidden behind the counter. I had to ask for it. It was NOT on the floor.

It wasn't any easier for a hetero teenage guy asking for it either. I got a "neat" look from the cashier.

Ah...the things we do as as Prince fans.

I can just imagine.

"Ah so you like Prince huh??? "

purplemonster04 said:

Didn't some places refuse to sell the album because of the cover? I remember reading that somewhere..

That's a good possibility.

All of the above mentioned reasons were part of it....

I LOVE this album, but it's a concept album & there just aren't very many Pop singles on it.

The album and tour did very good in Europe.

But not in the prudish USA.

So I guess you could say the USA wasn't ready for it.

-I have to talk about the shows Prince did in 1988.

-First, they say that the Black Album has like 20 different versions, but I have no idea if it is true.

-There is also that concert named: "I Wanna Be Your Lover, Miss B" recorded in Waldostation, Frankfurt on Aug 27, 1988.

-There also was that concert: Just My Imagination, recorded in Camden Palace, London on July 25, 1988.

-Also, the concert: Live & Sexy In Norway, recorded in Valle Hovin, Oslo on Aug 14,1988.

-Also, Night Club Recordings, The Purple Decade, Red Box, Rock Hard In A Funky Place, Small Club 2nd Show That Night, The Spooky Electric, Superfunkycalifragisexy, The White Album.

-SO MUCH NOTES!!

Amkatnip said:

I remember clearly...for a hint; scroll back to the top of this page. The "naked guy" cover was a little much for 1988. I remember picking up a copy at the record store in Minneapolis and they had it hidden behind the counter. I had to ask for it. It was NOT on the floor.

It wasn't any easier for a hetero teenage guy asking for it either. I got a "neat" look from the cashier.

Ah...the things we do as as Prince fans.

It was the same in Tennessee. The album was hidden behind the counter like it was a Penthouse or Hustler magazine.

I was a 18 year old high school senior in 1988 and was asked for my ID to buy the album.

TylerHippie said:

-So, I have been staring at this pic for a while and I can't to notice what he is wearing,

-around his neck that is, what is that?

-He is holding it with his hand and close to his heart.

-Is it the OR is it a cross?

[Edited 8/24/11 17:35pm]

This album was all about the search. Many fans have identified with LoveSexy because of this. The search for answers from The Creator. It depicts his struggle with so called evils that he dealt with. I would say this was really one of his BIGGEST ALBUMS! It may not have reached main stream, but, it reached the minds and hearts of others. But still, what are the answers Prince? God Help Us All!

1) As mentioned above, the fact that the album was released (on cd) as one continuous track did not help the album.

2) The cover art caused some problems in the USA, several US retail and distribution outlets refused to display the album on the shelf and instead kept it behind the counter. Apparently WB requested new artwork but Prince refused, saying that the cover art was integral to the concept of the album content.

3) Before the album was released, Prince also wanted there to be no videos made. He stated that not doing videos would set him apart from other artists and also create a mystery around the album. Of course he did change his mind which must have pleased WB.

4) A tour of the USA was already planned, but Prince decided to postpone the dates and take the tour to Europe first.

5) The US tour lost money due to poor ticket sales, the losses were later recouped when Prince took Lovesexy to Japan.

Lovesexy did do well outwith the USA, it went top of the charts in a few countries, but ony reached number 11(?) in the US.

I cover had a LOT to do with it...but also...there weren't a whole lot of radio-ready songs on it. I got my friends who didn't like Prince into SOTTs and the Black Album....couldn't do it with Lovesexy. I got the to to looks when I tried to play it in the car. The thing just didn't fly according to general American teenage tastes.

Two reasons....

***the nude album cover----There were many people who were offended by that album cover (especially heterosexual males).It kept many people from getting into this album.

***the wrong singles---"Alphabet St" was a strong first single but the follow up "Glam Slam" was a snoozefest.That song didn't stand a chance on pop radio in 1988.Not surprisingly,it bombed and it also killed the album's momentum.Beginning with Parade,I started to notice a trend.Prince would release a kickass first single,then follow it up with a questionable second single.The title track to Lovesexy was the obvious choice for second single.

Because it wasn't a very mainstream album and the cover scared off a lot of homophobes.

PippiL said:

Because it wasn't a very mainstream album and the cover scared off a lot of homophobes.

It was retailers and distributers that were scared of the cover, not this stupid idea that hetro men felt uncomfortable with it.

For those of whom the cover was a problem then that says more about them than it does about Prince posing naked.

The nude cover was suppose to symbolize a REBIRTH! IT DOESN'T SHOW ANY PRIVATE PARTS! It shows that their is no shame! People didn't understand this. THERE ARE MANY MESSAGES IN LOVE SEXY. LISTEN, you might find them! Peace!

The point missing here is Prince was making a statement. He is an artist who simply was expressing himself! A true artist wants to paint a picture not caring if others like it or not! He really does it all in the end, and he knows it. He is pretty ...... smart!

TheDigitalGardener said:

PippiL said:

Because it wasn't a very mainstream album and the cover scared off a lot of homophobes.

It was retailers and distributers that were scared of the cover, not this stupid idea that hetro men felt uncomfortable with it.

For those of whom the cover was a problem then that says more about them than it does about Prince posing naked.

UmustB said:

The nude cover was suppose to symbolize a REBIRTH! IT DOESN'T SHOW ANY PRIVATE PARTS! It shows that their is no shame! People didn't understand this. THERE ARE MANY MESSAGES IN LOVE SEXY. LISTEN, you might find them! Peace!

That's because people are ignorant.

The cover. The music was a letdown from what he was doing around that time. It is a great album, musically, but like The Rainbow Children, some found the lyrics quite silly and immature.

masbas said:

The cover. The music was a letdown from what he was doing around that time. It is a great album, musically, but like The Rainbow Children, some found the lyrics quite silly and immature.

It seemed to be about self indulgence, and questioning what real love is ? You can call it silly and immature, but still, I believe he was trying to make a statement, and searching for what is important in one's life! IN ALL OUR LIVES!

[Edited 8/24/11 18:55pm]

LOVESEXY: to me it is one of the best Prince albums,

a Prince top 5 album...

I every track, Dance On is maybe the only weaker song...

Fan-tastic.... and it was #1 in the UK and sold very well in Germany and other European countries too AFAIK: only a disappointment in the US, selling less than a million. I guess the nude cover pic was hurting the sales, those americans (some of those) are strange, lol.....