alexnvrmnd777 said:

You know, I was sitting here thinking. These newbie Prince fans just don't realize and appreciate bootleg collecting!! Nowadays, all you have to do is go to a site, click a couple of things, and you have your video or audio boot (with artwork) in a few minutes. The ONLY work involved is finding what site to go to. And if the product or quality is shit, it's pretty easy to press Delete, and you're really no worse for wear.

Back in the day, we had to hunt around and scavenge for any little Prince goodie we could find. We had to find trader circles, and make VHS or audio taped copies of stuff to get it. And of course with each time it was taped (generation) the quality degraded just a bit. You had to make connections, often via "snail mail" or mailing lists. And, if you just started out or didn't have much of anything to trade, you were coming out of pocket. But you know what, that shit was worth it!!!! Seeing stuff like NYE 1987 show with Miles or the 1988 Dortmund Lovesexy show or the Birthday Parade show was all certainly worth it. Small Club and The Black Album absolutely blew my mind, and I was glad to fork over some cash for it, though usually people taped it for you or gave it to you out of the kindness of their heart or for a return solid down the line.

And then don't forget the pressed discs from Moonraker/Thunderball and Sabotage and Superhero Records and others! City Lights was like the Holy Grail, IMO!!! I just had to have that, gold sleeve and all!

We truly had to put in some work to be hardcore Prince fans, and if you bothered doing all of that, you definitely had the right to say you were a "hardcore". These days, you can get entire catalogs in one swoop, with no work at all. Yes, I'm glad a lot of the guess work and hard work has given way to easier methods of collecting, but there was a thriving, hard-working underground Prince community that I will never forget. And the new fans will never know what it's like to be a part of it or understand just how easy they've got it.

Walk down Memory Lane over...

Great post, brings back loads of memories, going to big cities, walking around for hours trying to find record stores that had the material and so on...I certainly miss the social interaction of those days, met up with some fantastic people on that journey...Although I miss those days, I certainly appreciate the methods available to us today, especially when time is so limited...

udo said:

BartVanHemelen said:

And then they bitch that it's in FLAC.

Yes, you more easily rip a CD to MP3z...

LOL, so now people have to buy pressed cd's to make the ripping easier!

Oh well, whatever it takes to sell, I guess.

udo said:

Yes, you more easily rip a CD to MP3z...

Of all the mentally diseased people I've encountered through the net you're definitely the funniest.

derrick31 said:

802 said:

Why should you get all nostalgic about giving money to people who don't deserve it?'

This gets annoying. You're right, the guy pressing and selling the boot probably doesn't deserve to profit from Prince's work. However, those downloading unauthorized recordings aren't innocent. Prince hasn't authorized anyone to record and distribute his performances. Those criticizing the sellers or buyers of bootlegs are hypocrites. I doubt Prince or anyone in his camp distinguishes between those downloading his music for free from those buying the unauthorized recordings.

vitriol said:

udo said:

Yes, you more easily rip a CD to MP3z...

Of all the mentally diseased people I've encountered through the net you're definitely the funniest.

No, it's fact.

People know CD's. (barely, but still)

People know MP3z. (very well)

People do not know FLACs.

You do the math w.r.t. the ability to rip for the average uzer.

So the fact that you try to see some 'fun' in every fact tells us something more.

Prince is scratching your name in his little black book.

udo said:

So the fact that you try to see some 'fun' in every fact tells us something more.

The fact you keep promoting pressed cd's, tells me alot more.

vc40 said:

udo said:

So the fact that you try to see some 'fun' in every fact tells us something more.

The fact you keep promoting pressed cd's, tells me alot more.

I just don't like a harddisk or embedded flash on an ipod.

I'd rather have a shiny CD in a jewel case with a colorful booklet.

I find it strange that some people who demonize downloading and bootlegs etc, are the same people who then send you orgnotes asking where to find such and such a recording.

Who are the hypocrites again?

udo said:

I just don't like a harddisk or embedded flash on an ipod.

I'd rather have a shiny CD in a jewel case with a colorful booklet.

in other words: you don't care about the music (content), it's all about the look!

TheDigitalGardener said:

Who are the hypocrites again?

I don't know. I am more of an eighties person. I'd rather have the CD.

vc40 said:

udo said:

I just don't like a harddisk or embedded flash on an ipod.

I'd rather have a shiny CD in a jewel case with a colorful booklet.

in other words: you don't care about the music (content), it's all about the look!

Nah. It's just the idea that the discs can withstand an EMP. I'd only need a new player by then.

And they indeed look good on the shelf.

Back to the topic at hand, I was thinking about The Black Album the other day, and I have to say that obtaining that particular boot on a TDK60 for £4 at a local record fair, is probably the most excited I have been about any bootleg that I ever purchased. The live boots on vinyl, tape and later on cd were (and a few still are) fantastic, but obtaining The Black Album on tape with it's grainy 3rd, 4th or whatever generation sound was a big thrill.

I remember the excitement that day, I bought that tape, then had a very quick scan round the rest of the fair and rushed home to play it. Back then I thought it sounded great, with it's big bass sound and gritty, dirty quality hehehe. I did not obtain a cd copy until the official release in '94 so I had that tape a long time. I rememeber making a back up copy of it just in case my "original" chewed up.

Good times indeed.

TheDigitalGardener said:

I find it strange that some people who demonize downloading and bootlegs etc, are the same people who then send you orgnotes asking where to find such and such a recording.

Who are the hypocrites again?

I haven't seen any posts demonizing bootlegs here.

TheDigitalGardener said:

Back to the topic at hand, I was thinking about The Black Album the other day, and I have to say that obtaining that particular boot on a TDK60 for £4 at a local record fair, is probably the most excited I have been about any bootleg that I ever purchased. The live boots on vinyl, tape and later on cd were (and a few still are) fantastic, but obtaining The Black Album on tape with it's grainy 3rd, 4th or whatever generation sound was a big thrill.

I remember the excitement that day, I bought that tape, then had a very quick scan round the rest of the fair and rushed home to play it. Back then I thought it sounded great, with it's big bass sound and gritty, dirty quality hehehe. I did not obtain a cd copy until the official release in '94 so I had that tape a long time. I rememeber making a back up copy of it just in case my "original" chewed up.

Good times indeed.

I remember that time quite well, I made it indirectly into a national newspaper in Ireland over that. A friend of mine dropped by with a now defunct newspaper called the Evening Herald which had an article about this "Black Album", so I put pen to paper asking them to send me a copy of it, or I shall die or something to that nature. Although I did write it very much tongue in cheek, a week later the author of the original article wrote that he had suddenly become very popular and that one Cork reader was going to die if he didnt get his hands on a copy of the album. Thankfully he spared my blushes by not mentioning my name although alot of lads at school presumed I was up to it.

I eventually got a copy of it on tape, and spent hours and days trying to work out ways of getting rid of the hiss, I think I have about four different versions of it.

The story about getting my hands on Lovesexy was even more bizarre (I might post something about that some other time), due to the fact that Lovesexy didnt arrive into record stores in Ireland till almost two weeks after its release due to some shipping strike or something...Ironically, at that stage, the only song I had not managed to tape off the radio was Positivity, so I had to wait another 40 minutes or so to hear that...

[Edited 8/29/11 7:37am]

Those were indeed, the days. I remember going to Toones, an indie record store in Allentown, PA (Gene, are you in here?), and the guy who owned the place was really cool. He would let me borrow Prince VHS concerts from his own private collection. Gene was a good guy. I miss that store. Back in the '80s it was even a thrill to come across a 12" single I didn't have yet, what with the B-sides and all.

interestin discussion.... i was spendin money for boots just to get my high! like a junkie. I gave a shit about who will reseive my bucks!!!! i still don't understand why prince did'nt make a small bizz out of it.... because a lot of people spent a lot of money back in the day... Me personaly sometimes 2much!

Funny is that I know every single track on my little 200-300 Prince boot collection that I mostly purchased in the early 90ies. I know the highlights on every disc.... now with the digital files i loose overwiew.....

yeah, and a lil something to that opinion that the tapers don't deserve the money:

i never recorded a P show... because I knew somebody will record it and i can get it for some dollars a lil bit later...

Therefore i always could enjoy every P show 2 da MAXX!

Fucking bootleging is hard and shitty JOB! It's expensive (gear, travelling, tickets, hotels), it's wack (while Peeps are partying, dancing, screamin' and having a good time the taper has to stand there like a tree not talking a word.... when friends come across they have to wave with their hands to make them understand they should shut the fuck up!!! ["what's wrong with him?!?"]) and bootleging P concerts was/is fucking RISKY!

...and oh yeah don't forget the postproduction!

PROPS to all the TAPERS that lost their equipement because they got catched, that were kicked out of shows, that created special cloth with integrated mics, that smuggled their equipement in the underwear or even in their assholes... I don't know, that were standing in front of speakers while the main show happens somewhere elese! These are my heroes! Many thanks.

802 said:

Why should you get all nostalgic about giving money to people who don't deserve it?

[Post altered by spitty. Not nice to put words into anothers mouth snip - luv4u]

[Edited 8/29/11 8:05am]

udo said:

BartVanHemelen said:

And then they bitch that it's in FLAC.

Yes, you more easily rip a CD to MP3z...

How is it easier? It's the same. I have multiple ripping programs, it's as easy as clicking mp3 or clicking flac before clicking RIP.

vc40 said:

udo said:

I just don't like a harddisk or embedded flash on an ipod.

I'd rather have a shiny CD in a jewel case with a colorful booklet.

in other words: you don't care about the music (content), it's all about the look!

Listen, the "shiny" CD is cool, but I refuse to purchase anymore Prince boots. If I can get it for free, why pay for it?

alexnvrmnd777 said:

You know, I was sitting here thinking. These newbie Prince fans just don't realize and appreciate bootleg collecting!! Nowadays, all you have to do is go to a site, click a couple of things, and you have your video or audio boot (with artwork) in a few minutes. The ONLY work involved is finding what site to go to. And if the product or quality is shit, it's pretty easy to press Delete, and you're really no worse for wear.

Back in the day, we had to hunt around and scavenge for any little Prince goodie we could find. We had to find trader circles, and make VHS or audio taped copies of stuff to get it. And of course with each time it was taped (generation) the quality degraded just a bit. You had to make connections, often via "snail mail" or mailing lists. And, if you just started out or didn't have much of anything to trade, you were coming out of pocket. But you know what, that shit was worth it!!!! Seeing stuff like NYE 1987 show with Miles or the 1988 Dortmund Lovesexy show or the Birthday Parade show was all certainly worth it. Small Club and The Black Album absolutely blew my mind, and I was glad to fork over some cash for it, though usually people taped it for you or gave it to you out of the kindness of their heart or for a return solid down the line.

And then don't forget the pressed discs from Moonraker/Thunderball and Sabotage and Superhero Records and others! City Lights was like the Holy Grail, IMO!!! I just had to have that, gold sleeve and all!

We truly had to put in some work to be hardcore Prince fans, and if you bothered doing all of that, you definitely had the right to say you were a "hardcore". These days, you can get entire catalogs in one swoop, with no work at all. Yes, I'm glad a lot of the guess work and hard work has given way to easier methods of collecting, but there was a thriving, hard-working underground Prince community that I will never forget. And the new fans will never know what it's like to be a part of it or understand just how easy they've got it.

Walk down Memory Lane over...

I remember those days....and the $1,000's of dollars spent.

I don't miss them.

Ew. Look at these old timers reminiscing on times long gone.

smoothcriminal12 said:

Ew. Look at these old timers reminiscing on times long gone.

what you talking about you little whippersnapper?.....

smoothcriminal12 said:

Ew. Look at these old timers reminiscing on times long gone.

..............interesting. Time is no one's friend.

vc40 said:

udo said:

Yes, you more easily rip a CD to MP3z...

LOL, so now people have to buy pressed cd's to make the ripping easier!

Oh well, whatever it takes to sell, I guess.

Ya know?!?!!

vitriol said:

udo said:

Yes, you more easily rip a CD to MP3z...

Of all the mentally diseased people I've encountered through the net you're definitely the funniest.

LMMFAO!!!

Graycap23 said:

alexnvrmnd777 said:

You know, I was sitting here thinking. These newbie Prince fans just don't realize and appreciate bootleg collecting!! Nowadays, all you have to do is go to a site, click a couple of things, and you have your video or audio boot (with artwork) in a few minutes. The ONLY work involved is finding what site to go to. And if the product or quality is shit, it's pretty easy to press Delete, and you're really no worse for wear.

Back in the day, we had to hunt around and scavenge for any little Prince goodie we could find. We had to find trader circles, and make VHS or audio taped copies of stuff to get it. And of course with each time it was taped (generation) the quality degraded just a bit. You had to make connections, often via "snail mail" or mailing lists. And, if you just started out or didn't have much of anything to trade, you were coming out of pocket. But you know what, that shit was worth it!!!! Seeing stuff like NYE 1987 show with Miles or the 1988 Dortmund Lovesexy show or the Birthday Parade show was all certainly worth it. Small Club and The Black Album absolutely blew my mind, and I was glad to fork over some cash for it, though usually people taped it for you or gave it to you out of the kindness of their heart or for a return solid down the line.

And then don't forget the pressed discs from Moonraker/Thunderball and Sabotage and Superhero Records and others! City Lights was like the Holy Grail, IMO!!! I just had to have that, gold sleeve and all!

We truly had to put in some work to be hardcore Prince fans, and if you bothered doing all of that, you definitely had the right to say you were a "hardcore". These days, you can get entire catalogs in one swoop, with no work at all. Yes, I'm glad a lot of the guess work and hard work has given way to easier methods of collecting, but there was a thriving, hard-working underground Prince community that I will never forget. And the new fans will never know what it's like to be a part of it or understand just how easy they've got it.

Walk down Memory Lane over...

I remember those days....and the $1,000's of dollars spent.

I don't miss them.

So much money being spent on the man!! I remember it well. That's how you knew yo' ass was hardcore. Going into Dimensions In Music or some other "small, independent" record store to see if they got anything good in for the week. Yeah, free is better, believe me!! These days, though, these little teeny boppers are starting to have collections that rival ours in very little time and didn't put in nearly the amount of work to get it.

^^ Sign O The Times indeed.

^That one is official, not a boot...

vitriol said:

^That one is official, not a boot...