I just got done reading this. Did I learn anything new? some things.

Do I understand Prince any better?...no, he's even more of a mystery...

Whay did I take away from having read this?....

1) It perhaps was Mani who deepened Prince's involvement with JH, not Larry Graham...at least as chronologically presented in this book

2) Prince suffered from depression at the height of his career

3) He sometimes has great business sense, and other times has no business sense

4) He wasn't nice at the end of his relationships with the members of the Revolution

5) The author doesn't like the vault music as much as the Prince.org members do...

6) There was a moment where Cherry Moon could have been an ok movie...but that moment closed quickly.

7) Prince had too many 'yes men' around him

8) According to the author, Wendy and Lisa's contributions werent as big as some would think...not that they didn't contribute...but just not as much as thought....

have you read the book yet?

oh yes, the biggest conclusion?....Until Prince writes his own autobiography, we'll never know what we was thinking

Sorry, but I'm will wait for Prince's book

BlackAdder7 said:

I just got done reading this. Did I learn anything new? some things.

Do I understand Prince any better?...no, he's even more of a mystery...

Whay did I take away from having read this?....

1) It perhaps was Mani who deepened Prince's involvement with JH, not Larry Graham...at least as chronologically presented in this book

2) Prince suffered from depression at the height of his career

3) He sometimes has great business sense, and other times has no business sense

4) He wasn't nice at the end of his relationships with the members of the Revolution

5) The author doesn't like the vault music as much as the Prince.org members do...

6) There was a moment where Cherry Moon could have been an ok movie...but that moment closed quickly.

7) Prince had too many 'yes men' around him

8) According to the author, Wendy and Lisa's contributions werent as big as some would think...not that they didn't contribute...but just not as much as thought....

have you read the book yet?

oh yes, the biggest conclusion?....Until Prince writes his own autobiography, we'll never know what we was thinking

Sounds interesting.....enough to make me order it (from the US as strangely not out in the UK til Feb?!)

[Edited 11/6/11 15:24pm]

I have bought boook myself for completist reasons, but it's pretty cool so far. I take my time reading it since being involved in college life, but its okkay I like how the author, so far, puts it in a story-like reasoning and wording.

But from ur discovered "facts", that was pretty much already known on my end. But it's still fun to read what people write about Prince anyhow. Matter of fact, let me pick up the book now.

Here is a review of the book.

http://www.denverpost.com...i_19234849

But my question is, do we think that he ever will do a biography? I would say no.

I always wonder though, whether Prince would be the type of person to look back over his career and life and admit to making stupid decisions or stand by them and give his reasons and side of the story?

mysterymum said:

But my question is, do we think that he ever will do a biography? I would say no.

I always wonder though, whether Prince would be the type of person to look back over his career and life and admit to making stupid decisions or stand by them and give his reasons and side of the story?

i could see either one of those being pretty entertaining

this made me laugh from the denver post review:

"If you've ever wondered what Tower Records chairman Russ Solomon thought of Prince's striking a deal with Best Buy to sell his 1998 album, "Crystal Ball," as a four- disc set, rejoice."

i do remember what we all thought...............

when prince "changed his name", he tried to sell an autobigraphy of "Prince" to then Doubleday book editor Jackie Onassis. (Jackie once personally flew to California to persuade Michael Jackson to write his autobiography). She was basically on her death bed, said she thought Prince had terrible taste in everything, and wanted nothing to do with it.

I doubt he ever wrote anything.

Was seriously thinking of buying this book but, after that review... Not so sure now.

i have never read a book about prince... yet. wish he'd do an autobiography.

BTW, what are the sources in this book? Did the author do research/interviews themselves, and with whom? Or did they just take the info from previous biogs and books?

mzsadii said:

Sorry, but I'm will wait for Prince's book

You'll likely get even less truth in that one, if it ever materialises at all, which is entirely doubtful.

[Edited 11/10/11 2:51am]

NouveauDance said:

BTW, what are the sources in this book? Did the author do research/interviews themselves, and with whom? Or did they just take the info from previous biogs and books?

mzsadii said:

Sorry, but I'm will wait for Prince's book

You'll likely get even less truth in that one, if it ever materialises at all, which is entirely doubtful.

[Edited 11/10/11 2:51am]

Sad. But (probably) true.

George Michael is in the process or soon to be writing his. Should be a good read.

There's a part of me that wants to read this book but I have a feeling it's saying the same things that I read in others, like "Purple Reign" or "Possesed." Will Prince ever write his memoirs? Good question. I have a feeling he will but it's 10-15 years away. It won't be anytime soon.

So what, apart from the (by all accounts) brilliant DMSR is recommended?

XxAxX said:

i have never read a book about prince... yet. wish he'd do an autobiography.

At least get and read DMSR. If your a real dedicated info fan, it's definitely worth your time.

What about one the picks up after it?

Has been mentioned that the Alex Hahn book is a hatchet job.

ecstasy said:

XxAxX said:

i have never read a book about prince... yet. wish he'd do an autobiography.

At least get and read DMSR. If your a real dedicated info fan, it's definitely worth your time.

I plan to.

Very readable so far...

although he spells 'Champagne'...'Shampagne' - i don't think I've seen this spelling before in a biog.

No detailed mention of 94 East apart from a brief mention of Pepe and P recording some tracks...

Also P.39 - glaring error 'Do Me Baby' was not released on Prince (1979) as he states.....

[Edited 11/19/11 10:37am]

TheFreakerFantastic said:

BlackAdder7 said:

I just got done reading this. Did I learn anything new? some things.

Do I understand Prince any better?...no, he's even more of a mystery...

Whay did I take away from having read this?....

1) It perhaps was Mani who deepened Prince's involvement with JH, not Larry Graham...at least as chronologically presented in this book

2) Prince suffered from depression at the height of his career

3) He sometimes has great business sense, and other times has no business sense

4) He wasn't nice at the end of his relationships with the members of the Revolution

5) The author doesn't like the vault music as much as the Prince.org members do...

6) There was a moment where Cherry Moon could have been an ok movie...but that moment closed quickly.

7) Prince had too many 'yes men' around him

8) According to the author, Wendy and Lisa's contributions werent as big as some would think...not that they didn't contribute...but just not as much as thought....

have you read the book yet?

oh yes, the biggest conclusion?....Until Prince writes his own autobiography, we'll never know what we was thinking

Sounds interesting.....enough to make me order it (from the US as strangely not out in the UK til Feb?!)

[Edited 11/6/11 15:24pm]

Got this book last friday after waiting what feels like an age. People in my office said they had never seen anyone so excited about getting a book !!! nice read although disappointing felt towards the end like htey just lost interest. But a nice add tothe collection the other book I just got Prince the making of a phenomenon is far better - no insight to prince's life but his musicianshio - not to be missed love love love this book well worth the money only wish it were longer but at £49 its well expensive but I say well worth it and will become very important and a must have - probably more to a musican but enough for a fan I think

Update.....Very gripping and readable....

P.76 He incorrectly states Prince's age as 22 in the spring of 1983, when in fact it would have been 24.

Interesting point on P.107 about MJ's lukewarm comments about Purple Rain after going to a test screening, had not heard those before....

[Edited 11/19/11 13:54pm]

TheFreakerFantastic said:

Update.....Very gripping and readable....

P.76 He incorrectly states Prince's age as 22 in the spring of 1983, when in fact it would have been 24.

Interesting point on P.107 about MJ's lukewarm comments about Purple Rain after going to a test screening, had not heard those before....

[Edited 11/19/11 13:54pm]

You'd think that these writers, after spending so many so-called years of research, would take the time to proof read to make sure all the errors were corrected before publication.

^ Yes, I mean dates like that are really silly mistakes, it's basic maths.

I think saying that Do Me, Baby was on the Prince (1979) album is a really stupid error.

Page 116 - Mentions recording the Ladder on Dec 30, 1984, then says the next day Prince had to play a matinee as it was Christmas Eve?!?!?!?

There is another date mistake on P.134 talking about the Parade sessions in 1985 and says it is approaching Prince's 28th Birthday, even though as it was 1985 it would have been his 27th Birthday.

Still, I am enjoying this book, it's nicely written....even if it doesn't really have any original sources, it's quotes of quotes..still there are quite a few jewels I haven't heard before...such as the MJ comments....

[Edited 11/21/11 0:59am]

TheFreakerFantastic said:

^ Yes, I mean dates like that are really silly mistakes, it's basic maths.

I think saying that Do Me, Baby was on the Prince (1979) album is a really stupid error.

Page 116 - Mentions recording the Ladder on Dec 30, 1984, then says the next day Prince had to play a matinee as it was Christmas Eve?!?!?!?

There is another date mistake on P.134 talking about the Parade sessions in 1985 and says it is approaching Prince's 28th Birthday, even though as it was 1985 it would have been his 27th Birthday.

Still, I am enjoying this book, it's nicely written....even if it doesn't really have any original sources, it's quotes of quotes..still there are quite a few jewels I haven't heard before...such as the MJ comments....

[Edited 11/19/11 15:03pm]

keep in mind, the guy who shopped Prince to the record labels first, took two years off Prince's age, to make his musicianship seem even more incredible.

^ Agreed, but even the author recognises on the first page that Prince was born on June 7, 1958 so there's really no reason he should be making those silly mistakes IMO..... good proof reading should have picked that up...

[Edited 11/20/11 1:34am]

Another interesting fact...P.182...when staying at the Chelsea Harbour Hilton in London on the Lovesexy tour, they got a crane to lift his grand piano into his room....

Hadn't heard that one...

However, silly on p.189 when he refers to 'Anna Waiting' being about a 'pal', ( in fact it referred to his 18 yr old lover Anna Garcia, for whom it is thought he wrote 'Pink Cashmere').

[Edited 11/20/11 12:39pm]

^ LOL.

P.194 He makes some good points about a lot of drum beats on Graffiti Bridge being 'borrowed' from other artists, such as Tick,Tick,Bang using the drumbeat from a Hendrix song called Little Miss Lover.

Also says Diamonds and Pearls had a Romance 1600 recycled melody...good observation.

p.221 another silly mistake...says Prince recorded Insatiable in October 1991 - but this was AFTER D & P was released!!!! I believe it was recorded MUCH earlier...

[Edited 11/20/11 13:13pm]

No, because its not available here yet and from your guys reviews, it sounds like it is full of numerous glaring errors, not pleasing for a guy like me who feels he knows Prince's career and musical output inside out.

Also the name "Ronin Ro" does not instil me with much confidence to his academic credentials in writing. As I believe he was a writer for rap magazines like Vibe and the Source. I prefer to stick to my Hahns and Nilsens any day. Still you know, there is a lingering curiosity. I mean is that name some sort of cool hipphoppery ebonics type thing or is his real name like Robert Jenkins Johnson or something.

My question though, is there anything truly new or revelatory about Prince in the book, I mean once you have read 5 Prince biographies in a row, you kind of get tired of the whole "Prince story". And also some of these new biographies like Thief in the Temple and the Music and the madness have been a little formulaic and predictable lately.

The last truly excellent book on him was "Possessed" it was at least honest, I love the way he calls Diamonds and Pearls a "Pyrrhic victory".