Amen!

http://prince.org/msg/7/370491

Whatever is released, you don't HAVE to buy it, if you "already own it."

NouveauDance said:

Whatever is released, you don't HAVE to buy it, if you "already own it."

That assumes I have self-control. If Prince released the unedited original version of "Extra Loveable" on a deluxe 1999 box set in pristine sound, but you could only buy it from a single record store in Nunavut, I would be trying to figure out how to fly there from Dallas. But thankfully he keeps the vault closed.

[Edited 11/25/11 16:03pm]

Disagree...most of us would kill for such box sets....it's a good way for Prince to make money and to silence his fanatical critics!

[Edited 11/25/11 16:06pm]

bobbyperu said:

IAnd I just became so intensely grateful that Prince does NOT ask me to buy a 5 cd set of Purple Rain containing the cd, the dvd, the Time & Appolonia cds + a cd of outtakes, in other words, only stuff we already own, for a couple of hundred euros or dollars.

but we don't have the outtakes..well, not in pristine quality etc.

Unless Prince throws some unheard before tracks or unseen videos on any remasters then we'd only be buying it for the improved sound quality or just for the sake of having everything in our private collection. The bloated cost of the product may deter some but I don't think many would pass it up.

It never ceases to amaze me how many complete fucking idiots are on the Org.

^ ROFL

We all know that the real problem is just the sound quality on the CD releases of albums like 1999, Parade and SOTT. Many of us aren't even asking for bonus material. Just something that sounds decent enough on contemporary hi-fi systems.

Everyone is doing remasters bundled with b-sides and outtakes. Obvious recent ones are The Beatles, U2 and Pink Floyd.

The biggest fear is that Prince would censor or re-record the album being remastered. No one wants that!

I would love him to do a remastering of 1999 and SOTT...especially the latter, the sound quality is bad.

Just imagine a remastering of his earlier albums? All that bass and instrumentation banging loud and clear on your stereo, it would be amazing. I wish Prince would do it.

bobbyperu said:

I just watched a program on Dutch tv where Bart Chabot (a poet and rock & roll lover quite well-known in the Netherlands) showed a few remastered CDs by famous acts such as The Beach Boys, U2 etc. All big boxes costing a small fortune. And I just became so intensely grateful that Prince does NOT ask me to buy a 5 cd set of Purple Rain containing the cd, the dvd, the Time & Appolonia cds + a cd of outtakes, in other words, only stuff we already own, for a couple of hundred euros or dollars. Thank U, Prince, for not playing this game! Thank U for not cashing in on nostalgia! Luv U! Peace! Be wild! Thank U!

When it finally does happen (and it will), Bob you will be right there ponying up your dollars (via internet or whatever futuristic bartering system we will have then).

.

[Edited 11/30/11 19:27pm]

Of course, when it does happen it will probably be brickwalled so we're probably better off with the fan remasters. There are plenty of good ones out there.

bobbyperu said:

Something funny hit the news today: Elvis Costello actually asked his fans NOT to buy a new box set "The Return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook" containing a cd/dvd/ep/booklet/poster and postcard for €151/$202. Elvis quite rightly thought the price was outrageous. And in response to RD, I still follow Prince (why else would I be on this site?) but I stopped being a collector.

1. I watched that Costello controversy too. 3 cds, a vid and a booklet. Cos is right about the outrage.

2. You may no longer be a collector but you can't tell me you aren't purchasing Purple R box set of remastered cd, dvd of the movie, bonus disc of extended b-sides and full versions of Nikki, B Ones, etc, photo booklet of tour project, essay by Alan Leeds, dvd 2 of the Syracuse concert, you dont need those girls or their stupid music puppet, and recording of Aug 83 gig that was basis for several of the PR songs used all in a beautiful elaborate PR flower print box.

.

[Edited 11/30/11 22:42pm]

rdhull said:

bobbyperu said:

Something funny hit the news today: Elvis Costello actually asked his fans NOT to buy a new box set "The Return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook" containing a cd/dvd/ep/booklet/poster and postcard for €151/$202. Elvis quite rightly thought the price was outrageous. And in response to RD, I still follow Prince (why else would I be on this site?) but I stopped being a collector.

1. I watched that Costello controversy too. 3 cds, a vid and a booklet. Cos is right about the outrage.

2. You may no longer be a collector but you cant tell me you aren't purchasing Purple R boxset of remastered cd, dvd of the movie, bonus disc of extended bsides andfull versions of Nikki, B Ones, etc, photo booklet of tour project, essay by Alan Leeds, dvd 2 of the Syracuse concert, you dont need those girls or their stupid music puppet, and recording of Aug 83 gigthat was basis for several of the PR songs used all in a beautiful elabvorate PR flower print box.

Anyone here who says they wouldn't buy that is either hard pressed for cash or lying. But just imagine what it would do to our bank accounts if Prince did that for all his albums. It would eat up most of my music budget. We're all better off that we can download all the good stuff for free and just buy his new single for $1.29 (or 99 cents if you're Canadian).

rdhull said:

bobbyperu said:

Something funny hit the news today: Elvis Costello actually asked his fans NOT to buy a new box set "The Return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook" containing a cd/dvd/ep/booklet/poster and postcard for €151/$202. Elvis quite rightly thought the price was outrageous. And in response to RD, I still follow Prince (why else would I be on this site?) but I stopped being a collector.

1. I watched that Costello controversy too. 3 cds, a vid and a booklet. Cos is right about the outrage.

2. You may no longer be a collector but you cant tell me you aren't purchasing Purple R boxset of remastered cd, dvd of the movie, bonus disc of extended bsides andfull versions of Nikki, B Ones, etc, photo booklet of tour project, essay by Alan Leeds, dvd 2 of the Syracuse concert, you dont need those girls or their stupid music puppet, and recording of Aug 83 gigthat was basis for several of the PR songs used all in a beautiful elabvorate PR flower print box.

If I had that thing everyone I knew would be hearing about how I didn't need their stupid music.

bobbyperu said:

RD, what you describe is indeed a dream box. But ElectricBeret is also right. Not everybody is willing & able to pay a small fortune on things like this. Bob Dylan released a 3 cd set of outtakes & alternate versions + a book of sinlge sleeve reproductions, in other words, something we would want Prince to do, but I did not get it untill it was downpriced from 120 to 60 euros.

Not everybody is buying up Radiohead box sets, U2 Achtung Baby box sets, Pink Floyd DSOTM box set.

But they are out there.

And when Prince has his...you will buy one.

HobbesLeCute said:

rdhull said:

1. I watched that Costello controversy too. 3 cds, a vid and a booklet. Cos is right about the outrage.

2. You may no longer be a collector but you cant tell me you aren't purchasing Purple R boxset of remastered cd, dvd of the movie, bonus disc of extended bsides andfull versions of Nikki, B Ones, etc, photo booklet of tour project, essay by Alan Leeds, dvd 2 of the Syracuse concert, you dont need those girls or their stupid music puppet, and recording of Aug 83 gigthat was basis for several of the PR songs used all in a beautiful elabvorate PR flower print box.

If I had that thing everyone I knew would be hearing about how I didn't need their stupid music.

bobbyperu said:

RD, what you describe is indeed a dream box. But ElectricBeret is also right. Not everybody is willing & able to pay a small fortune on things like this. Bob Dylan released a 3 cd set of outtakes & alternate versions + a book of sinlge sleeve reproductions, in other words, something we would want Prince to do, but I did not get it untill it was downpriced from 120 to 60 euros.

It should be done the way Pink Floyd is doing it now:

http://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/get-immersed-in-pink-floyds-back-catalogue-with-outtakes-rarities-and.html

one box with everything remastered, but not much more. For some albums you can throw in some more stuff like DVD's, remixes etc. I could even imagina a few with a dvd, at least for the official movies.

rdhull said:

bobbyperu said:

Something funny hit the news today: Elvis Costello actually asked his fans NOT to buy a new box set "The Return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook" containing a cd/dvd/ep/booklet/poster and postcard for €151/$202. Elvis quite rightly thought the price was outrageous. And in response to RD, I still follow Prince (why else would I be on this site?) but I stopped being a collector.

1. I watched that Costello controversy too. 3 cds, a vid and a booklet. Cos is right about the outrage.

2. You may no longer be a collector but you can't tell me you aren't purchasing Purple R box set of remastered cd, dvd of the movie, bonus disc of extended b-sides and full versions of Nikki, B Ones, etc, photo booklet of tour project, essay by Alan Leeds, dvd 2 of the Syracuse concert, you dont need those girls or their stupid music puppet, and recording of Aug 83 gig that was basis for several of the PR songs used all in a beautiful elaborate PR flower print box.

.

[Edited 11/30/11 22:42pm]

Someone put a lot of thought into this product!

HonestMan13 said:

rdhull said:

1. I watched that Costello controversy too. 3 cds, a vid and a booklet. Cos is right about the outrage.

2. You may no longer be a collector but you can't tell me you aren't purchasing Purple R box set of remastered cd, dvd of the movie, bonus disc of extended b-sides and full versions of Nikki, B Ones, etc, photo booklet of tour project, essay by Alan Leeds, dvd 2 of the Syracuse concert, you dont need those girls or their stupid music puppet, and recording of Aug 83 gig that was basis for several of the PR songs used all in a beautiful elaborate PR flower print box.

.

[Edited 11/30/11 22:42pm]

Someone put a lot of thought into this product!

Man, that shit was simply off the dome lol.

A box set can be done cheaply and still be effective. Take for example the new Smashing Pumpkins boxsets. The original album remastered + a bonus disc of demos, alt mixes, and unreleased songs/jams + a live DVD. All for about $30.

With Purple Rain, you could just rerelease the film on another disc, along with the Syracuse show on the first disc and it probably still come out to be like $45-50. If you threw the music videos on either DVD, it would make for one hell of a package.

[Edited 12/3/11 23:37pm]

There's valid reasons for doing a remaster project, esp when a fair amount of the back catalog was limited by vinyl running time and possible things that have been improved on since being released on CD. If he had to edit some songs due to making it fit on vinyl, maybe he wants it as he originally intended the song to sound.

With the release of "Extraloveable", he might be working on vault songs the way Jagger reworked the Exile and Some Girls Deluxe Editions.

Box sets are done more for labor of love reasons. Of course, there's some gimmicky box sets, but those are more "hardcore collector" types. To me the only reason to get the Pink Floyd box sets are for the one Blu Ray, because the stereo versions alone were at a higher fidelity than the compact discs are, and there's different mixes.

One thing I don't understand why so many complain about overpriced remasters. We now live in a age where you can resell packages like this rather quickly and turn around a profit in a short time window. I don't see how anyone could lose by holding onto these Limited Print sets and putting them away to resell them a few years down the road. To put it bluntly, you HOLD all the cards. There is no hand that can trump you. Which reminds me I need to start buying Limited Edition packaged box sets.

Nine Inch Nails

Rush

Bjork

Smiths

Doors

etc

Now add that all up. In a few years, if you bought one box every month you would more than triple your money. Besides, when you are on your death bed you will not be lamenting "Oh, I can't believe I spent 800 dollars on a complete Prince remasters box" I'd understand if you didn't have the internet, but WE do. Trust me, buy the lavish over priced box sets,ladies n gents. You will be the one laughing at the bank 8 times out of 10. "Them" is great odds.

NouveauDance said:

Whatever is released, you don't HAVE to buy it, if you "already own it."

But you don't have to buy it, Paisley Park is in our hearts.