As each year goes by, CD sales continue to decline. I have seen the Madonna remasters in the 4.99 bin at Best Buy, and I see the same amount of U2 remasters sitting around at Best Buy since the initial first few weeks. If U2 and Madonna can't have gangbusters sales, what will happen with Prince? I see this as a good question. I remember a poster on here saying that a Dirty Mind remaster would sell millions, but Dirty Mind sold around 500,000...and probably more than half of that was after the Purple Rain success.

With downloading, and the slow death of the music industry...I just can't see the point anymore. Sure, I'd love remasters of all the albums from 1996 and before, but other than Purple Rain, and 1999, I don't see how any company would be behind this.

One last hope: Multi-Disc Box Sets covering more than one release at a time, with the 12 inch mixes, single edits, b-sides, and maybe...just maybe some vault material should Prince be involved, and if he is in the right frame of mind....similar to the Genesis Box Sets which sold fairly well, but were limited in quantities.

I'm including the amount to be pressed in here, but is just a rough estimate.

Box 1 For You, Prince, Dirty Mind, Controversy (5-7 discs, limited numbered edition of 10,000)

Box 2 1999, Purple Rain(4-6 discs, 20,000)

Box 3 Around, Parade, Sign, Black Album(5-7 discs, 20,000)

Box 4 Lovesexy, Graffiti Bridge, Diamonds, Symbol(4-6, 10,000)

Box 5 Come, Gold, Chaos (4 discs, 10,000)

I'm not going to get all crazy and list what would be on each disc, but maybe this would be a nice way to get all the old albums remastered. I can't imagine any huge fights over the remaster of Come or Chaos And Disorder, but perhaps 1999 and Purple Rain should have individual discs.

Figure 70,000 sets sell out for a little more than $60 a set, and you get 4-6 million. Sell a little more, and who knows. I know Prince probably thinks that his remasters are worth more than The Beatles, but that is his mind working. I think to most of us on this site, Prince Remasters are worth Billions...but the bottom line? If Prince and Warners continue to do nothing....The people that would most likely be in to this are getting older by the day, and less likely to purchase, and sadly, some of us will get old and die...

I guess it's not 1984 anymore. Hell, it's not 2002...Demand for Prince remasters has got to be getter lower...I wish I could convince the powers that be to get this done before there is much less value and interest....

nice thoughts. I agree box sets would be the best way to get all the 'lesser' albums remastered - I don't think 1999, PR or even SOTT should be boxed with other albums though - I don't profess to know the answers, but P better effin'hurry up before him or myself cark it!

[Edited 2/6/12 14:52pm]

Why the Org's obsession with remasters? None of them sound that bad...Prince's best work has never really been an audiophile experience and is all the better for it. Bit like Todd Rundgren's albums.

Mong said:

Why the Org's obsession with remasters?

Probably boredom. When a new album comes along all talk of remasters will be forgotten about until the next quiet period in his career.

hey....stillwaiting.....

Madonna's remasters aren't a yardstick, they're the stingiest ones I've ever seen. Two 12" mixes, you f-ing kidding me?!

Vault material would be great, but we'll see...with rumours that his next album are re-recordings of unreleased songs (as heard on bootlegs), I don't think it's likely that he'll sanction the original recordings to be released. But then Crystal Ball wasn't something that I thought he'd do.

Here's how I would do the schedule and themes:

"The Beginning" (For You/Prince)

"The Future is Here" (Dirty Mind/Controversy/1999)

"The Revolution" (PR/ATWIAD/Parade)

"Aftermath" (SOTT/Black Album/Lovesexy/Batman)

"New Dawn" (Graffiti Bridge/D&P/Love Symbol Album)

"Last Days" (Come/The Gold Experience/Chaos & Disorder/The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale)

Instead of re-releasing the entire back catalogue at once as many labels do for their stars, follow what Paul McCartney lately has been doing with his re-issues. One or few records re-released at a time, every 6 months or year give or take your schedule, and put each release bundle under some sort of aesthetic theme. Each CD would each have three different releases: standard remastered edition, deluxe edition with 2nd disc of outtakes, demos, B-sides/Vinyl cuts, and Ultimate edition including all that plus DVD of music videos and documentaries with commentary by associates around at the time plus music critics/historians helping to give background context behind each record's production, and debate its merits within the Prince discography.

Finally in the total fandom jerk-off, the Dream Factory/Camilla/Crystal Ball boxset, giving us a musical insight of how that convulted production eventually became SOTT.

Sorry – kind of off topic a little, but this is what I think P needs to do that will solve ALL his problems & kick-start his career all over again:

Approach Spielberg, Cameron or even Spike Lee and make a movie based on his life. It’ll be an awesome storyline and P can even play the part of himself! Look at the movies of Ray, Johnny Cash even Tina Turner has a movie, and they’ve all been well received by audiences. I didn’t know a lot of Ray Charles’ music until after I saw the movie as I was a lot younger when it came out, but after seeing it I think he’s so great and I’ve started collecting some of his albums. This movie will reach a new younger audience as well as the older ones, hence: more record sales!

stillwaiting said:

As each year goes by, CD sales continue to decline. I have seen the Madonna remasters in the 4.99 bin at Best Buy, and I see the same amount of U2 remasters sitting around at Best Buy since the initial first few weeks. If U2 and Madonna can't have gangbusters sales, what will happen with Prince? I see this as a good question. I remember a poster on here saying that a Dirty Mind remaster would sell millions, but Dirty Mind sold around 500,000...and probably more than half of that was after the Purple Rain success.

With downloading, and the slow death of the music industry...I just can't see the point anymore. Sure, I'd love remasters of all the albums from 1996 and before, but other than Purple Rain, and 1999, I don't see how any company would be behind this.

One last hope: Multi-Disc Box Sets covering more than one release at a time, with the 12 inch mixes, single edits, b-sides, and maybe...just maybe some vault material should Prince be involved, and if he is in the right frame of mind....similar to the Genesis Box Sets which sold fairly well, but were limited in quantities.

I'm including the amount to be pressed in here, but is just a rough estimate.

Box 1 For You, Prince, Dirty Mind, Controversy (5-7 discs, limited numbered edition of 10,000)

Box 2 1999, Purple Rain(4-6 discs, 20,000)

Box 3 Around, Parade, Sign, Black Album(5-7 discs, 20,000)

Box 4 Lovesexy, Graffiti Bridge, Diamonds, Symbol(4-6, 10,000)

Box 5 Come, Gold, Chaos (4 discs, 10,000)

I'm not going to get all crazy and list what would be on each disc, but maybe this would be a nice way to get all the old albums remastered. I can't imagine any huge fights over the remaster of Come or Chaos And Disorder, but perhaps 1999 and Purple Rain should have individual discs.

Figure 70,000 sets sell out for a little more than $60 a set, and you get 4-6 million. Sell a little more, and who knows. I know Prince probably thinks that his remasters are worth more than The Beatles, but that is his mind working. I think to most of us on this site, Prince Remasters are worth Billions...but the bottom line? If Prince and Warners continue to do nothing....The people that would most likely be in to this are getting older by the day, and less likely to purchase, and sadly, some of us will get old and die...

I guess it's not 1984 anymore. Hell, it's not 2002...Demand for Prince remasters has got to be getter lower...I wish I could convince the powers that be to get this done before there is much less value and interest....

Promises, promises...

[Edited 2/6/12 18:51pm]

Mong said:

Why the Org's obsession with remasters? None of them sound that bad...Prince's best work has never really been an audiophile experience and is all the better for it. Bit like Todd Rundgren's albums.

The SOTT CDs sound horrible. The Black Album even sounds worse. Those two releases alone would be worth the bother. I've tried changing the record level to make the Black Album louder, and although it was louder, the sound is still off. There is no bass in the mix in any of the early albums. The vinyl sounds a little better, but not by much.

FunkySideEffects said:

Sorry – kind of off topic a little, but this is what I think P needs to do that will solve ALL his problems & kick-start his career all over again:

What problems?

Kick start his career all over again? He has spent the last two years playing big arena shows on both sides of the Atlantic. Remind me when his career stopped to need a kick start.

I think it would be great if they did break up the remasters into different volumes, but should prob. do it in Blu Ray so people can get digital copies as well as HD copies to listen to, and add in photos and videos.

NouveauDance said:

Madonna's remasters aren't a yardstick, they're the stingiest ones I've ever seen. Two 12" mixes, you f-ing kidding me?!

probably the only tight thing about Madonna nowdays

FunkySideEffects said:

Sorry – kind of off topic a little, but this is what I think P needs to do that will solve ALL his problems & kick-start his career all over again:

Approach Spielberg, Cameron or even Spike Lee and make a movie based on his life. It’ll be an awesome storyline and P can even play the part of himself!

Are you serious?

FunkySideEffects, are you experience funky side effects?

The record labels are on schedule this year(2012) to completely discontinue the sale of cds all together. It will be interesting to see if this is just them making threats or will they actually do it. They are going strictly downloads(supposedly) which is a very sad day if they actually do it.

stillwaiting said:

Mong said:

Why the Org's obsession with remasters? None of them sound that bad...Prince's best work has never really been an audiophile experience and is all the better for it. Bit like Todd Rundgren's albums.

The SOTT CDs sound horrible. The Black Album even sounds worse. Those two releases alone would be worth the bother. I've tried changing the record level to make the Black Album louder, and although it was louder, the sound is still off. There is no bass in the mix in any of the early albums. The vinyl sounds a little better, but not by much.

Welcome to the sound of 80s records. They tended to not be bass heavy. That's the way they were made. Here's a tip - turn up the bass.

dandeeland said:

The record labels are on schedule this year(2012) to completely discontinue the sale of cds all together. It will be interesting to see if this is just them making threats or will they actually do it. They are going strictly downloads(supposedly) which is a very sad day if they actually do it.

Total bullshit. It won't happen.

dandeeland said:

The record labels are on schedule this year(2012) to completely discontinue the sale of cds all together. It will be interesting to see if this is just them making threats or will they actually do it. They are going strictly downloads(supposedly) which is a very sad day if they actually do it.

Not going 2 happen. If it does, I will NEVER buy a new product again.

dandeeland said:

The record labels are on schedule this year(2012) to completely discontinue the sale of cds all together. It will be interesting to see if this is just them making threats or will they actually do it. They are going strictly downloads(supposedly) which is a very sad day if they actually do it.

They'll never completely go away. People still buy CDs and want to have the physical copy of their favorites. I think you're going to see Blu Ray being the standard where people can copy the digital files as well as play it on their home stereos, similar to what Disney puts out, except it would prob. be a CD instead of a conventional DVD.

dalsh327 said:

dandeeland said:

The record labels are on schedule this year(2012) to completely discontinue the sale of cds all together. It will be interesting to see if this is just them making threats or will they actually do it. They are going strictly downloads(supposedly) which is a very sad day if they actually do it.

They'll never completely go away. People still buy CDs and want to have the physical copy of their favorites. I think you're going to see Blu Ray being the standard where people can copy the digital files as well as play it on their home stereos, similar to what Disney puts out, except it would prob. be a CD instead of a conventional DVD.

There were dozens of new Box Sets released in the last 9 months by older artists. U2's Achtung Baby set, Nirvana's Nevermind, and tons of Pink Floyd Boxes, and Paul McCartney...to name a few. The only realistic chance of Prince remasters we would have is for Multi-Disc sets that would appeal to the over 30 fans with cash to spend, or maxed out credit cards to be further maxed out. If Prince and Warners went the single disc route, they would be next to the Madonna remasters in the discount section. The majority of Prince cds are 4.99-9.99 right now, even some out of print copies....although most of the discs are not in production at any level. They are just clearing out inventory. Even Purple Rain is 5.99, and I doubt new ones are being pressed. So it is likely that every single disc is "Out of Print," even though there are tons of them still around.

dandeeland said:

The record labels are on schedule this year(2012) to completely discontinue the sale of cds all together. It will be interesting to see if this is just them making threats or will they actually do it. They are going strictly downloads(supposedly) which is a very sad day if they actually do it.

For the record, the RIAA have said that they intend to continue to produce 'special edition' reissues on disc for the forseeable future. So there's that.

But the thrust of the issue remains the same: the window to sell us remasters on disc is definitely closing.

Yeah, that discontiune CD story is total bullshit. The main site people link to for that story doesn't list any source for it, just "anonymous industry insiders" or something like that. Until one of the big 4 releases a Press statement saying so, don't believe it.

On the topic of Prince remasters, I heard a rumor from a very reliable soruce (Ironic much?) that sometime in the Mid-00s, Warner was planning on doing this for all of Prince's WB-era albums. Not sure if there were going to be any bonus content on them. WB went to Prince about it and was on board, IF WB would pay him a Million per album (around $20-25 million for combined). WB said no.

I believe that it won't be until after Prince's death that we'll see a comprehensive rerelease program, but my contract believes within the next 10-15 years we'll see it.

One's thing for sure, I'll pay some good money for a Purple Rain boxset. acetate w/Father's song and Wednesday, the film on blu-ray, 12" mixes, the Computer Blue version! The possibilities are endless!

RRA said:

Here's how I would do the schedule and themes:

"The Beginning" (For You/Prince)

"The Future is Here" (Dirty Mind/Controversy/1999)

"The Revolution" (PR/ATWIAD/Parade)

"Aftermath" (SOTT/Black Album/Lovesexy/Batman)

"New Dawn" (Graffiti Bridge/D&P/Love Symbol Album)

"Last Days" (Come/The Gold Experience/Chaos & Disorder/The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale)

Instead of re-releasing the entire back catalogue at once as many labels do for their stars, follow what Paul McCartney lately has been doing with his re-issues. One or few records re-released at a time, every 6 months or year give or take your schedule, and put each release bundle under some sort of aesthetic theme. Each CD would each have three different releases: standard remastered edition, deluxe edition with 2nd disc of outtakes, demos, B-sides/Vinyl cuts, and Ultimate edition including all that plus DVD of music videos and documentaries with commentary by associates around at the time plus music critics/historians helping to give background context behind each record's production, and debate its merits within the Prince discography.

Finally in the total fandom jerk-off, the Dream Factory/Camilla/Crystal Ball boxset, giving us a musical insight of how that convulted production eventually became SOTT.

link343 said:

On the topic of Prince remasters, I heard a rumor from a very reliable soruce (Ironic much?) that sometime in the Mid-00s, Warner was planning on doing this for all of Prince's WB-era albums. Not sure if there were going to be any bonus content on them. WB went to Prince about it and was on board, IF WB would pay him a Million per album (around $20-25 million for combined). WB said no.I believe that it won't be until after Prince's death that we'll see a comprehensive rerelease program

I agree