Lately I've been listening to a lot of instrumental stuff, thanks to the release of Loring Park. It made me go back to Madhouse 8, 16, 24 (the 88 version & the 1993 NPG version), N.E.W.S., Xpectation, C-Note & Kamasutra. And Eric Leeds' solo albums. So which instrumental album do you like best? And why?

My favourites : the Madhouse albums. Funny thing is, Eric Leeds didn't seem too pleased about them. He said the songs were 'acting as if they were jazz' (or something to that extent). He was much more excited about the Flesh Sessions, which sadly remain unreleased...

[Edited 2/25/12 14:23pm]

[Edited 2/25/12 14:28pm]

[Edited 2/25/12 14:29pm]

mightycow said:

Lately I've been listening to a lot of instrumental stuff, thanks to the release of Loring Park. It made me go back to Madhouse 8, 16, 24 (the 88 version & the 1993 NPG version), N.E.W.S., Xpectation, C-Note & Kamasutra. And Eric Leeds' solo albums. So which instrumental album do you like best? And why?

My favourites : the Madhouse albums. Funny thing is, Eric Leeds didn't seem too pleased about them. He said the songs were 'acting as if they were jazz' (or something to that extent). He was much more excited about the Flesh Sessions, which sadly remain unreleased...

[Edited 2/25/12 14:23pm]

[Edited 2/25/12 14:28pm]

[Edited 2/25/12 14:29pm]

Madhouse is my number ones, then N.E.W.S., Xpectation, Kamasutra and C-Note. I want Prince to explore even more of his jazz side.

probably the NPG version of 24 as it's funky. and NEWS isn't bad. i like a lot of the mid 70s miles davis stuff that a lot of people can't stomach, and it's reminiscent of that. not quite bitches brew though

i don't count CNOTE as an album, its only 5 tracks (although NEWS is only 4 it's an hour long) and one, the best one, is a vocal track, but it's a good EP

xpectations doesn't really do much

kamasutra is awful

the loring park stuff is pretty funky, i like that and made my own cd of it a few years ago and called it madhouse 76 or something, as i was compiling all the madhouse and instrumental stuff together

i tend to listen to 8 and 16 back to back, but i was never a big fan, and the first version of 24 doing the rounds was a bit hissy to enjoy, not to mention if you don't dig 8 and 1 you won't dig that either. the 8 and 16 stuff was reminicent of tutu, but there wasn't enough good tunes

unique said:

probably the NPG version of 24 as it's funky. and NEWS isn't bad. i like a lot of the mid 70s miles davis stuff that a lot of people can't stomach, and it's reminiscent of that. not quite bitches brew though

i don't count CNOTE as an album, its only 5 tracks (although NEWS is only 4 it's an hour long) and one, the best one, is a vocal track, but it's a good EP

xpectations doesn't really do much

kamasutra is awful

the loring park stuff is pretty funky, i like that and made my own cd of it a few years ago and called it madhouse 76 or something, as i was compiling all the madhouse and instrumental stuff together

i tend to listen to 8 and 16 back to back, but i was never a big fan, and the first version of 24 doing the rounds was a bit hissy to enjoy, not to mention if you don't dig 8 and 1 you won't dig that either. the 8 and 16 stuff was reminicent of tutu, but there wasn't enough good tunes

'Empty Room' is one of my all time favourite tracks. Otherwise, C-Note doesn't do much for me.

[Edited 2/25/12 14:54pm]

I like them all.

Kamasutra is a bit of a dodgy skid, but the Madhouse albums (8, 16, and original 24) are sterling.

I can listen to the Madhouse material as albums, start to finish, but C-Note, NEWS and Xpectation are usually put on as background music, or when I can't sleep.

If you have an interest in Prince's instrumental noodles, then Husney's - A Work In Progress which has the 8 jazz funk instrumentals recorded in 1977 in A+ quality, Madhouse - Rehearsals & Mixes, which gathers a rehearsal from PP and all the various Madhouse b-sides, and things like Fine Line Cafe (an instrumental jam/show from '87) are all essential imo.

Don't forget the instrumentals on The Family album, which are regarded as a precursor to the Madhoose 8.

I haven't played the Madhouse albums a whole lot - but I intend to do so soon; Kamasutra wasn't very good overall but I like a few tracks; C-NOTE I didn't like; I love N.E.W.S. & Xpectation - but I'll pick Xpectation as my favorite.. the last few minutes of each track on N.E.W.S. are boring as a result of trying to stretch each track to 14 minutes.

I would love for Prince's next album to be instrumental.

1. News

2. Xpectation

3. 8

4. C-NOTE

5. 24 (94 version)

6. 16

7. Karma Sutra

8. 24 (Original version)

[Edited 2/26/12 7:59am]

I just can't say I really like any of them, they are dull and uninspired, instrumental numbers like Visions and Venus De Milo from his albums are much better. I know and fully expect the repercussions from this post. I am just a dude who likes music with vocals and a guitar or Three playing away in it.

unique said:

probably the NPG version of 24 as it's funky. and NEWS isn't bad. i like a lot of the mid 70s miles davis stuff that a lot of people can't stomach, and it's reminiscent of that. not quite bitches brew though

i don't count CNOTE as an album, its only 5 tracks (although NEWS is only 4 it's an hour long) and one, the best one, is a vocal track, but it's a good EP

xpectations doesn't really do much

kamasutra is awful

the loring park stuff is pretty funky, i like that and made my own cd of it a few years ago and called it madhouse 76 or something, as i was compiling all the madhouse and instrumental stuff together

i tend to listen to 8 and 16 back to back, but i was never a big fan, and the first version of 24 doing the rounds was a bit hissy to enjoy, not to mention if you don't dig 8 and 1 you won't dig that either. the 8 and 16 stuff was reminicent of tutu, but there wasn't enough good tunes

You know you are right about Loring Park, it should be higher in my ranking....but my all time favorite would have to Madhouse 16. I bump this CD daily to this day!!!!!!

Kamasutra really isn't awful (to me). It is just a different side of Prince.

Honestly, I just don't like most of Prince's instrumentals.

I like the mainstays like "Alexa De Paris" or "Venus De Milo" or "God (Instrumental)" quite a bit. However, I really cannot stand Madhouse 8 or 16. The NPG version of 24 is okay in some spots, as is the original 24 in some spots.

I don't like CNOTE.

I don't like Kamasutra.

I don't like N E W S.

I don't like green eggs & ham.

That being said, I love his live instrumentals. The opening jam to Small Club, for instance. MONEY.

TheDigitalGardener said:

I like them all.

Kamasutra is a bit of a dodgy skid, but the Madhouse albums (8, 16, and original 24) are sterling.

I can listen to the Madhouse material as albums, start to finish, but C-Note, NEWS and Xpectation are usually put on as background music, or when I can't sleep.

If you have an interest in Prince's instrumental noodles, then Husney's - A Work In Progress which has the 8 jazz funk instrumentals recorded in 1977 in A+ quality, Madhouse - Rehearsals & Mixes, which gathers a rehearsal from PP and all the various Madhouse b-sides, and things like Fine Line Cafe (an instrumental jam/show from '87) are all essential imo.

Don't forget the instrumentals on The Family album, which are regarded as a precursor to the Madhoose 8.

The Fine Line Cafe show is a real gem. The setlist, which includes a cover of Miles Davis' "Freddy Freeloader", is great, and the audio is top notch for an audience recording.

Didn't know about the Madhouse - Rehearsals & Mixes, though. I'll try and track it down somewhere. Thanks for pointing me to that album, digitalgardener!

[Edited 2/26/12 0:43am]

mightycow said:

TheDigitalGardener said:

I like them all.

Kamasutra is a bit of a dodgy skid, but the Madhouse albums (8, 16, and original 24) are sterling.

I can listen to the Madhouse material as albums, start to finish, but C-Note, NEWS and Xpectation are usually put on as background music, or when I can't sleep.

If you have an interest in Prince's instrumental noodles, then Husney's - A Work In Progress which has the 8 jazz funk instrumentals recorded in 1977 in A+ quality, Madhouse - Rehearsals & Mixes, which gathers a rehearsal from PP and all the various Madhouse b-sides, and things like Fine Line Cafe (an instrumental jam/show from '87) are all essential imo.

Don't forget the instrumentals on The Family album, which are regarded as a precursor to the Madhoose 8.

Didn't know about the Madhouse - Rehearsals & Mixes, though. I'll try and track it down somewhere. Thanks for pointing me to that album, digitalgardener!

[Edited 2/26/12 0:43am]

It's on the "Pure funk" label.

I love Madhouse 8 and feel that it is criminally underrated. If people would stop calling it "Jazz" it would be more appreciated. I don't care what jazz purists say. The album is so fun, musically clever and an overall great listen. Pure Prince.

The musicianship is top notch. The keys, bass and drums are all playing off each other in a truly funky and inspired fashion. It's amazing that it's all Prince. What a talent.

And the Madhouse 8 album cover has to be one of his coolest.

5 's being best...

Madhouse 8

Madhouse 16

Times Squared

Kamasutra

Xpectation

N.E.W.S.

C-NOTE

Spinlight said:

Honestly, I just don't like most of Prince's instrumentals.

I like the mainstays like "Alexa De Paris" or "Venus De Milo" or "God (Instrumental)" quite a bit. However, I really cannot stand Madhouse 8 or 16. The NPG version of 24 is okay in some spots, as is the original 24 in some spots.

I don't like CNOTE.

I don't like Kamasutra.

I don't like N E W S.

I don't like green eggs & ham.

That being said, I love his live instrumentals. The opening jam to Small Club, for instance. MONEY.

Ok Dr.Suess

I like both versions of God

I neither like MadHouse 8 (have yet 2 hear 16)

N.E.W.S still havent heard this, i hear its boring so im in no rush

Kamasutra is listenable, but aint nothin special

However I like C-Note, so C-Note would be the winner since were talking albums and not songs. But God is awesome, I also like Farthers Song (Computer Blue short Instrumental) from PR that was neat.

Times Squared, 8 and 16 are my favs but I'll take 'em all except Kamasutra, kthnxbye.

1. N.E.W.S (Love this album one of my top 10 favorite Prince albums)

2. Times Squared

3. 8

4. 16

5. C-Note

6. Xpectation

7. Kamasutra

1. Xpectation - far & away the best, imo. it's in my top 10 prince albums.

2. Madhouse 8 - solid, would've been even better if 6 1/2 was on it

3. C-Note

4. NEWS

5. Madhouse 16 - beats are too mechanical

1,000. Kamasutra

I haven't heard all of Madhouse 24 or Eric Leeds' solo albums, so they're not on my list.

Madhouse 8 *****

Madhouse 16 ****

That's it.

16 is one of the oddest thing ever released by Prince, and I deeply love it for that.

8 and Xpectation is a personal favorite, there's a sense of intimacy about bot that I love.

N.E.W.S. is way underrated IMHO, I think it's one of the best thing ever recorded by Prince. It's astonishing, musically speaking, and it's actually quite deep in terms of narration.

C-Note and Times Squared are OK in my book, cool stuff.

Kamasutra makes little if any sense compared to other contemporary works of this kind: it's corny and clumsy as hell. But nonetheless I respect the fact that Prince had tried to do something different.

V10LETBLUES said:

Madhouse 8 *****

Madhouse 16 ****

That's it.

the rest... NEWS, Xpectations etc.... garbage.

databank said:

thebanishedone said:

databank said:

16 is one of the oddest thing ever released by Prince, and I deeply love it for that.

8 and Xpectation is a personal favorite, there's a sense of intimacy about bot that I love.

N.E.W.S. is way underrated IMHO, I think it's one of the best thing ever recorded by Prince. It's astonishing, musically speaking, and it's actually quite deep in terms of narration.

C-Note and Times Squared are OK in my book, cool stuff.

Kamasutra makes little if any sense compared to other contemporary works of this kind: it's corny and clumsy as hell. But nonetheless I respect the fact that Prince had tried to do something different.

i agree,you have great ear and narration style

and