I may be a decade late on this one.........but it finally happened... I finally appreciate the Rainbow Children album. When it came out (in 2001 I believe?), I remember putting it my car and having NO idea what to expect. I wanted another "Exodus." Maybe new power soul... i wanted some hard funk, some pounding beats....... When I heard the slowed down voice start, and the first track develop, my hopes and dreams were crushed. For the first time, I was dissapointed in a prince album. To me it was lame, cheesy, subdued.

But I was projecting. I fancied up what I thought a good prince album should be and judged TRC on that standard. That's kinda foolish.

So....after many long years, I put it on again just the other day. Bam. The brilliance hit me. Maybe it's not having heard a new album in a long long time, but it hit me what a beautiful and encompassing album this is.

It's not just a smattering of songs, pulled from some vault or cobbled together from various failed projects. It actually is an album.... similar to the Love Symbol album -- where it fits together like a feature film almost, becoming greater than the sum of its parts.

Ya, I'll always cringe at "wedding feast" and I'll never really dig the slowed down voice....but as a whole the album is a masterpiece. I never thought I'd come around to say that, even though I know many on here already have.

Caveat: I made my own rainbow children edit....I call it the "Godless Mix" -- basically, I just removed as much of the slowed down voice as I could wherever I could...it helps.

[Edited 7/7/12 10:55am]

Jatrig said:

It's not just a smattering of songs, pulled from some vault or cobbled together from various failed projects. It actually is an album.... similar to the Love Symbol album -- where it fits together like a feature film almost, becoming greater than the sum of its parts.

Definately one of it's strongest points, and the apparent weakness of several albums that followed.

he was definitely focused and put some work into this one

answering to what he definitely believed was an important calling

very personal album like emancipation 5 years before it

and some very creative songwriting and arranging on this

for me, the jw and egyptology lyrical references are a bit over the top

but you know, it's prince sharing his passion and beliefs

many of us do the same

if only a few hear it and understand, then that's who it's for

if others ride a ripple further out, like you, then it's still alive

may the everlasting vibe go on

It is a great album.

I lOOOOOVEEE this album. But why do people cringe on wedding feast? My boyfriend cringes when it comes on and says, "What the hell?" but I love it too!

Ok, here's a question. In the "Family Name" song, he said:

Devil, devil what U know?
U been here since 1914, but now U got 2 go
U been hidin' behind corporate eyes
U wanna war, but U can't fight

What happend in 1914? And who is this "devil" character?

Harlepolis said:

Ok, here's a question. In the "Family Name" song, he said:

Devil, devil what U know?
U been here since 1914, but now U got 2 go
U been hidin' behind corporate eyes
U wanna war, but U can't fight

What happend in 1914? And who is this "devil" character?

1914 is when satan was thrown out of heaven, according to the JW's I THINK, I'm not exactly sure but I think that's what they believe. And I also think that the JW's believe wars to be inspired by Satan not Christ. I could be wrong someone correct me if I am. and by the by, I can't figure out why Satan would have been in Heaven all along until 1914? I mean, what the hell? Did he have like his own cloud or something so he and Jesus wouldn't have to rub shoulders?

The Rainbow Children proved that Prince could make a great comedy album. I consider it a comedy classic and surely, one of the best comedy albums of the last 20 years. I never expected Prince to go into the comedy field but he pulled it off with TRC. Hilarious!

When I first heard TRC I hated it! However, after giving it some time...it is one of my favorites.

Although I don't agree with the JW doctrinal influence, at least the songs appear to come from the heart. Unlike...the recent stuff that seems kinda of hollow and shallow.

its ok...lit of crap on there...but I love 1+1+1=3, Everywere and The Last December

listened to it all the way through on a long journey home last week. Didn't skip a single song. Regardless of what anyone feels about the religious content it just shows how creative and brilliant he can be when he is totally focussed and determined to get a message out there and take the time to pay attention to detail. This used to be the norm !!. It is funky as hell, has some amazing ballads, some real 'WTF moments that only he can get away and the whole album flows very, very well.

Love it !.

Just listening to the entire album for the first time in two years or so...it is a fantastic album, not sure if it would make my top 5 Prince albums but it would certainly make the top 10.

My favorites:

Rainbow Children

Digital Garden

Family Name

and if you want to shock your cousins, play them "Wedding Feast". If you're friends with musical theater people, it might win them over.