It sounds like a record made of SOTT era outtakes or B-sides. As such I can't complain about it and I wouldn't say it has "aged" any more than the SOTT album.

It doesn't sound like it was recorded yesterday, but I don't think that makes it worse. It's just more music from a brilliant era of Prince's to me.

[Edited 8/2/13 10:36am]

imo, The Black Album is the little brother to the Sign O' The Times album,

Both are incredible.... both are Prince classics if you ask me. Both have aged well.

TBA, is SO MUCH better than recent hit and miss albums like: 3121, PE, Musicology, 20ten.

Even better than the fan favorite LotusFlower, again, --- if you ask me.

9.5 out of 10 to The Black Album, of course it was made in the 80's therefor: a Prince classic..!



I very much the hard edgy funk sound that is TBA.

Lots of hype back then. It's ok, but I don't like it that much.

Prince still owes us the real funk bible. Where is it?

not that well.

uniden said:

not that well.

Couldn't agree more, actually. I still like that album better than anything recently he's released.

Aged like cheese.

oh please do tell internet!

thedance said:

TBA, is SO MUCH better than recent hit and miss albums like: 3121, PE, Musicology, 20ten.

Apart from Musicology, I prefer all of those to TBA. I don't think it's aged especially well but it's a solid 7/10

Even better than the fan favorite LotusFlower, again, --- if you ask me.

Now that's just crazy talk

But as ever it just goes to show how amazing and diverse Prince is as an artist. One persons gold is anothers garbage.

Great party record. Nothing more. It belongs more in a category with The Time or NPG records more than with other proper Prince records, imo.

I Love it. It's Prince at the top of his game. It's the album that made me a hardcore fan. Afer getting the tape in October 1988 I had to have all things Prince related.

It's Prince at his freakiest. This is the mad genius Prince.

The only thing I would change is When 2 R in Love. I love the song but to me it's far more suited to Lovesexy.

I would have replaced it with either Crystal Ball or the 1986 third version of Witness.

For me 10/10.

I like the Black Album,but I don't think it's the funk masterpiece that it was hyped up to be.I think Prince made the right decision when he shelved it and released Lovesexy instead.

Great party record. Nothing more. It belongs more in a category with The Time or NPG records more than with other proper Prince records, imo.

SchlomoThaHomo said:

robertgeorgeakabob said:

Besides Cindy C and Dead On It, I think it has aged beautifully. Sure some of the slang is a bit dated but the music is still strange and right on point.

I think this one has gotten BETTER with time. It a funny funky party album. I listen to this one just as much as any of the other 80s classics. I actually like it better than Lovesexy. There is nothing as cool on LS as Bob George or Superfunkycali.

Loved it then, love it now. It's one of the first albums I'd grab if someone said to me, "play me some Prince at his most interesting."

I absolutely adore the Black Album, even more now than back then. Far better, more interesting and way funkier than Lovesexy IMO.

Prince at the top of his game, wild eccentric and funky music!

funkaholic1972 said:

I absolutely adore the Black Album, even more now than back then. Far better, more interesting and way funkier than Lovesexy IMO.

Prince at the top of his game, wild eccentric and funky music!

It's the opposite for me. I totally prefer Lovesexy. Can't stand Bob George and Dead On It. Le Grind and Cindy C are rather mediocre song material, although partially very good arranged. 2 Nigs isn't that spectacular, ruined by the monotonous snare drum sound. When 2 R in love doesn't fit. I like Superfunkycalifragisexy and Rockhard the best.Rockhard could have benefitted from one or two more musical ideas.

I think it's aged great. This era of Prince's music live entirely in it's own space and time. There is nothing to link it to anything else. It's quintessential Prince.

robertgeorgeakabob said:

SchlomoThaHomo said:

But is that song really saying anything? It sounds like little more than gibberish to me, like most of the songs. But with a funky groove.

Have you ever taken ecstasy?

No. Are the lyrics more meaningful if you have?

[Edited 8/3/13 15:46pm]

I just heard it for the first time last week....after searching hi and low for it.

SchlomoThaHomo said:

robertgeorgeakabob said:

SchlomoThaHomo said:

No. Are the lyrics more meaningful if you have?

[Edited 8/3/13 15:46pm]

It's littered with ecstasy references... If your body needs water keep dancing cos you oughta keep the blood flowing down to your feet - perfect summation of being e'd up and unable to stop dancing even though you know you should. Ecstasy makes you massively thirsty. The aftertaste just lasts and lasts, you kiss somebody, you wanna party all night. E has a bitter aftertaste, and you feel so loved up that kissing a stranger seems a totally natural thing to do. Some will say it doesn't reference E as its ambiguous in meaning but I don't think for one second Prince only took E the once.

It does sound like what I've heard being on ecstacy is like. But that still supports my point that it's just a party record.