SuperSoulFighter said:

treehouse said:

He was the director of a star vehicle. How much more could he increase his part?

Prince is a superstar and Al Magnoli is not.

Well, that's usually not what producers and directors want.


I do think he is probably blowing a bit of hot air due to trying to recall and CONVEY details from 30 years ago, and choosing a big round number like One Hundred spngs when it could have been more like Thirty songs and just a lot of effort in choosing the right ones.

ufoclub said:

I gotta say, hyperbole or not, I respect Albert Magnoli for the work he did with Prince.

A lot of people don't realize that Magnoli's input as a director went beyond just the film "Purple Rain":

"Batdance" and "Partyman" videos (arguably Prince's best videos) were directed by Magnoli.

And he's credited as director of the SOTT concert film on the slates during production. Based on how that film resembles all of the above in angles, colors, and energy... I believe he probably was there.

I wonder if Magnoli would /could still work with Prince? Everything they touched together was gold!

Yeah. I'm sure 100 was just a nice round number that means "a lot". The overwhelming fact here is that Prince, or whoever was helping make these decisions, decided to bring in an experienced filmmaker who knew what he was doing. Thus, we got the solid narrative of Purple Rain decidedly absent from Prince's directorial attempts.

100 a nice round number that was also rounded up because it doesn't sound like much effort to choose between only 30 songs

SuperSoulFighter said:

treehouse said:

He was the director of a star vehicle. How much more could he increase his part?

Prince is a superstar and Al Magnoli is not.

Meaning what? Prince was a star, but he wasn't yet a superstar.

Magnoli's job was the same, even if he wasn't Spielberg.

Once Prince submitted music, the production, Magnoli included had control.

The number of songs Prince ultimately submitted is a question but Magnoli's role is not.

I don't see Magnoli trying to hog the spotlight or overplay his role.

Puttisde aside Magnoli for a second, the film defined Prince for audiences but I don't think this was Prince's grand vision coming to fruition, do you? I don't think Prince would have made Purple Rain had the movie not guided it. He certainly wouldn't have made When Doves Cry.

It would actually be a really cool/interesting experiment for Prince to use today - he should give WB 100 of his most recent recordings and allow them to choose the best 10-12 to make the next album! (obviously with a close relationship with Prince - who would approve the WB choices and name the album after).

[Edited 7/28/14 14:24pm]

ufoclub said:

I gotta say, hyperbole or not, I respect Albert Magnoli for the work he did with Prince.

A lot of people don't realize that Magnoli's input as a director went beyond just the film "Purple Rain":

"Batdance" and "Partyman" videos (arguably Prince's best videos) were directed by Magnoli.

And he's credited as director of the SOTT concert film on the slates during production. Based on how that film resembles all of the above in angles, colors, and energy... I believe he probably was there.

I wonder if Magnoli would /could still work with Prince? Everything they touched together was gold!

Albert was supposed to direct Graffiti Bridge,but he and Prince didn't see eye to eye.

BartVanHemelen said:

https://ca.music.yahoo.co...00277.html

'Purple Rain' Director Albert Magnoli Looks Back on Film's 30th Anniversary
By Laura Ferreiro | Yahoo Music – 10 hours ago

[...]

Prince gave him a whopping 100 original tracks to listen to in order to select a handful that would appear in the film, which was not yet titled.

"The music had to inform the content and themes of the film," Magnoli explains. "Both things had to work in conjunction with each other. I wanted to avoid 'let's hear some music and get back to the story.'"

Magnoli narrowed down the 100 tracks down to the 12 that would appear in the film. Interestingly, "Purple Rain" was not among the songs Prince initially gave him.

"We were always looking for the big anthem where [Prince] got onstage and essentially confessed his sins," Magnoli says. "Later he was playing at the First Avenue bar [in Minneapolis] with his band, which is where we shot the movie. He liked trying out new songs in front of a home audience. That's were he tried out 'Purple Rain.' But it wasn't called 'Purple Rain' at that time. It had no title. I said, 'I like that song,' and he said he was thinking of calling it 'Purple Rain.'" Prince then asked Magnoli if they could title the film Purple Rain, and Magnoli agreed.

[...]

So now there's a First Ave gig where Prince played some kind of proto-version of "Purple Rain"? And this is the first we've heard of it?

.

We also know for a fact that at least one of the songs wasn't recorded until very late in the project: "When Doves Cry". In fact, the earliest recording date for most of the album tracks is 3 August 1983, i.e. the well-known live gig. The one exception is "Baby I'm A Star" for which there's a version dating back to late 1981-1982. Are we really supposed to believe that almost all of these tracks date from far earlier, and that Magnoli picked them? And somehow this was completely missed by everyone Uptown et al talked to over the years, except Magnoli?

.

• Let's Go Crazy - 3 August, 1983
• Take Me With U - 27 January, 1984
• The Beautiful Ones - 20 September, 1983
• Computer Blue - 3 August, 1983
• Darling Nikki - August, 1983
• When Doves Cry - 1 March 1984
• I Would Die 4 U - 3 August, 1983
• Baby I'm A Star - Late 1981-1982 (Preliminary version)
• Purple Rain - 3 August, 1983

I can't help but feel Magnoli is just trying to increase his part in the movie.

for once you actually make sense Bart - well done

Remember when there was a rumor that the Purple Rain album was originally planned as a 2-LP set? I remember seeing this tracklist somewhere.....

"Let's Go Crazy"
"Take Me With U"
"The Beautiful Ones"
"Computer Blue" (long version)
"Darling Nikki"
"2 Late Darling"
"G-Spot"
"Land Of Paradise"
"17 Days"
"When Doves Cry"
"Electric Intercourse"
"I Would Die 4 U"
"Baby,I'm A Star"
"Take All 4 Granted"
"God"
"2 Many 2 Soon"
"Erotic City"
"The Loser In Life"
"Father's Song"
"My Special World"
"Untitled Instrumental"
"Jamming Til The Dawn"
"Purple Rain"

Obviously fake

BartVanHemelen said:

I hadn't seen this, but it is quite interesting: https://www.facebook.com/...8291933688

Christian Irizarry-Wiesemann: I understand the album PURPLE RAIN was supposed to be a double album. Were there any drafts of the Screenplay/Shooting Script that included more music than what wound up in the final draft/final print of the movie?

AM: Hello, Christian. The album was never intended to be a double album. I was able to listen to a hundred songs that Prince had written, composed and produced before I had even started writing the screenplay. Out of those 100 songs I chose 11 that defined the thematic elements necessary to enhance the story. But, we needed 12 songs to create the album. Months before preproduction began, I was in the First Ave, 7th St. Club in Minneapolis and heard Prince perform a rough version of "Purple Rain" on stage with the Revolution. After Prince finished his performance , I met him backstage and asked him what the song was titled. He said: "Purple Rain." I suggested that this was the song that should be used for the pivotal moment in the story, after he discovers his father shot in the basement. Prince agreed, and asked if the title of the song could also be the title of the picture. I said, "Yes," and the film from that moment on was called "Purple Rain."

I'm sorry, but that's just a load of BS. It is well known the album had several configurations, so it wasn't like Magnoli "chose" anything. I also don't believe in the "100 songs" thing, because I doubt Prince had 100 unreleased songs at the ready back in 1983.

Why would you go out of your way to try and piss on this story?....... Oh right i've answered that myself.

Anyway someone asked Albert and thats the answer he gave, why would he lie? You wer'nt bloody there and thats the answer you've got why bother to discredit it?

It might be true if Prince gave him 10 different versions each of those 9 songs! (which means I'm poor at math, since that would just equal 90) lol

[Edited 7/29/14 8:23am]

Basically the whole Prince as Producer myth is in the toilet at this point. Everyone knows a producer does nothing more than listen and pick out the good stuff. Rick Rubin lays on a couch and tells the band what songs to do and tells them when they have it right or not. Magnoli produced Prince best record by picking the songs that were really really good and making it one of the best albums of all time. I am sure his band and girlfriends had imput too. I bet susannah is half the reason that period was so good. She would tell prince if he sucked and he would try harder. ONce all those other ears were out of the picture and replaced with ass kissers prince music went to hell. Prince needs a producer but really he needs a good producer. Even if wendy lisa dez susannah morris all just sat in a room and told prince which ideas worked and did not work, it would be a better album. Its too bad prince took all the credit for so long. He started to believe his own bs media hype.

SuperSoulFighter said:

^So you're saying Prince layed on the couch and produced albums like Parade and Lovesexy? And Susannah was telling him what to do? Sorry, Trevor, but it is getting harder and harder to take your stuff seriously.

would be easier to take me seriously if you didn't put words in my mouth that I did not say

If Prince did have 100 Purple Rain songs, he'd make a killing by listing each one separately for sale on his 3rdeyegirl website.

SoulAlive, I remember that listing of songs from one of the Prince books I bought back in the day. I used to look at that list and imagine what they sounded like.

Hurry up and release the music, Prince!

PopcornFetus said:

I kind of think that we really don't know the full extent of Prince's vault. Susan Rogers and band members weren't around for so much home studio and, later, Paisley Park work. The man could record anything at anytime. Per Nilsen is not a magical figure. He only knows what they know and they only know what they worked on.

TrevorAyer said:

Magnoli produced Prince best record by picking the songs that were really really good and making it one of the best albums of all time.

I like this theory!!!

TrevorAyer said:

Cinny said:

Cinny said:

Well, that's usually not what producers and directors want.

It's still typecasting him. He hasn't wavered in his story, even though I don't it's to be taken too literally. He's also never done a really high profile project since, which tells me he's probably learned some humility in his life.

SuperSoulFighter said:

TrevorAyer said:

would be easier to take me seriously if you didn't put words in my mouth that I did not say

"lays on the couch" is what you said a producer does.. "Susannah is half the reason that period was good". Those are your words.

I never said PRINCE lays on a couch .. which is what you said I said .. which is wrong and rediculous .. and yes .. a producer who is good like rick rubin will just lay there and listen and give feedback .. which is a lot like what magnoli did .. maybe minus the couch .. prince as the producer is a reasonable credit but to pretend others with good taste did not have imput .. huge imput in influencing prince at those times PR SOTT would be wrong. it would be fair to say magnoli helped finalize the classic tracks that ended up on PR and made it the landmark album it was .. considering prince choices later in his career .. clearly a producer other than prince happened during those golden years cuz prince on his own surrounded by yes men cannot put together a great album .. sorry but its true

SuperSoulFighter said:

Cinny said:

I like this theory!!!

I don't.

soulfighter is a grouchy pants

TrevorAyer said:

SuperSoulFighter said:

TrevorAyer said: "lays on the couch" is what you said a producer does.. "Susannah is half the reason that period was good". Those are your words.

I never said PRINCE lays on a couch .. which is what you said I said .. which is wrong and rediculous .. and yes .. a producer who is good like rick rubin will just lay there and listen and give feedback .. which is a lot like what magnoli did .. maybe minus the couch .. prince as the producer is a reasonable credit but to pretend others with good taste did not have imput .. huge imput in influencing prince at those times PR SOTT would be wrong. it would be fair to say magnoli helped finalize the classic tracks that ended up on PR and made it the landmark album it was .. considering prince choices later in his career .. clearly a producer other than prince happened during those golden years cuz prince on his own surrounded by yes men cannot put together a great album .. sorry but its true

That's not what a music producer does. That sounds like what a record label exec does (pick the songs or singles, make a marketable album). A producer is producing the recordings (on their feet in the studio longer than the musician) A producer hires the various musicians, has ideas of what intruments and vocals to record, mixes the songs, overcomes technical problems in the studio, pushes the musician into their concept of how the song should be crafted, sometimes completely changing it from the artist's original vision. A talented producer in a music studio is almost what a director in a film is these days.

ufoclub said:

TrevorAyer said:

I never said PRINCE lays on a couch .. which is what you said I said .. which is wrong and rediculous .. and yes .. a producer who is good like rick rubin will just lay there and listen and give feedback .. which is a lot like what magnoli did .. maybe minus the couch .. prince as the producer is a reasonable credit but to pretend others with good taste did not have imput .. huge imput in influencing prince at those times PR SOTT would be wrong. it would be fair to say magnoli helped finalize the classic tracks that ended up on PR and made it the landmark album it was .. considering prince choices later in his career .. clearly a producer other than prince happened during those golden years cuz prince on his own surrounded by yes men cannot put together a great album .. sorry but its true

That's not what a music producer does. That sounds like what a record label exec does (pick the songs or singles, make a marketable album). A producer is producing the recordings (on their feet in the studio longer than the musician) A producer hires the various musicians, has ideas of what intruments and vocals to record, mixes the songs, overcomes technical problems in the studio, pushes the musician into their concept of how the song should be crafted, sometimes completely changing it from the artist's original vision. A talented producer in a music studio is almost what a director in a film is these days.

Exactly. It's ok though, Trevor often shows that he doesn't really have a clue what he's talking about. He's a bit BVH (you know, an unnecessary and overbearing stick up the ass with Prince's name on it), but thinks he has more credibility because he's a musician. But he's not a very respectful musician.....and not a very good musician either! Yet, he thinks he knows exactly what makes good music, Prince's every mis-step and mistake.......but, where is Trevor exactly?! You'd think with all this knowledge he'd be at least moderately successful - but, no, his only success is looking an ass on the org with absolute regularity.

treehouse said:

I don't see Magnoli trying to hog the spotlight or overplay his role.

Puttisde aside Magnoli for a second, the film defined Prince for audiences but I don't think this was Prince's grand vision coming to fruition, do you? I don't think Prince would have made Purple Rain had the movie not guided it. He certainly wouldn't have made When Doves Cry.

Hmmm.....perhaps you need to do some research as to what inspired Prince to write the song Purple Rain? It didn't have much to do with the film, to be honest. Also check out some of the tracks that informed it (Faithfully by Journey, for example).

Mindflux said:

ufoclub said:

That's not what a music producer does. That sounds like what a record label exec does (pick the songs or singles, make a marketable album). A producer is producing the recordings (on their feet in the studio longer than the musician) A producer hires the various musicians, has ideas of what intruments and vocals to record, mixes the songs, overcomes technical problems in the studio, pushes the musician into their concept of how the song should be crafted, sometimes completely changing it from the artist's original vision. A talented producer in a music studio is almost what a director in a film is these days.

Exactly. It's ok though, Trevor often shows that he doesn't really have a clue what he's talking about. He's a bit BVH (you know, an unnecessary and overbearing stick up the ass with Prince's name on it), but thinks he has more credibility because he's a musician. But he's not a very respectful musician.....and not a very good musician either! Yet, he thinks he knows exactly what makes good music, Prince's every mis-step and mistake.......but, where is Trevor exactly?! You'd think with all this knowledge he'd be at least moderately successful - but, no, his only success is looking an ass on the org with absolute regularity.

Mindfux you are a real douchebag for slagging me like that .. u cant follow basic rules and discuss the thread instead you need to shit all over me to compensate for your inability to handle being wrong .. I have 2 kids whom I raised and do a lot of other things besides music .. i just opened for gogol bordello last week and eugene came out and played a couple tunes with us as well .. I am as successful as I want to be and dont chase bs pop stardom superficiality .. and I like my privacy .. and I dont like to tour .. and I am a fucking musical genius .. and i can play real instruments unlike mindfuk ..

ufoclub .. yes a producer of a no talent wanna be pop star who cant write or perform for shit certainly does all the things you outlined .. a producer of someone who can write and perform is more of a feedback type persona .. Rick Rubin is the example i site because I know he essentially lays on a couch and listens .. he does not need to write tunes for RHCP because they do that .. when he produced gogol bordello eugene submitted 60 tunes to pick from .. Rubin is a great producer from Danzig to Beasties to Jay Z to Johnny Cash .. don't tell me I don't know what I am talking about when you have NOTHING to contribute to the conversation ..

are u gonna tell me Rick Rubin told Johnny Cash how to write a song? .. jesus .. jealous much .. say something credible for a change

[Edited 7/31/14 10:48am]