This DVD was released just 4 days ago. If you recall, back when we first discussed it as an upcoming release, I mentioned that this would only be interesting if it contained interviews from the people who were actually there, rather than simple re-hashed narrative.

I'm happy to say that this does appear to be the case.

A friend of mine received the DVD on release day and told me that it contains great new interviews with Alan Leeds, Michael B and Sonny T among others. According to the sole review on Amazon so far, there's also interviews with former Warner Bros executives who were there at the time.

Here's the Amazon link - I've now ordered it, although it appears to be shipping from the US so may take a couple of weeks to get here.

http://www.amazon.com/Pri...00JWS9HAK

Will add this to my next Amazon order.

Thanks for the info!

Just got my copy from Amazon. Can't wait to watch

2 and a half hours long?!? Cool.

Looking forward to hearing Sonny T & Michael B the most.

Thanks to Militant, for the info:

However, there was a time when I had to own every interview by Prince and/ or the NPG, band members etc. (Remember the old un-official VHS tape released in the early 90's?)....

Now, I don't care any longer.. not anymore, interviews in Prince land is very often very tiresome.

[Edited 8/14/14 9:47am]

^ "Remember the old un-official VHS tape released in the early 90's? "


[img:$uid]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/ecnirp2004/Prince/Princebooks05_zpsc1767ddd.jpg[/img:$uid]

I was "hooked" on Prince related interviews back then,


not anymore...

not to hi-jack this thread, sorry if I did...



but here's the front pic to that old VHS:


[img:$uid]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/ecnirp2004/Prince/Princebooks06_zpsaabb590c.jpg[/img:$uid]

It's a pretty well researched documentary. With all these good interviews.

Oh yeah, Michael B comes across as quite intelligent and intellectual. Good stuff.

[Edited 8/14/14 10:05am]

I'm stunned at how good this is. I highly recommend it!!

Does it include the music or is it crappy background music that tries to sound Princeish?

I recommend it too...very detailed, great footage and very good interviews....

Really well done!!

Rebeljuice said:

Does it include the music or is it crappy background music that tries to sound Princeish?

Not only does it feature clips of actual performances, the background music is also Prince...

Don't know how they got away with that as I was under the assumption they would need permission. Anyway, suprised me...

djThunderfunk said:

Rebeljuice said:

Does it include the music or is it crappy background music that tries to sound Princeish?

Not only does it feature clips of actual performances, the background music is also Prince...

Don't know how they got away with that as I was under the assumption they would need permission. Anyway, suprised me...

I presume, judging by the years that are covered, most of the music is post-WB? If so then Prince must have given the go ahead. Either that or there is a big lawsuit on its way.

Rebeljuice said:

Does it include the music or is it crappy background music that tries to sound Princeish?

It also has background generic home-made "prince-esque" music all over the place, which is hilarious. but in many clips and a few other spots it does have actual Prince music.

ufoclub said:

Rebeljuice said:

Does it include the music or is it crappy background music that tries to sound Princeish?

It also has background generic home-made "prince-esque" music all over the place, which is hilarious. but in many clips and a few other spots it does have actual Prince music.

Some of the background music is Prince, too. For instance, they reuse the opening of Planet Earth over and over again.

djThunderfunk said:

ufoclub said:

It also has background generic home-made "prince-esque" music all over the place, which is hilarious. but in many clips and a few other spots it does have actual Prince music.

Some of the background music is Prince, too. For instance, they reuse the opening of Planet Earth over and over again.

I don't remember that actually being Planet Earth, I thought it was a funny copycat piano piece. Lemme see... yep, it's not Planet Earth. It's a copycat variation with different notes in a similar pattern and chord structure. Listen: https://dl.dropboxusercon...0earth.aif

ufoclub said:

djThunderfunk said:

Some of the background music is Prince, too. For instance, they reuse the opening of Planet Earth over and over again.

I don't remember that actually being Planet Earth, I thought it was a funny copycat piano piece. Lemme see... yep, it's not Planet Earth. It's a copycat variation with different notes in a similar pattern and chord structure. Listen: https://dl.dropboxusercon...0earth.aif

Ah, good catch.

Gave it another spin, this time paying more attention to music and taking notes.

All of Prince's music in the film is from various video sources, except for "Come" which, as far as I can tell, is the album version but played under the video from The Beautiful Experience.

All other music in the documentary is soundalike music credited to Chris Ingham. Most of it is obvious although the bit that sounds like Planet Earth did fool me (but not ufoclub).

Prince's music is represented in clips from:

Gett Off video

Sign O The Times movie, within a NBC News clip

Push audio under various Diamonds And Pearls promotional video clips, within a MTV News clip

2 Whom It May Concern video

My Name Is Prince video

7 video

Call The Law video

The Ride from Nulle Part Ailleurs

Peach from MTV Awards

Manic Monday video

The Most Beautiful Girl In The World video

Come, album version under video from The Beautiful Experience?!?

Papa video from The Beautiful Experience

Count The Days from Channel 4

Dolphin video (with VH1 logo in corner of screen)

P Control from VH1 Fashion Awards

Dinner With Delores from The Today Show

The Same December video

Emancipation from commercial for the album

Betcha By Golly Wow video

Face Down from the Chris Rock Show

Emancipation from NAACP Image Awards

Come On from The Tonight Show

The Greatest Romance Ever Sold video

Join Now from NPG Music Club commercial

The Work, Pt 1 from Live At The Aladdin

1+1+1=3 from Live At The Aladdin

Let's Go Crazy from '04 Grammy Awards

Musicology from Much More Music news clip

Musicology video

Let's Go Crazy, When Doves Cry & Purple Rain from Ticketmaster commercial

Black Sweat video

Purple Rain from Super Bowl Half Time Show

Guitar video

Chelsea Rodgers performance (source? maybe the O2?)

Dreamer from Target commercial

Screwdriver video

Rock And Roll Love Affair from Jimmy Kimmel

did I miss any?

I don't see how they could afford to have all that music in this doc. It must be without permission.

ufoclub said:

I don't see how they could afford to have all that music in this doc. It must be without permission.

I'm guessing its a clip or a part of the song/video so it's legal usage?

kewlschool said:

ufoclub said:

I don't see how they could afford to have all that music in this doc. It must be without permission.

I'm guessing its a clip or a part of the song/video so it's legal usage?

From the source notations whenever a clip is played and a disclaimer at the end of the credits, I would infer that this is what they're banking on:

Credit copyright holders of clips and call it fair use.

We'll see if that works out for them.

In my opinion it SHOULD be fine, legal and fair. But, I wouldn't count on that being the legal position.

Just ordered mine so thanks for the heads-up Militant. Hope I agree with dj, ufo, and linus after viewing. Now if Prince would just send my coffee cups... .

kewlschool said:

ufoclub said:

I don't see how they could afford to have all that music in this doc. It must be without permission.

I'm guessing its a clip or a part of the song/video so it's legal usage?

There's a placecard at the end of the documentary that says something to the effect of: We tried to get permission for all of the clips we used. If we broke the law, send us an email and we'll change it for the next pressing.

There's plenty of copyrighted WB footage (as well as stuff owned by FOX/NBC/Viacom/etc). It's actually a pretty good doc. Great interviews from Michael Bland, Sonny T, Alan Leeds, Marva King, Jem Aswad (Warner Bros), Joe Levy (Rolling Stone), and Jason Draper (Chaos, Disorder & Revolution).

If you're interested in picking this up, I'd grab it soon as I assume this will be withdrawn at some point.

love5oneanother said:

kewlschool said:

I'm guessing its a clip or a part of the song/video so it's legal usage?

There's a placecard at the end of the documentary that says something to the effect of: We tried to get permission for all of the clips we used. If we broke the law, send us an email and we'll change it for the next pressing.

There's plenty of copyrighted WB footage (as well as stuff owned by FOX/NBC/Viacom/etc). It's actually a pretty good doc. Great interviews from Michael Bland, Sonny T, Alan Leeds, Marva King, Jem Aswad (Warner Bros), Joe Levy (Rolling Stone), and Jason Draper (Chaos, Disorder & Revolution).

If you're interested in picking this up, I'd grab it soon as I assume this will be withdrawn at some point.

Does it tell both sides of the story, positive and negative, in a fair way? If it does, perhaps neither side will care about copyright usage. What do you all think? Hope they don't make any changes before my copy is sent.

love5oneanother said:

There's a placecard at the end of the documentary that says something to the effect of: We tried to get permission for all of the clips we used. If we broke the law, send us an email and we'll change it for the next pressing.

Actually, it's more to the effect of: We tried to give credit for all the clips we used. If we didn't give proper credit, send us an email and we'll add it for future pressings.

I've received my copy two weeks ago .A great Doc. Better hurry up and get it before Prince finds out about it. lol

kae510 said:

There seems to be conflicting information on this release online re the DVD region code. I'm based in the UK and am wondering if this is a region 0 disc.