bonatoc said:

RODSERLING said:

To be played on radio, the major must pay what is called payola.

Not anymore. It's the 21st century. They own the stations. Corporate World.
He's just an old pain-in-the-ass fart as far as young sharks at Time Warner are concerned.

WARNER owns the station and prince is not played at all ? Sounds crazy

RODSERLING said:

bonatoc said:

Not anymore. It's the 21st century. They own the stations. Corporate World.
He's just an old pain-in-the-ass fart as far as young sharks at Time Warner are concerned.

WARNER owns the station and prince is not played at all ? Sounds crazy

He's just an 53-years-old faded star as far as who's running Time Warner nowadays is concerned.

What is it that you don't get?

bonatoc said:

feeluupp said:

Total sales:

AOA- 200,000

Plectrum Electrum - 71,000

... Not a good look at all... Especially 4 a "comeback" album.

You must be over thirty.
The market has completely changed.
This is pretty high for a release that is less than 3 month old.

Consider Robbie Williams, who has been 2013's 4th biggest sell with 626,000 sales on an album.

http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-40-biggest-artist-albums-of-2013-2708/

There's going to be the comet's tail. He's going to promote it over the year, and have peaks at 10,000~15,000.
If he has an average of 4000 a week (there's still circa 1.5 billion human beings with still some kind of buying capacity) during 2015 (another TV appearance, some live shows),

that makes 5,000 x 52 : +b260,000.

At 450,000~500,000, he's going to be in the top 10~20 of the best sales of 2015 (if we include 2014 1st quarter).

Let us not forget that usually, once you dicover Prince, you feel like buying at least another album. Add to that single songs downloads, whether recent or back-catalog.
No wonder he's referencing that stupid Meme, he needed an alibi to speak of Purple Rain.
He's as interested as Warner in selling some back-catalog.

If I'm allegedly over 30 u must be over 40 then.

[Edited 12/10/14 7:45am]

^ so we're both 18 and Over. Fascinating.

bonatoc said:

feeluupp said:

Total sales:

AOA- 200,000

Plectrum Electrum - 71,000

... Not a good look at all... Especially 4 a "comeback" album.

You must be over thirty.
The market has completely changed.
This is pretty high for a release that is less than 3 month old.

Consider Robbie Williams, who has been 2013's 4th biggest sell with 626,000 sales on an album.

http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-40-biggest-artist-albums-of-2013-2708/

There's going to be the comet's tail. He's going to promote it over the year, and have peaks at 10,000~15,000.
If he has an average of 4000 a week (there's still circa 1.5 billion human beings with still some kind of buying capacity) during 2015 (another TV appearance, some live shows),

that makes 5,000 x 52 : +b260,000.

At 450,000~500,000, he's going to be in the top 10~20 of the best sales of 2015 (if we include 2014 1st quarter).

Let us not forget that usually, once you dicover Prince, you feel like buying at least another album. Add to that single songs downloads, whether recent or back-catalog.
No wonder he's referencing that stupid Meme, he needed an alibi to speak of Purple Rain.
He's as interested as Warner in selling some back-catalog.

Robbie Wiliams, you are talking about UK sales only.

Prince is not going to promote it. When an album is dead on charts, it's over. Actually AOA is not even on the top 150 best seller in the USA for the year 2014.

Your assumption about prince catalog sales are utterly crazy . When you discover PE or AOA, you only need to end listening to Prince. His catalog sales are terribly weak, especially for someone who used to release an album a year, according to your theory. People only gets more and more bored.

He 's not selling more than a few thousand of downloads.

if he was as interested as Warner to sell his catalog, well, he would have released since ten years reeditions of every WB albums. And what is he doing now ? He's holding the the PR re-release.

bonatoc said:

RODSERLING said:

WARNER owns the station and prince is not played at all ? Sounds crazy

He's just an 53-years-old faded star as far as who's running Time Warner nowadays is concerned.

What is it that you don't get?

You've got your facts wrong: Time Warner hasn't owned Warner Music since 2011. And Warner Music doens't own any radio stations.

RODSERLING said:

1725topp said:

*

So, the communities in which R&B matters, which are mostly African-American communities, don't matter? Thanks--I didn't know that African-American communities didn't exist in the "real" world. Maybe that's why it's so easy for unarmed black men to be killed because they don't matter in the "real" world. I love the way that this "fan" site always enlightens me. Also, why would I care about fans who are stuck in a time warp, wanting Prince to be their perpetual 80s fantasy?

A sub chart doesn't really matter. AOA could be #1 on "gay charts" or something, what's the point if it's not even on the actual top 200 two months after release ?

i don't understand what rnb charts or AOA has to do with "killing unarmed black people" ? It must be ironic or something. You totally miss the point here. That doesn't even mean that Prince is played on rnb charts, we are talking here about the album charts, not the singles charts.

Singles charts rnb means that some songs are played on rnb stations. Rnb album charts doesn't mean that the album is mostly bought by afro american community. That's completely absurd.

I don't understand neither your " perpetual 80's fantasy" thing. Definitely not my business. We are in 2014 and Prince flopped badly, get over it.

*

However you need to define R&B to fit your issues, AOA was number one on the R&B chart just like PlecElec was a number one album. Nothing you say can change that. A number one album is a number one album. Thus, the person who needs to "get over something" is you for desperately wanting other people to consider something a flop just because you don't like it. Here's a question for you. Why are you spending so much time trying to convince people that AOA is a flop when it was a number one album, it's still on the R&B charts, and most of the press has been positive? Sounds like to me that you need to learn to get over yourself. If it is a flop, then that means that it is an insignificant thing, event, or moment? Why, then, are you dedicating so much of your time discussing an insignificant thing, event, or moment? If AOA is a flop, then be done with it and move to something else. I can't remember the last time I spent as much time discussing something that I disliked or thought was as insignificant as you seem to think of AOA. I think that you protest too much, and that says what??? AOA and PlecElec were number one albums; get over it.

1725topp said:

RODSERLING said:

A sub chart doesn't really matter. AOA could be #1 on "gay charts" or something, what's the point if it's not even on the actual top 200 two months after release ?

i don't understand what rnb charts or AOA has to do with "killing unarmed black people" ? It must be ironic or something. You totally miss the point here. That doesn't even mean that Prince is played on rnb charts, we are talking here about the album charts, not the singles charts.

Singles charts rnb means that some songs are played on rnb stations. Rnb album charts doesn't mean that the album is mostly bought by afro american community. That's completely absurd.

I don't understand neither your " perpetual 80's fantasy" thing. Definitely not my business. We are in 2014 and Prince flopped badly, get over it.

*

However you need to define R&B to fit your issues, AOA was number one on the R&B chart just like PlecElec was a number one album. Nothing you say can change that. A number one album is a number one album. Thus, the person who needs to "get over something" is you for desperately wanting other people to consider something a flop just because you don't like it. Here's a question for you. Why are you spending so much time trying to convince people that AOA is a flop when it was a number one album, it's still on the R&B charts, and most of the press has been positive? Sounds like to me that you need to learn to get over yourself. If it is a flop, then that means that it is an insignificant thing, event, or moment? Why, then, are you dedicating so much of your time discussing an insignificant thing, event, or moment? If AOA is a flop, then be done with it and move to something else. I can't remember the last time I spent as much time discussing something that I disliked or thought was as insignificant as you seem to think of AOA. I think that you protest too much, and that says what??? AOA and PlecElec were number one albums; get over it.

You really have a problem in your mind. AOA and PE were never #1, anywhere in the world, and surely not in the USA.

AOA was on the top 20 during one week and peaked at #5, and PE IIRC were on the top 40 only one week and peaked at #8.

it could be #1 on any sub charts during 100 weeks, fact is that it means nothing, because AOA were out of the top 100 after only 7 weeks and PE after 3 or 4 weeks.

This situation is bad and deserves to be talked about, because it made WB give up on future reeditions.

hell even the first week numbers were terrible. Most fans didn't buy AOA and PE. And even two third of fans who bought AOA didn't buy PE. These are facts.

Even rnb stations that you so much care about, doesn't play Prince anymore. For the first time he charted no singles from an album, even not U KNOW.

So being at #1 in rnb charts and not even being played on the top 100 rnb airplay is a good proof that you don't know what you re talking about, and that rnb album charts is not relevant at all.

bonatoc said:

RODSERLING said:

WARNER owns the station and prince is not played at all ? Sounds crazy

He's just an 53-years-old faded star as far as who's running Time Warner nowadays is concerned.

What is it that you don't get?

What i don't get ?

1. Prince is 56 years old, not 53

2. If Warner had a hand on radio stations, Prince would receive enough airplay to chart.

RODSERLING said:

it could be #1 on any sub charts during 100 weeks, fact is that it means nothing, because AOA were out of the top 100 after only 7 weeks and PE after 3 or 4 weeks.

This situation is bad and deserves to be talked about, because it made WB give up on future reeditions.

<snip for space>

So being at #1 in rnb charts and not even being played on the top 100 rnb airplay is a good proof that you don't know what you re talking about, and that rnb album charts is not relevant at all.

Prince clearly wasn't impressed with how it performed, and I agree that the R'n'B chart isn't the hot 100 - which is THE American Chart (although many would argue itunes is a more accurate relection of what people are buying). However, regardless of how you view the RnB chart. Prince can now claim it was a #1 album... because it was #1 on the RnB chart. The RnB chart might not mean anything but frankly neither does the hot 100 since it's compiled by "airplay" and easily manipulated.

RODSERLING said:

RODSERLING said:

1725topp said:

*

However you need to define R&B to fit your issues, AOA was number one on the R&B chart just like PlecElec was a number one album. Nothing you say can change that. A number one album is a number one album. Thus, the person who needs to "get over something" is you for desperately wanting other people to consider something a flop just because you don't like it. Here's a question for you. Why are you spending so much time trying to convince people that AOA is a flop when it was a number one album, it's still on the R&B charts, and most of the press has been positive? Sounds like to me that you need to learn to get over yourself. If it is a flop, then that means that it is an insignificant thing, event, or moment? Why, then, are you dedicating so much of your time discussing an insignificant thing, event, or moment? If AOA is a flop, then be done with it and move to something else. I can't remember the last time I spent as much time discussing something that I disliked or thought was as insignificant as you seem to think of AOA. I think that you protest too much, and that says what??? AOA and PlecElec were number one albums; get over it.

You really have a problem in your mind. AOA and PE were never #1, anywhere in the world, and surely not in the USA.

AOA was on the top 20 during one week and peaked at #5, and PE IIRC were on the top 40 only one week and peaked at #8.

it could be #1 on any sub charts during 100 weeks, fact is that it means nothing, because AOA were out of the top 100 after only 7 weeks and PE after 3 or 4 weeks.

This situation is bad and deserves to be talked about, because it made WB give up on future reeditions.

hell even the first week numbers were terrible. Most fans didn't buy AOA and PE. And even two third of fans who bought AOA didn't buy PE. These are facts.

Even rnb stations that you so much care about, doesn't play Prince anymore. For the first time he charted no singles from an album, even not U KNOW.

So being at #1 in rnb charts and not even being played on the top 100 rnb airplay is a good proof that you don't know what you re talking about, and that rnb album charts is not relevant at all.

*

Oh, now I see your issue; you're one of those stuck in the past people waiting on reeditions. Well, whatever floats y'all's boat. I'm just glad that I'm not sitting around waiting on something as irrelevant as reeditions and can enjoy the fact that Prince--once again--had two number one albums, and, more importantly, had two albums that I enjoy. I'm sorry; you can return to waiting on Godot...err...I mean the Great Pumpkin...err...I mean...reeditions. Wow...really???...You're so funny...in a sad pitiful sort of way. All this negativity and browbeating because you're waiting on reeditions? Sad really.

Noodled24 said:

RODSERLING said:

it could be #1 on any sub charts during 100 weeks, fact is that it means nothing, because AOA were out of the top 100 after only 7 weeks and PE after 3 or 4 weeks.

This situation is bad and deserves to be talked about, because it made WB give up on future reeditions.

<snip for space>

So being at #1 in rnb charts and not even being played on the top 100 rnb airplay is a good proof that you don't know what you re talking about, and that rnb album charts is not relevant at all.

Prince clearly wasn't impressed with how it performed, and I agree that the R'n'B chart isn't the hot 100 - which is THE American Chart (although many would argue itunes is a more accurate relection of what people are buying). However, regardless of how you view the RnB chart. Prince can now claim it was a #1 album... because it was #1 on the RnB chart. The RnB chart might not mean anything but frankly neither does the hot 100 since it's compiled by "airplay" and easily manipulated.

I agree Hot 100 doesn't mean anything since it's not only pure sales. And by the way sales are manipulated by what is turning on the radio, I agree too.

I was not talking about rnb singles charts as irrelevant, but about the rnb album chart.

More irrelevant is the fact that Prince is #1 on rnb album chart, but is nowhere to be found in rnb singles chart. What I pointed out is that rnb album chart doesn't reflect at all what afro american are listening.

1725topp said:

RODSERLING said:

You really have a problem in your mind. AOA and PE were never #1, anywhere in the world, and surely not in the USA.

AOA was on the top 20 during one week and peaked at #5, and PE IIRC were on the top 40 only one week and peaked at #8.

it could be #1 on any sub charts during 100 weeks, fact is that it means nothing, because AOA were out of the top 100 after only 7 weeks and PE after 3 or 4 weeks.

This situation is bad and deserves to be talked about, because it made WB give up on future reeditions.

hell even the first week numbers were terrible. Most fans didn't buy AOA and PE. And even two third of fans who bought AOA didn't buy PE. These are facts.

Even rnb stations that you so much care about, doesn't play Prince anymore. For the first time he charted no singles from an album, even not U KNOW.

So being at #1 in rnb charts and not even being played on the top 100 rnb airplay is a good proof that you don't know what you re talking about, and that rnb album charts is not relevant at all.

*

Oh, now I see your issue; you're one of those stuck in the past people waiting on reeditions. Well, whatever floats y'all's boat. I'm just glad that I'm not sitting around waiting on something as irrelevant as reeditions and can enjoy the fact that Prince--once again--had two number one albums, and, more importantly, had two albums that I enjoy. I'm sorry; you can return to waiting on Godot...err...I mean the Great Pumpkin...err...I mean...reeditions. Wow...really???...You're so funny...in a sad pitiful sort of way. All this negativity and browbeating because you're waiting on reeditions? Sad really.

Where do you see negativity in my posts ? I'm only talking about facts. These albums flopped terribly, that's a fact. They never went #1, that's a fact. Keep dreaming about it if you want.

For sure, Prince could have make them best seller, especially AOA, but he decided it another way.

Reeditions is the only way for Prince to be relevant again, to be considered as a great artist again. Fact is that he's losing fans album after album. His best music was in the WB era, and there is so much unreleased stuff from this era that deserves a release, much better than some shit as STOP THIS TRAIN or ART OFFICIAL CAGE.

How can you cope with the fact that PE (a #1 album, only according to you and an obscure sub chart) sold 3 times less than AOA, which means 70.000 in the world ?

How can you cope with the fact that AOA doesn't make the 150 best selling album LIST of 2014 ? and that PE is surely not even on the top 300 ? Very low for a #1 album don't you think ?

RODSERLING said:

1725topp said:

*

Oh, now I see your issue; you're one of those stuck in the past people waiting on reeditions. Well, whatever floats y'all's boat. I'm just glad that I'm not sitting around waiting on something as irrelevant as reeditions and can enjoy the fact that Prince--once again--had two number one albums, and, more importantly, had two albums that I enjoy. I'm sorry; you can return to waiting on Godot...err...I mean the Great Pumpkin...err...I mean...reeditions. Wow...really???...You're so funny...in a sad pitiful sort of way. All this negativity and browbeating because you're waiting on reeditions? Sad really.

Where do you see negativity in my posts ? I'm only talking about facts. These albums flopped terribly, that's a fact. They never went #1, that's a fact. Keep dreaming about it if you want.

For sure, Prince could have make them best seller, especially AOA, but he decided it another way.

Reeditions is the only way for Prince to be relevant again, to be considered as a great artist again. Fact is that he's losing fans album after album. His best music was in the WB era, and there is so much unreleased stuff from this era that deserves a release, much better than some shit as STOP THIS TRAIN or ART OFFICIAL CAGE.

How can you cope with the fact that PE (a #1 album, only according to you and an obscure sub chart) sold 3 times less than AOA, which means 70.000 in the world ?

How can you cope with the fact that AOA doesn't make the 150 best selling album LIST of 2014 ? and that PE is surely not even on the top 300 ? Very low for a #1 album don't you think ?

*

I've been collecting (studio and live, audio and video) since 1989/90, and the vast majority of the unreleased studio stuff is, frankly, unmemorable. Now, I love the live (audio and video), but for ninety percent of the studio stuff I've heard, I have the same reaction: "I see why it didn't make the album." So, people clamoring for all this unreleased work to be released are just "stuck in an era" or are "deluding themselves that the unreleased studio stuff is better than it actually is." I could care less about reeditions and the "grand" opening of the vault. If you think that releasing work that has aged badly or wasn't good enough to be released thirty years ago will make Prince relevant, then you truly are delusional. But, hey, keep on waiting for the Great Pumpkin to arrive. I'll enjoy two number one albums that have sold, on average, how most music sells these days giving the fact that many people refuse to pay for anyone's music. And, yes, "Stop this Train," "Art Official Cage," "Gold Standard," "Wow," "Pretzelbodylogic," "Clouds," "Time," "FunknRoll (both versions)," "Anotherlove" (even though it's not his song), and "WayBackHome" are a lot better than most of the subpar stuff that should remain in the vault. And, I'll add to this list that I like "RocknRoll Love Affair" and "Screwdriver" much more than a lot of the vault stuff that I've heard over the past twenty-four years. Did you really say that opening the vault would make Prince relevant again??? That may be the funniest thing I've heard in a long time. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have quality video and audio of his live work, but a proper promotion of AOA and PlecElec would do much more to make Prince relevant--and we'd still have to discuss how we are defining relevant--than releasing subpar, dated songs. But, again, you keep on waiting for the Great Pumpkin. I'm just glad that Prince has constructed his career in a manner that I can still get his current music and that his music still moves me. I just hope that when his music stops moving me that I have the sense to move to something that moves me rather than remaining a bitter or delusional fan hoping for Purple Rain II and bashing every thing for not being Purple Rain II as well as bashing people for liking anything that's not Purple Rain II.

The RnB sound is not the problem it isn't selling. I have said from the start that the biggest problem by far is the old timey cliched sound with the cheap homemade production. It really sounds and feels stale right out of the gate. His 80's production sounds far more refreshing and modern sounding than this corny 90's sound he insists on still using.

No track on the album is radio friendly. Anything on this things will stick out like a sore thumb on the radio. ..in a bad way. The production is repulsive really. Today with the tools available young people are producing really sophisticated sounding tracks out of their mom's basement. People are used to hearing better more creative production. People will be like GTFOH with this corny cheap ass radio-jiggle suonding record.

The most modern sounding record of the past decade is still lotusflower, I'm not saying to keep that sound, just that he needs to move on and grow. Hire good studio people. Writting better songs woudn't hurt either, but the bottom line is the horrible horrible production of this thing.

[Edited 12/12/14 10:42am]

V10LETBLUES said:

The RnB sound is not the problem it isn't selling. I have said from the start that the biggest problem by far is the old timey cliched sound with the cheap homemade production. It really sounds and feels stale right out of the gate. His 80's production sounds far more refreshing and modern sounding than this corny 90's sound he insists on still using.

No track on the album is radio friendly. Anything on this things will stick out like a sore thumb on the radio. ..in a bad way. The production is repulsive really. Today with the tools available young people are producing really sophisticated sounding tracks out of their mom's basement. People are used to hearing better more creative production. People will be like GTFOH with this corny cheap ass radio-jiggle suonding record.

The most modern sounding record of the past decade is still lotusflower, I'm not saying to keep that sound, just that he needs to move on and grow. Hire good studio people. Writting better songs woudn't hurt either, but the bottom line is the horrible horrible production of this thing.

[Edited 12/12/14 10:42am]

*

Since I don't listen to much of the crap that's out there, could you give me an example of two or three songs that have a better production quality than songs on AOA or PlecElec. I'm not trying to be adversarial. I'm asking because I'm thinking about a song, such as "Blurred Lines," one of the few new things I can tolerate, and I can't hear or tell if its production quality is better than "AOC," "U Know," "FunknRoll," "Clouds," "Gold Standard," or "Wow." Of course, "Blurred Lines" may not be quality production so that's why I'm asking so that I can get a better understanding of what is considered quality production today. So what are two or three songs released 2013-2014 that you would cite as quality/excellent production?

^

there is nothing as corny AOA in music today. Someone on here mentioned that his sound had become kitsch, but even kitsch has charm in some way.

TwiliteKid said:

You've got your facts wrong: Time Warner hasn't owned Warner Music since 2011. And Warner Music doens't own any radio stations.

That's just scribbling. My statement is still valid in the grand scheme of things.
The guy is not in their top priorities, whatever the level he's getting stucked into.

^ AOA is a Prince cartoon. I think every single bit of that Daft Punk Goes Pop sound is intentional. The chipmunk as well, a Camille turned Ol'Bitch.
Prince is parodying himself on most of the songs, and opens only briefly on Way Back Home (same as he did on the Emancipation disc II with The Holy River).

V10LETBLUES said:

^

there is nothing as corny AOA in music today. Someone on here mentioned that his sound had become kitsch, but even kitsch has charm in some way.

*

At first I was going to say that you must have never heard anything by 2 Chain, but then I realized that terrible doesn't always mean corny. So, is it that AOA is corny, meaning inauthentic, or is it the production quality that you dislike? And, it could be both. Also, what is the difference between tongue and cheek and corny? I don't think that Prince is saying look at my hip hop production skills with songs like "FunknRoll," "U Know," and "AoC" but moreso having fun making fun of things while also working this theme of plastic/disposable art or that the popularity of reality tv is really a metaphor for how humans seem to always embrace dysfunction over positivity. The entire album seems more like Prince just playing with different sounds, having fun, and blending those styles very well for my taste--at least much better than he did with Graffiti Bridge, which is a fragmented mess although it still has a few songs that I love. For me, corny, inauthentic, is "Mr. Goodnight," which may be the worst song ever in the history of mankind making sounds. With that song, Prince is clearly saying, "look at my suave hip hop skills," to which I say "Hell, naw, playa...hell naw." So, that's why I was trying to get a better understanding of flawed production quality because it's been said by a few regarding AOA, and I'd like to have something that would give me a better idea so that even if I don't agree I'll, at least, be able to understand from where folks are coming. Finally, does it matter that in preparation for his article, C. Liegh McInnis surveyed 212 high school and college students, and not one of them graded "FunknRoll" and "U Know" lower than "fair" from choices of "great," "good," "fair," and "poor," "terrible," and eighty-eight percent of them graded them as "good" or better? I'm wondering if that speaks to whether or not young people would view the songs as corny and whether or not better promotion would have helped AOA and PlecElec find their audience.

1725topp said:

RODSERLING said:

Where do you see negativity in my posts ? I'm only talking about facts. These albums flopped terribly, that's a fact. They never went #1, that's a fact. Keep dreaming about it if you want.

For sure, Prince could have make them best seller, especially AOA, but he decided it another way.

Reeditions is the only way for Prince to be relevant again, to be considered as a great artist again. Fact is that he's losing fans album after album. His best music was in the WB era, and there is so much unreleased stuff from this era that deserves a release, much better than some shit as STOP THIS TRAIN or ART OFFICIAL CAGE.

How can you cope with the fact that PE (a #1 album, only according to you and an obscure sub chart) sold 3 times less than AOA, which means 70.000 in the world ?

How can you cope with the fact that AOA doesn't make the 150 best selling album LIST of 2014 ? and that PE is surely not even on the top 300 ? Very low for a #1 album don't you think ?

*

I've been collecting (studio and live, audio and video) since 1989/90, and the vast majority of the unreleased studio stuff is, frankly, unmemorable. Now, I love the live (audio and video), but for ninety percent of the studio stuff I've heard, I have the same reaction: "I see why it didn't make the album." So, people clamoring for all this unreleased work to be released are just "stuck in an era" or are "deluding themselves that the unreleased studio stuff is better than it actually is." I could care less about reeditions and the "grand" opening of the vault. If you think that releasing work that has aged badly or wasn't good enough to be released thirty years ago will make Prince relevant, then you truly are delusional. But, hey, keep on waiting for the Great Pumpkin to arrive. I'll enjoy two number one albums that have sold, on average, how most music sells these days giving the fact that many people refuse to pay for anyone's music. And, yes, "Stop this Train," "Art Official Cage," "Gold Standard," "Wow," "Pretzelbodylogic," "Clouds," "Time," "FunknRoll (both versions)," "Anotherlove" (even though it's not his song), and "WayBackHome" are a lot better than most of the subpar stuff that should remain in the vault. And, I'll add to this list that I like "RocknRoll Love Affair" and "Screwdriver" much more than a lot of the vault stuff that I've heard over the past twenty-four years. Did you really say that opening the vault would make Prince relevant again??? That may be the funniest thing I've heard in a long time. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have quality video and audio of his live work, but a proper promotion of AOA and PlecElec would do much more to make Prince relevant--and we'd still have to discuss how we are defining relevant--than releasing subpar, dated songs. But, again, you keep on waiting for the Great Pumpkin. I'm just glad that Prince has constructed his career in a manner that I can still get his current music and that his music still moves me. I just hope that when his music stops moving me that I have the sense to move to something that moves me rather than remaining a bitter or delusional fan hoping for Purple Rain II and bashing every thing for not being Purple Rain II as well as bashing people for liking anything that's not Purple Rain II.

Oh my god, if there is nothing else better than STOP THIS TRAIN in the vault, I understand your point of view. I think it's extremely exagerated, though.

What is PURPLE RAIN 2 ?

And how could Prince release an album again ?

bonatoc said:

TwiliteKid said:

You've got your facts wrong: Time Warner hasn't owned Warner Music since 2011. And Warner Music doens't own any radio stations.

That's just scribbling. My statement is still valid in the grand scheme of things.
The guy is not in their top priorities, whatever the level he's getting stucked into.

^ AOA is a Prince cartoon. I think every single bit of that Daft Punk Goes Pop sound is intentional. The chipmunk as well, a Camille turned Ol'Bitch.
Prince is parodying himself on most of the songs, and opens only briefly on Way Back Home (same as he did on the Emancipation disc II with The Holy River).

The Holy river did very well on pop radio. What does the fact that Prince is parodying himself has to do with his performances on radio ? There is pure shit on radio everyday. Quality has nothing to do with radio.

RODSERLING said:

1725topp said:

*

Oh, now I see your issue; you're one of those stuck in the past people waiting on reeditions. Well, whatever floats y'all's boat. I'm just glad that I'm not sitting around waiting on something as irrelevant as reeditions and can enjoy the fact that Prince--once again--had two number one albums, and, more importantly, had two albums that I enjoy. I'm sorry; you can return to waiting on Godot...err...I mean the Great Pumpkin...err...I mean...reeditions. Wow...really???...You're so funny...in a sad pitiful sort of way. All this negativity and browbeating because you're waiting on reeditions? Sad really.

Where do you see negativity in my posts ? I'm only talking about facts. These albums flopped terribly, that's a fact. They never went #1, that's a fact. Keep dreaming about it if you want.

For sure, Prince could have make them best seller, especially AOA, but he decided it another way.

Reeditions is the only way for Prince to be relevant again, to be considered as a great artist again. Fact is that he's losing fans album after album. His best music was in the WB era, and there is so much unreleased stuff from this era that deserves a release, much better than some shit as STOP THIS TRAIN or ART OFFICIAL CAGE.

How can you cope with the fact that PE (a #1 album, only according to you and an obscure sub chart) sold 3 times less than AOA, which means 70.000 in the world ?

How can you cope with the fact that AOA doesn't make the 150 best selling album LIST of 2014 ? and that PE is surely not even on the top 300 ? Very low for a #1 album don't you think ?

laurarichardson said:

RODSERLING said:

Where do you see negativity in my posts ? I'm only talking about facts. These albums flopped terribly, that's a fact. They never went #1, that's a fact. Keep dreaming about it if you want.

For sure, Prince could have make them best seller, especially AOA, but he decided it another way.

Reeditions is the only way for Prince to be relevant again, to be considered as a great artist again. Fact is that he's losing fans album after album. His best music was in the WB era, and there is so much unreleased stuff from this era that deserves a release, much better than some shit as STOP THIS TRAIN or ART OFFICIAL CAGE.

How can you cope with the fact that PE (a #1 album, only according to you and an obscure sub chart) sold 3 times less than AOA, which means 70.000 in the world ?

How can you cope with the fact that AOA doesn't make the 150 best selling album LIST of 2014 ? and that PE is surely not even on the top 300 ? Very low for a #1 album don't you think ?

------- You are not speaking about the facts. AOA was at number 15 on the RnB Billboard chart last week. Someone is buying that CD and as long as the CD is on some Billboard chart it is not a failure. Just the fact that it still on the chart with no radio airplay means he has fans. Just the fact that he could sell out 50k seats at the Superdome a few mo n

I'm only speaking about facts here. Number 15 on rnb charts ? Are you kidding, that means about 800 ex., not enough to appear on the BB 200.

There are 800 people that benefited from the black friday sales, AOA at 7 dollars. Waoh, what a way to make business.

If he has really lots of fans, why AOA doesn't reach the poor 100 k mark two months after release ?

He should have reach this mark during the first week already, if he had done things properly.

Why even on this board some fans doesn't buy the albums ?

Of course there is (almost) no promotion, but even RAINBOW CHILDREN sold 500 k worldwide.

RODSERLING said:

1725topp said:

*

I've been collecting (studio and live, audio and video) since 1989/90, and the vast majority of the unreleased studio stuff is, frankly, unmemorable. Now, I love the live (audio and video), but for ninety percent of the studio stuff I've heard, I have the same reaction: "I see why it didn't make the album." So, people clamoring for all this unreleased work to be released are just "stuck in an era" or are "deluding themselves that the unreleased studio stuff is better than it actually is." I could care less about reeditions and the "grand" opening of the vault. If you think that releasing work that has aged badly or wasn't good enough to be released thirty years ago will make Prince relevant, then you truly are delusional. But, hey, keep on waiting for the Great Pumpkin to arrive. I'll enjoy two number one albums that have sold, on average, how most music sells these days giving the fact that many people refuse to pay for anyone's music. And, yes, "Stop this Train," "Art Official Cage," "Gold Standard," "Wow," "Pretzelbodylogic," "Clouds," "Time," "FunknRoll (both versions)," "Anotherlove" (even though it's not his song), and "WayBackHome" are a lot better than most of the subpar stuff that should remain in the vault. And, I'll add to this list that I like "RocknRoll Love Affair" and "Screwdriver" much more than a lot of the vault stuff that I've heard over the past twenty-four years. Did you really say that opening the vault would make Prince relevant again??? That may be the funniest thing I've heard in a long time. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have quality video and audio of his live work, but a proper promotion of AOA and PlecElec would do much more to make Prince relevant--and we'd still have to discuss how we are defining relevant--than releasing subpar, dated songs. But, again, you keep on waiting for the Great Pumpkin. I'm just glad that Prince has constructed his career in a manner that I can still get his current music and that his music still moves me. I just hope that when his music stops moving me that I have the sense to move to something that moves me rather than remaining a bitter or delusional fan hoping for Purple Rain II and bashing every thing for not being Purple Rain II as well as bashing people for liking anything that's not Purple Rain II.

Oh my god, if there is nothing else better than STOP THIS TRAIN in the vault, I understand your point of view. I think it's extremely exagerated, though.

What is PURPLE RAIN 2 ?

And how could Prince release an album again ?

*

No, it's not exaggerated. That's how I feel about most of the unreleased studio stuff that I've heard. To me, most of it is subpar, which is why I could care less about it being released and is also why I don't think that releasing that mostly subpar and dated material could make him relevant. (Of course, it seems to me that Prince is comfortable with is place or relevance, and I have no reason to be upset about his place or relevance since I can still access his new work. If there comes a time that I cannot access his new work, then I'll worry about his relevance.) At most, releasing the unreleased studio stuff will only satisfy his "hard-core" fans, however that term/group is defined, but the release would go mostly unrecognized by those millions of folk you seem to desire to be fans of Prince, which is unrealistic if we review his history to show that Prince, besides Purple Rain and a few other moments, has mostly been an artist who, while greatly respected, has mostly a niche following. Again, Dirty Mind and Controversy would have probably never sold enough to become gold records had it not been for the success of Purple Rain, but during the early Eighties while I was enjoying Dirty Mind and Controversy I wasn't sitting around hoping that something would happen to make Prince more relevant so that more people would purchase Dirty Mind and Controversy. I just enjoyed what I considered great art regardless of how few people like it. I never once thought, "Damn, Dirty Mind/Controversy is not on the charts; Prince must not be relevant," and I certainly never thought prior to 1983, "Damn, Prince is only on the R&B charts; he must not be relevant. Should I stop liking/listening to this stuff?"

*

And your "What is Purple Rain 2? And how could Prince release an album again?" seems to be an exercise in hyperbole or "extreme exaggeration," as the phrase is a metaphor for the manner in which most folks on this site are stuck on "he ain't done nothing good since the Eighties" "or "since Wendy and Lisa have been gone" or "please just give me the unreleased work from the Eighties." Or, to quote Prince himself, "You know how easy it would have been to open Around the World in a Day with the same solo of "Let's Go Crazy" just in a different key?" So, even Prince was/is clear that most people wanted and still want Purple Rain II, and he's spent years affirming that his past is his past and he's own to something else. Additionally, most people know that "2" or "II" means or indicates sequel and not the same thing, and to quote Billy Sparks, "You ain't too far gone to know that."

1725topp said:

RODSERLING said:

Oh my god, if there is nothing else better than STOP THIS TRAIN in the vault, I understand your point of view. I think it's extremely exagerated, though.

What is PURPLE RAIN 2 ?

And how could Prince release an album again ?

*

No, it's not exaggerated. That's how I feel about most of the unreleased studio stuff that I've heard. To me, most of it is subpar, which is why I could care less about it being released and is also why I don't think that releasing that mostly subpar and dated material could make him relevant. (Of course, it seems to me that Prince is comfortable with is place or relevance, and I have no reason to be upset about his place or relevance since I can still access his new work. If there comes a time that I cannot access his new work, then I'll worry about his relevance.) At most, releasing the unreleased studio stuff will only satisfy his "hard-core" fans, however that term/group is defined, but the release would go mostly unrecognized by those millions of folk you seem to desire to be fans of Prince, which is unrealistic if we review his history to show that Prince, besides Purple Rain and a few other moments, has mostly been an artist who, while greatly respected, has mostly a niche following. Again, Dirty Mind and Controversy would have probably never sold enough to become gold records had it not been for the success of Purple Rain, but during the early Eighties while I was enjoying Dirty Mind and Controversy I wasn't sitting around hoping that something would happen to make Prince more relevant so that more people would purchase Dirty Mind and Controversy. I just enjoyed what I considered great art regardless of how few people like it. I never once thought, "Damn, Dirty Mind/Controversy is not on the charts; Prince must not be relevant," and I certainly never thought prior to 1983, "Damn, Prince is only on the R&B charts; he must not be relevant. Should I stop liking/listening to this stuff?"

*

And your "What is Purple Rain 2? And how could Prince release an album again?" seems to be an exercise in hyperbole or "extreme exaggeration," as the phrase is a metaphor for the manner in which most folks on this site are stuck on "he ain't done nothing good since the Eighties" "or "since Wendy and Lisa have been gone" or "please just give me the unreleased work from the Eighties." Or, to quote Prince himself, "You know how easy it would have been to open Around the World in a Day with the same solo of "Let's Go Crazy" just in a different key?" So, even Prince was/is clear that most people wanted and still want Purple Rain II, and he's spent years affirming that his past is his past and he's own to something else. Additionally, most people know that "2" or "II" means or indicates sequel and not the same thing, and to quote Billy Sparks, "You ain't too far gone to know that."

I understand your point of view, but really, it's a topic about charts and sales. No connections with supposed quality at all.

ATWIAD is a commercial album too. It could have sold better if Prince had done a tour, and more music videos, especially for POP LIFE and AMERICA, and if it had not been released so close to PURPLE RAIN. Anyway, it's the same problem with every Prince's album.

If Prince had opened ATWIAD with the same solo in a different key, it wouldn't have worked for the critics, the large audience, the fans ,etc. Why would he have done that ? It's just a joke.

When you release an album with a major record that doesn't reach the 100 k mark worldwide two months after(cf PLECTRUM ELECTRUM) despite having been in tour for years, despite playing on the SNL, something is wrong.

it's cool you're enjoying Prince new music, but frankly you belong to a very small niche. That's the reason why it's impossible that Prince release another album. He won't do it himslef, and no major rcord would be so crazy to to do that again.

CONTROVERSY had a better chartrun, and it contains some singles that charted. It was a success underground, when most black artist were only "gold" or platinum" at that time. It was a tough time for selling records. 1982 was a very weak year in term of album sales.

RODSERLING said:

1725topp said:

*

No, it's not exaggerated. That's how I feel about most of the unreleased studio stuff that I've heard. To me, most of it is subpar, which is why I could care less about it being released and is also why I don't think that releasing that mostly subpar and dated material could make him relevant. (Of course, it seems to me that Prince is comfortable with is place or relevance, and I have no reason to be upset about his place or relevance since I can still access his new work. If there comes a time that I cannot access his new work, then I'll worry about his relevance.) At most, releasing the unreleased studio stuff will only satisfy his "hard-core" fans, however that term/group is defined, but the release would go mostly unrecognized by those millions of folk you seem to desire to be fans of Prince, which is unrealistic if we review his history to show that Prince, besides Purple Rain and a few other moments, has mostly been an artist who, while greatly respected, has mostly a niche following. Again, Dirty Mind and Controversy would have probably never sold enough to become gold records had it not been for the success of Purple Rain, but during the early Eighties while I was enjoying Dirty Mind and Controversy I wasn't sitting around hoping that something would happen to make Prince more relevant so that more people would purchase Dirty Mind and Controversy. I just enjoyed what I considered great art regardless of how few people like it. I never once thought, "Damn, Dirty Mind/Controversy is not on the charts; Prince must not be relevant," and I certainly never thought prior to 1983, "Damn, Prince is only on the R&B charts; he must not be relevant. Should I stop liking/listening to this stuff?"

*

And your "What is Purple Rain 2? And how could Prince release an album again?" seems to be an exercise in hyperbole or "extreme exaggeration," as the phrase is a metaphor for the manner in which most folks on this site are stuck on "he ain't done nothing good since the Eighties" "or "since Wendy and Lisa have been gone" or "please just give me the unreleased work from the Eighties." Or, to quote Prince himself, "You know how easy it would have been to open Around the World in a Day with the same solo of "Let's Go Crazy" just in a different key?" So, even Prince was/is clear that most people wanted and still want Purple Rain II, and he's spent years affirming that his past is his past and he's own to something else. Additionally, most people know that "2" or "II" means or indicates sequel and not the same thing, and to quote Billy Sparks, "You ain't too far gone to know that."

I understand your point of view, but really, it's a topic about charts and sales. No connections with supposed quality at all.

ATWIAD is a commercial album too. It could have sold better if Prince had done a tour, and more music videos, especially for POP LIFE and AMERICA, and if it had not been released so close to PURPLE RAIN. Anyway, it's the same problem with every Prince's album.

If Prince had opened ATWIAD with the same solo in a different key, it wouldn't have worked for the critics, the large audience, the fans ,etc. Why would he have done that ? It's just a joke.

When you release an album with a major record that doesn't reach the 100 k mark worldwide two months after(cf PLECTRUM ELECTRUM) despite having been in tour for years, despite playing on the SNL, something is wrong.

it's cool you're enjoying Prince new music, but frankly you belong to a very small niche. That's the reason why it's impossible that Prince release another album. He won't do it himslef, and no major rcord would be so crazy to to do that again.

CONTROVERSY had a better chartrun, and it contains some singles that charted. It was a success underground, when most black artist were only "gold" or platinum" at that time. It was a tough time for selling records. 1982 was a very weak year in term of album sales.

Two things,

1. AOA has passed the 100k mark worlwide, I've been keeping track of the charts since day 1.

PE has not. It hasn't even passed 75k.

2. 1982 was one of the best years in sales... Because of one particular album that was released on November 30, 1982... You probably know who ithat is, it only became the worlds biggest selling album.

feeluupp said:

RODSERLING said:

I understand your point of view, but really, it's a topic about charts and sales. No connections with supposed quality at all.

ATWIAD is a commercial album too. It could have sold better if Prince had done a tour, and more music videos, especially for POP LIFE and AMERICA, and if it had not been released so close to PURPLE RAIN. Anyway, it's the same problem with every Prince's album.

If Prince had opened ATWIAD with the same solo in a different key, it wouldn't have worked for the critics, the large audience, the fans ,etc. Why would he have done that ? It's just a joke.

When you release an album with a major record that doesn't reach the 100 k mark worldwide two months after(cf PLECTRUM ELECTRUM) despite having been in tour for years, despite playing on the SNL, something is wrong.

it's cool you're enjoying Prince new music, but frankly you belong to a very small niche. That's the reason why it's impossible that Prince release another album. He won't do it himslef, and no major rcord would be so crazy to to do that again.

CONTROVERSY had a better chartrun, and it contains some singles that charted. It was a success underground, when most black artist were only "gold" or platinum" at that time. It was a tough time for selling records. 1982 was a very weak year in term of album sales.

Two things,

1. AOA has passed the 100k mark worlwide, I've been keeping track of the charts since day 1.

PE has not. It hasn't even passed 75k.

2. 1982 was one of the best years in sales... Because of one particular album that was released on November 30, 1982... You probably know who ithat is, it only became the worlds biggest selling album.

1. You misread : I was talking about PE that didn't reach the 100 mark yet. And it never won't.

2. On 1982 THRILLER didn't even crack the top ten IIRC. It was in 1983 that the album exploded. 1982 is well known to be a poor year year in term of sales, barely 300 millions album sold in the USA. that's why the THRILLER figures is more impressive, beyond the charts and sales thing. THRILLER was one of the best thing that ever happened to the whole record industry.

RODSERLING said:

1725topp said:

*

No, it's not exaggerated. That's how I feel about most of the unreleased studio stuff that I've heard. To me, most of it is subpar, which is why I could care less about it being released and is also why I don't think that releasing that mostly subpar and dated material could make him relevant. (Of course, it seems to me that Prince is comfortable with is place or relevance, and I have no reason to be upset about his place or relevance since I can still access his new work. If there comes a time that I cannot access his new work, then I'll worry about his relevance.) At most, releasing the unreleased studio stuff will only satisfy his "hard-core" fans, however that term/group is defined, but the release would go mostly unrecognized by those millions of folk you seem to desire to be fans of Prince, which is unrealistic if we review his history to show that Prince, besides Purple Rain and a few other moments, has mostly been an artist who, while greatly respected, has mostly a niche following. Again, Dirty Mind and Controversy would have probably never sold enough to become gold records had it not been for the success of Purple Rain, but during the early Eighties while I was enjoying Dirty Mind and Controversy I wasn't sitting around hoping that something would happen to make Prince more relevant so that more people would purchase Dirty Mind and Controversy. I just enjoyed what I considered great art regardless of how few people like it. I never once thought, "Damn, Dirty Mind/Controversy is not on the charts; Prince must not be relevant," and I certainly never thought prior to 1983, "Damn, Prince is only on the R&B charts; he must not be relevant. Should I stop liking/listening to this stuff?"

*

And your "What is Purple Rain 2? And how could Prince release an album again?" seems to be an exercise in hyperbole or "extreme exaggeration," as the phrase is a metaphor for the manner in which most folks on this site are stuck on "he ain't done nothing good since the Eighties" "or "since Wendy and Lisa have been gone" or "please just give me the unreleased work from the Eighties." Or, to quote Prince himself, "You know how easy it would have been to open Around the World in a Day with the same solo of "Let's Go Crazy" just in a different key?" So, even Prince was/is clear that most people wanted and still want Purple Rain II, and he's spent years affirming that his past is his past and he's own to something else. Additionally, most people know that "2" or "II" means or indicates sequel and not the same thing, and to quote Billy Sparks, "You ain't too far gone to know that."

I understand your point of view, but really, it's a topic about charts and sales. No connections with supposed quality at all.

ATWIAD is a commercial album too. It could have sold better if Prince had done a tour, and more music videos, especially for POP LIFE and AMERICA, and if it had not been released so close to PURPLE RAIN. Anyway, it's the same problem with every Prince's album.

If Prince had opened ATWIAD with the same solo in a different key, it wouldn't have worked for the critics, the large audience, the fans ,etc. Why would he have done that ? It's just a joke.

When you release an album with a major record that doesn't reach the 100 k mark worldwide two months after(cf PLECTRUM ELECTRUM) despite having been in tour for years, despite playing on the SNL, something is wrong.

it's cool you're enjoying Prince new music, but frankly you belong to a very small niche. That's the reason why it's impossible that Prince release another album. He won't do it himslef, and no major rcord would be so crazy to to do that again.

CONTROVERSY had a better chartrun, and it contains some singles that charted. It was a success underground, when most black artist were only "gold" or platinum" at that time. It was a tough time for selling records. 1982 was a very weak year in term of album sales.

*

I understand that its a topic about charts and sales, but I still disagree that AOA or PlecElec's performance on the charts will limit Prince from releasing new albums. Yes, Prince is stuck in the old model, wanting as much money as possible upfront for his work. While we all know that those days are gone, especially for him, that's not the sole reason it's taking longer between releases. I know we minimize this aspect, but Prince is 56. And, 56 ain't 26 no matter how much Photoshop one uses. Yet, even with the increasing time between releases, one thing has been proven as fact; Prince finds a way to release new music, even if it is infrequently. So, that's why I don't understand the alarm about Prince's sales and Prince's shrinking audience. As I've said before, that's the nature of most artists' narrative arc. Additionally, Prince doesn't want to be Michael Jackson or anyone else who is judged mostly by sales and charts. He seems to be cool with being a niche artist, and as long as I'm able to access his work, which history shows that I will be able to do, I don't sweat how charting and sales will impact that. If I awake one morning and it's 2020 and we have not received a new Prince album since AOA and PlecElec, then I'll say, "Damn, Rodserling was right." But, I find it highly unlikely that we will not have a new Prince album by the end of 2016, 2017 at the latest, making all this concern over sales and charting much to do about nothing.

*

Your comments regarding Around the World in a Day make it seem as if it was well-received by the critics and mass audience when in fact after the sales and charts were not what Warner Bros had hoped there became pressure to release a couple of more videos. Most critics and fans were lukewarm to ATWIAD because it is so eclectic. In fact, I used to keep these two reviews, one of Controversy and one of ATWIAD, because they were so similar in which both writers assert that Prince is full of promise but usually offers frustration and bewilderment, both ending with a statement, such as "I guess that's how it will always be with this guy." (What I have in quotes is what I remember directly from the Controversy review.) So, saying that the notion of him opening the album with the solo from "Let's Go Crazy" in another key is a joke seems to assert that ATWIAD was loved and well received when it was not. The whole point of his statement was to show that if he wanted to make it more acceptable/popular he could have but he chose not to do so. (Additionally, why would he need to make this statement if the album was meeting financial expectations. It wasn't meeting financial expectations, which is why he ended his Rolling Stone interview with: "I've heard some people say that I'm not talking about anything on this record...And if we're wrong, and I'm wrong, and there is nothing, then big deal! But the whole life I just spent, I at least had some reason to spend it." This statement shows that the response to ATWIAD was, at best, lukewarm and that he didn't care.) Furthermore, his statement regarding changing the key of the solo is no different than his statement about the Prince album when he stated "That record was for the company; I know how to write hits when I need to." So, clearly, Prince was responding to he negative, lukewarm, or less than expected reception of ATWIAD. It was considered by media and casual fans as a major let down, showing that Prince, himself, was not concerned with charting and sales as much as the record company and his fans. As he stated in the 1986 radio interview with Electrifying Mojo (iirc), "Hit records keeps money in my pockets and all these people around, but that's about it." And, your points about ATWIAD being released so soon after Purple Rain and the lack of a tour and a lack videos proves my point that worrying about charting and sales misses the point of being a Prince fan. As you even indicate, his lack of promotion for AOA is typical Prince.

*

Again, your comments about PlecElec don't tell the whole story. One, the only people who knew about the LOL Tour in which he played lots of 3rd Eye Girl inspired work were hardcore fans and the people in the cities where the shows were. There was no national or international buzz because the tour, if we can call it that, never seemed like more than a regional thing. And, to be clear, I have lots of boots from that tour, and I love it!!! But, I can't say that he was promoting PlecElec because he wasn't. Most people who are not on this site could not tell you what Prince has been doing for the past four years. So, can we really say that Prince was engaged in a promotional tour for PlecElec? Two, while I loved Prince's SNL performance, Prince battles being seen as weird, outdated, and too eclectic. As for the casual fans, white folks want him to play rock, black fans want R&B, and all of them are still looking for that Purple Rain dude. So, I'll give you the SNL point, but there was no "tour" for PlecElec, and there was no follow-up to SNL. Yet, this says to me that, again, Prince seems cool with where he is because, again, there is no merit to the notion that Prince will never release another album. Based on Prince's lack of promotion, there is nothing wrong other than Prince not wanting to play the game, but that does not mean that we will not get another album.

*

In perspective to its time, Controversy was a poorly performing album as it relates to "mega-success" and, again, did not become a gold record until after Purple Rain. So, if gold was the standard for African-American artists, then the two albums that are considered Prince essentials--Dirty Mind and Controversy--were substandard as it relates to charting and sales. But, since this is not a quality discussion but a charting and sales discussion, I'll end where I began. While the albums will come infrequently, they will come regardless of how they perform on the charts because Prince's own history speaks to this. Now, as far as new editions and re-releases, you may be right that it is very unlikely that a major will risk the loss on this project, but, again, I don't care about that aspect because I am so much more interested in AOA and PlecElec than much of the vault material. So, if your ultimate point is that AOA and PlecElec's sales and chart performance will reduce the chances of re-releases of old material, then, okay, but, again, I don't share your displeasure in this. However, if your point is also that AOA and PlecElec's sales and chart performance mean that we will never get another Prince album, there is nothing in Prince's recent (past fourteen year history) that affirms this. The only thing that it seems will hinder/stop Prince from releasing new albums is age not sales or chart positions. And even if were just get a bunch of single releases, that should please the fans who like to compile their own albums anyway. Prior to the release of AOA and PlecElec we all had more than enough material for an album, and even after the release of AOA and PlecElec most of us are including many of those unreleased songs in our AOA/PlecElec playlist; I have a total of 40 songs in my AOA/PlecElec playlist. So, there is nothing in Prince's recent history that indicates that I should be worried that Prince will not be releasing new material well into his sixties. And, if age finally does stop him, then it's been a wonderful ride as I have enough music to last a lifetime.

RODSERLING said:

laurarichardson said:

------- You are not speaking about the facts. AOA was at number 15 on the RnB Billboard chart last week. Someone is buying that CD and as long as the CD is on some Billboard chart it is not a failure. Just the fact that it still on the chart with no radio airplay means he has fans. Just the fact that he could sell out 50k seats at the Superdome a few mo n

I'm only speaking about facts here. Number 15 on rnb charts ? Are you kidding, that means about 800 ex., not enough to appear on the BB 200.

There are 800 people that benefited from the black friday sales, AOA at 7 dollars. Waoh, what a way to make business.

If he has really lots of fans, why AOA doesn't reach the poor 100 k mark two months after release ?

He should have reach this mark during the first week already, if he had done things properly.

Why even on this board some fans doesn't buy the albums ?

Of course there is (almost) no promotion, but even RAINBOW CHILDREN sold 500 k worldwide.