While Batman has a solid org following, I know people tend to leave it in the dust when speaking of Prince's "glory years." A lot of peope rightfully consider it kind of a sellout album loaded with outtakes and not risky like any of his previous ventures from 80-88. Personally, I love it, but I think one thing about it that's strange is that it's a little too minimalistic and bare-sounding sometimes... I love the era/appearance/music, but the album itself lacks the punch of "Purple Rain," "The Gold Experience," and even "Lovesexy." It kind of sounds like Prince holed himself into the studio and recorded it quickly. Pretty bare. Personally, I wish it was fuller-sounding and "bigger."

But anyways, if you were to 'fix' the Batman album into an album worthy of having the title of "just as good as 'Lovesexy'" (even though I think it is), what would you change? Would you add B-sides? Outtakes? Alternate versions?

Overall I'm glad he released this instead of the original Rave

I also had the 'bare, minimalistic' complaint about SOTT. But the live versions from the disc -- wow, wow -- they blow the album versions away and it's my favorite record tied with Purple Rain. I think Batman could go to a whole new level if he did a live movie with this album!

[Edited 7/10/15 16:07pm]

Using just the released songs from this era...

1. Partyman (Long Version)

2. Trust

3. Feel U Up

4. Electric Chair

5. I Love U In Me

6. Vicki Waiting

7. Scandelous (The Crime, The Passion, The Rapture)

Maybe for the CD version, put The Future between Electric Chair and I Love U In Me.

[Edited 7/10/15 16:58pm]

CharismaDove said:

Keep it the same. A great album, 4 fun b-sides and some of his best remixes.

Perfect album to me. Its actually the album that brought meback to Prince after the Reolution broke . Sign ad lovesexy I boght but honestly didn't really get into as complete albums. They both had a few songs I liked alot but Batman as an album blew me away. I remember wearing that album out all day while playing nintendo. No reason to change it unless its a remaster and adding the B-sides to it

bluegangsta said:

Using just the released songs from this era...

1. Partyman (Long Version)

2. Trust

3. Feel U Up

4. Electric Chair

5. I Love U In Me

6. Vicki Waiting

7. Scandelous (The Crime, The Passion, The Rapture)

Maybe for the CD version, put The Future between Electric Chair and I Love U In Me.

[Edited 7/10/15 16:58pm]

This is an interesting track list. I actually think if this was released, the album would be more universally favored.

TwiliteKid said:

CharismaDove said:

While Batman has a solid org following, I know people tend to leave it in the dust when speaking of Prince's "glory years." A lot of peope rightfully consider it kind of a sellout album loaded with outtakes and not risky like any of his previous ventures from 80-88. Personally, I love it, but I think one thing about it that's strange is that it's a little too minimalistic and bare-sounding sometimes... I love the era/appearance/music, but the album itself lacks the punch of "Purple Rain," "The Gold Experience," and even "Lovesexy." It kind of sounds like Prince holed himself into the studio and recorded it quickly. Pretty bare. Personally, I wish it was fuller-sounding and "bigger."

But anyways, if you were to 'fix' the Batman album into an album worthy of having the title of "just as good as 'Lovesexy'" (even though I think it is), what would you change? Would you add B-sides? Outtakes? Alternate versions?

Overall I'm glad he released this instead of the original Rave

"Rightfully" is an interesting choice of words, as is "sellout". It's well known that he'd been a Batman fan since he was a kid. Why wouldn't he have taken the opportunity? As for the sound - listen to the other stuff from late 88 and 89; that's the sound he was exploring at the time. And what out takes are you referring to? Being repurposed from a project he didn't finish doesn't make something an outtake?

He wouldn't be selling out by doing the Batman soundtrack (as you said, it's well-known that he loved it as a kid), but moreso the music recorded for the project is considered a 'sell out.' In almost every review I've read for this album, the complaint of it being 'thrown together' quickly is always followed by it being called a "sellout". Mostly because, and I've read this multiple times, a lot of reviewers say it doesn't cover new ground/doesn't match up to SOTT/Parade/Lovesexy. Like a quick dance-pop album thrown together by Prince with the 'Batman' logo on it to ensure sales. Personally, I think it's amazing, even with the complaints I have. It's just I've seen a lot of people call it a sell-out/lazy album.

As for the 88-89 sounding tracks, you're right. My talking about the minimalism is really just a personal complaint of mine. IMO, "Lovesexy" sounded fuller and I'd prefer if "Batman" did too.

The outtakes: "Dance With The Devil" is, iirc, the only "true" Batman outtake, but some of the other songs of the period, such as "Mind Bells," "Bliss," are really good. And more importantly, the three B-sides -- "Feel U Up," "Sex," and "I Love U in Me" -- are spectacular songs.

[Edited 7/10/15 20:34pm]

jhon00 said:

If minimalistic, then that's not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes minimalistic is good. Plus, it's a fun movie, deserving of fun songs. Batdance is brilliant, a combination of funk, rock, r & b, just brilliant, the whole album is funny funk. Playful, energetic, colorful. [Edited 7/10/15 19:30pm]

I liked the image he was going for in '89. The dark blue/purple clothes, bat symbols everywhere, kind of gothic looking and an interesting change from "Lovesexy."

The Future

Electric Chair

Feel U Up

Partyman

Vicki Waiting

Trust

I Love U In Me

Scandalous

Batdance

....maybe

vicki and electric chair long and 200 balloons.

[Edited 7/11/15 8:03am]

funkomatic said:

Vicki Waiting and Electric Chair should have been the second and third singles.

I'm good with the album as is, although I personally really dislike 'Trust'. In fact, I'm actually sort of embarassed that it's featured so prominently in the movie. But other folks seem to dig it, so maybe it's just me...

"Sex," and "I Love U in Me" -- are spectacular songs.

[Edited 7/10/15 20:34pm]

"Sex" Ugh . Feel U Up on the other hand, a truly spectaluar song.

eyewishuheaven said:

I'm good with the album as is, although I personally really dislike 'Trust'. In fact, I'm actually sort of embarassed that it's featured so prominently in the movie. But other folks seem to dig it, so maybe it's just me...

"Trust" took me a while to get into too. It just seemed kind of boring and repetitive. But since then I've started liking it.

Wolfie87 said:

"Sex," and "I Love U in Me" -- are spectacular songs.

[Edited 7/10/15 20:34pm]

"Sex" Ugh . Feel U Up on the other hand, a truly spectaluar song.

"Feel U Up" is classic, but I kind of wish he'd sung it in his normal voice. The 1981(?) outtake I have of him singing it is in horrible quality but his voice still sounds terrific on the track. Maybe he meant to sound creepy on the final version

On iTunes I always add tracks to Prince albums to make them longer and more interesting. For 'Batman', I tried to make it more of a dance-pop album:

01) The Future [Remix]

02) Electric Chair [SNL Live]

03) The Arms Of Orion

04) Others Here With Us / Dance With The Devil [mash-up]

05) Partyman

06) Vicki Waiting [Extended]

07) Trust

08) Lemon Crush

09) Don't Say U Love Me (not from 1989 but I like the feel of this track amongst these songs)

10) Mind Bells

11) I Love U In Me (wish there was an extended version!)

12) Sex

13) Feel U Up

14) Scandalous! (The Crime, The Passion, The Rapture)

15) Batdance [remix]

Not a sprawling classic like "Dream Factory", but I dig it. It's pure fun

Add some 1988/1989 outakes

.

1. The Future

2. Electric Chair (SNL Live)

3. Dance with the Devil

4. Partyman (Extended video mix)

5. Fuschia Light

6. Cookie Jar

7. Scandalous

8. People Without

9. Blues in C

10. Trust

11. Vicki waiting

12. Rave un2 the Joyfantastic (1988 version)

13. Batdance (Edit)

14. I love u in me

15. Feel u up (Short stroke)

People always do too much...

Just take out Arms of Orion replace SEX... It's fine for a SOUNDTRACK ALBUM.

Adorecream said:

Add some 1988/1989 outakes

.

1. The Future

2. Electric Chair (SNL Live)

3. Dance with the Devil

4. Partyman (Extended video mix)

5. Fuschia Light

6. Cookie Jar

7. Scandalous

8. People Without

9. Blues in C

10. Trust

11. Vicki waiting

12. Rave un2 the Joyfantastic (1988 version)

13. Batdance (Edit)

14. I love u in me

15. Feel u up (Short stroke)

nice!

CharismaDove said:

TwiliteKid said:

CharismaDove said: "Rightfully" is an interesting choice of words, as is "sellout". It's well known that he'd been a Batman fan since he was a kid. Why wouldn't he have taken the opportunity? As for the sound - listen to the other stuff from late 88 and 89; that's the sound he was exploring at the time. And what out takes are you referring to? Being repurposed from a project he didn't finish doesn't make something an outtake?

He wouldn't be selling out by doing the Batman soundtrack (as you said, it's well-known that he loved it as a kid), but moreso the music recorded for the project is considered a 'sell out.' In almost every review I've read for this album, the complaint of it being 'thrown together' quickly is always followed by it being called a "sellout". Mostly because, and I've read this multiple times, a lot of reviewers say it doesn't cover new ground/doesn't match up to SOTT/Parade/Lovesexy. Like a quick dance-pop album thrown together by Prince with the 'Batman' logo on it to ensure sales. Personally, I think it's amazing, even with the complaints I have. It's just I've seen a lot of people call it a sell-out/lazy album.

As for the 88-89 sounding tracks, you're right. My talking about the minimalism is really just a personal complaint of mine. IMO, "Lovesexy" sounded fuller and I'd prefer if "Batman" did too.

The outtakes: "Dance With The Devil" is, iirc, the only "true" Batman outtake, but some of the other songs of the period, such as "Mind Bells," "Bliss," are really good. And more importantly, the three B-sides -- "Feel U Up," "Sex," and "I Love U in Me" -- are spectacular songs.

[Edited 7/10/15 20:34pm]

Gotcha, I see where you're coming from now about the "sellout" label and the sound of the record, and I misread what you meant by outtakes - I thought you were referring to songs on the Batman album as outtakes.

Batastic B-Sides!

the only thing that I would change about this album....

"Lemon Crush" has a great groove,but the lyrics are whack.Either write better lyrics or make it an instrumental.