Carlos Santana was going to end up playing Black Magic Woman at oldies concerts for the rest of his life before the Arista Records comeback strategy with the Supernatural album (1999) - buoyed by younger and more commercial radio-ready artists (Dave Matthews, CeeLo Green, Lauryn Hill) - got him on the charts and several Grammy awards. He was 55 and pretty much where Prince is now: highly respected elder statesman who isnt nearly as popular as he once was.

I remember thinking that Prince's deal with Arista on the Rave album was a copy of this strategy with "help" from Gwen Stefani (who was probably the most popular young pop star at the time), Sheryl Crow, CHuck D, and Eve. Like Santana, he surrounded himself with established artists with talent - more than ever before in his astonishing career.

Could Prince still be trying to do this but with lesser talents with no accomplishments and way less experience?

FUNKYNESS said:

Carlos Santana was going to end up playing Black Magic Woman at oldies concerts for the rest of his life before the Arista Records comeback strategy with the Supernatural album (1999) - buoyed by younger and more commercial radio-ready artists (Dave Matthews, CeeLo Green, Lauryn Hill) - got him on the charts and several Grammy awards. He was 55 and pretty much where Prince is now: highly respected elder statesman who isnt nearly as popular as he once was.

I remember thinking that Prince's deal with Arista on the Rave album was a copy of this strategy with "help" from Gwen Stefani (who was probably the most popular young pop star at the time), Sheryl Crow, CHuck D, and Eve. Like Santana, he surrounded himself with established artists with talent - more than ever before in his astonishing career.

Could Prince still be trying to do this but with lesser talents with no accomplishments and way less experience?

I believe Clive Davis orchestrated all those collaborations --- I don't think he was left to find them himself, it was very much curated ....

Yes, they followed the same strategy and it worked wonders for Carlos and failed miserably for "The Artist"...

terrig said:

FUNKYNESS said:

Carlos Santana was going to end up playing Black Magic Woman at oldies concerts for the rest of his life before the Arista Records comeback strategy with the Supernatural album (1999) - buoyed by younger and more commercial radio-ready artists (Dave Matthews, CeeLo Green, Lauryn Hill) - got him on the charts and several Grammy awards. He was 55 and pretty much where Prince is now: highly respected elder statesman who isnt nearly as popular as he once was.

I remember thinking that Prince's deal with Arista on the Rave album was a copy of this strategy with "help" from Gwen Stefani (who was probably the most popular young pop star at the time), Sheryl Crow, CHuck D, and Eve. Like Santana, he surrounded himself with established artists with talent - more than ever before in his astonishing career.

Could Prince still be trying to do this but with lesser talents with no accomplishments and way less experience?

I believe Clive Davis orchestrated all those collaborations --- I don't think he was left to find them himself, it was very much curated ....

RIght - I did not say Santana arranged anything - he went along with the master plan to use those hotter artists to launch a comeback that people would notice - and it worked like a charm for getting recognition, awards, and sales.

More like Cher's playbook.

Lots of filtered vocals. Prince releases TCBU for a second time. Cher repeatedly adds "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" to her albums. FALLINLOVE2NITE pairs awfully well with "Believe" (the song).
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