Most fans agree that BATMAN was the most unstellar album of his 80's glory days, and just a mediocre, not bad, but mediocre album at best.

While I personally think Scandalous is one of his best ballads ever, and Vicki Waiting is an amazing song, I tend to agree everything else on the album is just, well... AVERAGE.

What do you think could've been the saving grace to this album, any unreleased tracks like Dance With The Devil could've made this album better, or was it forever just meant to be more tied to the film and rather constrict more of the artistic freedom Prince would've had making his own concept album rather than an album specifically for the film.

Who made the Batman album? Was it Prince Prince, or was it Prince? That's the real question. Which personality made the album, because it's hard to tell because they sound just alike.

Batman was perfect to me and brought me back to Prince after two subpar albums preceding it. I think it is perfect. The only thing that maybe could make it better is the inclusion of 200 Balloons. Every song on that album was a masterpiece!!

trax said:

Batman was perfect to me and brought me back to Prince after two subpar albums preceding it. I think it is perfect. The only thing that maybe could make it better is the inclusion of 200 Balloons. Every song on that album was a masterpiece!!

If you mean The Black Album and Lovesexy, then you're partly right. If you mean Sign Of The Times, hm...

Scandalous, Batdance and perhaps The Future are still career highlights for me.

I love the Batman album. It's only "Lemon Crush" and "Arms of Orion" that get the skip. But even then, "Arms of Orion" is a nice melody - I just don't like the sappy fake orchestra sounds.

PurpleSkipper58 said:

Replace "The Arms of Orion" with its' B-side, "I Love U In Me"... Replace "Lemon Crush" with "Dance With The Devil". Maybe replace "Vicki Waiting" with "200 Balloons".

Replace "Vicki Waiting" ???

That's one of the best songs on the Batman soundtrack....

I like the Batman album as it is, even if I agree that "Lemon Crush" is a weak track (I tend sometimes to skip it).

It would be great to have "Dance With The Devil" included, but I can understand why it was replaced.

I think also P made a smart move editing "Batdance" from its original lenght, the portions removed are unnecessary.

One thing I would liked at the time was the release of a "Batman Remixed" CD (I like all of the mixes, from the released ones to the unreleased ones).

To say:

"The Future (Remix)"

"Electric Chair (Remix)"

"The Arms Of Orion (......)"

"Partyman (Video Mix)"

"Vicky Waiting (Extended Remix)"

"Trust (Shep Pettibone Remix)

"Lemon Crush (......)"

"Scandalous (The Scandalous Sex Suite)"

"Batdance (a combination of the "Batmix" and "The Vicky Vale Mix")

All in all, to me it was a great era.

Partyman is one of his best dancejams and overall during the 80's . Waaay to overlooked. It's so intence. Love that track!

just add "Dance With The Devil"

He should of kept Dance with the Devil on there, I usually skip Scandalous. I prefer Insatiable in that respect. Arms of Orion is kinda ech but I listen to it more than Scandalous.

Sorry, Lemon Crush is dope.

SoulAlive said:

"Lemon Crush" seems like a filler track,so let's replace it with a stronger,better song that actually deals with the movie's storyline. I don't really have any problems with the other tracks.I even like "The Arms of Orion"!

Exactly. It has the exact some groove as one of the songs on the Minneapolis Genius/94 East album.

PurpleSkipper58 said:

Replace "The Arms of Orion" with its' B-side, "I Love U In Me"... Replace "Lemon Crush" with "Dance With The Devil". Maybe replace "Vicki Waiting" with "200 Balloons".

"Maybe" being the operative word.

Don't you touch "Vicki Waiting", you criminal.

toejam said:

I love the Batman album. It's only "Lemon Crush" and "Arms of Orion" that get the skip. But even then, "Arms of Orion" is a nice melody - I just don't like the sappy fake orchestra sounds.

Never understood why "The Arms Of Orion" did not get the Clare Fischer treatment.
Whatcha gonna do. Prince loves its saccharine. I hate it when he does that,
but he has a right to bad taste.

That coda sounds like a fucking 11 year old ballet, it's just ridiculous. He insisted years later with Mayte and her dance company or whatever that was.

Oddly enough, "Strays Of The World" is also ridiculous, but somehow manages to stand on the edge of being interesting.

[Edited 12/9/15 16:34pm]

I've always liked this album. Just as it is. To improve it I would make it a deluxe edition with the B-sides, remixes and the best outtakes.

homesquid said:

I've always liked this album. Just as it is. To improve it I would make it a deluxe edition with the B-sides, remixes and the best outtakes.

That's the "Homemade Deluxe" version you're talking about. Go grab it.

Love U In Me is from that era?

214 said:

Love U In Me is from that era?

Yes... Its the B-SIDE to the most loved track on BATMAN... The Arms Of Orion.

I think I got it. When he says "surgery", he must refer to the very precise gestures she has when she strokes the Purple shaft. Dirty Kim.
It's hard not to think of surgical blades and desinfection when you hear "surgery".

Surgeon General warning: poor choice of lyrics.

[Edited 12/9/15 19:05pm]

NewYorkCity said:

Sorry, Lemon Crush is dope.

Yup!

SoulAlive said:

Am I the only one who doesn't really like "Dance With The Devil"? I think it's too slow and boring...it doesn't really go anywhere.

Nope, i'm with you on that. You know its automatically glorified (like most vault songs) BECAUSE it wasn't included. The lyrical content and the film quote are relevant but nahhh. Prince is actually a better editor than he's given credit for in many instances

datdude said:

SoulAlive said:

Am I the only one who doesn't really like "Dance With The Devil"? I think it's too slow and boring...it doesn't really go anywhere.

Nope, i'm with you on that. You know its automatically glorified (like most vault songs) BECAUSE it wasn't included. The lyrical content and the film quote are relevant but nahhh. Prince is actually a better editor than he's given credit for in many instances

It wouldn't have fit with the rest of the album. I also don't think it's anything special.

Wait, really?

feeluupp said:

Angelsoncrack said: