http://www.startribune.co...377985801/

more 2 read @ the link provided

This vinyl reissue campaign was already in the works before Prince’s death, and started with a remastered version of his 1978 debut album “For You,” timed to Record Store Day on April 16. It seems Warner Bros. is expediting the rest of the series in the wake of his death -- shrewd business, sure, but also undeniably good news for music lovers. The label had already pressed new vinyl editions of “Purple Rain,” “1999,” “Dirty Mind” and “Controversy” in 2011 (still widely available), so it skipped ahead to his late-‘80s and early-‘90s records.

Some of the albums in this particular batch fall in the era when CD sales took over the industry, and Warners and the other big record companies made little to no vinyl editions of the records. These new pressings will feature the albums in their original format (no bonus tracks). Here’s the full list of what’s to come:

• June 21st: “Around the World in A Day” (1985)
• July 19th: “Parade (Under the Cherry Moon soundtrack)” (1986)
• August 23rd: “Sign o’ the Times”(1987)
• September 20th: “The Black Album”(1987 recorded; 1994 released)
• October 18th: “Lovesexy” (1988) and “Batman” soundtrack (1989)
• November 22nd: “Graffiti Bridge” soundtrack (1990) and “Diamonds and Pearls” (1991)
• December 13th: “The Love Symbol” (1992)

peppeken said:

You know what. The article is right, this had started before he passed. So they're vultures if they make the sound business decision to expedite things while there is interest? What would they be if they didn't make them available and the only way to get them was 2nd hand on ebay? Which is the worse situation? I say for music (& vinyl) lovers this is better. Just sayin'.

And that said, I'll be picking up Black Album & Diamonds And Pearls because they are the only 2 official vinyl Prince album I don't already have, so, YAY!

Thanks for posting OldFriends!!

[Edited 5/3/16 12:02pm]

Good news, it'd be nice to have a new copy of SOTT, and sign me up for D&P and Symbol too.

I dont have a problem. Putting out more product so people dont have spend and arm and leg on used stuff at the same time the heirs will get paid.

kapo74 said:

peppeken said:

Vultures

Hmmm... It sure feels that way to us fans, but it's business as usual. It really should be the least of our problems.

So these will be new vinyl master pressings? Remasters? I hope they issue on CD too. But the holy grail would be a blu-ray deluxe edition of each and every album + associated videos, performances, b-sides, (oriignal) remixes.

peppeken said:

hmmm...and what about that anniversary Purple Rain reissue there Warner Bros???

peppeken said:

Vultures

U do know that last year, Prince signed a deal with WB to re-release his music right?

Call em vultures if u will, I wan't these reissued on vinyl and some...

Good opportunity to pick up the few that I don't have on vinyl.

peppeken said:

Vultures

Really? What do you expect them to do. People are lapping his stuff up now he's gone, there's a market for them, so put them out let people hear the music.

Yeah that's what I'm wondering. I've definitely got some holes in my collection, BUT it makes no sense to spend 20$ on a new vinyl that isn't sonically different/improved in anyway from the original, or the CD release.

ufoclub said:

So these will be new vinyl master pressings? Remasters? I hope they issue on CD too. But the holy grail would be a blu-ray deluxe edition of each and every album + associated videos, performances, b-sides, (oriignal) remixes.

As long as they are comparably priced with similar vinyl currently sold for the period, I think this is great news for the fans. Prince's estate will make some money, Warner's will make some money, and we, the fans will get more music.

peppeken said:

Vultures

Its what everyone wants....everyone. Im in.

I'm for this in general, but I wish they'd be more informative/transparent about what exactly they're releasing... they should be clearly stating whether these are remastered or not, and if so, by whom...

I bought the new release of For You on vinyl the other day. I can't remember what the CD sounded like as I sold it years ago... but I have a nice original vinyl copy of the album. I have ripped both and today did an A-B comparison and I couldn't tell the difference!

My ears might not be the best in the world, but I would think if it had actually been remastered and not re-pressed, I would be able to notice something.... I couldn't.

Not saying it's not remastered, just saying I couldn't tell the difference between the new one and the original.

In terms of the sleeve, it's not brilliantly reproduced, the front image being too dark and dingy compared to the original.... and on the spine, at the bottom it reads Warner/NPG, which is clearly the result of the deal that our man did with them a couple of years back...

[Edited 5/3/16 14:03pm]

I'll definitely get SOTT and Lovesexy....I have worn out my old vinyl copies of those albums

Several years ago,I bought the vinyl reissues of Dirty Mind,Controversy and 1999.I am very impressed with the remastered sound of those albums.

PurpleMusic07 said:

Yeah that's what I'm wondering. I've definitely got some holes in my collection, BUT it makes no sense to spend 20$ on a new vinyl that isn't sonically different/improved in anyway from the original, or the CD release.

ufoclub said:

So these will be new vinyl master pressings? Remasters? I hope they issue on CD too. But the holy grail would be a blu-ray deluxe edition of each and every album + associated videos, performances, b-sides, (oriignal) remixes.

I hope that these are remastered.The ones I bought a few years ago (Dirty Mind,Controversy,and 1999) are definitely remastered.

Rimshottbob said:

I'm for this in general, but I wish they'd be more informative/transparent about what exactly they're releasing... they should be clearly stating whether these are remastered or not, and if so, by whom...

I'd like to know this, too.

FlexiTime said:

This is a serious question: what exactly is the benefit of vinyl? They didn't sound that great as child when I think back on it. Is it really sound quality or a nostalgic thing to buy them these days?

On the right equipment, they can sound better. For Prince's 80s albums they sound better. The bigger artwork is better.

FlexiTime said:

djThunderfunk said:

peppeken said:

There was Dirty Mind, Controversy, 1999 and Purple Rain re-issued a few years ago and the first generation master copies were given a go ahead for the newer editions as well as the previous... back in the day Bernie Grundman was only given second generation copies from the master.... huge credit to the guy for making amazing vinyl cuts with his cutting lathe.

I haven't listened to the re-issueed vinyl because I didn't need to since I have the original pressings but after hearing reviews about the previous re-issues ... I am curious what they sound like and may hunt them down and keep an out for the future re-releases... but the only thing is stopping me is... what kind of wax are they using for these re-issues? because the material most bands use these days are terrible but I have to remind myself over and over again... they are putting digital music onto old school format for which doesn't work that way.

Set aside... It's nice to recapture Prince Vinyl records like back in the day but the downside is... there isn't many records shops around these days and that breaks the heart.

peppeken said:

Vultures

Seriously? PLENTY of fans want these releases, have waited a long time, and want them even more now. W've known these were coming since 2014 in some form and now we are going to get them.

I am behind WB 200% to release anything and everything they can get their hands on and as quickly as they can feasibly do so.

I am however extremely tired of a select group of disgruntled fans with the mistaken idea they need to "protect" Prince's memory and their shouting "vultures, vultures!" at everything everyone is doing.