The book is worth a read. However you need to be aware of the author, his role with Uptown, and how he came about writing the book.

It's not worth anything like the prices being asked. Ask your local library to get it for you. Or track down an e-book version.

I own a copy of that book. The author is on the org sometimes, and he is considering an updated version, so you might be better off waiting for a better, newer version instead of spending so much money on a book, especially if the author is not going to see any of that money anyway.

Also look for Per Nilsen´s books if you can find them, and an old and outdated but still great read is Dave Hill´s "Prince- A Pop Life", which contains an interview with Sonny Thompson before he joined Prince´s band.

By the way, the author uses his real name on the org, so if you have any questions regarding a re-release, just drop him a line.

Edit: forgot to say that the author´s orgname/real name is AlexHahn....one word, not two.

[Edited 5/26/16 7:13am]

Noodled24 said:

The book is worth a read. However you need to be aware of the author, his role with Uptown, and how he came about writing the book.

It's not worth anything like the prices being asked. Ask your local library to get it for you. Or track down an e-book version.

I actually learned about this in the recent Alex threads. I remember having that feeling that the writer had way too much of a personal agenda when reading the book (which otherwise is very informative and well writen, but way too anti-Prince for my taste). I thought it was mostly just a "dirty" angle to sell books, but it was in fact a very personal agenda. It's a pity that Alex didn't include an intro explaining clearly what his personal "relation" to Prince was.

But still a great read. I haven't read any more recent bio but at the time it was the closest to a follow-up to Per's DMSR as we could get.

KoolEaze said:

I own a copy of that book. The author is on the org sometimes, and he is considering an updated version, so you might be better off waiting for a better, newer version instead of spending so much money on a book, especially if the author is not going to see any of that money anyway.

Also look for Per Nilsen´s books if you can find them, and an old and outdated but still great read is Dave Hill´s "Prince- A Pop Life", which contains an interview with Sonny Thompson before he joined Prince´s band.

By the way, the author uses his real name on the org, so if you have any questions regarding a re-release, just drop him a line.

Edit: forgot to say that the author´s orgname/real name is AlexHahn....one word, not two.

Wasn't aware of that, I'll have to try and track it down. Thanks.

databank said:

Noodled24 said:

The book is worth a read. However you need to be aware of the author, his role with Uptown, and how he came about writing the book.

It's not worth anything like the prices being asked. Ask your local library to get it for you. Or track down an e-book version.

I actually learned about this in the recent Alex threads. I remember having that feeling that the writer had way too much of a personal agenda when reading the book (which otherwise is very informative and well writen, but way too anti-Prince for my taste). I thought it was mostly just a "dirty" angle to sell books, but it was in fact a very personal agenda. It's a pity that Alex didn't include an intro explaining clearly what his personal "relation" to Prince was.

But still a great read. I haven't read any more recent bio but at the time it was the closest to a follow-up to Per's DMSR as we could get.

Yeah, there is a lot written about it.

When Prince decided he wanted Uptown (the fanzine) shut down, Alex, a fan and lawyer decided to represent them for free... so he's not a bad guy. He was a fan helping fans... However I think it's somewhat-fair to say the book is written by someone who was prepared to enter a legal battle with team-NPG.

If you know that going in I think it helps. Fans going in blind could easily feel the book is a hatchet job. It'd be interesting to hear from Alex himself. (Of course the same could be said of any Prince bio author. (I'm looking at you Michael Dean, Peach & Black, Funkenberry)

If he does decide to release an updated version I think the title needs to be changed. "Possessed" is fine but "the rise and fall" - Given we now know that Princes "fall" was cushioned by a $300 million dollar fortune...

Noodled24 said:

databank said:

I actually learned about this in the recent Alex threads. I remember having that feeling that the writer had way too much of a personal agenda when reading the book (which otherwise is very informative and well writen, but way too anti-Prince for my taste). I thought it was mostly just a "dirty" angle to sell books, but it was in fact a very personal agenda. It's a pity that Alex didn't include an intro explaining clearly what his personal "relation" to Prince was.

But still a great read. I haven't read any more recent bio but at the time it was the closest to a follow-up to Per's DMSR as we could get.

Yeah, there is a lot written about it.

When Prince decided he wanted Uptown (the fanzine) shut down, Alex, a fan and lawyer decided to represent them for free... so he's not a bad guy. He was a fan helping fans... However I think it's somewhat-fair to say the book is written by someone who was prepared to enter a legal battle with team-NPG.

If you know that going in I think it helps. Fans going in blind could easily feel the book is a hatchet job. It'd be interesting to hear from Alex himself. (Of course the same could be said of any Prince bio author. (I'm looking at you Michael Dean, Peach & Black, Funkenberry)

If he does decide to release an updated version I think the title needs to be changed. "Possessed" is fine but "the rise and fall" - Given we now know that Princes "fall" was cushioned by a $300 million dollar fortune...

I think Alex mentioned a need for title change in his posts last month.

There was never a fall save maybe in public perception between roughly 1996-2003, and critics between 1996-2001, but when you were following his career closely, there was never a fall.

The book wasn't inflamatory. The title is what got people riled up. I liked the book. It was honest, and didn't kiss anyone's ass, yet it was still written by a fan. (I mean, honestly - how many people aren't big Prince fans on some level?) Alex Hahn is on the Org, and even recently posted after Prince's death (man, that's still weird typing those two words back to back).

.

I'm not sure Hahn has a lot to do with the price of the book. If it's being sold through a 3rd party on Amazon, it's the third party who is jacking up prices. Amazon isn't driving up prices themselves. There is still plenty of Prince stuff on there at regular & reasonable pricing (same with Discogs, actually, depending on what you're viewing). Hahn did say he was going to try and revamp the book, and update it, and put it back out, now that there's a proverbial period on Prince's career.

.

The one thing that always rubbed me wrong about Prince fams is that they can't take critique of him. Prince is genius, blah blah blah - but he was also very human, and very flawed. That deserves as much attention as the music, because robots can't make music. Artists do, and good art always comes from an artist who has a muse, or is fighting or has a struggle. Some of Prince's best work was in the heavier days of him fighting with WB. His conflict became the muse of his art. It's when he became 'free' that things changed, a lot, in his music. Face it Prince fans, Prince wasn't always #1 on the charts, and he wasn't always taken seriously, and sometimes he needed a hit just to prove to WB that he was still worthy of keeping around. If Alex Hahn chose to highlight those things as well as all the love & unicorns when he was tickling Vanity's ivories, then so be it.

thank you all for the insight and recommendations. much appreciated.

You can find Hahn's profile on the org: http://prince.org/profile/alexhahn

.

The "Transition" and the thread about updating Possessed are started by Hahn himself. No one I saw was trolling him about his book there. Besides, he's certainly heard it all before now anyway.

I always collected the Uptown Magazines & always got a copy of the books Pers did.

Magazines were loaded with pics - some pics I still see nowhere else.

The books listed all shows, notes about shows & the go to spot for info about all bootlegs out there.

Still have everything. All encased in plastic. Perfect condition.

One of my lengthy letters I sent in was printed in the magazine so at a aftershow in Tampa Bay I asked Mr. Hayes if Uptown was looked at or paid attention to? ( this was before the shut down time )

He replied " Yes it is always read and looked at".

So Prince himself probably read my letter about a show in Philadelphia haha. That Show was after he did the Rosie O'Donnell show in NY.

whizbanggirl said:

Hi org-ers Long time lurker, first time poster. I finally decided to get around to purchase the aforementioned book and went to Amazon last night. I could not believe the prices listed. Anywhere from $500 to $1000. I know people try to capitalize after a death but... it's just a book! Does anyone know why it's worth so much? Is it out of print? Does anyone know where I can purchase it for a fair and reasonable price? I'm not trying to blow rent money on a book.

I don't have a clue why it would be selling for that, is that the price it's being offered or the price people are paying? I read it a few years ago and it was probably one of the lesser books written on Prince. It was a hackjob and I'm not saying that just because it said bad things about Prince but because it was written out of revenge and malice. Was not objective at all. The premise of the book was that Prince was washed up which was made laughable because right after that he made a huge comeback during the musicology era. Hahn was actually bold enough to come on here after that and I along with others ran his ass off. The balls on that guy, I saw him on recently too but I didn't really pay him any attention.

And please don't mistake me for being a sycophantic fan, none of the books i've read on Prince have been flattering but this one is not only the least professional, I think it's the least objective too.

Love your work Alex!

And someone out there got lucky for once on eBay.
http://www.ebay.com.au/it...1597606969

If you are just interested in reading the book as opposed to owning it, believe it or not the library may have one depending on your city. I just borrowed it and the book is in great shape..Hell, maybe I should just not return it and pay the $35 fee and keep it..lol Just kidding...

i just got one at amoeba in SF for 14.99.. i paid $49 for emancipation just so I could re-obtain soul sanctuary... but i got lucky onthe book.. so it all balances out i guess

AlexHahn said:

Hi, guys. Thanks for the questions about the book. The reason for the prices on Amazon is that the book is out of print and also not available as an e-book. It is most definitely not me that is selling them. I only have a couple of copies. Hence, I am working on getting it released as an e-book. I am adding some material as well. The title will be modified. In light of developments after the book was released, the "rise and fall" narrative is not entirely applicable. With that said, the book's conclusions about Prince's overall creative trajectory I think hold up reasonably well and have not been entirely superseded. At the same time, however, I am finding it interesting to analyze the later output and contextualize it in his overall career. I will keep you updated. Relatedly, it is also going to be re-released in a German translation hardcover edition. The book was certainly divisive on the org, which is why the supportive words from people out here made a great deal to me and continue to do so.

Is there any possibility that you could publish a print version?

Considering the price that some people are willing to pay for the old book, maybe you could convince a publisher to release a print version?

KoolEaze said:

AlexHahn said:

Hi, guys. Thanks for the questions about the book. The reason for the prices on Amazon is that the book is out of print and also not available as an e-book. It is most definitely not me that is selling them. I only have a couple of copies. Hence, I am working on getting it released as an e-book. I am adding some material as well. The title will be modified. In light of developments after the book was released, the "rise and fall" narrative is not entirely applicable. With that said, the book's conclusions about Prince's overall creative trajectory I think hold up reasonably well and have not been entirely superseded. At the same time, however, I am finding it interesting to analyze the later output and contextualize it in his overall career. I will keep you updated. Relatedly, it is also going to be re-released in a German translation hardcover edition. The book was certainly divisive on the org, which is why the supportive words from people out here made a great deal to me and continue to do so.

Is there any possibility that you could publish a print version?

Considering the price that some people are willing to pay for the old book, maybe you could convince a publisher to release a print version?

Thanks for asking. I'm very leery of working with conventional U.S. book pubishers again. I maybe could do a print-on-demand book or something like that. I agree that hardcovers are more pleasant to read.

AlexHahn said:

Hi, guys. Thanks for the questions about the book. The reason for the prices on Amazon is that the book is out of print and also not available as an e-book. It is most definitely not me that is selling them. I only have a couple of copies. Hence, I am working on getting it released as an e-book. I am adding some material as well. The title will be modified. In light of developments after the book was released, the "rise and fall" narrative is not entirely applicable. With that said, the book's conclusions about Prince's overall creative trajectory I think hold up reasonably well and have not been entirely superseded. At the same time, however, I am finding it interesting to analyze the later output and contextualize it in his overall career. I will keep you updated. Relatedly, it is also going to be re-released in a German translation hardcover edition. The book was certainly divisive on the org, which is why the supportive words from people out here made a great deal to me and continue to do so.

Love the book and think it's the best one about Prince that I've read. It would be great to have an updated version!

http://thejehovahswitness...usions.php

http://www.dailymail.co,u...efuses-blo...

http://www.telegraph.co.u...ss-refuses...

http://www.theforbiddenkn...ecrets.htm

This will probably get locked and/or deleted. The mods have been locking and/or deleting my posts. And/or they don't want the truth to get out.

I have told you about my cousin who has a chronic, arthritic joint syndrome. When she had hip replacement surgery, she did not have/need a blood transfusion. She was told that, in case of emergency during the surgery, she MAY need a blood transfusion. But everything went according to schedule, and she did not have/need a blood transfusion.

????????

http://www.rawstory.com/2...rom-chroni...

[Edited 5/27/16 8:32am]

TrivialPursuit said:

The book wasn't inflamatory. The title is what got people riled up. I liked the book. It was honest, and didn't kiss anyone's ass, yet it was still written by a fan. (I mean, honestly - how many people aren't big Prince fans on some level?) Alex Hahn is on the Org, and even recently posted after Prince's death (man, that's still weird typing those two words back to back).

.

I'm not sure Hahn has a lot to do with the price of the book. If it's being sold through a 3rd party on Amazon, it's the third party who is jacking up prices. Amazon isn't driving up prices themselves. There is still plenty of Prince stuff on there at regular & reasonable pricing (same with Discogs, actually, depending on what you're viewing). Hahn did say he was going to try and revamp the book, and update it, and put it back out, now that there's a proverbial period on Prince's career.

.

The one thing that always rubbed me wrong about Prince fams is that they can't take critique of him. Prince is genius, blah blah blah - but he was also very human, and very flawed. That deserves as much attention as the music, because robots can't make music. Artists do, and good art always comes from an artist who has a muse, or is fighting or has a struggle. Some of Prince's best work was in the heavier days of him fighting with WB. His conflict became the muse of his art. It's when he became 'free' that things changed, a lot, in his music. Face it Prince fans, Prince wasn't always #1 on the charts, and he wasn't always taken seriously, and sometimes he needed a hit just to prove to WB that he was still worthy of keeping around. If Alex Hahn chose to highlight those things as well as all the love & unicorns when he was tickling Vanity's ivories, then so be it.

very well put, TrivPur.

.
I own - & have read several times - Alex's book on Prince. I agree that the book pulls no punches on its subject, & I give Alex credit for that.

.
I do think that in some parts of the book, Alex has a "condescending tone" when describing some things Prince did. eh - it's Alex's book & he wrote it in the way he saw fit.
so overall I think Alex did a great job with the book. as someone with a 36-year connection to Prince, I did not know a lot of his story before he became famous; & not all of the stories or details after he did. reading "Possessed" for the 1st time was a very riveting read. I've read it often enough that I know where to go in the book for certain parts. I take it as a sign that it's a good/serious book when many of Prince's associates - e.g. Morris Day - declined to participate in this project.

.
ideally, Alex will do a follow-up to "Possessed", now that the last chapter of Prince's life on this earth has been written. I for 1 will certainly buy/read his next book.

OK, so what does this have to do with Alex Hahn´s book?

-

-

mailaccount63 said:

http://thejehovahswitness...usions.php

http://www.dailymail.co,u...efuses-blo...

http://www.telegraph.co.u...ss-refuses...

http://www.theforbiddenkn...ecrets.htm

This will probably get locked and/or deleted. The mods have been locking and/or deleting my posts. And/or they don't want the truth to get out.

I have told you about my cousin who has a chronic, arthritic joint syndrome. When she had hip replacement surgery, she did not have/need a blood transfusion. She was told that, in case of emergency during the surgery, she MAY need a blood transfusion. But everything went according to schedule, and she did not have/need a blood transfusion.

????????

http://www.rawstory.com/2...rom-chroni...

[Edited 5/27/16 8:32am]

Ironically I just started a similar thread about the book called Prince -Life and Times book by Jason Draper.

http://prince.org/msg/7/426661

anyone wanting to know about the book just use the search function. You'll see that there were some really good reasons people didn't like the book and it's more than because it painted prince in a bad light. None of the Prince books paint him in a good light but Poplife is probably still the best even though it cuts off at the same time as it was published, late 80's early 90's. the only thing the newer books have is some anectdotes that may actually be true but most of them aren't all that good, Per Nilsen notwithstanding, but he was looking more at the music.

vandeluca said:

If you are just interested in reading the book as opposed to owning it, believe it or not the library may have one depending on your city. I just borrowed it and the book is in great shape..Hell, maybe I should just not return it and pay the $35 fee and keep it..lol Just kidding...

thats how i got it

best Prince book available...seems honest, without fawning or attacking...good balance

PeteSilas said:

anyone wanting to know about the book just use the search function. You'll see that there were some really good reasons people didn't like the book and it's more than because it painted prince in a bad light. None of the Prince books paint him in a good light but Poplife is probably still the best even though it cuts off at the same time as it was published, late 80's early 90's. the only thing the newer books have is some anectdotes that may actually be true but most of them aren't all that good, Per Nilsen notwithstanding, but he was looking more at the music.

Ahhh....good to see some appreciation for Dave Hill´s Pop Life book. I love it , it is still one of my favorite Prince bios and a great read. Rarely gets mentioned here on the org these days because it is so old and dated but I think it is very enjoyable, very well written and interesting . I like the fact that he interviewed Sonny Thompson before he became a member of the NPG , when he was still doing gigs playing coverversions of Prince songs in the Twin Cities area.

I think Prince liked that book too. I read somewhere that Dave Hill received a Christmas greeting card from him.

As far as Alex Hahn is concerned, you have to keep in mind the climate among the fans at the time the book was written. Many cease and desist letters, lawsuits here and there, fansites shutting down, Uptown magazine being sued...I mean, bottomline is that he and the Uptown staff are or were still fans, albeit frustrated fans maybe, and many of Prince´s actions back then were considered a bit extreme at the time.

But yeah, I do understand why the book is still so controversial.

I like it but it was a bit negative, although never slanderous and very fact-based.

KoolEaze said:

PeteSilas said:

anyone wanting to know about the book just use the search function. You'll see that there were some really good reasons people didn't like the book and it's more than because it painted prince in a bad light. None of the Prince books paint him in a good light but Poplife is probably still the best even though it cuts off at the same time as it was published, late 80's early 90's. the only thing the newer books have is some anectdotes that may actually be true but most of them aren't all that good, Per Nilsen notwithstanding, but he was looking more at the music.

Ahhh....good to see some appreciation for Dave Hill´s Pop Life book. I love it , it is still one of my favorite Prince bios and a great read. Rarely gets mentioned here on the org these days because it is so old and dated but I think it is very enjoyable, very well written and interesting . I like the fact that he interviewed Sonny Thompson before he became a member of the NPG , when he was still doing gigs playing coverversions of Prince songs in the Twin Cities area.

I think Prince liked that book too. I read somewhere that Dave Hill received a Christmas greeting card from him.

As far as Alex Hahn is concerned, you have to keep in mind the climate among the fans at the time the book was written. Many cease and desist letters, lawsuits here and there, fansites shutting down, Uptown magazine being sued...I mean, bottomline is that he and the Uptown staff are or were still fans, albeit frustrated fans maybe, and many of Prince´s actions back then were considered a bit extreme at the time.

But yeah, I do understand why the book is still so controversial.

I like it but it was a bit negative, although never slanderous and very fact-based.

I haven't seen one "positive" book on Prince and I've seen quite a few. I'm sure there are some but I haven't seen them. Typically, superstars will have lots of fawning bios, Prince didn't have that from what I could tell, at least not in the same numbers. Dave Hill's wasn't very positive either, the reason I liked it was because he interviewed so many people who had such interesting insights, Steve Ivorie's book did too and Prince did a lot of bad things which were recounted in those. Stealing music, stealing a drum set from his cousin and many, many others. The Ivory book I read when I was 16 and I knew then that there has to be a seperation from the artist and the person, something some fans never seem to learn. Dylan was an asshole, Lennon was nasty, Springsteen is a hypocrite and we can't put different expectations on Prince than we put on everyone else. Just people. (interesting that you mention P send Hill a card, he told RS that he didn't know a bio was written on him when questioned).

Now, for the hahn book, it's been a good 12 years since I read it so I don't want to enumerate all the things that were wrong with it because I might make a mistake. But there on here if you do a search. So, the negativity wasn't a problem, the lack of objectivity and the vindictiveness of it , not to mention typos, make it one of the lesser books. And still, I think Hahn lacks a little integrity just for the fact that as soon as musicology hit, he was on here trying to promote a book that stated Prince was a has been.

Possesed, by Alex Hahn, is one of the best books written about Prince. PERIOD! 4get about showing Prince in a "bad light", it reveals his humanistic flaws that many of the "fans" do no want 2 believe exist. I have all of Prince's official releases, I have tons of bootleg CDS/DVDS, I'm a TOTAL FAN, I'm totally in2 everything he does. But at the same time I understand that he's not perfect. He never was... But I don't live in denial that he may have done things that were totally against his percieved conception that he wanted portrayed and that image is what many on this site want 2 believe. I have never "bashed" him & I never will. But Alex Hahn's book just shows us all, how "human" Prince was. It showed us a part of Prince that we may never have wanted 2 see, and we should thank him 4 providing more insight in2 the world of a man that we all loved in his prime, and still love now that he has been taken from us...

NAMOR3000 said:

Possesed, by Alex Hahn, is one of the best books written about Prince. PERIOD! 4get about showing Prince in a "bad light", it reveals his humanistic flaws that many of the "fans" do no want 2 believe exist. I have all of Prince's official releases, I have tons of bootleg CDS/DVDS, I'm a TOTAL FAN, I'm totally in2 everything he does. But at the same time I understand that he's not perfect. He never was... But I don't live in denial that he may have done things that were totally against his percieved conception that he wanted portrayed and that image is what many on this site want 2 believe. I have never "bashed" him & I never will. But Alex Hahn's book just shows us all, how "human" Prince was. It showed us a part of Prince that we may never have wanted 2 see, and we should thank him 4 providing more insight in2 the world of a man that we all loved in his prime, and still love now that he has been taken from us...

Well said; I agree.

I wouldn't be into a kiss ass book that only shows the peaks. I appreciate the valleys, as it's important to show he was (hate talking about Prince in past tense) HUMAN. I know it's a delicate balance to not "bash" but it can be done....

[Edited 5/29/16 9:48am]

Thank you guys very much for the kind words. I have to say, "Pop Life" was the book that most influenced me. Even though it was somewhat critical -- despite being released during Prince's prime -- the thing that grabbed me is that it was thoughtful, well-researched, and readable. To me, making a non-fiction book read like a narrative, while taking pains to be accurate and fair, is a huge challenge, and he pulled it off very well.