Anji said:

well, let's just say they weren't on the best termswhen W&L left (hatred is a pretty strong word)

Boris, I don't mean to be rude, but fans here have been arguing about this for a long time (although the evidence is reasonably conclusive, in my opinion). Do you think Prince would have any issues being identified as a black Jehovah's Witness, for argument's sake?

.
[This message was edited Mon Mar 31 22:38:58 PST 2003 by Anji]

PERSIA said:

...

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

(this is lifted from an old thread)

OK, here's the truth about the whole 'Black Album thing' (short version)...

1. A lot of the tracks that appeared on the black album had originally been recorded by Prince as music for Sheila E's 29th birthday party on 11th December 1986. He originally had no intention of releasing them commercially.

2. Prince was getting a certain amount of critism for 'abandoning his black roots' and 'losing the funk' due to his more rock-orientated recent output. In response he started to assemble an album of mostly funky party tracks, which he called 'The Funk Bible'.

3. Prince finished 'The Funk Bible', and wanted to release it under a pseudonym, possibly Camille. He wanted to release the album without anyone initially knowing it was by him, so it would be an underground thing that would spread by word of mouth. He dropped the pseudonym idea (everyone already knew who Camille was), he then came up with the idea of releasing it in a plain black sleeve, with no listed artist or title at all. The Black Album was born.

4. The Black Album was given a WB catalogue number and release date, everything was going to plan. This would shut up the people who said he'd 'lost the funk'. The album appeared on WB's relase schedule listed as 'Something' by 'Somebody' to be released on 8th December 1987.

5. November 1987: The first set back... News had leaked out that Prince had a new album on the way, this upset Prince's plan. He hadn't intended the album as a 'proper' new album, it was supposed to be more like a side project (much like the later NPG albums). Prince reluctantly resigned himself to the fact that the album would be seen as his next album, and started thinking about his next project: Graffiti Bridge. The Black Album was pressed up ready for release.

6. Prince was concerned with releasing 'The Black Album' effectively under his own name, and was having second thoughts about it. He took a copy down to Rupert's in Minneapolis with the intention of getting the DJ to play it so he could see what kind of reception it got from the crowd.

7. At the club he met a songwriter/poet called Ingrid Chavez, with whom he ended up talking with at length that evening. Prince had been recently going through a sort of spiritual awakening (another reason he was having second thoughts about 'The Black Album'), and he found that Ingrid was very much in tune with his current wavelength.

8. It has been reported that the crunch came when he was looking at his reflection in the cover of the album, and Ingrid said something like 'You should learn to smile more'. At that point Prince realised that if he died now, 'The Black Album' would be his final work, and he definitely didn't want that as his last artistic statement.

9. 1st December 1987 (1 week before release): Prince calls WB chairman Mo Ostin (with whom he had a good, trusting working relationship) and says he wants to cancel the release of 'The Black Album'. Mo Ostin agrees to Prince's request and production was ceased. WB ordered all existing copies of the album destroyed.

10. A few copies of the album escaped destruction. Many promo and advance copies had already been given to friends and family, as well as WB executives and reps. about 100 vinyl copies 'vanished' from the Alsdorf pressing plant in Germany. Also about 10 CD's 'escaped' from the pressing plant in the U.S. These genuine 1987 pressings are still worth a bomb (especially the CD's).

11. After shelving 'The Black Album' and putting 'Graffiti Bridge' on hold, Prince immediately starts work on his next project 'Lovesexy'. He records half the album on 11th December! The first version of the album is completed by 21st January 1988, with only a few changes made before it's release on 10th May.

12. As part of his settlement with Warners in 1994, Prince agreed to a limited release for 'The Black Album'. Warners had wanted to release the album for some time (it came close to being officially released in 1991), but Prince had always been against it. He finally relented when it became a bargaining chip in his bid to be released from his contract. Prince used it as 'contract filler' along with 'Chaos And Disorder' and 'The Vault...Old Friends 4 Sale'.

BorisFishpaw said:

Boris you da man! Always nice to get the scoop from you!

BorisFishpaw said:

so can we all forget about that "dark night of the soul" bs?

rdhull said:

Gotta love a bit of melodrama though

the 8th of december, i wuz close enuff thanx, boris!

Boris posted, our very own Paisley Park insider!

Anji said:

Quite straightforward really...
He didn't think it was good enough!

He was happy with the song itself, and it continued
to be a firm live favorite, but he was never
really satisfied with any of the studio versions.
(That's why there's a live version on Crystal Ball)

Then when he let a lot of critics preview the album
(while it still looked like it wouldn't be released)
most of them singled out 'Days Of Wild' as being a
bit weak, but overall gave the album very positive
reviews. This just confirmed what Prince already
felt about the track 'not cutting it in the studio'
so he pulled it.

Oh, I see. That makes sense, thanks for posting again Boris!

BorisFishpaw said:

hmmm, wouldn't it have been cool had he included a live version of Days of Wild on TGE, kinda like it's gonna be a beautiful night? that might have worked.

JonSnow said:

Good point but didn't the liner notes suggest that Prince was successful at translating his live sound onto record without losing its 'realness.' Perhaps, including a live cut would have defeated the purpose on that album.

Anji said:

he may still vari-speed his vocals now and then...
but i think 'Camille' has retired to miami for good.

BorisFishpaw said:

LMAO! (Although I shouldn't be).

Thanks for the cool info, Boris.

It's shame he questioned himself and ended up removing what has since become one of his most celebrated and most performed aftershow songs. And to add insult to injury he adds the tepid "We March".

Brendan said:

My sentiments exactly!

Thankyou Boris. Great stuff!

Any hints or clues on any new, possibly forthcoming material?

and how was The Rainbow Children recorded? To my ears it often sounds like inspired 'snatches' from a wider musical project.

Cheers!

Boris, will there b an NPGMC this year??

BorisFishPaw also knows EVERYTHING there is to know about the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy...and now this thread...his knowledge-level is beginning to scare me! :O

here's a question: Is Prince likely to play england?

also, do you know if his old cataologue will get remastered?

teller said:

starbuck said:

I don't know for sure, but I have had a few
communications which imply that there will be.
(in a cryptic, non-commital kinda way)
[This message was edited Wed Apr 2 10:52:14 PST 2003 by BorisFishpaw]

Brendan said:

We March wasn't added in the place of 'Days Of Wild'.
it was already on the album. Days Of Wild was simply
removed from the album and not replaced with anything.

The tracklisting went like this...

1. Pussy Control
2. npg operator
3. Endorphinmachine
4. Shhh
5. We March
6. npg operator
7. Days Of Wild
8. npg operator
9. The Most Beautiful Girl In the World
10. Dolphin
11. npg operator
12. Now
13. npg operator
14. 319
15. npg operator
16. Shy
17. Billy Jack Bitch
18. Hate U
19. npg operator
20. Gold

It's a shame Prince never recorded a studio version
of Days Of Wild that he was happy with. But I have
to agree with him that, compared to every live take
I've heard, the studio take is a bit flat and lifeless.

BorisFishpaw said:

Boris, can you publically state where (and when) you received these communications, or is that not possible?

You rock, Boris!

Hey boris, Will there be a celebration this year??

Farfunknugin said:

Again, I don't know for sure,
but it certainly looks likely
that there won't be one.

Boris, don't you owe me $20?