ufoclub said:

SoulAlive said:

I disagree.Songs like "Push","Jughead","Daddy Pop","Insatiable" and "Live 4 Love" are also commercial,to my ears.

I'd say Thunder sounded commercial to me too. The production on most everything had a pop friendly vibe. Which of course many disliked.

It's quite catchy. But it's also sort of a christian pop-rock song. I just can't imagine it being all that successful on the charts.

TrivialPursuit said:

Noodled24 said:

There are 4 commercial songs on this album.

D&P

Cream

Gett off

Money Don't Matter

The rest of the album wasn't commercial at all. Those songs carried the album. Along with the huge production videos, and a world tour.

Not all of the world. He didn't tour in the U.S. for it. In fact, he'd not toured in the U.S. since Lovesexy, and wouldn't again for five years until Act I in 1993, which promoted in the U.S. (Act II was the same tour overseas.)

Ok, point taken. There was a D&P tour though not the world over. Though he did show up on Arsenio & at the special olympics, the latter being just an amazing thing to do.

The album was commercial enough to get a lot of attention for it. Videos, the tour, those four singles. I think the video for "Willing and Able" or the live cut from Syndey or London for "Live 4 Love" could have been the 5th single. Instead, he released "Gett Off", "Cream", "Insatiable", "Diamonds and Pearls", "Money Don't Matter 2 Nite", and "Thunder". IMO, "Insatiable" wasn't the same level of Prince balladry that we'd come to expect. However, "Diamonds and Pearls" filled the void.

Don't get me wrong. I love this album. When I say those 4 songs carried the album - I mean commercially. Those songs couldn't fail on the charts. Those 4 songs allowed him the freedom to put a dis-track like Jughead on the album.

Noodled24 said:

ufoclub said:

I'd say Thunder sounded commercial to me too. The production on most everything had a pop friendly vibe. Which of course many disliked.

It's quite catchy. But it's also sort of a christian pop-rock song. I just can't imagine it being all that successful on the charts.

I can see how it might be perceived as a christian pop-rock song but...at the same time - with these lyrics? I don't know if any Christian station would think that is suitable

Love's kiss running all through my veins.

The bed started shaking, I dunno who to blame.

Me or this flower right in front of my eyes.

Is this my sweet savior or the devil in disquise.

ForeverPaisley said:

Noodled24 said:

It's quite catchy. But it's also sort of a christian pop-rock song. I just can't imagine it being all that successful on the charts.

I can see how it might be perceived as a christian pop-rock song but...at the same time - with these lyrics? I don't know if any Christian station would think that is suitable

Love's kiss running all through my veins.

The bed started shaking, I dunno who to blame.

Me or this flower right in front of my eyes.

Is this my sweet savior or the devil in disquise.

Understood. But he does mention Jesus less than 10 seconds in... then repeatedly thoughout.

Personally I don't particularly consider it Christian Rock, not really. Just some fans tend to call any reference to god Christian rock.

Great reasons above, but also it was purely commercial and the songs were a gentle introduction to his raw talent and I know it gewts heap of shit heaped upon it here - but Cream is a superb song.

.

I still listen to it all the time and that video (The videos for all the singles off this album are amazing, and let's face it, if the pop of Cream put you off, that is where Gett Off came in, another blinder from start to finish).

People always think sellout and trend chasing and Tony M with Diamonds and Pearls, but they need to think about the highlights - Gett Off, Cream, Insatiable, Thunder etc. Plus all the TV appearances, the Arsenio Performance and of course those assless pants and the suggestive dancing and videos that had down low references (Game boy pumping his ass, the Gangster Glam video, assless pants, the doo rag and lollypop, a part in the Cream video, where Prince can be seen placing his guitar between his legs suggesting anal penetration - he may have been straight, but being at least curious about being gay).

.

Final reason, was that many people drank the Purple Kool Aid with that record, yes it attracted some of the fair weather following that Purple Rain did, but it also bought in a new generation of hard core fans, most of us aged between 35 and 42 were fans with Diamonds and Pearls and must make up the second largest group along with Batman and Purple Rain fans. I actually became a fan with the song Cream (You all must know this a million times now) and I also know Captain of the Peach and Black podcast became a fan at this time. Yet we all know the album has weak points like Jughead, Push and Tony M's rapping and that Purple Rain and Sign o the Times are much better, but this album was Prince's big second wind. I read somewhere that Warners were ready to drop him after the flop of Graffiti Bridge and Lovesexy (Which shows how little they know brilliant music), but Diamonds and Pearls bought him back.

.

You need to also understand that the Diamonds and Pearls tour was huge as well and added to the fame and prestige, it was one of his best tours with Prince playing guitar, Mayte dancing, the original NPG and Rosie's vocals. So yeah I think the album did its job. It was the musical effect of a warm and dry day in late autumn, career wise (Say 75f on November 29th for you Americans and 26c on May 12th for us Southern Hemisphere people), and then with Symbol came a cool cloudy day and Come, a massive snow blizzard

Adorecream said:

Great reasons above, but also it was purely commercial and the songs were a gentle introduction to his raw talent and I know it gewts heap of shit heaped upon it here - but Cream is a superb song.

.

I still listen to it all the time and that video (The videos for all the singles off this album are amazing, and let's face it, if the pop of Cream put you off, that is where Gett Off came in, another blinder from start to finish).

People always think sellout and trend chasing and Tony M with Diamonds and Pearls, but they need to think about the highlights - Gett Off, Cream, Insatiable, Thunder etc. Plus all the TV appearances, the Arsenio Performance and of course those assless pants and the suggestive dancing and videos that had down low references (Game boy pumping his ass, the Gangster Glam video, assless pants, the doo rag and lollypop, a part in the Cream video, where Prince can be seen placing his guitar between his legs suggesting anal penetration - he may have been straight, but being at least curious about being gay).

.

Final reason, was that many people drank the Purple Kool Aid with that record, yes it attracted some of the fair weather following that Purple Rain did, but it also bought in a new generation of hard core fans, most of us aged between 35 and 42 were fans with Diamonds and Pearls and must make up the second largest group along with Batman and Purple Rain fans. I actually became a fan with the song Cream (You all must know this a million times now) and I also know Captain of the Peach and Black podcast became a fan at this time. Yet we all know the album has weak points like Jughead, Push and Tony M's rapping and that Purple Rain and Sign o the Times are much better, but this album was Prince's big second wind. I read somewhere that Warners were ready to drop him after the flop of Graffiti Bridge and Lovesexy (Which shows how little they know brilliant music), but Diamonds and Pearls bought him back.

.

You need to also understand that the Diamonds and Pearls tour was huge as well and added to the fame and prestige, it was one of his best tours with Prince playing guitar, Mayte dancing, the original NPG and Rosie's vocals. So yeah I think the album did its job. It was the musical effect of a warm and dry day in late autumn, career wise (Say 75f on November 29th for you Americans and 26c on May 12th for us Southern Hemisphere people), and then with Symbol came a cool cloudy day and Come, a massive snow blizzard

Generation X LOVED that album. I can honestly say that Freshman and Sophmore year of high school, that album was where it was at.

Also, let's just be real here, the album had hits. I know plently of people who will buy an album off of 4 or 5 songs, most of the time the hit released songs. Most people do that. I used to see it all the time.

The album for the most part had some big songs and personally, I'm glad Prince had another "big" album after 1988.

I don't understand some of these fans. It's like they want Prince to release a good album that has hits but then when they do, they dog the album because it was a hit?

GhostChick said:

Generation X LOVED that album. I can honestly say that Freshman and Sophmore year of high school, that album was where it was at.

Also, let's just be real here, the album had hits. I know plently of people who will buy an album off of 4 or 5 songs, most of the time the hit released songs. Most people do that. I used to see it all the time.

The album for the most part had some big songs and personally, I'm glad Prince had another "big" album after 1988.

I don't understand some of these fans. It's like they want Prince to release a good album that has hits but then when they do, they dog the album because it was a hit?

I am not sure about American school systems versus NZ ones, but in 1991 I was in Form 4, now Year 10 which is the 2nd year of 5, in high school, so equivalent to your Freshmen.

DIAMONDS AND PEARLS is a great album, there is no discussing in that. It's one of his best albums

.

But he didn't sell as much as it should have...For most of the artists, only one hit such as CREAM on their album and they sell 10 millions from it.

I'm still pissed at how much Prince needed so much singles to sell one album correctly. The same could be said of DANGEROUS. Most of the artist with only BLACK OR WHITE and HEAL THE WORLD on their album would have sell it over 15/20 millions worldwide.

.

Usual consumers had clearly a problem with Prince public image.

After Graffiti Bridge(movie) Diamonds & Pearls blurred my Prince vision.

RODSERLING said:

DIAMONDS AND PEARLS is a great album, there is no discussing in that. It's one of his best albums

.

Well dang, I guess this thread should be locked. Apparently some things are just beyond discussion.

Entirely concieved to be radio-friendly thats why and its FUN! F U N.

BobPaisleyPark said:

A pretty run of the mill album that sold millions, produced a number hit and four top 40 hits.

It did far better than Lovesexy.

Why?

Compare the album covers and start from there.

I'm a dude and I have to tell you - it took some courage to walk into a small-town Texas record store and buy "Lovesexy". If I wasn't a hard-core Prince fan, there's no way I would have made that purchase. And after I bought the cassette, I refolded it so naked Prince was hidden from view. I'm betting there were a lot of casual music fans that looked at that cover and said, "Nope".

And then the "Lovesexy" CD was only one track. You couldn't play your favorite song on demand, unless that song was "Eye No". Word of mouth at the time was, "Don't buy than damn CD, you can't play what you want".

You have to remember - in 1988, CDs were still relatively new. (Note that I, a giant music fan, still had a cassette player in my car in 1988.) The ability to play whatever track you wanted, when you wanted to play it, was still astounding to many people. So for a CD to be released in which you COULDN'T go from track to track was a really big deal. And a giant turnoff.

So you had those two marketing strikes working against "Lovesexy".

.

[Edited 8/25/16 8:18am]

1. HIRED MJ's MANAGAER, FRANK DILEO WHO ARRANGED ALL THE ARESNIO, SPECIAL OLYMPICS, MTV AWARDS, WORLD TOUR FOR THE YEAR...

END RESULT, SELLS OVER 6 MILLION COPIES WORLD WIDE.

pandaleka said:

Noodled24 said:

There are 4 commercial songs on this album.

D&P

Cream

Gett off

Money Don't Matter

The rest of the album wasn't commercial at all. Those songs carried the album. Along with the huge production videos, and a world tour.

And "Insatiable"

206Michelle said:

Noodled24 said:

There are 4 commercial songs on this album.

D&P

Cream

Gett off

Money Don't Matter

The rest of the album wasn't commercial at all. Those songs carried the album. Along with the huge production videos, and a world tour.

And "Insatiable"

That was not commercial.

It only charted at #77 on the Billboard hot 100, #3 on the R&B charts.

Sad cause in my opinion Insatiable is the best song on the album.

Thunder is ACE.

And yes, P was FIT during this period...No getting away from it!

206Michelle said:

Noodled24 said:

There are 4 commercial songs on this album.

D&P

Cream

Gett off

Money Don't Matter

The rest of the album wasn't commercial at all. Those songs carried the album. Along with the huge production videos, and a world tour.

And "Insatiable"

It's a great song, but I don't think it's "commercial" per se. I can't imagine young teens running around singing along to "my body baby, you truely do" in the same way people would sing along to "Could you bethe most beautiful girl..."

It was commercial greatness. Not in my top 10, but still a great album. Gett Off will always be one of those memorable Prince tracks......and that MTV performance was Prince doin his thing, ass cheeks and all.

nursev said:

LewArcher said:

Some fans aren't as into D&P because Prince shifted away from his trademark Minneapolis Sound to some extent and made a very contemporary sounding album for the early 90s that incorporated hip-hop and new jack swing. I think that in some ways, it just doesn't sound as "personal" or "unique" to some hardcore Prince aficionados. Also, it has a couple of really weak throwaway tracks that detract from the beginning-to-end experience of D&P as an entire album.

That said, even though Prince made music that "fit" with the era for D&P, he still managed to include enough of his trademark sound and put his own spin on it to make it stand out, and there are some truly great tracks on there. I've long maintained that if it were an 9-10 track album like his top 80s albums, it would be considered part of his pantheon (or very close) by most... songs like "Jughead" and "Push" really bring it down for many people, but it's easy to skip those or, nowadays, just make a version of D&P that is tracked something like this:

1. Thunder

2. Daddy Pop

3. Diamonds and Pearls

4. Cream

5. Strollin'

6. Willing and Able

7. Open Book

8. Gett Off

9. Money Don't Matter 2Night

10. Insatiable

I know some fans aren't that into "Thunder" or "Daddy Pop" and others really like "Live 4 Live" and "Walk Don't Walk" so obv make your own minor adjustments to that tracklist as you see fit... but the idea is that if you look at D&P via the perspective of a killer 9-10 track album and rearrange it that way it's awesome. There are truly great songs on it, and removing "Push" and "Jughead" gets rid of the only really big misfires.

And, personally, I maintain "Open Book," another song from the same general era, would have been a massive hit if released as a single and promoted properly.

[Edited 7/10/16 4:05am]

This album did not have New Jack Swing. If you think this had some New Jack Swing on it, then you don't know New Jack Swing.

It has a very uplifting, positive vibe, some great songs such as Strollin, Money Don´t Matter 2night, Insatiable and a very positive message in general, and it was cohesive as far as looks and design and sound go. I didn´t like the rap parts, but I think it was a great and very enjoyable album. And it was very contemporary, with lyrics about the 1991 Gulf War, people joining the Army, killing for their country without really knowing why, etc. It had all the elements of a slick and varied Prince album back when that slickness and variety did not sound formulaic yet ( one or two rock songs, one or two ballads, a club anthem, one or two political songs, etc. etc. ) .

What I find surprising in hindsight is how poor the original album sounded. I mean Horny Pony, Glam Slam 91, Schoolyard and all those other songs sounded very, very sketchy and unfinished and the lyrics and music weren´t that great. The sequencing and general choice of songs for the released version was much, much better. If only he had left out Tony M. I don´t mind him on Call the Law and Gett Off but he add very little to all the other songs.