kapo74 said:

Meh. Not that interested in these releases. I will download Moonbeam Levels via iTunes or whatever, the rest I have on CD already. And of course most of us also have that song in more or less ok quality, so I don't see the point of buying it at all. Same goes for the PR album. Will download the unreleased tracks, but no need for PR itself, remastered or not. Btw, is Tidal still a thing? Or is it bankrupt already?

i'm taking a wild guess that Moonbeam Levels will be an 'album only' track and you'll have to buy the full monty

dodger said:

kapo74 said:

Meh. Not that interested in these releases. I will download Moonbeam Levels via iTunes or whatever, the rest I have on CD already. And of course most of us also have that song in more or less ok quality, so I don't see the point of buying it at all. Same goes for the PR album. Will download the unreleased tracks, but no need for PR itself, remastered or not. Btw, is Tidal still a thing? Or is it bankrupt already?

i'm taking a wild guess that Moonbeam Levels will be an 'album only' track and you'll have to buy the full monty

that would be so dumb. having that track available for download on itunes and such might give them
a bit of a scope on how many hardcore fans are out there, willing to pay for new tunes.

as part of the hits package only a few people will buy it. i'm still considering my options to be honest.

i would buy it on it's own. even if it was $ 5,- for just the one track. but i don't want to buy those
hits again, i've got enough compilations plus the original albums, plus the singles.

so i think many people might download moonbeam levels in good quality through other means and
a lot of fairweather fans and the public at large might not buy this hits package anymore since it's
nothing new and people already bought millions of those earlier this year.

i guess they don't care since it probably costs them little to nothing to throw this together, esp if it
isn't remastered. plus it's going to be the 'go to' compilation from now on i guess.

more interested in the PR deluxe. especially what's on that bonus disc. i don't believe for one minute
that it will be full of outtakes. there was a reason warners didn't release it yet. who knows, maybe it
has been padded out recently with warners owned outtake material? we'll see soon enough i guess.
it'll be an interesting release in many ways, especially as an example of what to expect from others
along the road.

Ok this is cool. It'll hopefully introduce Prince to more people. There are songs that have never been on other compilations. That's nice too. I like the cover even if it is one-dimensional.

What I would have wished for this kind of project is a few more unreleased songs, singles that span his entire career which includes the post-Warner years (maybe a second disc) and a different cover image. It looks too "bedroom" for me.

Maybe there will be a Volume 2 at some point which covers the post-Warner years or even a deluxe edition of this volume. If I buy it, I'll only get it for the 12-page booklet of unreleased Herb Ritts photos.

The news on the Purple Rain reissue is very exciting. I will definitely get that.

[Edited 10/21/16 6:02am]

haleno1 said:

CrabalockerFishwife said:

This song is not part of the tracklist.

I think that Warners can only go as far as 1996 on releases Someone can correct me if needed, Most Beautiful Girl has nothing to do with Warners and released independently so that's why it wasn't included they have no rights to it for release. Unless that now changes under any deals that maybe done.

It was also released on The Gold Experience, so they have rights. It could simply be a mistake listing it or they updated the tracklist and forgot to change it.

PurpleSpirit319 said:

RIP OFF!!!! I already have The Hits 3-CD package, as well as the Very Best Of Prince and the Ultimate set, why should I buy YET another greatest hits set, JUST FOR ONE UNRELEASED TRACK???

An excellent example of CASHING IN!!!!!!!

Last time I checked the Rolling Stones had done 27 best of albums so I wouldn't get all shitty about 4!

[Edited 10/21/16 5:56am]

KlyphIsBackAgain said:

haleno1 said:

CrabalockerFishwife said: I think that Warners can only go as far as 1996 on releases Someone can correct me if needed, Most Beautiful Girl has nothing to do with Warners and released independently so that's why it wasn't included they have no rights to it for release. Unless that now changes under any deals that maybe done.

It was also released on The Gold Experience, so they have rights. It could simply be a mistake listing it or they updated the tracklist and forgot to change it.

The Gold Experience was not released under the standard old agreement, but subject to a sub agreement and released as NPG/WB, so the likelihood hood is, WB couldn't go there. It would also explain why it was out of print.

IstenSzek said:

dodger said:

i'm taking a wild guess that Moonbeam Levels will be an 'album only' track and you'll have to buy the full monty

that would be so dumb. having that track available for download on itunes and such might give them
a bit of a scope on how many hardcore fans are out there, willing to pay for new tunes.

as part of the hits package only a few people will buy it. i'm still considering my options to be honest.

i would buy it on it's own. even if it was $ 5,- for just the one track. but i don't want to buy those
hits again, i've got enough compilations plus the original albums, plus the singles.

so i think many people might download moonbeam levels in good quality through other means and
a lot of fairweather fans and the public at large might not buy this hits package anymore since it's
nothing new and people already bought millions of those earlier this year.

i guess they don't care since it probably costs them little to nothing to throw this together, esp if it
isn't remastered. plus it's going to be the 'go to' compilation from now on i guess.

more interested in the PR deluxe. especially what's on that bonus disc. i don't believe for one minute
that it will be full of outtakes. there was a reason warners didn't release it yet. who knows, maybe it
has been padded out recently with warners owned outtake material? we'll see soon enough i guess.
it'll be an interesting release in many ways, especially as an example of what to expect from others
along the road.

P was quoted on the PR remaster as saying something like 'people looking back but I just look forward and it's the same album anyway' hinting there was no extras.

I was expecting (and hoping for) the last concert being issued this holiday season, along with a PR remastur+deluxe. I believe these would have made WB and the estate a whole lot more cash... The casual fans would love the PR and most would go for the last concert theme. IMO

By far the most compelling point is the inclusion of 'Moonbeam Levels', not because of it's quality or rarity, but rather the contractual element. Either:

- The Estate have full control and have chosen to put together a rather strange collection of tracks.

- A one off agreement was made between the Estate and WB to allow it's inclusion (but strangly not TMBGITW).

- Prince already handed WB 'Moonbeam Levels' as part of the 2014 distribution deal to be included in the Purple Rain Deluxe.

- Prince already handed WB 'Moonbeam Levels' as part of the 2014 distrubution deal which stated that the remasters were starting with Purple Rain....suggesting 1999 is on its way.

- Prince already handed WB 'Moonbeam Level's as part of the 2014 distribution deal as a single track for anther 'Hits' package.

- WB still retain rights of all recordings under the original contract, released or otherwise.

I'd like to think it would be part of the 1999 remaster in the can, but my guess is he handed WB the song as part of the 2014 deal and it wouldn't surprise me if it we see it surface of the Purple Rain Deluxe too, as one of the original '100 songs' considered by Magnoli.

WB could be milking the only new thing they have, the Purple Rain Deluxe, by putting one of the unreleased songs out early on Hits package.

KlyphIsBackAgain said:

I'd bet "Electric Intercourse" will be on the PR Deluxe 2nd "unreleased tracks" CD.

Let's see.

[Edited 10/21/16 6:44am]

FUNKNROLL said:

That album cover - shudder. Doesn't really look like him, IMO. Must be the lighting.

.

Ghastly cover art...

.

And so it begins, the posthumous embarrassments and mishandling of P's legacy...

.

This new comp is the least imaginative cash-grab they could come up with...

Come on, people.... any compilation of any artist is more or less a cash-grab.
And we have to live with the sad historical moment we're now. And to some extent accept it.

I'm obviously not amazed by this release, but all in all I find a lot more cash-grabbing the old "The Very Best Of Prince"..... 1CD, no rarities, no unreleased tracks, nothing but the same rehashed hits.

Here I can see a more complete selection of songs with an unreleased song (and one of the best they could choose), and maybe some little surprise in the versions included of some tunes (even if I'm convinced that "Nothing Compares 2 U" is not an unreleased version, if it would why not mention the thing in the announcement?!?).

"The Very Best Of" is the only P CD release still missing from my shelf.... instead "4Ever" will take his place there.

[Edited 10/21/16 6:57am]

Here's what I care about, MOONBEAM LEVELS. Of course a Hits package is not for us. Does make sense from a business standpoint. And having casual fans hear Moonbeam Levels will peak an interest in further material in the vault. Purple Rain is also an obvious first place to start on remastered/unreleased futrue releases. Not suprised to see Warner either, I always believed the material he recorded under contract years ago might not be so easy for him to state ownership of. who knows. Would also believe the family coud put of a "Piano & Mic" show up on Tidal pretty easy too. Atlanta anyone?? Gotta be a soundboard out there someplace.

This is the kind of release that the pessimists on here have said is the only kind of release that will enjoy robust sales. So, the pessimists should be happy as it appears the estate is doing first that which will fund the most money.

Pessimists - are you happy with this release?

"The “Purple Rain” deluxe reissue will be released early next year, and will be based on plans agreed with Prince before his death in April. According to reports, the album may have tracks like "Electric Intercourse," "Father's Song," "All Day, All Night" and "Possessed.""

What are the chances the extended version(s) of Computer Blue make it on there?

PurpleSpirit319 said:

RIP OFF!!!! I already have The Hits 3-CD package, as well as the Very Best Of Prince and the Ultimate set, why should I buy YET another greatest hits set, JUST FOR ONE UNRELEASED TRACK???

An excellent example of CASHING IN!!!!!!!

Yes - that is EXACTLY what it is. And it's the smart thing to do. You may not be aware of this, but Prince's estate owes some amount of estate taxes. Those taxes are due within about a year-and-a-half of Prince's death. Therefore, the estate is under a time pressure to raise the necessary money to pay the estate taxes.

Now, they COULD have sold Prince's catalogue to someone else. I rather imagine this would have made you unhappy. Luckily for you, Prince's estate instead chose the most logical and readily-available way to raise money to pay taxes, while retaining control and ownership of his work.

Feel better now?

.

[Edited 10/21/16 7:06am]

lynx said:

What are the chances the extended version(s) of Computer Blue make it on there?

Now you're talkin'.........................

Although I hate to drop the cash for one song, I'll do it... this time. If this becomes standard operating procedure I won't keep playing. I need previously unreleased material to keep me interested. Remastering alone is not enough for me to invest in as I expect it to be done brickwall style.

fabriziovenerandi said:

"The “Purple Rain” deluxe reissue will be released early next year, and will be based on plans agreed with Prince before his death in April. According to reports, the album may have tracks like "Electric Intercourse," "Father's Song," "All Day, All Night" and "Possessed.""

Given that All Day, All Night was recorded after the Purple Rain sessions and worked on way after, that would be a strange addition.

[Edited 10/21/16 7:10am]

IstenSzek said:

more interested in the PR deluxe. especially what's on that bonus disc. i don't believe for one minute
that it will be full of outtakes. there was a reason warners didn't release it yet. who knows, maybe it
has been padded out recently with warners owned outtake material? we'll see soon enough i guess.
it'll be an interesting release in many ways, especially as an example of what to expect from others
along the road.

.

The more I think about it, the more unlikely it looks that an album's worth of outtakes is just getting added to PR. "Previously unreleased material" can mean a lot, even a live album. In any case, it is wildly insufficient.

CAL3 said:

FUNKNROLL said:

That album cover - shudder. Doesn't really look like him, IMO. Must be the lighting.

.

Ghastly cover art...

.

And so it begins, the posthumous embarrassments and mishandling of P's legacy...

.

This new comp is the least imaginative cash-grab they could come up with...

According to the photographer, he chose that image for the cover before he died. So I guess he was already planning to release a hits compilation this year.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BL0fqFpFDu5/?taken-by=justinewalpolephoto

Purpleone4Eva said:

CAL3 said:

.

Ghastly cover art...

.

And so it begins, the posthumous embarrassments and mishandling of P's legacy...

.

This new comp is the least imaginative cash-grab they could come up with...

According to the photographer, he chose that image for the cover before he died. So I guess he was already planning to release a hits compilation this year.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BL0fqFpFDu5/?taken-by=justinewalpolephoto

This would explain the inclusion of "Moonbeam Level".

But I think we're talkin' of something planned for 2014/2015 (in the vein of PR Deluxe), not something planned for now.

I for one am very excited for these releases.... It's great to see movement and new releases coming. Yes I agree that the new greatest hits is a cash in but I take it as a sign of more releases to come. Personally I think hardcore fans should support the new releases to ensure further future releases but that's just me.Very much looking forward to a high quality version of "Moonbeam Levels."

The album cover of 4ever is pretty wack though... I agree with others that it almost doesn't look like him. It's very Michael Jackson-ish.

Just a suggestion.... maybe the 2nd unreleased album will be "Roadhouse Garden" (the version P worked on at the time of the NPG Music Club).

Well, probably it will turn out really as only suggestion.