Hey all - I saw a somewhat recent thread on these but for some reason it looked like they were closed, or at least I didn't seem to be able to post a reply for some reason so I'm starting this new thread. Sorry if this is redundant.

There are only a few things that I don't own for official studio releases of Prince. These remaining ones I've held off on - strictly because I won't get to see a new studio album with Prince around to give his blessing. Because of this I don't want to finish the collection yet - that would be too much finality for me just yet.

However, I'm thinking about Chocolate Invasion and Slaughterhouse a lot lately.

Even before he died the price for these was just ridiculous, but I'm getting more and more curious about them. I have a feeling that most people here will tell me they're solid but not worth the current eBay price.

I mean, people are selling burned copies for $40+ it's insane.

Thoughts on these albums in particular? It's strange for me to think they were even released as actual studio albums - so many fans aren't even aware of them. They're like little secrets, and I've honestly loved every single Prince album I've ever heard - I'm sure I'll love these too.

Am I missing out? Need some advice.

Any copy of these albums on ebay are bootlegs.
.
You can buy the albums legitimately from Tidal. This is the only way to buy these releases and have the money go to the estate as it should.
.

The Chocolate Invasion
http://tidal.com/us/store...m/50828396
.
The Slaughterhouse
http://tidal.com/us/store...m/50835835

.

My advice - buy them both in FLAC, make a reliable backup of them, and decide when and where you want to listen to them.

Doozer said:

Any copy of these albums on ebay are bootlegs.
.
You can buy the albums legitimately from Tidal. This is the only way to buy these releases and have the money go to the estate as it should.
.

The Chocolate Invasion
http://tidal.com/us/store...m/50828396
.
The Slaughterhouse
http://tidal.com/us/store...m/50835835

.

My advice - buy them both in FLAC, make a reliable backup of them, and decide when and where you want to listen to them.

TCI on Tidal is a different configuration than the original release, though

1) Absolutely essential (and great) albums. I prefer The Chocolate Invasion to most of the 90s stuff.

2) Never pressed to CD. Ever. Only released and available digitally.

databank said:

TCI on Tidal is a different configuration than the original release, though

Very true. I'll always prefer the original version of "The Dance" to the "My Medallion" swap.

[Edited 9/8/16 22:59pm]

WhisperingDandelions said:

databank said:

TCI on Tidal is a different configuration than the original release, though

Very true. I'll always prefer the original version of "The Dance" to the "My Medallion" swap.

[Edited 9/8/16 22:59pm]

I love both tracks equally, actually at the time I was totally pissed MM was left out, but now to me the "real" album is the one with TD, because it was the one that got released. Interestingly though the Tidal version is the scrapped, originally planned for release, version.

I've heard everything he's done and these are his worst 2 albums imo. I only love 4 tracks and a few others are good, but most of the songs are 2/5. So they don't sound like proper Prince albums to me.

These are not albums - just compilations.

.

databank said:

Doozer said:

Any copy of these albums on ebay are bootlegs.
.
You can buy the albums legitimately from Tidal. This is the only way to buy these releases and have the money go to the estate as it should.
.

The Chocolate Invasion
http://tidal.com/us/store...m/50828396
.
The Slaughterhouse
http://tidal.com/us/store...m/50835835

.

My advice - buy them both in FLAC, make a reliable backup of them, and decide when and where you want to listen to them.

TCI on Tidal is a different configuration than the original release, though

Yup, the artwork is from the first configuration, the TIDAL download doesn't match that one.

Doozer said:

Any copy of these albums on ebay are bootlegs.
.
You can buy the albums legitimately from Tidal. This is the only way to buy these releases and have the money go to the estate as it should.
.

The Chocolate Invasion
http://tidal.com/us/store...m/50828396
.
The Slaughterhouse
http://tidal.com/us/store...m/50835835

.

My advice - buy them both in FLAC, make a reliable backup of them, and decide when and where you want to listen to them.

Yes, a back-up is always a good idea. I always burn anything on cd (I'm old fashioned I guess) and I always make a back up in the cloud. Just in case anything goes wrong in what way ever, I can always get back to that back-up.

rob1965 said:

darkroman said:

These are not albums - just compilations.

.

Nonsense. Prince assembled those albums with as much care as he did any other, putting songs together in a way to make cohesive ensembles. The fact that most songs had been released before (albeit not all in the exact same form) does not make these albums "mere" compilations in the sense of, say, a greatest hits package.

I didn't know you could straight up buy them on Tidal - thought it was streaming only whaaaaaaat

Oh man that is frustrating - those people selling copies are all probably just people who have bought it on Tidal and are burning CDs now.

Gonna hit up Tidal today then - ah man I'm glad I made this post.

Thank you everyone!

Already bought. Oh man - this is so glorious. Been wanting these for SO long. Gonna grab the instrumental albums too. Oh no haha wallet is crying and I just don't care haha

26ten said:

whats the story with the SILVERLINE RECORDS digipack release of CHOCOLATE INVASION, SLAUGHTERHOUSE, C-NOTE, XPECTATION?

Is the difference pretty apparent in audio quality between flacc and MP3? Bought them as MP3s without thinking and just noticed that as of know the flacc versions are like $18 as opposed to $10 for the MP3. Is there really... you know - an $8 difference in audio quality?

I should have asked beforehand but damn was I excited haha

26ten said:

Is the difference pretty apparent in audio quality between flacc and MP3? Bought them as MP3s without thinking and just noticed that as of know the flacc versions are like $18 as opposed to $10 for the MP3. Is there really... you know - an $8 difference in audio quality?

I should have asked beforehand but damn was I excited haha

There is absolutely no difference in quality between high quality MP3 and flac/cd. Noone's been able to tell the difference in blind tests, period. You're simply wasting your money on the uncompressed versions, so count it as money saved.

darkroman said:

These are not albums - just compilations.

.

They were defined as volumes on Prince's website, so technically i don't think they should qualify as albums.

Would you happen to know if fans/fams got to vote on what tracks should be included?

[Edited 9/10/16 15:23pm]

Doozer said:

Any copy of these albums on ebay are bootlegs.
.
You can buy the albums legitimately from Tidal. This is the only way to buy these releases and have the money go to the estate as it should.
.

The Chocolate Invasion
http://tidal.com/us/store...m/50828396
.
The Slaughterhouse
http://tidal.com/us/store...m/50835835

.

My advice - buy them both in FLAC, make a reliable backup of them, and decide when and where you want to listen to them.

Thanks so much for posting this! I've never been to Tidal. Love that you can sample the tracks.

I'm old school and like physical c.d.'s but this will do! Can you tell me what is the difference between MP3 and FLAC downloads?

Also, do I need to be a Tidal member to buy them?

TIA

feeluupp said:

whats the story with the SILVERLINE RECORDS digipack release of CHOCOLATE INVASION, SLAUGHTERHOUSE, C-NOTE, XPECTATION?

Here's your story: https://en.wikipedia.org/..._recording

fortuneandserendipity said:

darkroman said:

These are not albums - just compilations.

.

They were defined as volumes on Prince's website, so technically i don't think they should qualify as albums.

Would you happen to know if fans/fams got to vote on what tracks should be included?

[Edited 9/10/16 15:23pm]

"Volumes"? They were pretty much defined as studio albums on P's online NPGMC discography, being on par with other studio albums. I believe Prince was the one to decide whether his own releases are albums or not, and he obviously considered those as being albums. End of story.

bigtimefan said:

databank said:

feeluupp said:

whats the story with the SILVERLINE RECORDS digipack release of CHOCOLATE INVASION, SLAUGHTERHOUSE, C-NOTE, XPECTATION?

Here's your story: https://en.wikipedia.org/..._recording

so where in that link does it explain about silverline records

feeluupp said:

databank said:

Here's your story: https://en.wikipedia.org/..._recording

so where in that link does it explain about silverline records

It's a bootlegs label, what more do u want? https://www.discogs.com/f...lverline-2

databank said:

feeluupp said:

so where in that link does it explain about silverline records

It's a bootlegs label, what more do u want? https://www.discogs.com/f...lverline-2

yes i know it's a bootleg label.

i wanted to know what the deal or history of silverline records was with their relase of those prince albums...

feeluupp said:

databank said:

It's a bootlegs label, what more do u want? https://www.discogs.com/f...lverline-2

yes i know it's a bootleg label.

i wanted to know what the deal or history of silverline records was with their relase of those prince albums...

I'm not sure I understand ur question. If u look at their discography the deal seems to be the same as every other similar "label", i.e. make quick cash on the back of naive fans by selling out of print and/or digital only official releases, as well as outtakes and shows that are available for free download online. I can't figure out what's so special about them that u want to know anything more than that. What in the world else could there be to know?

[Edited 9/11/16 0:48am]

databank said:

fortuneandserendipity said:

They were defined as volumes on Prince's website, so technically i don't think they should qualify as albums.

Would you happen to know if fans/fams got to vote on what tracks should be included?

[Edited 9/10/16 15:23pm]

"Volumes"? They were pretty much defined as studio albums on P's online NPGMC discography, being on par with other studio albums. I believe Prince was the one to decide whether his own releases are albums or not, and he obviously considered those as being albums. End of story.

Right, I don't remember but it doesn't give off album vibe to me when the front says 'volume'. There is external criteria on what constitutes LPs, EPs and the like. CI, TS didn't get a CD release, so maybe not end of story. Neither did Xpectation to be fair. But then Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic, New Power Soul, even Kamasutra all got a CD release. (I know you're going to say remix album, NPG album and NPG orchestra album- But hey Prince wrote all the music). NPS I believe at the time Prince intended as a Prince album, musically speaking. It was a way of circumventing the Warners contract, the band contributing less compositionally than on the other two NPG efforts.

fortuneandserendipity said:

databank said:

"Volumes"? They were pretty much defined as studio albums on P's online NPGMC discography, being on par with other studio albums. I believe Prince was the one to decide whether his own releases are albums or not, and he obviously considered those as being albums. End of story.

Right, I don't remember but it doesn't give off album vibe to me when the front says 'volume'. There is external criteria on what constitutes LPs, EPs and the like. CI, TS didn't get a CD release, so maybe not end of story. Neither did Xpectation to be fair. But then Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic, New Power Soul, even Kamasutra all got a CD release. (I know you're going to say remix album, NPG album and NPG orchestra album- But hey Prince wrote all the music). NPS I believe at the time Prince intended as a Prince album, musically speaking. It was a way of circumventing the Warners contract, the band contributing less compositionally than on the other two NPG efforts.

Digital releases are considered albums as much as physical releases. Format was never a criteria.

I've always believed NPS was a "NPG" album because P and Larry had a trip to release their albums at GCS and NPG instread of LG and , but this is pure speculation from my part. However it cannot possibly have anything to do with WB since we're in 1998. Also, people tend to overestimate the band's contributions on GD and Exodus: while they were maybe playing more on those 2 than on NPS, their involvement in terms of composition and concept was pretty much void, they didn't have a say on those projects any more than on NPS.

databank said:

fortuneandserendipity said:

Right, I don't remember but it doesn't give off album vibe to me when the front says 'volume'. There is external criteria on what constitutes LPs, EPs and the like. CI, TS didn't get a CD release, so maybe not end of story. Neither did Xpectation to be fair. But then Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic, New Power Soul, even Kamasutra all got a CD release. (I know you're going to say remix album, NPG album and NPG orchestra album- But hey Prince wrote all the music). NPS I believe at the time Prince intended as a Prince album, musically speaking. It was a way of circumventing the Warners contract, the band contributing less compositionally than on the other two NPG efforts.

Digital releases are considered albums as much as physical releases. Format was never a criteria.

I've always believed NPS was a "NPG" album because P and Larry had a trip to release their albums at GCS and NPG instread of LG and , but this is pure speculation from my part. However it cannot possibly have anything to do with WB since we're in 1998. Also, people tend to overestimate the band's contributions on GD and Exodus: while they were maybe playing more on those 2 than on NPS, their involvement in terms of composition and concept was pretty much void, they didn't have a say on those projects any more than on NPS.

Well, to me if digital releases don't get CD release at some point, then there's a problem. Probably liquidity. The format should matter. This is why so many bands struggle to get widespread publicity- 'it's like we've done 7 digital LPs but still nobody knows who we are!' Just speculating, but maybe Prince thought at the last moment, this shit ain't good enough to get the full release! (they were intended for CD at one point). So he released Musicology instead, the others being afterthoughts.

He still had to fulfil the WB contract with one more release, hence Old Friends for Sale in '99. Warners were apparently pissed at Prince in '96 for releasing Emancipation through EMI.

Conventional wisdom has it GN and Exodus had a lot of NPG input. If I were Prince I would have included Kamasutra and NPS in the catalogue but that's just me.