Discuss.

Most 'fans' do not know madhouse.

NorthC said:

I don't really know what you mean. Underrated by whom? And why?

As you said in the other thread I posted, less is more. I'd rather leave the preface open to interpretation.

udo said:

Most 'fans' do not know madhouse.

You mean JohnnyComeLatelys? Totes.

However, I think those of us who have been around for a very long time do not underrate Madhouse. The speed at which is was recorded, the intricacy of it, and the sheer imagination behind it lets it stand on its own. The CDs are pricey, which means they're not only rare but are highly desired by fans. Both records have a similar sound, yet are quite different. Parts of 16 wallow a bit, where 8 seems to be more focused.

You could really look at things like N.E.W.S. C-Note, or Xpectation as natural extensions of the Madhouse project.

Madhouse 16 needs more discussion and appreciation ! This Album & The B-Sides of this era are amazing! My Favorites are 9,13 & 16! 13 (The Paisley Park Mix) Get's alot of spins on my I-Pod!

SteveWask said:

Madhouse 16 needs more discussion and appreciation ! This Album & The B-Sides of this era are amazing! My Favorites are 9,13 & 16! 13 (The Paisley Park Mix) Get's alot of spins on my I-Pod!

"12" always felt like a Broadway tune to me. It's a show opener or a closer. It has that great upbeat jive dance feel, it reaches back to the 40s big band era, and with the people clapping in it, it begs to have audience participation. If there's ever a musical about his life, this should be a song in a sequence with Prince Rogers Trio.

"8" has the same chords and keyboard part from "U Got The Look", which really shows how versatile one keyboard part can be in a pop song, or in a mellow instrumental ballad.

bluegangsta said:

I don't believe it's underrated by people who know of it, but the Madhouse albums are far lesser-known than they ought to be. Little gems, indeed. There's my opinion.

by Prince yes

Madhouse could have been a bigger project

Everyone but Dale Alexander(drummer) was in in SOTT/Lovesexy band

so the prospects of a Madhouse band/era was slim

The videos the direction and vision the 1940s/1950s glam Gangster/Cops n Robbers/Bonnie n Clyde thing could have been very colorful and fun

The Hard Life movie connection (reshoot it with a better script/director) the videos the polk a dot dressed model

I always felt Levi shined brightest with Madhouse

NorthC said:

Hey, that's another way of looking at it... Underrated by Prince... But he was always doing ten things at once, so he never allowed any of the acts under his wings to really grow...

Yep, but by 1987 his Princedom had shrunk, the protege scene suffered.

Sheila E 1987 great album lost

Madhouse Prince still pretending it's not him

all band members in his touring band

caused Madhouse to not be able to be bigger

the 2nd Madhouse album didn't even open for the Lovesexy tour or do any live shows(that I know of)

Hold up-Madhouse actually performed?????????????When where who has proof????

I feel it is underrated and appreciated.

[Edited 10/27/16 11:45am]

That stupid Lovesexy 1 track had me so mad I missed all the good stuff.

It took me almost 20 years to get the first Madhouse on cd(had vinyl) and I loved both 8 and 16. Looking on Ebay(bad thing to do) I see 24 and a greatest hits collection-is that legitimate or fake?

I love the Madhouse projects and I wish more effort had been put into promoting them. I was thinking that Prince might have gone in a more Madhouse like direction after the Piano and a Mic tour. I think his music writing and performing skills go underrated. SO it is no suprise most folks don't know who/what Madhouse is.

tish9311 said:

Hold up-Madhouse actually performed?????????????When where who has proof????

I feel it is underrated and appreciated.

[Edited 10/27/16 11:45am]

No need for proof, Madhouse was the support for the SOTT tour.

tish9311 said:

I see 24 and a greatest hits collection-is that legitimate or fake?

Fake, only 8 and 16 were officially released.

I've never known anyone who heard the albums to under-rate them. The problem is they are under-heard.

i agree, under-played. Most hardcore know about it.

tish9311 said:

That stupid Lovesexy 1 track had me so mad I missed all the good stuff.

It took me almost 20 years to get the first Madhouse on cd(had vinyl) and I loved both 8 and 16. Looking on Ebay(bad thing to do) I see 24 and a greatest hits collection-is that legitimate or fake?

I love the Madhouse projects and I wish more effort had been put into promoting them. I was thinking that Prince might have gone in a more Madhouse like direction after the Piano and a Mic tour. I think his music writing and performing skills go underrated. SO it is no suprise most folks don't know who/what Madhouse is.

I quite enjoyed Madhouse 8 and 16. 24 not as much, but still worth a listen. I wish Prince had explored more instrumental projects. He probably did more than we know about.

16 has aged. Not terribly, but man, the big snares, the orchestra hit stabs, the samples...
I hear late eighties production gimmicks all over.
I found the overall production to be kind of oppressive and claustrophobic.
"Nine" is a collage of some kind, that never really takes off.
"Ten" and "Thriteen" are rehashes of "Six".
"Eleven" is maybe the more interesting sonically, but it's a 2-chord synth pad with samples, nothing much.

One can almost hear the depressive state Prince was in that led to the ecstasy incident.

I find 8 to be worthy of SOTT, but 16 not worthy of Lovesexy or TBA.
It's like 16 tries too much, whereas 8 is a result of a natural, spontaneous act of inspiration.
The organic sound of 8 doesn't age. And the compositions are simply better.

tish9311 said:

Hold up-Madhouse actually performed?????????????When where who has proof????

I feel it is underrated and appreciated.

bonatoc said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

Yuuuup and they were ahead of there time (or should I say Prince was ahead of his time ) I love both albums, and it fits with with all his other side projects in the 80s

[Edited 10/27/16 20:22pm]

bonatoc said:

16 has aged. Not terribly, but man, the big snares, the orchestra hit stabs, the samples...
I hear late eighties production gimmicks all over.
I found the overall production to be kind of oppressive and claustrophobic.
"Nine" is a collage of some kind, that never really takes off.
"Ten" and "Thriteen" are rehashes of "Six".
"Eleven" is maybe the more interesting sonically, but it's a 2-chord synth pad with samples, nothing much.

One can almost hear the depressive state Prince was in that led to the ecstasy incident.

I find 8 to be worthy of SOTT, but 16 not worthy of Lovesexy or TBA.
It's like 16 tries too much, whereas 8 is a result of a natural, spontaneous act of inspiration.
The organic sound of 8 doesn't age. And the compositions are simply better.

16 sounds harsh and chaotic. 8 is absolute classic.

TrivialPursuit said: