Don't get me wrong--I like "Moonbeam Levels". Its charming and builds well. But its chorus is repetitive and I think he has better melodies. I was just listening to 1000's O's and X's again. And even though it is from an album of mixed quality and was originally written in the 1990's, I think it is a wonderful and extremely sexy song (with warm and even thoughtful lyrics). these songs need attention. Songs like Empty Room and When I lay my hands on u and the entirety of the Truth album are all better than Moonbeam Levels. Just because ML is an 80's song, it doesn't make it better.

Speaking of unreleased 80's songs I have heard--I prefer Electric Intercourse, Strange Way, Place in Heaven, Adonis And Bathsheba, Grand Progression, and even the Sex of It Demo over Moonbeam Levels.

I hope ML is a success but I also hope newbies are open-minded...because I don't think it is his best.

[Edited 11/22/16 19:16pm]

[Edited 11/22/16 19:18pm]

purplerabbithole said:

Don't get me wrong--I like "Moonbeam Levels". Its charming and builds well. But its chorus is repetitive and I think he has better melodies. I was just listening to 1000's O's and X's again. And even though it is from an album of mixed quality and was originally written in the 1990's, I think it is a wonderful and extremely sexy song (with warm and even thoughtful lyrics). these songs need attention. Songs like Empty Room and When I lay my hands on u and the entirety of the Truth album are all better than Moonbeam Levels. Just because ML is an 80's song, it doesn't make it better.

Speaking of unreleased 80's songs I have heard--I prefer Electric Intercourse, Strange Way, Place in Heaven, Adonis And Bathsheba, Grand Progression, and even the Sex of It Demo over Moonbeam Levels.

I hope ML is a success but I also hope newbies are open-minded...because I don't think it is his best.

[Edited 11/22/16 19:16pm]

[Edited 11/22/16 19:18pm]

Empty Room is technicaly an 80s song too

I don't think we need to crucify Moonbeam Levels, it is one of many hopeful songs that will be released. Moonbeam Levels is a great song. I don't think it needs to be compared to vast other obscure songs out there. How can it? I don't think Moonbeams is loved because it is an '80s' song.
And I think it is a stronger song that a lot on the Truth album. The Truth album is one of my top favorites from the 90s. I've never compared them before. I don't think A Place In Heaven is a stronger song either.

It is a great song from a great time. Let's just hope that a lot of unreleased songs are released, and other obscure songs are highlighted.

I'm not sure that "Moonbeam Levels" isn't Prince's greatest song, released or unreleased. Everyone's entitled to an opinion, but why can't we be happy that a revered fan favorite outtake is the torch-bearer to lead the procession of hidden gems from the vault?

Sure, his more obscure releases haven't been given a lot of public attention, but they've had their time and are available for purchase (at least through eBay). Releasing formerly unpublished songs ia a great thing, IMO.

I just don't think ML has that great of a melody (the verse is fine, but the chorus is repetitive like I said). Sincerely. I am not being contrarian or being overly defensive of his later work.. Empty Room is an 80's song..so good point. I like ML for the execution of the song (his singing/accompaniment music) and some of its lyrics but its melody just doesn't impress me that much.

As for the Truth album, Dionne, other Side of the Pillow, the Truth, Don't Play Me, Comeback, all have better melodies than ML. The lyrics are not as quirky as ML but I enjoy the melodies more.

I guess you can tell I am big on melody

OldFriends4Sale said:

purplerabbithole said:

Don't get me wrong--I like "Moonbeam Levels". Its charming and builds well. But its chorus is repetitive and I think he has better melodies. I was just listening to 1000's O's and X's again. And even though it is from an album of mixed quality and was originally written in the 1990's, I think it is a wonderful and extremely sexy song (with warm and even thoughtful lyrics). these songs need attention. Songs like Empty Room and When I lay my hands on u and the entirety of the Truth album are all better than Moonbeam Levels. Just because ML is an 80's song, it doesn't make it better.

Speaking of unreleased 80's songs I have heard--I prefer Electric Intercourse, Strange Way, Place in Heaven, Adonis And Bathsheba, Grand Progression, and even the Sex of It Demo over Moonbeam Levels.

I hope ML is a success but I also hope newbies are open-minded...because I don't think it is his best.

[Edited 11/22/16 19:16pm]

[Edited 11/22/16 19:18pm]

Empty Room is technicaly an 80s song too

I don't think we need to crucify Moonbeam Levels, it is one of many hopeful songs that will be released. Moonbeam Levels is a great song. I don't think it needs to be compared to vast other obscure songs out there. How can it? I don't think Moonbeams is loved because it is an '80s' song.
And I think it is a stronger song that a lot on the Truth album. The Truth album is one of my top favorites from the 90s. I've never compared them before. I don't think A Place In Heaven is a stronger song either.

It is a great song from a great time. Let's just hope that a lot of unreleased songs are released, and other obscure songs are highlighted.

MOst of the limited releases are not available for purchase. they might as well be stored in a vault. The only way I was able to acquire The Truth and Gold experience (the only way I could afford them ) was to buy them from Tidal. And now tidal is being sued. I am saying that hyping every vault song (good, bad, mediocre) and ignoring the limited or hard to get releases is a bit unfair to big chunks of his career.

I am glad ML is getting attention (and you like it so much), but if the public doesn't take to the song (and they may not), obscure or vault releases are going to be harder to find. I wish they had at least attached 3 vault or obscure releases to this box set. OT--i was pleased to see Glam Slam on the box set because I have yet to buy LoveSexy ( I bought the MP3 of Since You were mine, Glam Slam and Moonlight Levels from Amazon tonight). I am getting Lovesexy on vinyl so that I can moved around and skip songs when I am not in the mood to hear them. I have only heard Lovesexy via youtube.

Moonbeam said:

I'm not sure that "Moonbeam Levels" isn't Prince's greatest song, released or unreleased. Everyone's entitled to an opinion, but why can't we be happy that a revered fan favorite outtake is the torch-bearer to lead the procession of hidden gems from the vault?

Sure, his more obscure releases haven't been given a lot of public attention, but they've had their time and are available for purchase (at least through eBay). Releasing formerly unpublished songs ia a great thing, IMO.

purplerabbithole said:

MOst of the limited releases are not available for purchase. they might as well be stored in a vault. The only way I was able to acquire The Truth and Gold experience (the only way I could afford them ) was to buy them from Tidal. And now tidal is being sued. I am saying that hyping every vault song (good, bad, mediocre) and ignoring the limited or hard to get releases is a bit unfair to big chunks of his career.

I am glad ML is getting attention (and you like it so much), but if the public doesn't take to the song (and they may not), obscure or vault releases are going to be harder to find. I wish they had at least attached 3 vault or obscure releases to this box set. OT--i was pleased to see Glam Slam on the box set because I have yet to buy LoveSexy ( I bought the MP3 of Since You were mine, Glam Slam and Moonlight Levels from Amazon tonight). I am getting Lovesexy on vinyl so that I can moved around and skip songs when I am not in the mood to hear them. I have only heard Lovesexy via youtube.

Moonbeam said:

I'm not sure that "Moonbeam Levels" isn't Prince's greatest song, released or unreleased. Everyone's entitled to an opinion, but why can't we be happy that a revered fan favorite outtake is the torch-bearer to lead the procession of hidden gems from the vault?

Sure, his more obscure releases haven't been given a lot of public attention, but they've had their time and are available for purchase (at least through eBay). Releasing formerly unpublished songs ia a great thing, IMO.

Out of print is different from unavailable, though. It may be expensive, but you can find things like The Gold Experience on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i...p;_sacat=0

We'll have to disagree about the melody of "Moonbeam Levels". I think it's one of his very best, especially the way he plays with the "Moonbeam" part of the chorus with his higher register. What you hear as repetitiveness, I hear as increasing urgency of his plea.

Very cool that you are getting some of his songs for the first time, like "Glam Slam". Most copies of the Lovesexy CD only have one single track comprising all 9 songs, so there is a lot of value in getting a tracked version of the album (I believe the German version was tracked).

I already bought Gold Experience and the Truth from Tidal. Also, Crystal Ball as well (although I kind of dislike most of the songs on that set, but it was affordable and the songs that I do like from that album I really like.)

Moonbeam said:

purplerabbithole said:

MOst of the limited releases are not available for purchase. they might as well be stored in a vault. The only way I was able to acquire The Truth and Gold experience (the only way I could afford them ) was to buy them from Tidal. And now tidal is being sued. I am saying that hyping every vault song (good, bad, mediocre) and ignoring the limited or hard to get releases is a bit unfair to big chunks of his career.

I am glad ML is getting attention (and you like it so much), but if the public doesn't take to the song (and they may not), obscure or vault releases are going to be harder to find. I wish they had at least attached 3 vault or obscure releases to this box set. OT--i was pleased to see Glam Slam on the box set because I have yet to buy LoveSexy ( I bought the MP3 of Since You were mine, Glam Slam and Moonlight Levels from Amazon tonight). I am getting Lovesexy on vinyl so that I can moved around and skip songs when I am not in the mood to hear them. I have only heard Lovesexy via youtube.

Out of print is different from unavailable, though. It may be expensive, but you can find things like The Gold Experience on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i...p;_sacat=0

We'll have to disagree about the melody of "Moonbeam Levels". I think it's one of his very best, especially the way he plays with the "Moonbeam" part of the chorus with his higher register. What you hear as repetitiveness, I hear as increasing urgency of his plea.

Very cool that you are getting some of his songs for the first time, like "Glam Slam". Most copies of the Lovesexy CD only have one single track comprising all 9 songs, so there is a lot of value in getting a tracked version of the album (I believe the German version was tracked).

sonshine said:

I happen to agree with most of what the OP wrote and I get what you are saying. I would love to own the Gold Experience, but I never got a tidal subscription so I'm scouring used record stores hoping to find it. I would really rather have some of those records that are out of print before any new vault material. I did find Crystal Ball (which wasn't even on my must-have list) last week for $19.99 in mint condition in a second hand music store so I'm still riding the high from that find Lol

Wow, the cheapest Gold Experience CD on Amazon is $37. A far cry from a few years ago... I think I paid $8.00 for mine used to replace the one I used to have.

Wow, it must be an used copy. It used to be in the hundreds and the vinyl is half a grand.

purplethunder3121 said:

sonshine said:

I happen to agree with most of what the OP wrote and I get what you are saying. I would love to own the Gold Experience, but I never got a tidal subscription so I'm scouring used record stores hoping to find it. I would really rather have some of those records that are out of print before any new vault material. I did find Crystal Ball (which wasn't even on my must-have list) last week for $19.99 in mint condition in a second hand music store so I'm still riding the high from that find Lol

Wow, the cheapest Gold Experience CD on Amazon is $37. A far cry from a few years ago... I think I paid $8.00 for mine used to replace the one I used to have.

I think there is a stong case for a compilation of album-only songs. In the vein of a hits collection but with no/few songs on there that were released as singles.

sonshine said:

They can though,via Tidal, but choose not to.

I'd rather they hear unreleased stuff from his purple patch, not his mid 90's noodling.

sonshine said:

I happen to agree with most of what the OP wrote and I get what you are saying. I would love to own the Gold Experience, but I never got a tidal subscription so I'm scouring used record stores hoping to find it. I would really rather have some of those records that are out of print before any new vault material. I did find Crystal Ball (which wasn't even on my must-have list) last week for $19.99 in mint condition in a second hand music store so I'm still riding the high from that find Lol

.

Have you ever heard of "Bittorrent". There is a torrent that includes every one of Prince's released albums. Just a couple of clicks and you have his entire catalogue and then you can spend money on new releases as they come out, if you want. I certainly plan to buy the new releases to help support them and hopefully there will be more.