On this date, "N.E.W.S", the instrumental album that went on to become nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album was recorded with Eric Leeds, Rhonda Smith, John Blackwell and Renato Neto. I remember hearing the album for the first time and thinking to myself, that Prince was really in a creative zone because he was using John Blackwell extensively in the studio, relying on his band members for arrangements and the sonic textures of his recordings were so rich and full-some of it due to him recording by way of analog. What are fans memories of his album?

It is a great album very underrated. i love Princes guitar solo on West starting at 8 minute

bashraka said:

One of my favorite. It is not one of the Prince's best album, something is missing, maybe Prince "leading" the songs. Someone in prince.org wrote that NEWS is like a Miles Davis album without Miles Davis, and I think this could be a reasonable criticism.

But there are a lots of things inside, EAST is one of the most experimental music piece Prince ever produced. And, above all, NEWS is a mature work of music. It is a Prince album you can suggest to a friend over 40 age. There are some album I thanks Prince did: The Truth, Kamasutra, The Rainbow Children, The War. And NEWS.

bashraka said:

On this date, "N.E.W.S", the instrumental album that went on to become nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album was recorded with Eric Leeds, Rhonda Smith, John Blackwell and Renato Neto. I remember hearing the album for the first time and thinking to myself, that Prince was really in a creative zone because he was using John Blackwell extensively in the studio, relying on his band members for arrangements and the sonic textures of his recordings were so rich and full-some of it due to him recording by way of analog. What are fans memories of his album?

I was a lot into Bill Laswell at the time (still am but that was my great Laswell phase), and I was overjoyed to see Prince going into a more experimental, improvised and instrumental phase. After Xpectation and NEWS I expected more of the same but the next thing I knew there was Musicology and it was all over Prince did exactly the opposite of what I hoped he'd do: instead of truly becoming an independent artist and release more edgier music, he went back into his comfort zone and into the mainstream.

BTW: I never find nothing about the recording of this album.

I hope Michael Dean addressed this record in his Leeds interview.

fabriziovenerandi said:

BTW: I never find nothing about the recording of this album.

The engineer once came on the org and said it was indeed recorded in one afternoon, then we began asking questions and before replying them he said his lawyer had told him to stop this immediately because of the confidentiality agreement he'd signed. Eric also confirmed once it was recorded in an afternoon, but didn't go into more details.

[Edited 2/6/17 1:03am]

databank said:

bashraka said:

On this date, "N.E.W.S", the instrumental album that went on to become nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album was recorded with Eric Leeds, Rhonda Smith, John Blackwell and Renato Neto. I remember hearing the album for the first time and thinking to myself, that Prince was really in a creative zone because he was using John Blackwell extensively in the studio, relying on his band members for arrangements and the sonic textures of his recordings were so rich and full-some of it due to him recording by way of analog. What are fans memories of his album?

I was a lot into Bill Laswell at the time (still am but that was my great Laswell phase), and I was overjoyed to see Prince going into a more experimental, improvised and instrumental phase. After Xpectation and NEWS I expected more of the same but the next thing I knew there was Musicology and it was all over Prince did exactly the opposite of what I hoped he'd do: instead of truly becoming an independent artist and release more edgier music, he went back into his comfort zone and into the mainstream.

Likewise, I was disappointed by Musicology and 3121 hoping instead for more instrumentals and new ground. From his point of view though, he was probably thinking 'what music can i put out that's gonna sell'?

fortuneandserendipity said:

databank said:

fabriziovenerandi said:

BTW: I never find nothing about the recording of this album.

The engineer once came on the org and said it was indeed recorded in one afternoon, then we began asking questions and before replying them he said his lawyer had told him to stop this immediately because of the confidentiality agreement he'd signed. Eric also confirmed once it was recorded in an afternoon, but didn't go into more details.

[Edited 2/6/17 1:03am]

Thank you!

databank said:

bashraka said:

On this date, "N.E.W.S", the instrumental album that went on to become nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album was recorded with Eric Leeds, Rhonda Smith, John Blackwell and Renato Neto. I remember hearing the album for the first time and thinking to myself, that Prince was really in a creative zone because he was using John Blackwell extensively in the studio, relying on his band members for arrangements and the sonic textures of his recordings were so rich and full-some of it due to him recording by way of analog. What are fans memories of his album?

I was a lot into Bill Laswell at the time (still am but that was my great Laswell phase), and I was overjoyed to see Prince going into a more experimental, improvised and instrumental phase. After Xpectation and NEWS I expected more of the same but the next thing I knew there was Musicology and it was all over Prince did exactly the opposite of what I hoped he'd do: instead of truly becoming an independent artist and release more edgier music, he went back into his comfort zone and into the mainstream.

+1

GTsymbolover said:

fortuneandserendipity said:

Likewise, I was disappointed by Musicology and 3121 hoping instead for more instrumentals and new ground. From his point of view though, he was probably thinking 'what music can i put out that's gonna sell'?

I some how doubt that, especially as Musicology didn't do that well, it's also not a very commercial Album as it's quite a difficult listen for joe public.

I love how certain people here like to rewrite history, next thing you know Purple Rain will be a total flop and Xpectation will be the best selling album of the last decade...

For the sake of factual truth, Musicology went double platinum in the US, sold an estimated 2,5M woldwide (at a time when illegal downloads had already begun to hurt sales), and hit the top 5 in several countries including the US and UK, not to mention that it was supported by a tour that made more than 80 million dollars. The best selling artist of 2004, Usher, sold 8 million, then next come Nora Jones with 3,8M and Eminem with 3,5M, so with 2,5M it's likely Musicology was among the 10 or, at worst, 20 best selling albums of 2004.

Regardless of that performance, Musicology is one of Prince's most accessible album ever, filled with easy listening pop songs that were in no way challenging for casual listeners. I fail to see how anyone could possibly have found it a difficult listen.

And regardless of that, too, it's been established that with this album Prince wanted to make a come back album that'd put him back on the map as a mainstream pop star, which it did (it led him straight to the Superbown performance and established him once and for all as a major icon).

[Edited 2/6/17 4:25am]

databank said:

databank said:

databank said:

GTsymbolover said:

fortuneandserendipity said: I some how doubt that, especially as Musicology didn't do that well, it's also not a very commercial Album as it's quite a difficult listen for joe public.

I love how certain people here like to rewrite history, next thing you know Purple Rain will be a total flop and Xpectation will be the best selling album of the last decade...

For the sake of factual truth, Musicology went double platinum in the US, sold an estimated 2,5M woldwide (at a time when illegal downloads had already begun to hurt sales), and hit the top 5 in several countries including the US and UK, not to mention that it was supported by a tour that made more than 80 million dollars. The best selling artist of 2004, Usher, sold 8 million, then next come Nora Jones with 3,8M and Eminem with 3,5M, so with 2,5M it's likely Musicology was among the 10 or, at worst, 20 best selling albums of 2004.

Regardless of that performance, Musicology is one of Prince's most accessible album ever, filled with easy listening pop songs that were in no way challenging for casual listeners. I fail to see how anyone could possibly have found it a difficult listen.

And regardless of that, too, it's been established that with this album Prince wanted to make a come back album that'd put him back on the map as a mainstream pop star, which it did (it led him straight to the Superbown performance and established him once and for all as a major icon).

well said

N.E.W.S always holds a spot in my Top 5 Prince albums. I listen to it at least once a week. So incredibly chill...

Genesia said:

N.E.W.S always holds a spot in my Top 5 Prince albums. I listen to it at least once a week. So incredibly chill...

That's interesting. I don't listen to it as often as that but when I do it helps me relax after stresses at work.

It's nice to listen to on the headphones but also in company. People are often surprised when I tell them it's Prince playing in the background, and that's something I've heard from other Prince fans too.

ONA, N.E.W.S, Xpectation.. I really enjoy that three year period. I think it's the last truly great era in his career.

TheDigitalGardener said:

Genesia said:

N.E.W.S always holds a spot in my Top 5 Prince albums. I listen to it at least once a week. So incredibly chill...

That's interesting. I don't listen to it as often as that but when I do it helps me relax after stresses at work.

It's nice to listen to on the headphones but also in company. People are often surprised when I tell them it's Prince playing in the background, and that's something I've heard from other Prince fans too.

ONA, N.E.W.S, Xpectation.. I really enjoy that three year period. I think it's the last truly great era in his career.

N.E.W.S and C-Note are the two albums I listen to most when I have difficult (or a lot of) writing to do. They just seem to settle my mind a little bit so the words flow more easily.

I also like to listen to N.E.W.S on the way home from rehearsal when I'm doing a play. Again, it quiets my mind so that by the time I get home, I'm ready to put on my jammies and go to sleep. (Which I need to do right away because the rehearsals often go late and I have to get up to go to work in the morning.)

great album...needs a chance

TheDigitalGardener said:

fabriziovenerandi said:

BTW: I never find nothing about the recording of this album.

.

Prince and Renato both on keys... Prince and Rhonda both on bass. John Blackwell on drums. Prince on guitar. Prince on various percussion. Eric Leeds on sax.

.

Although recorded very quickly, Prince did several overdubs on various instruments.

.

I LOVE that album.

[Edited 2/7/17 9:44am]