Just a couple nights ago I stumbled across this PBS documentary on The DC5 and I couldn't help but notice that everything Prince seemed to be fighting for in his battles with Warner Bros. Dave Clark had the forsight to see right from the jump.

I was shocked that they released 18 albums in 4 years and toured excessively throughout that period. They also had this uncanny instinct on when to pull back on their exposure. They made a great movie and cool TV special. The list goes on and on.

I do remember I believe Alan Leeds saying that in order to get all the control and money that he was granted so early in his career (the 7 mil Warners put up for Purple rain) he had to give something (his masters). Even Paul McCartney said he was really smart unlike The Beatles who signed everything that came across their faces. Very eye opening.

CynicKill said:

Just a couple nights ago I stumbled across this PBS documentary on The DC5 and I couldn't help but notice that everything Prince seemed to be fighting for in his battles with Warner Bros. Dave Clark had the forsight to see right from the jump.

I was shocked that they released 18 albums in 4 years and toured excessively throughout that period. They also had this uncanny instinct on when to pull back on their exposure. They made a great movie and cool TV special. The list goes on and on.

I do remember I believe Alan Leeds saying that in order to get all the control and money that he was granted so early in his career (the 7 mil Warners put up for Purple rain) he had to give something (his masters). Even Paul McCartney said he was really smart unlike The Beatles who signed everything that came across their faces. Very eye opening.

is it online? if so i'll chek it out. I never knew much about the dave clark five at all, other than the name, i couldn't give you a single song title. As for Prince, i'd say the WB deal was a doubled edged sword, he was given more leeway than just about anyone in history, he got to produce himself, he got creative control, WB stuck with him when his career seemed to be going down the toilet when he decided to release dirty mind. Purple Rain gave him clout that he milked as far as he could, releasing new albums before the public could even assimilate the last one. On the other hand, the record business was just not designed for a genius like Prince, I doubt Mozart or Beethoven would have appreciated it either. There are always men who want a lot in exchange for what they give. It truly is a deal with the devil, Prince, with no record company at 18 and no promotion would have been limited to local popularity indefinitely. Sometimes I think Prince reacted to the situation like a spoiled child but also, i know better than that, even if you're getting tons of compensation, what they are taking from you might not be worth it. Was it worth it for Elvis? For MJ? Two guys who compromised way more than Prince.

I posted the movie in my OP.

Circumstances did help Dave Clark. But once he got in he made boss moves. To me there's many parallels to Prince.

One big circumstance that is crucial was the time period. It would take a lot of arm twisting to get any record company to agree to put out 18 albums in 4 years today. But I do remember Beck had an arrangement with Geffen that he be allowed to release material on another label. That was pretty unprecedented.

CynicKill said:

I posted the movie in my OP.

Circumstances did help Dave Clark. But once he got in he made boss moves. To me there's many parallels to Prince.

One big circumstance that is crucial was the time period. It would take a lot of arm twisting to get any record company to agree to put out 18 albums in 4 years today. But I do remember Beck had an arrangement with Geffen that he be allowed to release material on another label. That was pretty unprecedented.

in those days, releasing lots more albums wasn't as rare, the beatles released about every six months I think. In the fifties, I think Elvis released several in a short span. By the 80's, it had all changed, which is why i think prince saw himself as a sixties artist in the 80's. I doubt if those guys thought of themselves as being prolific, they were just doing their job.

[Edited 3/30/17 23:23pm]

PeteSilas said:

CynicKill said:

Just a couple nights ago I stumbled across this PBS documentary on The DC5 and I couldn't help but notice that everything Prince seemed to be fighting for in his battles with Warner Bros. Dave Clark had the forsight to see right from the jump.

I was shocked that they released 18 albums in 4 years and toured excessively throughout that period. They also had this uncanny instinct on when to pull back on their exposure. They made a great movie and cool TV special. The list goes on and on.

I do remember I believe Alan Leeds saying that in order to get all the control and money that he was granted so early in his career (the 7 mil Warners put up for Purple rain) he had to give something (his masters). Even Paul McCartney said he was really smart unlike The Beatles who signed everything that came across their faces. Very eye opening.

is it online? if so i'll chek it out. I never knew much about the dave clark five at all, other than the name, i couldn't give you a single song title. As for Prince, i'd say the WB deal was a doubled edged sword, he was given more leeway than just about anyone in history, he got to produce himself, he got creative control, WB stuck with him when his career seemed to be going down the toilet when he decided to release dirty mind. Purple Rain gave him clout that he milked as far as he could, releasing new albums before the public could even assimilate the last one. On the other hand, the record business was just not designed for a genius like Prince, I doubt Mozart or Beethoven would have appreciated it either. There are always men who want a lot in exchange for what they give. It truly is a deal with the devil, Prince, with no record company at 18 and no promotion would have been limited to local popularity indefinitely. Sometimes I think Prince reacted to the situation like a spoiled child but also, i know better than that, even if you're getting tons of compensation, what they are taking from you might not be worth it. Was it worth it for Elvis? For MJ? Two guys who compromised way more than Prince.

People need to remember he was a 19 year old kid when he came to WB he was not going to get his masters and have the control he had. Owen Hunsey said the only reason they asked for complete control is because thee were ignorant about what not to ask for.

Prince did okay for himself. Now a day rapper put out music every week and no one bats an eyeball.

thedoorkeeper said:

What was the great movie that the Dave Clark Five made?

>

Well great may be overstating it but it was a hit and well recieved. A pre-Hard Days Night if you will.