Moonbeam said:

droppingdishes said:

From Princevault.com: "1999 was not included on an early configuration of the album (which was likely given another name at the time), but Prince's management suggested he add an over-arching thematic song to the album, and he wrote the song in response." Of course the song not only made it on the album, but became it's title track and the first single. And it did end up providing some sort of an overarching theme; it more or less became the theme of the era itself, if you will. Is there more known about this 1999-less version of the 1999 album, such as a working title?

Jimmy Jam said it was WB that asked for another track to be added and that was "1999".

soladeo1 said:

The working title for 1999 before it was 1999 was "Lock It Up".

Thanks

soladeo1 said:

The working title for 1999 before it was 1999 was "Lock It Up".

never heard that before. what's the source for that? i could imagine "Turn It Up" though.

laurarichardson said:

droppingdishes said:

From Princevault.com: "1999 was not included on an early configuration of the album (which was likely given another name at the time), but Prince's management suggested he add an over-arching thematic song to the album, and he wrote the song in response." Of course the song not only made it on the album, but became it's title track and the first single. And it did end up providing some sort of an overarching theme; it more or less became the theme of the era itself, if you will. Is there more known about this 1999-less version of the 1999 album, such as a working title?

Jimmy Jam said it was WB that asked for another track to be added and that was "1999".

So the label rather than the management. That would be an interesting distinction because that itself could be looked at as some SOTT foreshadowing.

IstenSzek said:

soladeo1 said:

The working title for 1999 before it was 1999 was "Lock It Up".

never heard that before. what's the source for that? i could imagine "Turn It Up" though.

I've never heard of that either. Not saying it isn't possible, but as an artist that went on record saying every great album title needs a song to go with it that seems unlikely unless there's a song called "Lock It Up" hidden away... which in itself would be hilariously ironic.

Lock It Up could have been a place holder like "what is the title?" "we do not know" "you need to Lock it up..."

OnlyNDaUsa said:

Lock It Up could have been a place holder like "what is the title?" "we do not know" "you need to Lock it up..."

That makes sense.... "Wrap it up, B"

DMSR ?

droppingdishes said:

laurarichardson said:

Jimmy Jam said it was WB that asked for another track to be added and that was "1999".

So the label rather than the management. That would be an interesting distinction because that itself could be looked at as some SOTT foreshadowing.

Oh he was having problems with WB long before SOTT. Check out the podcast below. PJ Jones worked for Cavallo and Fargnoli and they were working with WB to keep Prince in check. George Clinton talks about this in his book as well.

He said they were always bitching about something even when Prince was selling records.

Cavallo and Fargnolli worked with the WB to keep Prince from hooking up Chris Blackwell/ Don Letts as his management. Very shady.

http://podcastjuice.net/category/shows/the-prince-podcast/

RODSERLING said:

laurarichardson said:

RODSERLING said:

DMSR ?

Would be the obvious headliner in light of the content. That or 'Free', as it was one of the later tracks and if any album that get me free to play over two discs.

Cold Computer would have been a cool title, because of the sound basically.

droppingdishes said:

RODSERLING said:

DMSR ?

That would make sense in my mind. That track is a mission statement for sure.

Agreed. It would definitely fit as the title track. I suppose "Automatic" or "International Lover" could also be used, but "D.M.S.R." (maybe in full "Dance Music Sex Romance") sums it up quite well.

SquirrelMeat said:

RODSERLING said:

DMSR ?

Would be the obvious headliner in light of the content. That or 'Free', as it was one of the later tracks and if any album that get me free to play over two discs.

Yes, I thought about FREE too.

Speaking of DMSR, such a shame it wasn't released just after DELIRIOUS. It could have been a top 40 hit.

RODSERLING said:

SquirrelMeat said:

Would be the obvious headliner in light of the content. That or 'Free', as it was one of the later tracks and if any album that get me free to play over two discs.

Yes, I thought about FREE too.

Speaking of DMSR, such a shame it wasn't released just after DELIRIOUS. It could have been a top 40 hit.

A song with sex in the title and "Work your body like a whore" in the first few seconds (especially by a black artist) would not have even seen the charts in 1982.

RODSERLING said:

bluegangsta said:

droppingdishes said:

bluegangsta said:

A song with sex in the title and "Work your body like a whore" in the first few seconds (especially by a black artist) would not have even seen the charts in 1982.

Not arguing that point.

It would have been edited

droppingdishes said:

laurarichardson said:

Jimmy Jam said it was WB that asked for another track to be added and that was "1999".

So the label rather than the management. That would be an interesting distinction because that itself could be looked at as some SOTT foreshadowing.

.

Oh for crying out loud. WBR was spending MILLIONS on him and they shouldn't get a say? These are PERFECTLY NORMAL conversations between an artist and arecord company. That's what A&R does.

RODSERLING said:

DMSR ?

Was just going to say that would have been the most likely used title....if not the numbers of the alphabet matching those initials

BartVanHemelen said:

droppingdishes said:

So the label rather than the management. That would be an interesting distinction because that itself could be looked at as some SOTT foreshadowing.

.

Oh for crying out loud. WBR was spending MILLIONS on him and they shouldn't get a say? These are PERFECTLY NORMAL conversations between an artist and arecord company. That's what A&R does.

For crying out loud listen to the podcast. Because it is normal for mgmt and record lables to be assholes to the talent does not make it right.

Even Alan Leeds has had bad thing to say about Prince's mgmt and dealing with WB after many key people like Mo Ostein left the company in the 90s.

----

"Oh he was having problems with WB long before SOTT. Check out the podcast below. PJ Jones worked for Cavallo and Fargnoli and they were working with WB to keep Prince in check. George Clinton talks about this in his book as well.

He said they were always bitching about something even when Prince was selling records.

Cavallo and Fargnolli worked with the WB to keep Prince from hooking up Chris Blackwell/ Don Taylor as his management. Very shady."

http://podcastjuice.net/category/shows/the-prince-podcast/

droppingdishes said:

RODSERLING said:

Yes, I thought about FREE too.

Speaking of DMSR, such a shame it wasn't released just after DELIRIOUS. It could have been a top 40 hit.

I always felt that Free was such filler on that album.

I don't disagree, but that never stopped Prince using a lesser song than some singles as the title track, when it fitted with his vision...For You, Empancipation, Around The World In A Day, Planet Earth, Plectrum Electrum.

BartVanHemelen said:

droppingdishes said:

So the label rather than the management. That would be an interesting distinction because that itself could be looked at as some SOTT foreshadowing.

.

Oh for crying out loud. WBR was spending MILLIONS on him and they shouldn't get a say? These are PERFECTLY NORMAL conversations between an artist and arecord company. That's what A&R does.

Why do you have to be so dramatic?

BartVanHemelen said:

droppingdishes said:

So the label rather than the management. That would be an interesting distinction because that itself could be looked at as some SOTT foreshadowing.

.

Oh for crying out loud. WBR was spending MILLIONS on him and they shouldn't get a say? These are PERFECTLY NORMAL conversations between an artist and arecord company. That's what A&R does.

They were not spending millions. Do the videos from that era look like millions were spent?

. Morris got the Time's clothes from second hand stores and Sheila has said the budgets for the albums were small and that was one of the reasons he did not use horns for a long time. No extra money in the budget for horns.

[Edited 7/27/17 12:39pm]

laurarichardson said:

BartVanHemelen said:

.

Oh for crying out loud. WBR was spending MILLIONS on him and they shouldn't get a say? These are PERFECTLY NORMAL conversations between an artist and arecord company. That's what A&R does.

For crying out loud listen to the podcast. Because it is normal for mgmt and record lables to be assholes to the talent does not make it right.

Even Alan Leeds has had bad thing to say about Prince's mgmt and dealing with WB after many key people like Mo Ostein left the company in the 90s.

----

"Oh he was having problems with WB long before SOTT. Check out the podcast below. PJ Jones worked for Cavallo and Fargnoli and they were working with WB to keep Prince in check. George Clinton talks about this in his book as well.

He said they were always bitching about something even when Prince was selling records.

Cavallo and Fargnolli worked with the WB to keep Prince from hooking up Chris Blackwell/ Don Taylor as his management. Very shady."

http://podcastjuice.net/category/shows/the-prince-podcast/

BVH AMEN to the blue bolded Laura!