That's a bullshit list. The Ronin Ro book is absolute garbage. I checked it out at the library and returned it in about 12 hours. Vapid and boring as fuck.

Hahn's is just as bad.

muleFunk said:

Hahn's is just as bad.

Nope, his is a must-read.

I saw this article also, and enjoyed reading it. I immediately noticed this photo because he is wearing jeans. According to the author of the article, Aisha Staggers, this VMA performance was the last time that Prince ever performed in jeans.

TrivialPursuit said:

muleFunk said:

Hahn's is just as bad.

Nope, his is a must-read.

It's not if you read...

Purple Reign by Liz Jones

A Pop Life by Dave Hill

DSMR by Per Nilsen

I will say that Rise was a much better written book than Possessed.

TrivialPursuit said:

TrivialPursuit said:

muleFunk said:

It's not if you read...

Purple Reign by Liz Jones

A Pop Life by Dave Hill

DSMR by Per Nilsen

I will say that Rise was a much better written book than Possessed.

OK listen, we can all debate over good and bad books all day but that Liz Jones book is truly garbage. Most of the book is pulled from his interview with Oprah Winfrey, and never does she credit Winfrey or mention the interview as her source. She quotes it left and right. The rest of the book is superficial at best.

Dave & Per's books are both staples in a Prince bibliography. I think most would agree. I like Alex's book because it wasn't a kiss-ass book, but it wasn't a gossipy book either. I will say this - while I like Mr. Hahn, and he's been quite a gentleman while doing the Rise rewrite and talking to fans, a couple of band members (some of whom I've talked with long ago) said he took their off-the-record quotes and put them in the book. To me, it's not great ethics as a writer. One Revolution member had to do a little damage control with Prince after Possessed came out. But, it's still a necessary read overall, I believe. I've not read Rise yet, but plan to. I still consider DMSR one of the essential books, especially with all the recording information in the back, the tour dates, release dates, set lists, etc. That alone is a major undertaking.

The only other book I'd lump in with Jones' fluff piece is Ronin Ro's cockamamie waste of trees.

TrivialPursuit said:

muleFunk said:

It's not if you read...

Purple Reign by Liz Jones

A Pop Life by Dave Hill

DSMR by Per Nilsen

I will say that Rise was a much better written book than Possessed.

OK listen, we can all debate over good and bad books all day but that Liz Jones book is truly garbage. Most of the book is pulled from his interview with Oprah Winfrey, and never does she credit Winfrey or mention the interview as her source. She quotes it left and right. The rest of the book is superficial at best.

Dave & Per's books are both staples in a Prince bibliography. I think most would agree. I like Alex's book because it wasn't a kiss-ass book, but it wasn't a gossipy book either. I will say this - while I like Mr. Hahn, and he's been quite a gentleman while doing the Rise rewrite and talking to fans, a couple of band members (some of whom I've talked with long ago) said he took their off-the-record quotes and put them in the book. To me, it's not great ethics as a writer. One Revolution member had to do a little damage control with Prince after Possessed came out. But, it's still a necessary read overall, I believe. I've not read Rise yet, but plan to. I still consider DMSR one of the essential books, especially with all the recording information in the back, the tour dates, release dates, set lists, etc. That alone is a major undertaking.

The only other book I'd lump in with Jones' fluff piece is Ronin Ro's cockamamie waste of trees.

I will agree to disagree with Jones' book.

As for Mr. Hahn there are several things that made me dislike his work.

1. Hahn contacted me here via PM about a well known at the time incident about Prince and Troy Beyer. The information was fourth or fifth hand information. I asked myself was he doing this in regards to other information he was collecting for this book? I also found out that he was contacting others here. Taking off the record statements is lowball and unethical. If you take that route in writing a book then what other unethical methods were used? IMO that book cannot be considered canon in the life of Prince.

2. There was bias because of his work with the Uptown Magazine lawsuit. I happened to agree with the opinions of Mr. Hahn and the Uptown Magazine people I am of the belief that this book was written with the intent to "get back" at the man. He called the book The Rise and Fall of Prince but never documented the Comeback of Prince 2004-2009. He had opportunities to do so but didn't. Everyone loves a comeback story yet he didn't write at that time. He waits until his mysterious death to do so just to cash in .....just like everyone else.

[Edited 8/27/17 9:26am]

TrivialPursuit said:

muleFunk said:

Hahn's is just as bad.

Nope, his is a must-read.

Yes, I liked it a lot.

muleFunk said:

muleFunk said:

TrivialPursuit said:

OK listen, we can all debate over good and bad books all day but that Liz Jones book is truly garbage. Most of the book is pulled from his interview with Oprah Winfrey, and never does she credit Winfrey or mention the interview as her source. She quotes it left and right. The rest of the book is superficial at best.

Dave & Per's books are both staples in a Prince bibliography. I think most would agree. I like Alex's book because it wasn't a kiss-ass book, but it wasn't a gossipy book either. I will say this - while I like Mr. Hahn, and he's been quite a gentleman while doing the Rise rewrite and talking to fans, a couple of band members (some of whom I've talked with long ago) said he took their off-the-record quotes and put them in the book. To me, it's not great ethics as a writer. One Revolution member had to do a little damage control with Prince after Possessed came out. But, it's still a necessary read overall, I believe. I've not read Rise yet, but plan to. I still consider DMSR one of the essential books, especially with all the recording information in the back, the tour dates, release dates, set lists, etc. That alone is a major undertaking.

The only other book I'd lump in with Jones' fluff piece is Ronin Ro's cockamamie waste of trees.

I will agree to disagree with Jones' book.

As for Mr. Hahn there are several things that made me dislike his work.

1. Hahn contacted me here via PM about a well known at the time incident about Prince and Troy Beyer. The information was fourth or fifth hand information. I asked myself was he doing this in regards to other information he was collecting for this book? I also found out that he was contacting others here. Taking off the record statements is lowball and unethical. If you take that route in writing a book then what other unethical methods were used? IMO that book cannot be considered canon in the life of Prince.

2. There was bias because of his work with the Uptown Magazine lawsuit. I happened to agree with the opinions of Mr. Hahn and the Uptown Magazine people I am of the belief that this book was written with the intent to "get back" at the man. He called the book The Rise and Fall of Prince but never documented the Comeback of Prince 2004-2009. He had opportunities to do so but didn't. Everyone loves a comeback story yet he didn't write at that time. He waits until his mysterious death to do so just to cash in .....just like everyone else.

[Edited 8/27/17 9:26am]

I totally agree - thanks for your post.

Vashtix said:

Interesting list. The only one that does not belong is Toure's, that is just rot. Ronin Ro's is decent and I wish y'all would leave it alone. Draper's is average and yet I am still interested in update he has done.

.

I loved Possessed, but need to read that new book. Glad Steve Wide's A to Z is there, a lot of fun and Steve Parke's book is also great with some amazing shots of Prince in 1999.

.

A bit disappointed there is no Per Nilsen here, he is the ultimate, but I guess his stuff is also dated now and hard to find.

Adorecream said:

purplefam99 said:

Adorecream said:

Interesting list. The only one that does not belong is Toure's, that is just rot. Ronin Ro's is decent and I wish y'all would leave it alone. Draper's is average and yet I am still interested in update he has done.

.

I loved Possessed, but need to read that new book. Glad Steve Wide's A to Z is there, a lot of fun and Steve Parke's book is also great with some amazing shots of Prince in 1999.

.

A bit disappointed there is no Per Nilsen here, he is the ultimate, but I guess his stuff is also dated now and hard to find.

Tell me why Toure's is rot. I'll admit you have to be gen X to enjoy the larger perspective that it is written from.

It goes on about generations and about some slut who goes on about Prince's sex preferences like watching 2 girls at once. That type of shit belongs in Playboy not a public book. It is also badly written with a lot of big words used out of context, has an arrogant snarky tone in it and is very disjointed and hard to follow.

.

And I am generation X although I am NON AMERICAN, although Generations don't really apply in our socialist utopia.

Adorecream said:

purplefam99 said:

Adorecream said:

It goes on about generations and about some slut who goes on about Prince's sex preferences like watching 2 girls at once. That type of shit belongs in Playboy not a public book. It is also badly written with a lot of big words used out of context, has an arrogant snarky tone in it and is very disjointed and hard to follow.

.

And I am generation X although I am NON AMERICAN, although Generations don't really apply in our socialist utopia.

Did you finish the book? I think it is a fascinating possibility that most don't want to entertain that perhaps they succumbed too. Oh man if you were American and gen x this would blow your mind it is sooooooooo exactly how it was. I'll go listen to some Morrissey now and cry in my room! Sixteen candles,pretty in pink omg sooooo dead on.

I was born in 1976 which is late X bordering on Y. Morrisey is before my time. My prime time for music consumption was 1987 - 1996 rather than 1980 - 1986.

.

I did finish it, but the last 50 pages were hard. I was visiting a friend who had it, and I had to finish it off before I left.

laurarichardson said:

Everybody on this board knows this guy was on this board promoting his book right after Prince died that and asking people questions on Facebook is ridiculous. Has fat as Troy is concerned why not contact her and ask her. She is an Phycologist and has written books herself but she has never said anything bad about him so he would of had no dirt to put in his book.

.

So that's an emotional reaction to how he does business. Doesn't mean his book is not one of the better overviews of the start of Prince's career/the '80s. In my opinion, it's one of the better books. I am very much looking forward to Duane's book detailing all the recording sessions. Combined, you have pretty much the entire overview.

muleFunk said:

TrivialPursuit said:

muleFunk said:

Hahn's is just as bad.

Nope, his is a must-read.

.

Is Hahn's new book a must-read even for those who have 'Possessed'?

.

By the way, glad Matt Thorne's book is on this list as I found some of his analysis insightful and clearheaded.

luvgirl said:

luvgirl said:

muleFunk said:

I will agree to disagree with Jones' book.

As for Mr. Hahn there are several things that made me dislike his work.

1. Hahn contacted me here via PM about a well known at the time incident about Prince and Troy Beyer. The information was fourth or fifth hand information. I asked myself was he doing this in regards to other information he was collecting for this book? I also found out that he was contacting others here. Taking off the record statements is lowball and unethical. If you take that route in writing a book then what other unethical methods were used? IMO that book cannot be considered canon in the life of Prince.

2. There was bias because of his work with the Uptown Magazine lawsuit. I happened to agree with the opinions of Mr. Hahn and the Uptown Magazine people I am of the belief that this book was written with the intent to "get back" at the man. He called the book The Rise and Fall of Prince but never documented the Comeback of Prince 2004-2009. He had opportunities to do so but didn't. Everyone loves a comeback story yet he didn't write at that time. He waits until his mysterious death to do so just to cash in .....just like everyone else.

[Edited 8/27/17 9:26am]

Thank you for that, as a consequence of fan contributions, the book is filled with inaccurate hearsay. Some of the fans from the site were even thanked in the book. The Rise Of Prince also has a lot of inaccuracies about Vanity/Denise Matthews, inaccuracies that are easily verified by her own book "Blame It On Vanity" which I was pleasantly surprised to see on the list as well. Also, who inspired "The Beautiful Ones" was not updated. The author at the very least along with what Susan Rogers said, should have added what Prince stated from his own mouth that it was the movie and Vanity that inspired the song, which he reiterated again at his tribute to Denise even after that article was taken down. [Edited 8/28/17 8:47am]

Hanh and others are not really interested in what Prince had to say. It is more fun to make up stuff.

mediumdry said:

laurarichardson said:

Everybody on this board knows this guy was on this board promoting his book right after Prince died that and asking people questions on Facebook is ridiculous. Has fat as Troy is concerned why not contact her and ask her. She is an Phycologist and has written books herself but she has never said anything bad about him so he would of had no dirt to put in his book.

.

So that's an emotional reaction to how he does business. Doesn't mean his book is not one of the better overviews of the start of Prince's career/the '80s. In my opinion, it's one of the better books. I am very much looking forward to Duane's book detailing all the recording sessions. Combined, you have pretty much the entire overview.

If you think you have the overview based on what Hahn has to say from asking questions on Facebook I do not know what to say to that I mean to me it is like the laziezess reserch ever conducted.

mediumdry said:

laurarichardson said:

Everybody on this board knows this guy was on this board promoting his book right after Prince died that and asking people questions on Facebook is ridiculous. Has fat as Troy is concerned why not contact her and ask her. She is an Phycologist and has written books herself but she has never said anything bad about him so he would of had no dirt to put in his book.

.

So that's an emotional reaction to how he does business. Doesn't mean his book is not one of the better overviews of the start of Prince's career/the '80s. In my opinion, it's one of the better books. I am very much looking forward to Duane's book detailing all the recording sessions. Combined, you have pretty much the entire overview.

If you think you have the overview based on what Hahn has to say from asking questions on Facebook I do not know what to say to that I mean to me it is like the laziezess reserch ever conducted.

purplefam99 said:

luvgirl said:

Thank you for that, as a consequence the book is filled with hearsay. Some of the fans from the site were thanked in the book. The Rise Of Prince also has a lot of inaccuracies about Vanity/Denise Matthews, inaccuracies that are easily verified by her own book "Blame It On Vanity" which I was pleasantly surprised to see on the list as well. Also, who inspired "The Beautiful Ones" was never updated. The author at the very least along with what Susan Rogers said, should have added what Prince stated from his own mouth that it was the movie and Vanity that inspired the song, which he reiterated again at his tribute to Denise even after that article was taken down.

What luvgirl said^^^^^^^ What luvgirl is esp important if the audience here is young and gen x forward, it is important to the whole scope that you get the beginning right and that beginning starts or at least takes off with Vanity/Denise Matthews. It would be like leaving out Mary in the story of Jesus. All of us gen X and before were there so we know the deal an can argue who was the greatest love. Your gonna have to read about it so this is our civil rights movement we are fighting for you so you know the history. " learn, teach, repeat!!!!!"

The beginning of what takes off with Vanity?

purplefam99 said:

What Laura said!!!!

Did you happen to read Hahn's book?

purplefam99 said: