What book would you use as a textbook for a university class on Prince? It must be in-print and easy to get. It should be informative yet accessible for someone who only knows Purple Rain.

While it's not my favorite, I'm thinking Matt Thorne's book.

Alex Hahn's book, The Rise and Fall of Prince

in order to get an honest viewpoint you can't limit his artistry to one author's perspective, it is a disservice. Prince is not eligible for a survey course. imo

purplefam99 said:

in order to get an honest viewpoint you can't limit his artistry to one author's perspective, it is a disservice. Prince is not eligible for a survey course. imo

That's nonsense. Dont be so precious.

Let me put it another way for you then. What one (1) book would you recommend to a newcomer who wanted to learn about the music? This person has no intention of dedicating his or her life to Prince. You only get one shot.

AhPook said:

purplefam99 said:

in order to get an honest viewpoint you can't limit his artistry to one author's perspective, it is a disservice. Prince is not eligible for a survey course. imo

That's nonsense. Dont be so precious.

Let me put it another way for you then. What one (1) book would you recommend to a newcomer who wanted to learn about the music? This person has no intention of dedicating his or her life to Prince. You only get one shot.

oh i am sorry i wasn't trying to be precious, only honest. I thought you wanted more knowledge of prince the man. ahh then if you want the best music book

then that is probably easier to narrow into one book, perhaps. hmmm i can only rec what i have read

so i would suggest the alan light book Let's go Crazy, but that is centered around Purple Rain.

the gold experience. but it seems that the best of the best, that i have heard rec'd around here would be the Per Nilsen book DMSR that is

hard to get a copy, i havent read it but i here it is well done.

and once again i ended my first rec to you with IMO, i thought putting that would eliminate the need to call

my words nonsense. hmmmm. i was truly trying to be helpful and answer you. best.

ahpook, and i am sorry if you just wanted the replys to be one book only. i mistook the 's' in

suggestions to mean more than one. sorry about that.

purplefam99 said:

AhPook said:

That's nonsense. Dont be so precious.

Let me put it another way for you then. What one (1) book would you recommend to a newcomer who wanted to learn about the music? This person has no intention of dedicating his or her life to Prince. You only get one shot.

oh i am sorry i wasn't trying to be precious, only honest. I thought you wanted more knowledge of prince the man. ahh then if you want the best music book

then that is probably easier to narrow into one book, perhaps. hmmm i can only rec what i have read

so i would suggest the alan light book Let's go Crazy, but that is centered around Purple Rain.

the gold experience. but it seems that the best of the best, that i have heard rec'd around here would be the Per Nilsen book DMSR that is

hard to get a copy, i havent read it but i here it is well done.

and once again i ended my first rec to you with IMO, i thought putting that would eliminate the need to call

my words nonsense. hmmmm. i was truly trying to be helpful and answer you. best.

Thanks for the suggestions. I thought of those, but I'm looking for something more comprehensive than Lets Go Crazy or The Gold Experience.

I apologize for calling you precious, purplefam99. I always hesitate to post on the org because many of the responses are so over the top. Your initial post did exactly what I was afraid would happen. The man's not a religion. At its best, this site is a wealth of knowledge and insight. At its worst, it's hateful and cultish.

I've read a lot of the books out there, but so many have come out since Prince died that I've fallen behind. I was hoping someone had a suggestion for a solid, unbiased, all-around informative book covering as much of the official output as possible. DMSR is indeed unsurpassed, but it it's out of print and I cant very well expect 30 or so college kids to get their hands on it.

PennyPurple said:

Alex Hahn's book, The Rise and Fall of Prince

Thank you.

AhPook said:

purplefam99 said:

oh i am sorry i wasn't trying to be precious, only honest. I thought you wanted more knowledge of prince the man. ahh then if you want the best music book

then that is probably easier to narrow into one book, perhaps. hmmm i can only rec what i have read

so i would suggest the alan light book Let's go Crazy, but that is centered around Purple Rain.

the gold experience. but it seems that the best of the best, that i have heard rec'd around here would be the Per Nilsen book DMSR that is

hard to get a copy, i havent read it but i here it is well done.

and once again i ended my first rec to you with IMO, i thought putting that would eliminate the need to call

my words nonsense. hmmmm. i was truly trying to be helpful and answer you. best.

Thanks for the suggestions. I thought of those, but I'm looking for something more comprehensive than Lets Go Crazy or The Gold Experience.

I apologize for calling you precious, purplefam99. I always hesitate to post on the org because many of the responses are so over the top. Your initial post did exactly what I was afraid would happen. The man's not a religion. At its best, this site is a wealth of knowledge and insight. At its worst, it's hateful and cultish.

I've read a lot of the books out there, but so many have come out since Prince died that I've fallen behind. I was hoping someone had a suggestion for a solid, unbiased, all-around informative book covering as much of the official output as possible. DMSR is indeed unsurpassed, but it it's out of print and I cant very well expect 30 or so college kids to get their hands on it.

no problem, thank you for your words, and i hope you find the right book!

AhPook said:

PennyPurple said:

Alex Hahn's book, The Rise and Fall of Prince

Thank you.

The new one is called The Rise of Prince.

purplethunder3121 said:

AhPook said:

Thank you.

The new one is called The Rise of Prince.

True, my bad. What's bad about it is, I even did a book club on it.

purplefam99 said:

so i would suggest the alan light book Let's go Crazy, but that is centered around Purple Rain.

.

Seriously? A book that compiles long-known info and obviously was added to at a late stage because various Minneapolis area publications actually went out and interviewed more than the usual suspects? A book which contains less than a page about the music yet includes and entire chapter about the author's memories from his youth watching the movie with his friends?

.

That's the book you recommend? Seriously?

BartVanHemelen said:

purplefam99 said:

so i would suggest the alan light book Let's go Crazy, but that is centered around Purple Rain.

.

Seriously? A book that compiles long-known info and obviously was added to at a late stage because various Minneapolis area publications actually went out and interviewed more than the usual suspects? A book which contains less than a page about the music yet includes and entire chapter about the author's memories from his youth watching the movie with his friends?

.

That's the book you recommend? Seriously?

And it only covers 2 or 3 years. I want something more expansive. Suggestions?

Matt Thorne's book is the leading contender. It's problematic, but it's easy to get and it covers albums up to HNR1.

The Rise of Prince stops at Lovesexy. And I really dont give a shit about the man's biography except as it directly relates to his musical output.

PennyPurple said:

purplethunder3121 said:

The new one is called The Rise of Prince.

True, my bad. What's bad about it is, I even did a book club on it.

The Book POSSESSED is also named THE RISE AND FALL OF PRINCE.

BartVanHemelen said:

AhPook said:

BartVanHemelen said:

.

Seriously? A book that compiles long-known info and obviously was added to at a late stage because various Minneapolis area publications actually went out and interviewed more than the usual suspects? A book which contains less than a page about the music yet includes and entire chapter about the author's memories from his youth watching the movie with his friends?

.

That's the book you recommend? Seriously?

And it only covers 2 or 3 years. I want something more expansive. Suggestions?

Matt Thorne's book is the leading contender. It's problematic, but it's easy to get and it covers albums up to HNR1.

The Rise of Prince stops at Lovesexy. And I really dont give a shit about the man's biography except as it directly relates to his musical output.

But Prince's biography is incorporated into his music. It made him who he was, and his music was a result of that.

PennyPurple said:

PennyPurple said:

AhPook said:

And it only covers 2 or 3 years. I want something more expansive. Suggestions?

Matt Thorne's book is the leading contender. It's problematic, but it's easy to get and it covers albums up to HNR1.

The Rise of Prince stops at Lovesexy. And I really dont give a shit about the man's biography except as it directly relates to his musical output.

But Prince's biography is incorporated into his music. It made him who he was, and his music was a result of that.

Indeed, but some of these books get very gossipy.

AhPook said:

What book would you use as a textbook for a university class on Prince? It must be in-print and easy to get. It should be informative yet accessible for someone who only knows Purple Rain.

While it's not my favorite, I'm thinking Matt Thorne's book.

*

Probably the best book is Dave Hill's Prince: A Pop Life, but it might be out of print. Yet, having taught several college classes, I have been able to contact various publishers to get them to send us copies of a book even though it was "out of print." I'm not sure this would be possible, but I'd try it with Hill's book because it's the best one that covers a wide range of Prince's life and work. The other book that I recommend would work best for a literary course, but it has been used as a supplement in other types of music and popular culture courses, C. Liegh McInnis' The Lyrics of Prince. It provides both lyrical and socio-political analysis of Prince's work from 1978 to 2002 and is readily available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and his website. Finally, if Hill's book is out of print, you can get a copy of it from the US Library of Congress and make photo copies for the class, depending on how big the class is. Doing this--showing a need for a particular book--enabled my department to get a book that we wanted for our student readings back into print.

1725topp said:

AhPook said:

What book would you use as a textbook for a university class on Prince? It must be in-print and easy to get. It should be informative yet accessible for someone who only knows Purple Rain.

While it's not my favorite, I'm thinking Matt Thorne's book.

*

Probably the best book is Dave Hill's Prince: A Pop Life, but it might be out of print. Yet, having taught several college classes, I have been able to contact various publishers to get them to send us copies of a book even though it was "out of print." I'm not sure this would be possible, but I'd try it with Hill's book because it's the best one that covers a wide range of Prince's life and work. The other book that I recommend would work best for a literary course, but it has been used as a supplement in other types of music and popular culture courses, C. Liegh McInnis' The Lyrics of Prince. It provides both lyrical and socio-political analysis of Prince's work from 1978 to 2002 and is readily available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and his website. Finally, if Hill's book is out of print, you can get a copy of it from the US Library of Congress and make photo copies for the class, depending on how big the class is. Doing this--showing a need for a particular book--enabled my department to get a book that we wanted for our student readings back into print.

1725topp said:

AhPook said:

What book would you use as a textbook for a university class on Prince? It must be in-print and easy to get. It should be informative yet accessible for someone who only knows Purple Rain.

While it's not my favorite, I'm thinking Matt Thorne's book.

*

Probably the best book is Dave Hill's Prince: A Pop Life, but it might be out of print. Yet, having taught several college classes, I have been able to contact various publishers to get them to send us copies of a book even though it was "out of print." I'm not sure this would be possible, but I'd try it with Hill's book because it's the best one that covers a wide range of Prince's life and work. The other book that I recommend would work best for a literary course, but it has been used as a supplement in other types of music and popular culture courses, C. Liegh McInnis' The Lyrics of Prince. It provides both lyrical and socio-political analysis of Prince's work from 1978 to 2002 and is readily available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and his website. Finally, if Hill's book is out of print, you can get a copy of it from the US Library of Congress and make photo copies for the class, depending on how big the class is. Doing this--showing a need for a particular book--enabled my department to get a book that we wanted for our student readings back into print.

Thanks, 1725topp. I had originally hoped to use Dave Hill's book, but due to course constraints beyond my control, the book has to be in print.

AhPook said:

purplefam99 said:

AhPook said:

Thanks, 1725topp. I had originally hoped to use Dave Hill's book, but due to course constraints beyond my control, the book has to be in print.

Just ordered those can't wait to read them!!! Thanks for the recs!

*

No problem--be sure to let me know what you think.

AhPook said:

1725topp said:

*

Probably the best book is Dave Hill's Prince: A Pop Life, but it might be out of print. Yet, having taught several college classes, I have been able to contact various publishers to get them to send us copies of a book even though it was "out of print." I'm not sure this would be possible, but I'd try it with Hill's book because it's the best one that covers a wide range of Prince's life and work. The other book that I recommend would work best for a literary course, but it has been used as a supplement in other types of music and popular culture courses, C. Liegh McInnis' The Lyrics of Prince. It provides both lyrical and socio-political analysis of Prince's work from 1978 to 2002 and is readily available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and his website. Finally, if Hill's book is out of print, you can get a copy of it from the US Library of Congress and make photo copies for the class, depending on how big the class is. Doing this--showing a need for a particular book--enabled my department to get a book that we wanted for our student readings back into print.

Thanks, 1725topp. I had originally hoped to use Dave Hill's book, but due to course constraints beyond my control, the book has to be in print.

*

Yeah, I was worried that might be the case with Hill's book. This will not help you now, but I've often wondered that, if enough of us--Prince.org folks--petitioned the publisher collectively, we could get Hill's book back into print. I wouldn't even care if Hill bothered to update the book. I just think it's an essential read, especially with so many folks--especially young folks--discovering Prince after his passing.

1725topp said:

purplefam99 said:

AhPook said: Just ordered those can't wait to read them!!! Thanks for the recs!

*

No problem--be sure to let me know what you think.

will do!!

Prince and the Purple Rain Studio Sessions by Duane Tudahl, just got a rave review on Make the House Shake.

https://www.facebook.com/...e/?fref=nf

Pook -

From what perspective are you teaching? I recently taught a 100-level course in a music department that was meant to cater to non-majors. It was also an intensive course (only class, every day for a month, 2 hours per day). Feel free to PM me if you want to get into nitty-gritty, or what 18-22-year-olds do and do not know about Prince. Caveat: in Minnesota, close enough to Minneapolis that I had students who had run into him in the elevator at Dr S's, for instance.

We didn't use a single textbook, but we did use Prince.org, PrinceVault.com and the dance / music /sex/ romance blog as important sources. We also touched on things like how streaming services work, the relationshp between soul music and social activism, and many other topics. We watched Purple Rain, SOTT and UCTM, and we went to Paisley Park, First Avenue and Dan Corrigan's photo exhibit at a local museum. We looked at excerpts from various biographies via the course website - all within the 20% fair use limits, and available only to registered students, for the copyright lawyers who might be reading!

It was when almost everything was on Tidal, but not much was up anywhere else, so I had them sign up for the free trial for listening assignments. This is probably no longer the most efficient way to get maximum access within DMCA/Fair Use etc.

Using this site was also useful in teaching the lesson about understanding how to use internet sources - that "good" and "bad" depend on the kind of information you are looking for. For instance, a scholarly journal is not as reliable as Prince.org if you want to learn about the extent and quality of bootleg recordings (NOT ENCOURAGING BUYING OR SELLING, HERE!), or when Prince wasn't credited for particular instruments. And that even discussions that seem factually marginal (Russians weaponizing fentanyl to kill Prince) can be a good source for a study of the prevalence of beliefs or attitudes.

Hope that was at least mildly useful. I'm still trying to sort out how I would refine the class if I were to teach it again. Would love to hear more about what you're doing!

I don't care, just don't use Toure's book