Anyone know why the black album's not available any more? Fancied a listen today and sheeeeeet Clarence, it's not there.

RicoN said:

Anyone know why the black album's not available any more? Fancied a listen today and sheeeeeet Clarence, it's not there.

and apologies if this is a duplicate post, I couldn't see a post about it.

I was about to ask yesterday if there's any site that has all of his music. Something is seriously wrong if any of his catalog is unavailable. Every album, single, b-side, maxi-single, video, etc, that he ever released should be available on all streaming services and digital download services (itunes, amazon music, etc). People shouldn't have to hunt around to listen to an official release.

I feel it's my duty, everytime I see a thread with complaints that this or that album is no longer available on the streaming platform of their choice, to remind people that if you have physical copies, or at least digital backups, this won't happen to you.

Streaming is a great way for all the non-fans and casual fans to dig deeper into Prince's music, as well as a convenience for the more serious fan, but, I'll never understand why fans would rely on it and not have their own copies.

Don't rely on streaming services that have limited licenses that can change on a whim. Time and time again Prince's music has been removed from one digital source or another, this is not a new phenomenon.

If you buy CDs, vinyl or digital downloads (and back them up), you will ALWAYS have your Prince collection and never have to fret over not being able to listen to Black Album or any other release that suddenly, without warning, gets pulled.

Just sayin'...

[Edited 8/10/18 6:33am]

djThunderfunk said:

I feel it's my duty, everytime I see a thread with complaints that this or that album is no longer available on the streaming platform of their choice, to remind people that if you have physical copies, or at least digital backups, this won't happen to you.

Streaming is a great way for all the non-fans and casual fans to dig deeper into Prince's music, as well as a convenience for the more serious fan, but, I'll never understand why fans would rely on it and not have their own copies.

Don't rely on streaming services that have limited licenses that can change on a whim. Time and time again Prince's music has been removed from one digital source or another, this is not a new phenomenon.

If you buy CDs, vinyl or digital downloads (and back them up), you will ALWAYS have your Prince collection and never have to fret over not being able to listen to Black Album or any other release that suddenly, without warning, gets pulled.

Just sayin'...

[Edited 8/10/18 6:33am]

I've got the black album on vinyl (ok, it's only the 94 release!) I'm at work, so Tidal and Spotify are my friend when I'm at my desk!

(and I've got a new phone, the P20 Pro - the camera is shamazeballs, so I've not had chance to upload the old faithfuls I carry round with me)

[Edited 8/10/18 7:21am]

[Edited 8/10/18 7:21am]

RicoN said:

djThunderfunk said:

I feel it's my duty, everytime I see a thread with complaints that this or that album is no longer available on the streaming platform of their choice, to remind people that if you have physical copies, or at least digital backups, this won't happen to you.

Streaming is a great way for all the non-fans and casual fans to dig deeper into Prince's music, as well as a convenience for the more serious fan, but, I'll never understand why fans would rely on it and not have their own copies.

Don't rely on streaming services that have limited licenses that can change on a whim. Time and time again Prince's music has been removed from one digital source or another, this is not a new phenomenon.

If you buy CDs, vinyl or digital downloads (and back them up), you will ALWAYS have your Prince collection and never have to fret over not being able to listen to Black Album or any other release that suddenly, without warning, gets pulled.

Just sayin'...

[Edited 8/10/18 6:33am]

I've got the black album on vinyl (ok, it's only the 94 release!) I'm at work, so Tidal and Spotify are my friend when I'm at my desk!

(and I've got a new phone, the P20 Pro - the camera is shamazeballs, so I've not had chance to upload the old faithfuls I carry round with me)

[Edited 8/10/18 7:21am]

[Edited 8/10/18 7:21am]

Fair enough and happy to hear it! In that case, none of what I said applies to you as you use streaming for convenience rather than depend it on it as your only way to listen to Prince's music. Apologies if I came off a bit aggressive, I feel very strongly about this topic.

[Edited 8/10/18 7:48am]

djThunderfunk said:

RicoN said:

I've got the black album on vinyl (ok, it's only the 94 release!) I'm at work, so Tidal and Spotify are my friend when I'm at my desk!

(and I've got a new phone, the P20 Pro - the camera is shamazeballs, so I've not had chance to upload the old faithfuls I carry round with me)

[Edited 8/10/18 7:21am]

[Edited 8/10/18 7:21am]

Fair enough and happy to hear it! In that case, none of what I said applies to you as you use streaming for convenience rather than depend it on it as your only way to listen to Prince's music. Apologies if I came off a bit aggressive, I feel very strongly about this topic.

[Edited 8/10/18 7:48am]

no worries, perhaps I shoud have been clearer

I kind of may my Tidal (and Spotify!) subscriptions for the convenience of not having to put my P albums on my phone

Anyway, it's a legit Warners release, so why has it been pulled?!

djThunderfunk said:

I feel it's my duty, everytime I see a thread with complaints that this or that album is no longer available on the streaming platform of their choice, to remind people that if you have physical copies, or at least digital backups, this won't happen to you.

Streaming is a great way for all the non-fans and casual fans to dig deeper into Prince's music, as well as a convenience for the more serious fan, but, I'll never understand why fans would rely on it and not have their own copies.

Don't rely on streaming services that have limited licenses that can change on a whim. Time and time again Prince's music has been removed from one digital source or another, this is not a new phenomenon.

If you buy CDs, vinyl or digital downloads (and back them up), you will ALWAYS have your Prince collection and never have to fret over not being able to listen to Black Album or any other release that suddenly, without warning, gets pulled.

Just sayin'...

[Edited 8/10/18 6:33am]

I have my whole library on iTunes so always have it available. I even buy new releases even though they can be streamed through Apple Music to make sure they won't go away. However, even as much as I've collected over the decades, there may be a track here or there that I don't have in iTunes.

The bigger issue is for new fans. They shouldn't have to hunt around to collect everything. It shoudl all be available everywhere. It's absurde that over 2 years after his passing there are still so many gaps in the available officially released stuff. THat really should be a no brainer to get the previously released material all out there everywhere. Apple music, Amazon music, Google Play, Pandora, Spotify, Tidal and anywhere else music can be streamed or purchased digitially.

For example, are the songs Don't Talk to Strangers and Girl 6 available on anything other than the Girl 6 soundtrack? I just noticed while posting this that I don't have that album in my library, so I'm missing those songs in my otherwise very complete Prince library. I've been collecting Prince since 1984, if I have missing tracks, what chance does a new fan have? It's a failure on the part of the estate that it's even an issue.

RicoN said:

djThunderfunk said:

Fair enough and happy to hear it! In that case, none of what I said applies to you as you use streaming for convenience rather than depend it on it as your only way to listen to Prince's music. Apologies if I came off a bit aggressive, I feel very strongly about this topic.

[Edited 8/10/18 7:48am]

no worries, perhaps I shoud have been clearer

I kind of may my Tidal (and Spotify!) subscriptions for the convenience of not having to put my P albums on my phone

Anyway, it's a legit Warners release, so why has it been pulled?!

I don't know, but speculate that it has something to do with the deal made with that specific album. If I understand it correctly, Prince agreed with the Limited Release in '94 but did not allow for reissues.

alandail said:

I have my whole library on iTunes so always have it available. I even buy new releases even though they can be streamed through Apple Music to make sure they won't go away. However, even as much as I've collected over the decades, there may be a track here or there that I don't have in iTunes.

The bigger issue is for new fans. They shouldn't have to hunt around to collect everything. It shoudl all be available everywhere. It's absurde that over 2 years after his passing there are still so many gaps in the available officially released stuff. THat really should be a no brainer to get the previously released material all out there everywhere. Apple music, Amazon music, Google Play, Pandora, Spotify, Tidal and anywhere else music can be streamed or purchased digitially.

For example, are the songs Don't Talk to Strangers and Girl 6 available on anything other than the Girl 6 soundtrack? I just noticed while posting this that I don't have that album in my library, so I'm missing those songs in my otherwise very complete Prince library. I've been collecting Prince since 1984, if I have missing tracks, what chance does a new fan have? It's a failure on the part of the estate that it's even an issue.

Well said! Can't disagree with any of it.

What would happen if there was no more internet? Point being- GET PHYSICAL COPIES.

kingricefan said:

What would happen if there was no more internet? Point being- GET PHYSICAL COPIES.

That's like telling people not to have cellphones because they can use payphones.

What payphones?

onlyforaminute said:

kingricefan said:

What would happen if there was no more internet? Point being- GET PHYSICAL COPIES.

That's like telling people not to have cellphones because they can use payphones.

onlyforaminute said:

kingricefan said:

What would happen if there was no more internet? Point being- GET PHYSICAL COPIES.

That's like telling people not to have cellphones because they can use payphones.

No it's not. I can rip physical copies and have them PLUS digital copies. I can't take a payphone with me also leaving it where it is.

I'm with DJThunderfunk - I adore my Apple Music subscription for discovering new artists and enjoy listening to music I would not otherwise purchase, nor would I lose my mind if they were suddenly not available on the platform. The very best part of the service, however, is syncing all my ripped CDs across every device I own, so if I'm in the mood to listen to The Dawn 4.1 Act 1 when I'm driving in my car with only my phone, it's there for me. Physical copies and FLAC backups of all my music live on a solid state drive with cloud backup in case of disaster.

Bummer that the Black Album has disappeared from the platforms of your choice, though! It's also not on Apple Music streaming, nor do I think it ever has been.

djThunderfunk said:

onlyforaminute said:

That's like telling people not to have cellphones because they can use payphones.

No it's not. I can rip physical copies and have them PLUS digital copies. I can't take a payphone with me also leaving it where it is.

What you're saying is something every computer owner is supposed to be doing with their stuff anyway, download your stuff on a separate device (ie CD). But you still need the streaming, is all I'm saying cause banking on it being available in physical form is basically non-existant.

djThunderfunk said:

I feel it's my duty, everytime I see a thread with complaints that this or that album is no longer available on the streaming platform of their choice, to remind people that if you have physical copies, or at least digital backups, this won't happen to you.

Streaming is a great way for all the non-fans and casual fans to dig deeper into Prince's music, as well as a convenience for the more serious fan, but, I'll never understand why fans would rely on it and not have their own copies.

Don't rely on streaming services that have limited licenses that can change on a whim. Time and time again Prince's music has been removed from one digital source or another, this is not a new phenomenon.

If you buy CDs, vinyl or digital downloads (and back them up), you will ALWAYS have your Prince collection and never have to fret over not being able to listen to Black Album or any other release that suddenly, without warning, gets pulled.

Just sayin'...

[Edited 8/10/18 6:33am]

You said it firmly, but pleasantly.

Asenath said:

You said it firmly, but pleasantly.

Doozer said:

I'm with DJThunderfunk - I adore my Apple Music subscription for discovering new artists and enjoy listening to music I would not otherwise purchase, nor would I lose my mind if they were suddenly not available on the platform. The very best part of the service, however, is syncing all my ripped CDs across every device I own, so if I'm in the mood to listen to The Dawn 4.1 Act 1 when I'm driving in my car with only my phone, it's there for me. Physical copies and FLAC backups of all my music live on a solid state drive with cloud backup in case of disaster.

Bummer that the Black Album has disappeared from the platforms of your choice, though! It's also not on Apple Music streaming, nor do I think it ever has been.

I have it on all formats. I'd rather buy a pizza than pay someone, for something I own