Guardian review: https://www.theguardian.c...sal-talent

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Variety review: https://variety.com/2018/...202951774/

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Billboard announces the album is available fo streaming: https://www.billboard.com...1983-album

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Metacritic tracking the reviews: https://www.metacritic.co...983/prince

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AllMusic.com review: https://www.allmusic.com/...0003185452

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American Songwriter review: http://americansongwriter...hone-1983/

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Le Parisien review (in French): http://www.leparisien.fr/...897419.php

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Kare 11 (an NBC-affiliated television station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States and serving the Twin Cities television market) about the album: https://www.kare11.com/ar...-596789737

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DW.com (in German): https://www.dw.com/de/pos...a-45580450

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The Afterword review: http://theafterword.co.uk...hone-1983/

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AllInfo review: http://allinfo.space/2018...hone-1983/

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MusikExpress review in German: https://www.musikexpress....hone-1983/

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Volkskrant review (in Dutch): https://www.volkskrant.nl...-~b03cb3fc/

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Muziq (in French): http://www.muziq.fr/princ...-lemotion/

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The Current: https://www.thecurrent.or...phone-1983

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[Edited 9/21/18 5:48am]

BartVanHemelen said:

Volkskrant review (in Dutch): https://www.volkskrant.nl...-~b03cb3fc/

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Author of that review truly knows music....!

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Thanks for the links Bert!

MIRvmn said:

I like Piano & A Microphone 1983 and think I prefer it to ONA, however the tidal release will be far more interesting than this. Best songs on this release: 17 Days Mary Dont You Weep International Lover Cold Coffee & Cocaine Making this the only release of the year is stupid, they should put rehearsals on a website where we can purchase them and focus more on studio albums like the tidal release.

Agreed. Overall, I find it an underwhelming release and I've heard Prince solo performances on the piano that are way superior to anything contained here.

OperatingThetan said:

MIRvmn said:

I like Piano & A Microphone 1983 and think I prefer it to ONA, however the tidal release will be far more interesting than this. Best songs on this release: 17 Days Mary Dont You Weep International Lover Cold Coffee & Cocaine Making this the only release of the year is stupid, they should put rehearsals on a website where we can purchase them and focus more on studio albums like the tidal release.

Agreed. Overall, I find it an underwhelming release and I've heard Prince solo performances on the piano that are way superior to anything contained here.

Agreed... That's why I made a sarcastic statement about all the "good reviews"... The fans have heard much superio piano performances from Prince rather than the critics... It's almost as if the critics forgot or are surprised Prince could play any piano at all... At the end I'll enjoy any Prince music that is released, but like I said many times this is a very very underwhelming release from the estate.

Here is Lisa Coleman's interview with Billboard. I agree with her thoughts on releasing some of the rehearsal audio and videos - especially the videos. They could select a handful of good ones chronologically, and do a CD + DVD release.

https://start.att.net/news/read/category/entertainment/article/billboard-the_revolutions_lisa_coleman_talks_piano_a_microph-promart-2

ewald said:

While listening now, this feels like going through his private stuff (which it was before).

This was not supose to be released for main audience, he's just jamming and trying out things,

Like hundreds of other artists have released. Dont fret none.

rdhull said:

ewald said:

While listening now, this feels like going through his private stuff (which it was before).

This was not supose to be released for main audience, he's just jamming and trying out things,

Like hundreds of other artists have released. Dont fret none.

I think it is fantastic. It shows his process, talent, and creative thinking. Finally, people will get to hear more of the "man behind the music", and not just the pristine and finished product. These are the gems and inner workings of a genius musician.

*

From the interviews that I have seen with him discussing his Vault and the unreleased music, it seems he knew full well that some day all of it would be released. He discussed it during his MTV interview with Kurt Loder in 1999, and also during his interview on The View a few years before his death. He was a smart guy. There was a reason he was saving everything, and it was not so it would just continue to collect dust in the Vault.

zzzzzzz........ZZZZZZZZ

They are going 2 have 2 do better than this.

Graycap23 said:

They are going 2 have 2 do better than this.

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They will once they realise the money is running out.

Graycap23 said:

zzzzzzz........ZZZZZZZZ

They are going 2 have 2 do better than this.

Agreed. I have, or have heard all of the tracks on the release. I really want audio and video rehearsal jams - and if possible, those that have not circulated. Lisa mentioned the Ice Cream jam, but many serious fans have that one. I loved the rehearsal footage released with NC2U, but it needs to be released with the audio that goes with it, and we need more like that.

violetcrush said:

rdhull said:

Like hundreds of other artists have released. Dont fret none.

I think it is fantastic. It shows his process, talent, and creative thinking. Finally, people will get to hear more of the "man behind the music", and not just the pristine and finished product. These are the gems and inner workings of a genius musician.

*

From the interviews that I have seen with him discussing his Vault and the unreleased music, it seems he knew full well that some day all of it would be released. He discussed it during his MTV interview with Kurt Loder in 1999, and also during his interview on The View a few years before his death. He was a smart guy. There was a reason he was saving everything, and it was not so it would just continue to collect dust in the Vault.

They could also just send out that piano portion intermission of the released Lovesexy concert to see his brilliance. But I hear you.

I think seeing him visually performing this instead of just the audio would be amazing and give it that ooomph that arguably "may" be needed.

When U look at Prince's vault material, this has been the absolute worst handling of a Star's output after they past they I've ever seen.

For anyone who preordered the Deluxe edition on Amazon, are you seeing a delay in delivery? Mine is now not delivering until October 3.

We all know on here there are better examples of princes brilliance. but this is a decent start for any new comers, which was probably the target with this release. The reviews on the whole have been great and the early reactions have been positive, so this is only a good thing. Of course their hopefully will be bigger and better things to come.But its a start.

OperatingThetan said:

It's a very fractured, incomplete session, . It was clearly never intended for public consumption and hardly rates as a stellar or outstanding Prince performance.

Which makes it brilliant to release. We all want that from out favortite artists. Clapton and them found that out back in 1988 and the music world was never the same.

rdhull said:

OperatingThetan said:

It's a very fractured, incomplete session, . It was clearly never intended for public consumption and hardly rates as a stellar or outstanding Prince performance.

Which makes it brilliant to release. We all want that from out favortite artists. Clapton and them found that out back in 1988 and the music world was never the same.

Exactly. No doubt the rehearsal audio and video was probably not intended for release, but it is still brilliant, and important to hear. His rehearsals are still a cajillion times better than most musicians' finished pieces - maiinly because Prince looked at everything like it was an actual performance.

databank said:

iZsaZsa said:

Haha. I'm going to tell them.

You friends with the Detroit Godfathers of techno?

Yep.

I've been feeling disappointed and frustrated about this release ever since it was announced. However, now that I'm actually listening to it I'm struck by how wonderful it is. I'm feeling happy to be proved wrong.

Doozer said:

violetcrush said:

massing said:

I've been feeling disappointed and frustrated about this release ever since it was announced. However, now that I'm actually listening to it I'm struck by how wonderful it is. I'm feeling happy to be proved wrong.

His piano demos are just beautiful and amazing to hear, especially in the sequence released.

Some people here simply can't see the forest for the trees. The beauty of these recordings is that they are so intimate, we get to eavesdrop on him in the midst of his creative process. His singing voice is incredible throughout and some of the piano melodies/sequences are sublime. This music adds another chapter to his legend. Great choice by the estate in my opinion.

ethanthomas said:

Some people here simply can't see the forest for the trees. The beauty of these recordings is that they are so intimate, we get to eavesdrop on him in the midst of his creative process. His singing voice is incredible throughout and some of the piano melodies/sequences are sublime. This music adds another chapter to his legend. Great choice by the estate in my opinion.

Such a personal and private peek into his playing and process. I have had Why The Butterflies and 17 days, and never get tired of them. I also love the "not so polished" recording. It's so real and in the moment.

paulludvig said:

violetcrush said:

Here is Lisa Coleman's interview with Billboard. I agree with her thoughts on releasing some of the rehearsal audio and videos - especially the videos. They could select a handful of good ones chronologically, and do a CD + DVD release.

https://start.att.net/news/read/category/entertainment/article/billboard-the_revolutions_lisa_coleman_talks_piano_a_microph-promart-2

Lisa is a complet a**hole in this interview, suggesting Prince didn't write the songs on the album. Why can't these people just stop it. Quote: "He's kind of stretching out and getting to know some of the songs that the band wrote."

OMG enough of your crap about The Revolution!!!! PLEASE just stop. It has been stated and documented by all of the band members that they took part in creating and/ior helping to finish the instrumental piece for the song Purple Rain and several others through that time period.

*

Just, enough already. YOU werent' present at the rehearsals, nor were you part of his band. THEY were.

violetcrush said:

paulludvig said:

violetcrush said:

OMG enough of your crap about The Revolution!!!! PLEASE just stop. It has been stated and documented by all of the band members that they took part in creating and/ior helping to finish the instrumental piece for the song Purple Rain and several others through that time period.

*

Just, enough already. YOU werent' present at the rehearsals, nor were you part of his band. THEY were.

Yes, it has been STATED.

Well, I think the aligning statements of all 5 of the members who were there is a decent support for the information they are providing. We also, through the years, and espeicially in the last two years, have read/heard many interviews with former band members discussing contributions that were not officially or verbally credited by Prince. This dates all the way back to Andre, Morris, Jesse, etc.

*

They ALL have details of musical contributions without official credit. Does the fact that band members helped in the creation/evolution/finishing of the songs diminsh Prince's genius?? No, not in the least. However, it seems that Prince most likely looked at it that way.