ChocolateBox3121 said:

Was it hers that was listed at $75 or something outrageous? Has that changed?

edit: Looks like it's not that $75 or whatever. It's $21.99, but the US shipping is $10 and international is $30. She could put that in the mail at media rate for half that in the U.S. For $10, it better fucking well be Priority.

[Edited 4/5/19 10:49am]

TrivialPursuit said:

ChocolateBox3121 said:

Was it hers that was listed at $75 or something outrageous? Has that changed?

edit: Looks like it's not that $75 or whatever. It's $21.99, but the US shipping is $10 and international is $30. She could put that in the mail at media rate for half that in the U.S. For $10, it better fucking well be Priority.

[Edited 4/5/19 10:49am]

Wow still too expensive.

Kim has announced that there will be a delay in the shipment of her new book.

ChocolateBox3121 said:

Kim has announced that there will be a delay in the shipment of her new book.

Shocking.

Said no one. It feels like a 2nd rate hustle. I'm not being negative, it just seems... homemade. Ya know?

TrivialPursuit said:

ChocolateBox3121 said:

Kim has announced that there will be a delay in the shipment of her new book.

Shocking.

Said no one. It feels like a 2nd rate hustle. I'm not being negative, it just seems... homemade. Ya know?

I get that. Not to downplay her contribution, but I would think a co-write with her make-up and wardrobe peers from her time would present a more enticing package.

purplefam99 said:

bored of Prince books already.

Give me a shake when Duane's next studio book turns up.

Any book thats not from the estate is a money grab attempt

SanDiegoFunkDaddy said:

Any book thats not from the estate is a money grab attempt

That's untrue. Some are, yes, but people have a right to tell their stories of working with/for him. It takes discernment to know which storyteller we wanna hear from. Kim Berry is clearly not one of them, yet Mayte is the one person I would want to hear from on him. He married her, and how many women did he propose to before her? She made it thru, though. Band members, Susan Rogers - all have fun stories and are worth hearing. As long as it's respectful and comes from a place of love for Prince, it's fine.

But don't get it twisted: I ain't buying all of 'em. I've only read Mayte's, Toure's and Duane's.

TrivialPursuit said:

SanDiegoFunkDaddy said:

Any book thats not from the estate is a money grab attempt

That's untrue. Some are, yes, but people have a right to tell their stories of working with/for him. It takes discernment to know which storyteller we wanna hear from. Kim Berry is clearly not one of them, yet Mayte is the one person I would want to hear from on him. He married her, and how many women did he propose to before her? She made it thru, though. Band members, Susan Rogers - all have fun stories and are worth hearing. As long as it's respectful and comes from a place of love for Prince, it's fine.

But don't get it twisted: I ain't buying all of 'em. I've only read Mayte's, Toure's and Duane's.

I have zero interest in the hairdresser...but I did pre-order the Prince "autobiography" and the autobiography by Morris Day...

I've actually been adding to my Prince library the last couple of months. This weekend I ordered Got to Be Something Here: The Rise of the Minneapolis Sound by Andrea Swensson. It's nor directly a Prince book - but it begins in 1958 and talks about how the time and place really shaped what Prince became - I'll be interested to read it. It had good reviews on Amazon and was only $15 - would be interested to hear from anyone who read it.

TrivialPursuit said:

jaawwnn said:

For what it's worth, my two cents:


Touré's I would Die 4 U book isn't a biography and should not be approached as one, it's got its flaws (not least the fact that he doesn't seem to know the basic tracklists to albums) but it's interesting enough. He's making an argument about pop culture via Prince though so it's kind of niche.

I'd recommend Alan Light's Let's Go Crazy book, it gives you the central story of why Prince is famous and what Purple Rain achieved - in fact I'd probably go as far as saying it's the best starter book. Obviously, it's limited in scope but I still feel you leave it understanding the whole phenomenon better and have a context for understanding why he went the way he did after Purple Rain.

Yeah, Toure's book is more about Gen Xers. As one of those people, it was interesting. He breaks down how Prince is actually a baby boomer, but clicked with the Gen X population. He talks at great length about Gen X's outlook on war, social responsibility, work ethics, divorce; how so much of their parent's age of prosperity and growth was shattered by their own actions, thereby giving Gen Xers a reason to scoff at the world, and not see the brighter side. He then pushes that narrative into Prince's music, especially with songs like "When Doves Cry", where he theorizes that Prince is pleading with his father in "how could you just leave me standing, alone in a world so cold", correlating that to Prince being kicked out, and calling his father from a phone booth on a rainy night. He says Prince aligns himself with his father - a man he's always had a tumultuous relationship with - comparing their personalities and symbiotic; "maybe I'm just like my father, too bold", to say "Dad, we're more alike than not". Then relents by dissing his mother, "maybe I'm just like my mother, she's never satisfied", finding a foxhole bonding moment with his dad over his mother's shortcomings. "Why do we scream at each other?" is the ultimate pleading to get back home.

It's an interesting take on Prince's lyrics. (He does this with other songs, too, but not in great quantity.) As a person who turned 51 last Friday, and being a solid Gen X person, those parts of the read were fascinating. I was more wrapped up in how Gen Xers were raised and their ideologies - while shouting "YES!" at my Nook - than I was caring what Tourè had to say about Prince sometimes. The last 1/3 of the book just trails off into blathering about nothing.

I'm glad to hear that about Alan Light's book. He was always a good writer in the years he covered Prince for Vibe or other outlets. Light is a couple of years older than me, so he's right in that Gen X pocket as well. His familiarity with Prince as a Gen Xer and a journalist gave him a great perspective on Prince. I remember his articles back in the 90s during the name era. His book is still on my list to read.

Actually, I think Toure got a few things wrong about Prince's lyrics in his book. I read it a long time ago and got it from my public library, so I don't have it front of me, but if memory serves me right, these are some the things he got wrong:

*

When Doves Cry - this song is Prince talking to his lover - When he asks, "how could you just leave me standing alone in a world so cold?", he's asking his woman this question. Then he compares himself to his Father ("maybe I'm just like my Father - too bold") and then compares his lover to his Mother (maybe you're just like my Mother - she's never satisfied"). He's explaining the possible reason why they (Prince and his woman) fight all the time - because they are like his parents. Also, it has been said that he felt more abandoned by his Mother than his Father - even though his Father kicked him out of the apartment, they were always close. Prince felt abandoned by his Mother, because she married Hayward, with whom Prince had a contentious relationship. He would not allow Prince to play music in the house, and he was very strict, which is said to be why Prince moved out. It seems his Mother did not make a huge effort to convince him to stay, however, she may have known he would not stay - but Prince may have felt she chose his stepfather over him.

*

1999 - I believe Toure was discussing the "I got a Lion in my pocket and baby he's ready to roar!" lyric as if Prince was using some type of biblical analogy. If you watch Prince performing this song back during the PR days his facial expressions and hand gestures show that he was clearly referring to the "tootsie roll" he had in his pocket that was ready to "play". Doubtful that he had was making any type of biblical reference there. This was always a fun party song.

*

Around The World In A Day - Toure quotes one of the lyrics as "no shouting" - wha????? Pretty sure the actual lyric is "no chivalry" I could be wrong, but I don't think so. Some lyric sites show "no shouting" and another shows "no traveling". To me, you can clearly hear him saying "chivalry".

*

Extraloveable - I think Toure was talking about the lyric "baby u could turn my mama on and she's just as straight, as straight as straight can be" I can't remember exactly how he was explaining that lyric, but it wasn't in reference to the girl being so hot that his Mother would even be attracted to her - he was comparing it to something completely different.

*

Now I have to go back and get the book to double check my memory So, not really a great one for learning about the history of Prince or his songs....

[Edited 4/29/19 12:01pm]

violetcrush said:

Actually, I think Toure got a few things wrong about Prince's lyrics in his book. I read it a long time ago and got it from my public library, so I don't have it front of me, but if memory serves me right, these are some the things he got wrong:

*

When Doves Cry - this song is Prince talking to his lover - When he asks, "how could you just leave me standing alone in a world so cold?", he's asking his woman this question. Then he compares himself to his Father ("maybe I'm just like my Father - too bold") and then compares his lover to his Mother (maybe you're just like my Mother - she's never satisfied"). He's explaining the possible reason why they (Prince and his woman) fight all the time - because they are like his parents. Also, it has been said that he felt more abandoned by his Mother than his Father - even though his Father kicked him out of the apartment, they were always close. Prince felt abandoned by his Mother, because she married Hayward, with whom Prince had a contentious relationship. He would not allow Prince to play music in the house, and he was very strict, which is said to be why Prince moved out. It seems his Mother did not make a huge effort to convince him to stay, however, she may have known he would not stay - but Prince may have felt she chose his stepfather over him.

*

1999 - I believe Toure was discussing the "I got a Lion in my pocket and baby he's ready to roar!" lyric as if Prince was using some type of biblical analogy. If you watch Prince performing this song back during the PR days his facial expressions and hand gestures show that he was clearly referring to the "tootsie roll" he had in his pocket that was ready to "play". Doubtful that he had was making any type of biblical reference there. This was always a fun party song.

*

Around The World In A Day - Toure quotes one of the lyrics as "no shouting" - wha????? Pretty sure the actual lyric is "no chivalry" I could be wrong, but I don't think so. Some lyric sites show "no shouting" and another shows "no traveling". To me, you can clearly hear him saying "chivalry".

I agree about the "1999" reference. Prince often talked about making "love until the world stops turning". It wasn't a reference to anything else but sex.

As far as "When Doves Cry", it's likely a direct reference to his lover (even in the movie it's during a montage of him pouting and working out his girl problems). But Toure's theories are interest to say the least; it could spawn interesting conversation about his childhood and his upbringing. Toure argued each line being directed at a different person (much like different verses in "Purple Rain" being toward different folks).

I'll give Toure credit for going deep on those things. Some of them certainly were more interesting than Prince allegedly timing his songs to mean something (like an ongoing thread right now).

I was (and am) part of the DTT Lyrics site. We always had "shouting".

TrivialPursuit said:

SanDiegoFunkDaddy said:

Any book thats not from the estate is a money grab attempt

That's untrue. Some are, yes, but people have a right to tell their stories of working with/for him. It takes discernment to know which storyteller we wanna hear from. Kim Berry is clearly not one of them, yet Mayte is the one person I would want to hear from on him. He married her, and how many women did he propose to before her? She made it thru, though. Band members, Susan Rogers - all have fun stories and are worth hearing. As long as it's respectful and comes from a place of love for Prince, it's fine.

But don't get it twisted: I ain't buying all of 'em. I've only read Mayte's, Toure's and Duane's.

He proposed to Susannah first in 1985

*

Yes, Mayte made it down the aisle, but look at what she put up with, and how she was treated. Never being able to contact him directly - even during the marriage?? All of the women he rotated in and out from 1990-1995 while he was shagging her (his typical m/o), and then more women not long after the death of their child when he did the Jam Of The Year tour - just before he started with Manuela. Sorry, but I don't see her as being that much different than any of the other more "serious" relationhips (Susan, Vanity, Susannah, etc) other than a marriage license, and I don't think she was privy to more information - if anything, less so because she didn't record with him. That's just my opinion of course

violetcrush said:

Yes, Mayte made it down the aisle, but look at what she put up with, and how she was treated. Never being able to contact him directly - even during the marriage?? ...I don't see her as being that much different than any of the other more "serious" relationhips (Susan, Vanity, Susannah, etc) other than a marriage license, and I don't think she was privy to more information - if anything, less so because she didn't record with him. That's just my opinion of course

You obviously haven't read the book.

TrivialPursuit said:

violetcrush said:

Yes, Mayte made it down the aisle, but look at what she put up with, and how she was treated. Never being able to contact him directly - even during the marriage?? ...I don't see her as being that much different than any of the other more "serious" relationhips (Susan, Vanity, Susannah, etc) other than a marriage license, and I don't think she was privy to more information - if anything, less so because she didn't record with him. That's just my opinion of course

You obviously haven't read the book.

Nah......not a big fan of hers. I guess her behavior after Prince gave her the boot really turned me off. The attempt at selling his stuff prior to his death, the mocking comments on the ridiculous Hollywood Ex's show and social media, and the more recent video (secretly recorded) of her doing her belly dancing classes in Vegas to songs like Computer Blue (wha???) while selling merch with his symbol on it not long after Prince passed.

*

Just don't hold a lot of stock in her stories

*

My comment about her never being able to contact him directly came from an interview she did while she was promoting the sale of her book....

TrivialPursuit said:

I would recommend:

Guitar & Bass

Fashion

Paisley Park (all 3 from Paisley Park's site)

TrivialPursuit said:

BartVanHemelen said:

.

This is why sites like Goodreads exist. Princevault has a list of virtually all books, use that to look them up on GR and read the reviews.

It's also why prince.org exists, you toad.

TrivialPursuit said:

.

I have "Dance, Music, Sex, Romance" by Per Nilson" and I love it.

.

Speaking of which, who is/was Per Nilson? Was he a fan? A journtalist? I haven't seen any other books by him.

.

lurker316 said:

violetcrush said:

lurker316 said:

.

I have "Dance, Music, Sex, Romance" by Per Nilson" and I love it.

.

Speaking of which, who is/was Per Nilson? Was he a fan? A journtalist? I haven't seen any other books by him.

.

I believe he is a long-time super fan and “Prince historian”. He is well respected by all of the serious fans/collectors. I think he was also involved with Controversy magazine and Princevault.com, but I am not 100% sure on that. Duane Tudahl has mentioned him as a key resource, and Alan Leeds too. * Did you recently buy the book? Really want to read it.

.

I bought it when it first came out. I have the first edition (2001).

.

lurker316 said:

.

I have a couple good books about the Purple Rain era (e.g. Tudahl's and Light's books) and the '80s in general (e.g. Nilson's book). And it sounds like there are some books that give you snapshots of the '90s (e.g. Walsh's and Mayte's books).

.

But is there anything that touchs on the 2000s? The last 15 years or so of his career? The only one I know of is Prince: The Man and His Music, but Matt Thorne.

.

I was one of those fans who became disillusioned in the '90s and stopped closely following Prince. But after he passed away my interest was reignited, and now I'm back to being a hardcord fan. So while I'm pretty knowledgable about his music and all the behind-the-scenes stuff that happened up to about 2000, from there things get a bit murky for me.

.

I've purchased all of his post-2000 music, so now I am familiar with all the songs, but I don't know the stories behind them the way I know the stories like the evolution of Dream Factor and Camille into Crystal Ball and then into Sign o the Times. I'd love to read a book like Nilson's DanceMusicSexRomance or Tudal's Sessions Book about the 2000 era, but nothing along those lines seems to exist. Again, Thorne's book is the only one I know of that has even some detail on that era.

.

lurker316 said: