The record companies are laughing all the way to the bank with the vinyl nostalgia trend.

For 95% of the purchasers, they don't have a capable audio set up and the releases are being stretched over as many sides as possible to bulk out the package.

The labels are clearly pitching 'Collectables', rather than audio experience, and they are charging 'collectable' prices for it.

As long as the remastering and transfer is done correctly, I'd still prefer digital.

Each to there own, but I agree, vinyl buyers are just being ripped off now.

SquirrelMeat said:

The record companies are laughing all the way to the bank with the vinyl nostalgia trend.

For 95% of the purchasers, they don't have a capable audio set up and the releases are being stretched over as many sides as possible to bulk out the package.

The labels are clearly pitching 'Collectables', rather than audio experience, and they are charging 'collectable' prices for it.

As long as the remastering and transfer is done correctly, I'd still prefer digital.

Each to there own, but I agree, vinyl buyers are just being ripped off now.

.

Exactly. I'm so glad I didn't fall prey to the vinyl collecting bug.

but you have a choice..the CD deluxe version is c£50.00 ..buy that instead!

PURPLEIZED3121 said:

but you have a choice..the CD deluxe version is c£50.00 ..buy that instead!

I disagree!

Record companies know many fans are collectors and like to have everything.

It is paramount releases are value for money - in fact in Japan it is a legal requirement so I won't expect the SEVEN formats for 1999 Deluxe to be released there!

So as a dedicated fan and collector we have no choice and as such it is not right to make product too expensive for fans.

In comparison George Michael would make a point to ensure his releases were affordable and he subsidised the price of concert tickets, again to ensure they were affordable!

darkroman said:

It is paramount releases are value for money - in fact in Japan it is a legal requirement so I won't expect the SEVEN formats for 1999 Deluxe to be released there!

.

And now let's take a look at the facts:

.

1999-Super-Deluxe-Prince

1999-Super-Deluxe-VINYL-Prince

1999-Deluxe-Prince

1999-Deluxe-VINYL-Prince

1999-Remastered-Prince

1999-Remastered-VINYL-Prince

.

Oops!

toejam said:

SquirrelMeat said:

The record companies are laughing all the way to the bank with the vinyl nostalgia trend.

For 95% of the purchasers, they don't have a capable audio set up and the releases are being stretched over as many sides as possible to bulk out the package.

The labels are clearly pitching 'Collectables', rather than audio experience, and they are charging 'collectable' prices for it.

As long as the remastering and transfer is done correctly, I'd still prefer digital.

Each to there own, but I agree, vinyl buyers are just being ripped off now.

.

Exactly. I'm so glad I didn't fall prey to the vinyl collecting bug.

-

Well, I will be happily ripped off then.

And, I will buy the CD's as well.

... or like they say in French; "chacun sa petite histéry"

I'm thrilled and (not) rich.

-

BartVanHemelen said:

I am thinking Emancipation will be annoying to play because I am not used to changing the album more than two times to hear 3 hours of it, and also really used to the jumps to the next song which won't happen when they're always on the next side.

BUT! They went all out and made those CD booklets into full page inserts for the album.

BartVanHemelen said:

darkroman said:

It is paramount releases are value for money - in fact in Japan it is a legal requirement so I won't expect the SEVEN formats for 1999 Deluxe to be released there!

.

And now let's take a look at the facts:

.

1999-Super-Deluxe-Prince

1999-Super-Deluxe-VINYL-Prince

1999-Deluxe-Prince

1999-Deluxe-VINYL-Prince

1999-Remastered-Prince

1999-Remastered-VINYL-Prince

.

Oops!

That's only SIX!

You are missing the 7eventh!

antonb said:

38 Pounds for chaos and disorder at hmv!for a short album! Going to be 200 for the super deluxe! I can't justify spending that kind of money. Gutted!I mean Emancipation, 3 tracks a side! Annoying to play as fuck ! Talk about getting ripped off! Sorry but us fans are getting ripped off

I think this must be a case of 'Rip-off Britain'. I live in Spain and I've just picked it up from a shop nearby for €17.99.

Amazon UK is listing the vinyl at £48.74

Amazon Spain has it for £17.99

That's a huge difference in price.

The one I find really annoying is that Planet Earth generally seems to be priced the same as 3121 and Musicology, even though it's a single disc and the other 2 are doubles.

When it sounds good, it's worth it, but you never know till it's on the turntable.

Quality control and consistency is out the window these days. Buy 3 random new records, 1 will sound excellent, 1 will sound decent, and 1 will sound like shit.

My copies of 3121 & Originals sound terrific, better than the CDs.

My copy of Chaos And Disorder sounds all right, but not great.

A friend of mine buys new vinyl regularly, and has me do needle drop digital transfers for him. Same setup, same needle, same everything... except sound quality. It's all over the place.

I assume the companies just don't care, figuring many are sold as collectibles never to be opened and many that are will be played by hipsters with lo-fi equipment that can't tell the difference anyway.

Considering how much new vinyl costs these days, this is unacceptable.

[Edited 9/13/19 12:24pm]

massing said:

antonb said:

38 Pounds for chaos and disorder at hmv!for a short album! Going to be 200 for the super deluxe! I can't justify spending that kind of money. Gutted!I mean Emancipation, 3 tracks a side! Annoying to play as fuck ! Talk about getting ripped off! Sorry but us fans are getting ripped off

I think this must be a case of 'Rip-off Britain'. I live in Spain and I've just picked it up from a shop nearby for €17.99.

Amazon UK is listing the vinyl at £48.74

Amazon Spain has it for £17.99

That's a huge difference in price.

The one I find really annoying is that Planet Earth generally seems to be priced the same as 3121 and Musicology, even though it's a single disc and the other 2 are doubles.

It's not just Britain, it's Rip-off Ireland too.


Tower records here are charging the following outrageous prices for the following vinyl:

Chaos & Disorder €39.99
Emancipation €89.99
Originals €34.99
Originals Deluxe €54.99
Versace €39.99
1999 Super Deluxe €209.99


It's not just Prince stuff - a lot of new releases are above the €30 mark or more for singles, even more for doubles.

I love vinyl and I'd gladly buy it at a proper price, but I'm not paying those prices. I assumed it was the record labels, but if you can get C&D in Spain for €17.99 then it must be the stores. Whoever's responsible, they're being far too greedy and it will probably (hopefully) backfire on them. Practically everyone I know who still buys hard copy music says the same thing, they're all buying CD's rather than paying inflated prices for vinyl. If they set reasonable prices like they seem to be doing where you are they'd be selling a hell of a lot more of it.

Folks it is simple, here ya go.

Vinyl has had a comeback, why? Because it all of a sudden sounds better than it used to? No, because it all of a sudden became trendy to have vinyl, that is it.

Now the folks that never used to buy vinyl, are now buying vinyl, and they really have no idea why they are doing it. They made out fine without it all these years, but instead, everyone is falling into place at the feet of the giant marketing machines, lining up like crack addicts to get vinyl they don't even need, and never wanted prior than a few years ago.

The folks out there that feel they HAVE to have all this stuff on vinyl, well, you are cogs in the marketing wheel, a programmed participant in this vinyl ridiculousness, and the record companies are laughing all the way to the bank. It is all you see on social media, people buying vinyl, playing vinyl, reviewing vinyl, framing vinyl, and you all get inundated with this day in and day out, and now YOU have to have the vinyl.

Rise above the programming and think see the bigger picture for what it is. This resurgence is manufactered, and created by the very people who stand to profit, and they know everyone will fall right in line, as they clearly have.

Don't be trendy, don't be a lemming, think for yourself and you will come to the understanding of what is really happening here. 80% of you truly feel there is no other choice than to buy the vinyl, you just have to have it, ask yourself why you have to have it, when you didnt have to have it before....there is your answer.

Until this trendy craze ends, the inundation will continue, and it will be propogated every step of the way by particpants who get caught up in the wheel, the trend, etc.

That being said, vinyl has its place, some folks get it because they have always collected it, some folks truly like the analog sound, and there is merit to that. This post IS NOT for you guys, it is for the folks that jumped on the bandwagon just because it was cool, trendy, and are now complaining about the price of something they feel they need because they are caight up in the marketing machine.

[Edited 9/13/19 13:10pm]

Been collecting vinyl records for the best part of 40 years, really glad to get so many Prince re-issues lately. I know the fad won't last, pretty soon all the cool people will find something else to get excited about, but enjoying the buzz while it lasts. Yes, the prices are nuts.

toejam said:

SquirrelMeat said:

The record companies are laughing all the way to the bank with the vinyl nostalgia trend.

For 95% of the purchasers, they don't have a capable audio set up and the releases are being stretched over as many sides as possible to bulk out the package.

The labels are clearly pitching 'Collectables', rather than audio experience, and they are charging 'collectable' prices for it.

As long as the remastering and transfer is done correctly, I'd still prefer digital.

Each to there own, but I agree, vinyl buyers are just being ripped off now.

.

Exactly. I'm so glad I didn't fall prey to the vinyl collecting bug.

I only bought the Chaos and Disorder on vinyl (to complete the original WB albums on vinyl.) It was the only one not on vinyl.

Vote with your wallet.

antonb said:

38 Pounds for chaos and disorder at hmv!for a short album! Going to be 200 for the super deluxe! I can't justify spending that kind of money. Gutted!I mean Emancipation, 3 tracks a side! Annoying to play as fuck ! Talk about getting ripped off! Sorry but us fans are getting ripped off

.

Check the Euro prices at: https://www.bol.com/nl/p/...oductTitle

Quite similar.

Prices might come down a bit after a while.

Maybe buy a few CD's?

darkroman said:

PURPLEIZED3121 said:

but you have a choice..the CD deluxe version is c£50.00 ..buy that instead!

I disagree!

Record companies know many fans are collectors and like to have everything.

It is paramount releases are value for money - in fact in Japan it is a legal requirement so I won't expect the SEVEN formats for 1999 Deluxe to be released there!

So as a dedicated fan and collector we have no choice and as such it is not right to make product too expensive for fans.

In comparison George Michael would make a point to ensure his releases were affordable and he subsidised the price of concert tickets, again to ensure they were affordable!

...well, you've chosen to be "a dedicated fan and collector" so how about chosing not to be a dedicated fan and collector? No-one has a gun at your head to buy anything!

I’d agree in general with the criticism of UK pricing for the vinyl re-issues, but for me, I think it’s just a case of shopping around and waiting for deals?

I wasn't happy paying £50 for Originals deluxe but I managed to pick up a copy for £40 from Amazon, which I thought was (just about) fair enough.

3121 was/is generally £30 in the UK - but I picked up up as part of a 3 for 2 deal from Amazon France so effectively only paid about £20 for it (which, personally, I think is reasonable for a double album).

Current batch of re-issues were/ are all too expensive (in the UK) for me but Amazon France had C&D for about a tenner on pre-order so I picked that up.

I don’t know if quality control is any worse today than in the past. I think due to the nature of the product, there’s always the potential for quality variation from pressing to pressing?

The way I see it, as an obscurist hipster lemming with a sub-standard audio set up who's been programmed to record company marketing, my preferred format is vinyl but if it's too expensive I won't buy it. I'll buy the CD or stream it in the short term, and see what happens with prices.

Obviously, this gives me less time to be judgemental about what other people spend their money on, or their motivations in life, or even make assumptions about the quality of equipment they’re listening on (but given I don’t really give a flying about any of these things as they don’t negatively impact me personally or society in general in any meaningful sense, that’s no great loss).

AsylumUtopia said:

massing said:

I think this must be a case of 'Rip-off Britain'. I live in Spain and I've just picked it up from a shop nearby for €17.99.

Amazon UK is listing the vinyl at £48.74

Amazon Spain has it for £17.99

That's a huge difference in price.

The one I find really annoying is that Planet Earth generally seems to be priced the same as 3121 and Musicology, even though it's a single disc and the other 2 are doubles.

It's not just Britain, it's Rip-off Ireland too.


Tower records here are charging the following outrageous prices for the following vinyl:

Chaos & Disorder €39.99
Emancipation €89.99
Originals €34.99
Originals Deluxe €54.99
Versace €39.99
1999 Super Deluxe €209.99


It's not just Prince stuff - a lot of new releases are above the €30 mark or more for singles, even more for doubles.

I love vinyl and I'd gladly buy it at a proper price, but I'm not paying those prices. I assumed it was the record labels, but if you can get C&D in Spain for €17.99 then it must be the stores. Whoever's responsible, they're being far too greedy and it will probably (hopefully) backfire on them. Practically everyone I know who still buys hard copy music says the same thing, they're all buying CD's rather than paying inflated prices for vinyl. If they set reasonable prices like they seem to be doing where you are they'd be selling a hell of a lot more of it.

-

Everyone complaining here is at least over 40 or 50 years old (I presume).

-

Get over it. Prices will NEVER go down.

I paid 89.99 EURO for the 6LP box set of Emancipation.

14.83 EURO per vinyl, with colour innersleeve and info, and a purple marbled vinyl, and all of 'm in a hard carton slip-box.

Looks pretty normal to me.

And no i'm not rich.

-

The only thing I'm concerned about is the artwork (which Casey Rain is so thrilled about while unwrapping it, said it looked wonderful and stunning). No. It. Doesn't.

SUPER BAD QUALITY of al the images; BLUR! BLURRED! BLURREST!.

THAT is a shame.

I guess they just took the booklet of an unwrapped CD version, and put it on theyr copy machine to enlarge them with 50%... unbelievable.

And no extra info, not even a liner note about the remastering.

The sound is OK. I cant hear too much of a difference withthe previous released CD version.

-

What I currently see in 1999 pricing suggests that it is no just a UK issue.

If prices do not come down sales will be lower.

So don't buy it.

Genesia said:

So don't buy it.

.

I did preorder the CD deluxe set...

Vannormal said:

AsylumUtopia said:

It's not just Britain, it's Rip-off Ireland too.


Tower records here are charging the following outrageous prices for the following vinyl:

Chaos & Disorder €39.99
Emancipation €89.99
Originals €34.99
Originals Deluxe €54.99
Versace €39.99
1999 Super Deluxe €209.99


It's not just Prince stuff - a lot of new releases are above the €30 mark or more for singles, even more for doubles.

I love vinyl and I'd gladly buy it at a proper price, but I'm not paying those prices. I assumed it was the record labels, but if you can get C&D in Spain for €17.99 then it must be the stores. Whoever's responsible, they're being far too greedy and it will probably (hopefully) backfire on them. Practically everyone I know who still buys hard copy music says the same thing, they're all buying CD's rather than paying inflated prices for vinyl. If they set reasonable prices like they seem to be doing where you are they'd be selling a hell of a lot more of it.

-

Everyone complaining here is at least over 40 or 50 years old (I presume).

-

Get over it. Prices will NEVER go down.

I paid 89.99 EURO for the 6LP box set of Emancipation.

14.83 EURO per vinyl, with colour innersleeve and info, and a purple marbled vinyl, and all of 'm in a hard carton slip-box.

Looks pretty normal to me.

And no i'm not rich.

-

The only thing I'm concerned about is the artwork (which Casey Rain is so thrilled about while unwrapping it, said it looked wonderful and stunning). No. It. Doesn't.

SUPER BAD QUALITY of al the images; BLUR! BLURRED! BLURREST!.

THAT is a shame.

I guess they just took the booklet of an unwrapped CD version, and put it on theyr copy machine to enlarge them with 50%... unbelievable.

And no extra info, not even a liner note about the remastering.

The sound is OK. I cant hear too much of a difference withthe previous released CD version.

-

Never! As a 40 or 50 something year old (like yourself, I presume ) I reserve the right to bitch and moan about everything. Let's face it, this place would never have existed in the first place without Prince fans bitching and moaning about everything he released and did (or didn't release or didn't do).

I guess €14.99 (89.99 / 6) doesn't sound too bad for a single vinyl, but if the sound quality is not any better than the CD version then they clearly didn't bother to do a good enough remaster to make proper use of all that vinyl, and blurred artwork? That's just sloppy.

Besides, you're not making a fair comparison - it's not as if you can choose to buy one of the set, you still have to shell out 90 notes for it; and per vinyl, Emancipation is by far the cheapest of the ones I listed.

C&D and Versace are both single vinyls at €39.99.

I'm not being a cheapskate, I understand that mastering for vinyl is a different (and presumably more expensive) process, the vinyl itself is more expensive to produce, and packaging possibly as well (although in the case of standard single vinyl sleeves that's debateable). So I am happy to pay more for it, because it is (or should be) a better quality product, but charging €40 for something that you can get on CD for €12 is not a fair deal if there's no difference in quality.

I could enthuse at length about the joys of vinyl, but that's a different discussion. Ultimately, the two things that should make vinyl superior to a CD are the sound quality and the packaging, and if they're not superior, then, much as I love vinyl, it's difficult to justify paying 3 times the price for it.

As for prices not coming down, well they do - not as much as I'd like, but they do. Tower Records have a shitload of some vinyl's that were way overpriced at €35-40, and many of them are now €20-25, because they weren't shifting them. So if enough people refuse to pay the inflated prices, they will come down.

udo said:

Genesia said:

So don't buy it.

.

I did preorder the CD deluxe set...

I wasn't talking to you.

djThunderfunk said:

When it sounds good, it's worth it, but you never know till it's on the turntable.

Quality control and consistency is out the window these days. Buy 3 random new records, 1 will sound excellent, 1 will sound decent, and 1 will sound like shit.

My copies of 3121 & Originals sound terrific, better than the CDs.

My copy of Chaos And Disorder sounds all right, but not great.

A friend of mine buys new vinyl regularly, and has me do needle drop digital transfers for him. Same setup, same needle, same everything... except sound quality. It's all over the place.

I assume the companies just don't care, figuring many are sold as collectibles never to be opened and many that are will be played by hipsters with lo-fi equipment that can't tell the difference anyway.

Considering how much new vinyl costs these days, this is unacceptable.

[Edited 9/13/19 12:24pm]

Very interesting!