Yo, somewhat new Prince fan here.

I’ve already listened to Prince’s entire discography (the stuff that’s available on streaming services anyway), at least thrice. But the Black Album is nowhere to be found, it’s driving me nuts. From what I understand it was on Tidal a year or two back, but not anymore. I’ve searched everywhere for it to no avail! I only managed to find it clean & clear on Youtube. Feels tasteless listening to it there, to say the least.

How come it’s not on, say, Spotify? That’s such a waste. It might not be one of his greatest albums, but personally it means a lot to me. I can’t start collecting so purchasing physicals is off the table entirely for the time being.

I read somewhere around here there’ll be a reissue sometime this month, and after some heavy plundering there’s no official word on that anywhere. Is there hope it’ll ever be out there at all? I need it!

You can buy it second hand on Amazon. It's hardly collecting if you're only buying one album. Buy it, rip it, sell it again.

[Edited 12/13/19 1:17am]

I know if I start I won’t be able to stop, oops.

It’d be way easier for everyone if it’s being streamed. I guess buying a physical would guarantee it being there forever, though..

I’m mostly curious why there’s little to no word on it. It’s a good album.

I remember something about the Black album being a one album/one time release that was salvaged out of contractual negotiations with Warner Brothers that was only available for a little while in 1994,and lives in some sort of contested ownership limbo between WB and the estate.

I am sure that there are others here who have better information/understanding and have been following all the legal wrangling.

I don't think it's been in print since 1994. There's no lack of copies out there though, you can pick it up for cheap on discogs. It should be on streaming yes, but so should Vanity 6, Apollonia 6, Madhouse, Jill Jones, NPG albums. all those 12" versions etc. etc.

andrewm7 said:

I remember something about the Black album being a one album/one time release that was salvaged out of contractual negotiations with Warner Brothers that was only available for a little while in 1994,and lives in some sort of contested ownership limbo between WB and the estate.

I am sure that there are others here who have better information/understanding and have been following all the legal wrangling.

I know as much. If anyone else has more of the story to tell, please tell

jaawwnn said:

I don't think it's been in print since 1994. There's no lack of copies out there though, you can pick it up for cheap on discogs. It should be on streaming yes, but so should Vanity 6, Apollonia 6, Madhouse, Jill Jones, NPG albums. all those 12" versions etc. etc.

!

I didn’t think to look in Discogs. There sure is plenty of them in there for cheap.. thank you!

TrevorAyer said:

pprincipe said:

jaawwnn said:

I don't think it's been in print since 1994. There's no lack of copies out there though, you can pick it up for cheap on discogs. It should be on streaming yes, but so should Vanity 6, Apollonia 6, Madhouse, Jill Jones, NPG albums. all those 12" versions etc. etc.

!

I didn’t think to look in Discogs. There sure is plenty of them in there for cheap.. thank you!

Hey, if you are into collecting, I can sell you a nice red vinyl copy of the Black Album, back from 1988. Almost an original