Now having digested for a few days, I have to say - amazing! what a set. As the Michael Dean and co said, the estate is listening and have done a fantastic job on this set. My only wish would be that some more effort or $ be spent to make the DVDs look better. If this is not possible, I'd like to hear someone explain. I totally get the limitations of VHS.

First, before I thank Mike - I have to say, you have the greatest job in the world and Prince made it pretty 'easy' leaving so much incredible content available. Now having said that, I must says that the monumental job of going through all the vault stuff must feel overwhelming at times. As many of us long time collectors know, not everything in the vault are top tier. Prince had a manic drive and sometimes he'd record things just to go from point A to point B to point xxxx. So, to be able to find so many treasures from a specific period of time is a hell of a job!

As well, the job the estate did to clean up these recordings deserves a lot of praise. Hats off to the technical people. I would guess these are not the same people that did the Purple Rain Deluxe set as those vault tracks sound poor compared to these - older - vault songs. The sound quality of the vault tracks seems to trump much of Prince's released work. It is crystal clear! (I apologize for using the word 'trump'. This is a serious post....and mentioning a clown was a wrong choice:)

I'm also very encouraged by how good the live disc is. The sound has a great mix...super bottom end and it is raw as hell.

You guys keep putting out multi disc sets and we'll keep buying. I know I've bought multiple copies of all releases thus far and plan to keep doing so.

-

I personally think they did a great job too. Music qulaity wise for me it's stunningly good !

Choice of songs is wonderful too. "Lust U Always" and "Extraloveable" is understandibly not included with #metoo and all going on. But would've prefered them being on there (i'm European, and less prudish) . )

Only thing for me is - and there will always be people who'd like to change things, including myself - I would've love to have more and better pictures available.

And for another reason I don't understand why there is no recording of that famous Rolling Stones concert included, Even if it was for one or two live songs.

Also that one little picture is a bit poor. Sure there is more, since it's being pointed at as a povital point in his life and career.

-

The essays are also not all that informative to me.

Could be better too.

-

But I give it a 8.5 out of 10 for sure !

Great package.

-

I didn't like the fact that he criticized Prince for Extraloveable lyrics..

jn2 said:

AGREED! GREAT GREAT JOB!!!!!

agreed.

Now dreading the usual MF's whining about the smallest things!

jn2 said:

I didn't like the fact that he criticized Prince for Extraloveable lyrics..

Pretty sure he didnt.

JoeyCococo said:

jn2 said:

laytonian said:

JoeyCococo said:

First, before I thank Mike -

Joey, there has to be an interesting story on how you got to be on a first name/nickname basis with Michael Howe. Care to share?

ha...no connection, no relationship. I just wanted to call the man out as we've heard bits from him here and there. He deserves some praise for doing such great work archiving. I can only imagine the process of him going through reels upon reels, and putting forward collections that hang well together as a package artistically and sound quality wise.

Another way to look at it is, imagine a hack doing this work. Someone who did not understand the many phases of Prince's career. Obviously the focus here was on what came after Controversy and before 1999....but what if the archivist put forward a track that did not fit - say, the 'I feel for you' acousitc demo? What if they put the original Old Friends 4 Sale on here...Sure it would be neat and super to have those tracks in great quality but we all know it would be wrong to place them here on this set. It's this kind of integrity that I'm complimenting.

JoeyCococo said:

Another way to look at it is, imagine a hack doing this work. Someone who did not understand the many phases of Prince's career. Obviously the focus here was on what came after Controversy and before 1999....but what if the archivist put forward a track that did not fit - say, the 'I feel for you' acousitc demo? What if they put the original Old Friends 4 Sale on here...Sure it would be neat and super to have those tracks in great quality but we all know it would be wrong to place them here on this set. It's this kind of integrity that I'm complimenting.

A fair amount of these tracks have the Dirty Mind vocals/punk-funk delivery, though.

I agree. This project is what I was hoping for. This will be the standard from now on. I do hope they keep this up for what's to come. It certainly makes the Purple Rain set that came out before look pretty mediocre in comparison.

JoeyCococo said:

rdhull said:

JoeyCococo said:

ha...no connection, no relationship. I just wanted to call the man out as we've heard bits from him here and there. He deserves some praise for doing such great work archiving. I can only imagine the process of him going through reels upon reels, and putting forward collections that hang well together as a package artistically and sound quality wise.

Another way to look at it is, imagine a hack doing this work. Someone who did not understand the many phases of Prince's career. Obviously the focus here was on what came after Controversy and before 1999....but what if the archivist put forward a track that did not fit - say, the 'I feel for you' acousitc demo? What if they put the original Old Friends 4 Sale on here...Sure it would be neat and super to have those tracks in great quality but we all know it would be wrong to place them here on this set. It's this kind of integrity that I'm complimenting.

He deserves knob slobbing because he used songs from the correct era?

RDull...you have become a negative person. It was a great release..done. if some don't care for it, the alternative could be you get none at all!

JoeyCococo said:

laytonian said:

JoeyCococo said: Joey, there has to be an interesting story on how you got to be on a first name/nickname basis with Michael Howe. Care to share?

ha...no connection, no relationship. I just wanted to call the man out as we've heard bits from him here and there. He deserves some praise for doing such great work archiving. I can only imagine the process of him going through reels upon reels, and putting forward collections that hang well together as a package artistically and sound quality wise.

Another way to look at it is, imagine a hack doing this work. Someone who did not understand the many phases of Prince's career. Obviously the focus here was on what came after Controversy and before 1999....but what if the archivist put forward a track that did not fit - say, the 'I feel for you' acousitc demo? What if they put the original Old Friends 4 Sale on here...Sure it would be neat and super to have those tracks in great quality but we all know it would be wrong to place them here on this set. It's this kind of integrity that I'm complimenting.

AMEN. So grateful that the spirit in which he's doing this work is what it is.

As amazing as 1999: DELUXE has been...

....imagine how amazing...

PARADE: DELUXE WILL BE????!!!!!!!

soladeo1 said:

As amazing as 1999: DELUXE has been...

....imagine how amazing...

PARADE: DELUXE WILL BE????!!!!!!!

I can't even.

I,too,would like to thank Mke Howe and the estate for the amazing job they did with this set.It is a fans' dream come true.

Genesia said:

soladeo1 said:

As amazing as 1999: DELUXE has been...

....imagine how amazing...

PARADE: DELUXE WILL BE????!!!!!!!

I can't even.

The that will ensue when it is officially announced

JoeyCococo said:

-

Michael Howe, if you read this :

-

Next time put "Extraloveable" and "lust U Always" as hidden tracks.

-

No mentioning of it whatsoever.

Or hide an interview or clip... whatever...

-

Surprise us and yourself.

-

Yes, it sounds great.

But:

- Someone mentioned brickwalling

- Someone else mentioned jewel cases

- Someone else mentioned availability issues

- Someone wanted (less) censorship (i.e.: the choice of songs)

Vannormal said:

-

Michael Howe, if you read this :

-

Next time put "Extraloveable" and "lust U Always" as hidden tracks.

-

No mentioning of it whatsoever.

Or hide an interview or clip... whatever...

-

Surprise us and yourself.

-

.

You did not find the track before track one on the promo disc?

rdhull said:

LoveGalore said:

rdhull said:

How am I negative. I think it’s the greatest release. Nobody cared about 1999 back in the day except maybe ten of us here who mentioned it etc. I’m over the moon just that the regular disc has been remastered. Everything else is gravy. Hell, the release of the different HCUDCMA is worth it alone. But to say someone needs all this praise because he got the songs right is overplaying it :Kanye shrug:

Yeah nobody cared about the third best seller of his career.

I hadn't even heard about it before this thread.

JoeyCococo said:

Now having digested for a few days, I have to say - amazing! what a set. As the Michael Dean and co said, the estate is listening and have done a fantastic job on this set. My only wish would be that some more effort or $ be spent to make the DVDs look better. If this is not possible, I'd like to hear someone explain. I totally get the limitations of VHS.

First, before I thank Mike - I have to say, you have the greatest job in the world and Prince made it pretty 'easy' leaving so much incredible content available. Now having said that, I must says that the monumental job of going through all the vault stuff must feel overwhelming at times. As many of us long time collectors know, not everything in the vault are top tier. Prince had a manic drive and sometimes he'd record things just to go from point A to point B to point xxxx. So, to be able to find so many treasures from a specific period of time is a hell of a job!

As well, the job the estate did to clean up these recordings deserves a lot of praise. Hats off to the technical people. I would guess these are not the same people that did the Purple Rain Deluxe set as those vault tracks sound poor compared to these - older - vault songs. The sound quality of the vault tracks seems to trump much of Prince's released work. It is crystal clear! (I apologize for using the word 'trump'. This is a serious post....and mentioning a clown was a wrong choice:)

I'm also very encouraged by how good the live disc is. The sound has a great mix...super bottom end and it is raw as hell.

You guys keep putting out multi disc sets and we'll keep buying. I know I've bought multiple copies of all releases thus far and plan to keep doing so.

I fully agree & U're right to highlight it! Even if promo videos are available on streaming & can be bought on Itunes (what I did, 2 have the best quality ever): it would have be nice 2 get it on the DVD (no room 4 it?). Anyway, good job done! What I did, are some playlists by year (of the outtakes released on PR & 1999 Deluxes, Originals & Crystal ball/Cloreen Bacon Skin) on my Ipod Classic: it's so great!!!

[Edited 12/5/19 2:41am]

In my opinion it's just a 'OK' release that could have been amazing.
Missing to many essentials and even basics (like a DVD with all the 1999 videos)

soladeo1 said:

As amazing as 1999: DELUXE has been...

....imagine how amazing...

PARADE: DELUXE WILL BE????!!!!!!!

Oh absolutely. My favourite Prince album and era, and so much material recorded at that time.

JorisE73 said:

In my opinion it's just a 'OK' release that could have been amazing.
Missing to many essentials and even basics (like a DVD with all the 1999 videos)

A DVD with the 1999 videos would not be considered essential or basic. In fact, the DVD they included is a bonus if anything. The set is obviously being modeled after Bowie's retrospective sets like Five Years.