2019 was a pretty good year for posthumous physical releases. Sure we could complain about not getting this or that recording that we're chomping at the bit for, but if we take a look at what we did get as opposed to what we didn't, there's a lot there, especially in terms of getting his discography in print an on shelves:

In February we got some reissues.

Musicology 2LP, CD

3121 2LP, CD

Planet Earth LP, CD

All on vinyl for the first time, at least as a wide release (I won't debate the Musicology vinyl previously available). So, that was cool, for us vinyl collectors anyway. (3121 sounds fantastic on vinyl!!).

In April we got Wrecka Strow Day reissues of two former promos.

His Majesty's Pop Life / The Purple Mix Club 2LP

The Versace Experience (Prelude 2 Gold) Cassette

Yeah, yeah, we want something we haven't heard before, but the originals of both of these are super rare so they were cool choices.

A couple of weeks later we got the reissues for Rave.

Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic 2LP

Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic 2LP

Ultimate Rave 2CD/DVD

The original Rave Un2 vinyl is long out of print and expensive, plus this time Prettyman is included (it wasn't on the original LP). Rave In2 was on vinyl for the first time, and the CD which had been an exclusive to those of us that were members of the NPGMC at the time, was also an expensive out of print item. And the packaging on the Ultimate set was really nice.

In June we got some vault tracks.

Originals 2LP, CD (Target & Japanese CDs with a bonus track)

Again, maybe not what most of us are anticipating from the vault, but a sweet little collection nonetheless.

This was followed in September by some more reissues.

The Versace Experience (Prelude 2 Gold) LP, CD

Chaos & Disorder LP, CD

Emancipation 6LP, 3CD

Once again, this was the first time these got a vinyl release, which is great. Versace probably isn't worth including, or at the very least the release makes the cassette reissue pointless to own, but again it's a good thing to get all the official releases back in print and cool to get vinyl.

In October we were surprised with the limited release of another vault track.

I Feel For You 7" Single

The previously unreleased Acoustic Demo of the track makes for a very cool if very expensive release. I expect we'll see this track show up on a collection next year...

And of course in November we got the best of the year, in my not-so-humble opinion, with the latest deluxe release.

1999 (Super Deluxe) 10LP/DVD, 5CD/DVD

1999 (Deluxe) 4LP, 2CD

1999 (Remastered) 2LP, CD

I don't see any use for the other two but the Super Deluxe release is fantastic. This is waaaaay better than the Purple Rain release from a couple years ago and hopefully sets the standard for more to come. A remaster, all most of the edits & b-sides, 2 discs of vault tracks, a live show, another live show on DVD. Great packaging. Yeah... give me more of these.

Pretty great year. I didn't even mention a couple promo 7" singles or any colored vinyl options. Or books. Or that Sign "O" The Times Blu-ray that SOME of you got.


So looking back at 2019 and forward to 2020 I anticipate at least as much product and am hopeful for what we might get.

Based on choices "they" made last year, I have some suggestions for this one (of course I do):

Wrecka Stow Day

WB could replicate last year and follow it up with Strange Tales From The Rain 2LP. Better yet how about a rare 12" like Sexy Dancer or Gett Off (Damn Near 10 Minutes), or even rare for the U.S. like the U.K. editions of Purple Rain, Paisley Park, Pop Life, The Future, etc...
What I really want is Black Album, but, I don't see that happening.

NPG should do a 12" single of NYC Live / The War. They'd probably be tempted to replicate last year and do a reissue of either on cassette instead, but that would suck, vinyl would be better. And yes, combine the two. It would be an awesome 12".

Or, how about F.U.N.K. (aka PFUnk) on a 12"? Throw Turn Me Loose on as the b-side and that record would be a MUST HAVE!! Just saying, if you're going to go with something released but rare, do something cool.

Reissues

I'm looking forward to a Crystal Ball LP, if for no other reason than to have the tracks not be brickwalled. The Truth would be awesome on vinyl as well. Don't combine them, release them individually. And don't be in a hurry to reissue Kamasutra. I'm good.

20Ten would be cool, especially if they release the Deluxe Edition on CD that Prince planned to put out.

Of course the tasty choices would be The Chocolate Invasion, The Slaughterhouse, Xpectation and C-Note. Having never had a physical release, these should sell well on both formats. I know if they all come out the same day that I'd be a broke mf'er when I got home from the store. Just sayin'...

And there's always The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale, The Rainbow Children, One Nite Alone, One Nite Alone Live/It Ain't Over, NEWS, Indigo Nights...
And what's up with the NPG albums? Goldnigga, Exodus and Newpower Soul need to be in print too!!

For that matter, it's TIME for deluxe reissues of associated artists. The Time, Vanity 6, The Family, Jill Jones... MADHOUSE! Come on with it.

New Releases

I suppose we'll get an Originals Vol. 2, and that's fine. The first one was cool and I'm sure they've got more to choose from. I'd rather they'd have just made it a 2CD set to begin with and move on to something else this year, but it's whatevs. I'll be down for another. We'll probably see I Feel For You Acoustic Demo on this one, just like when we got the Nothing Compares 2 U 7" ages before the Originals album.

Sure would like something newer from the vault. Piano & A Microphone on CD AND Blu-ray would be cool, especially the Paisley Park and Atlanta shows. A recent unreleased album would be perfect, Welcome 2 America or Black Is The New Black or Hitnrun Phase 3... anything from the later years.

Super Deluxe

Parade would be great but my vote for the next one is Sign "O" The Times. Make it as great as 1999 and I'll be happy, but try anyway to outdo it (LOL!). And include the movie.

Or, whomever has the right, someone has to, release the dang movie in the U.S.
You don't even need to spend much, just license the master and bonus content from the release that came out last year for the states and put it out. It's like printing money.
We haven't had a release of this movie here since the VHS over 30 years ago, but everywhere eles gets DVDs, Blu-rays, remasters, bonus features. Somebody has the rights. Whomever you are, release it or sell them or license them to someone who will. There are plenty of boutique blu-ray labels that would jump at the chance to put this out.

Rant over.

I know, I know... TLDR.

The point is, there were LOTS of cool physical releases in 2019. Hopefully that will continue in 2020.
If some of my requests come out, they can just take my money.

[Edited 1/8/20 12:02pm]

Record Store Day: 2019-

A Side:Extrealoveable

B Side: Lust You Always INSTRUMENTAL

rdhull said:

rdhull said:

Record Store Day: 2019-

A Side:Extrealoveable

B Side: Lust You Always INSTRUMENTAL

Nobody would say no to that!

LoveGalore said:

rdhull said:

Record Store Day: 2019-

A Side:Extrealoveable

B Side: Lust You Always INSTRUMENTAL

You spelled Divinity wrong.

oh yeah, I forgot. LUA/Divinity

2019 in Review

Wrecka Stow Day:

His Majesty's Pop Life / The Purple Mix Club 2LP - Interesting choice. Would have prefered Strange Tales From The Rain, but still a nice collection. (5/10)

The Versace Experience (Prelude 2 Gold) Cassette - A novelty item (3/10)

Legacy:

Musicology 2LP, CD

3121 2LP, CD

Chaos & Disorder LP, CD

Emancipation 6LP, 3CD

- Didn't care much for these releases personally as I already own the original issues, but I'm glad they are avalible for new fans. (NA/10)

Planet Earth LP, CD

- Never could stand this album (0/10)

Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic 2LP

Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic 2LP

Ultimate Rave 2CD/DVD

- Although not his best 90s album, I'm glad the remix version is now easier to find on CD and the Ultimate package breeds some new life into the superb concert DVD (7/10)

The Versace Experience (Prelude 2 Gold) LP, CD

- Cassette quality on CD! This is a black mark! (0/10)

New Release:

Originals 2LP, CD (Target & Japanese CDs with a bonus track)

- Would have been 9/10 for Holy Rock alone, although I'm deducting a point for including an exclusive to certain regions / stores. Not a practice I approve of. (8/10)

Single:

I Feel For You 7" Single

- Not blown away by the track, but I love these surprise one off singles. Let's have more of these please. (5/10 for the demo itself. 8/10 for the lovely surprise)

Super Deluxe:

1999 (Super Deluxe) 10LP/DVD, 5CD/DVD

- What a beautiful set. Stunningly packaged. Filled to the brim with amazing content. Delicatly remastered. A huge leap in the right direction. Would have been 10/10. Knocking off a point for... we all know by now (9/10)

My ideal 2020 (which will never happen)

Wrecka Stow Day:

The Camille LP (it was pressed on vinyl and has a catalogue number so it could happen)

Sony Legacy:
Crystal Ball (‘98)

Crystal Ball II (they released ‘The Versace Experience’ so maybe they could swing it?)

Realistic Sony Legacy:
One Nite Alone
The Chocolate Invasion
Slaughterhouse
Xpectations

New Release:
Dream Factory (CD1 The Album, CD2 Revolution Era Out-takes)

Single:
'Strange Way' would be lovely.

Super Deluxe:
Sign ‘O’ The Times


I basically was 1986 released!

[Edited 1/8/20 13:22pm]

Yeah, I'm kind-of a weirdo for it, but I was a lot more excited for stuff like Chaos and Disorder and Emancipation becoming available on vinyl than I was for 1999. I think those two were the highlights of the year's releases for me along with His Majesty's Pop Life, although I also seem to be one of the few fans who kinda liked the Versace release (anything that gets Gold Experience-era material back into print while we're waiting for the TMBGITW lawsuit to be sorted out to pave the way for a proper TGE reissue, is generally fine by me).

As for 2020 hopes... presuming we aren't going to get Come or Love Symbol on wax until Legacy takes over those rights in 2021, I'm relaxed about what we get this year, I guess. Any combination of The Black Album, Exodus, Crystal Ball ('98) and/or Strange Tales From The Rain would be great, but I'm open to being surprised by the announcement of something completely different. I'm not crazily inspired by the whole Originals concept or that album, but I guess an Originals II seems inevitable at this point.

to many releases... for a single year.

trickster said:

to many releases... for a single year.

To get everything? Sure.
But there was a lot to choose from which is always good.

And as much stuff as there is in his catalogue and in the vault, I say release as much as possible while I'm alive to enjoy it. Just sayin'...

djThunderfunk said:

Or, whomever has the right, someone has to, release the dang movie in the U.S.
You don't even need to spend much, just license the master and bonus content from the release that came out last year for the states and put it out. It's like printing money.
We haven't had a release of this movie here since the VHS over 30 years ago, but everywhere eles gets DVDs, Blu-rays, remasters, bonus features.

.

You could have bought the Canadian DVD years ago. Or the Australian Blu-ray (region free). Or the Japanese Blu-ray (region free). Other than the Canadian DVD (which was made from the same HD master that is used as the source as the Blu-rays), I don't think any DVD release was adequate.

.

So basically you are in the same boat all of us were in, until the German Blu-ray got released.

.

FYI you can buy SOTT in HD for $9.99 on Amazon Prime: https://www.amazon.com/Pr...076CS35WY/ .

BartVanHemelen said:

djThunderfunk said:

Or, whomever has the right, someone has to, release the dang movie in the U.S.
You don't even need to spend much, just license the master and bonus content from the release that came out last year for the states and put it out. It's like printing money.
We haven't had a release of this movie here since the VHS over 30 years ago, but everywhere eles gets DVDs, Blu-rays, remasters, bonus features.

.

You could have bought the Canadian DVD years ago. Or the Australian Blu-ray (region free). Or the Japanese Blu-ray (region free). Other than the Canadian DVD (which was made from the same HD master that is used as the source as the Blu-rays), I don't think any DVD release was adequate.

.

So basically you are in the same boat all of us were in, until the German Blu-ray got released.

.

FYI you can buy SOTT in HD for $9.99 on Amazon Prime: https://www.amazon.com/Pr...076CS35WY/ .

I did buy the Canadian DVD. Missed out on the Japanese blu and didn't know about the Australian one. I'm not looking to pay high import prices anyway. Why are you excusing the inexecusable fact that it hasn't had a physical release in it's home country in over 30 years, anyway?

I don't want to buy an HD download. I want to buy a blu-ray. At a reasonable price without international shipping. There's no logic to it's lack of release.

Pick another battle. You're wrong.

"It's like printing money."

Ehhhhhhh, the home video market really isn't good for legacy releases at the moment. They licensed the digital rights to Showtime then Filmrise. That's free money. Not licensing extras from a different company and pressing physical copies.

Strive said:

"It's like printing money."

Ehhhhhhh, the home video market really isn't good for legacy releases at the moment. They licensed the digital rights to Showtime then Filmrise. That's free money. Not licensing extras from a different company and pressing physical copies.

For the major labels like WB & Sony? Eh? It may or may not be worth it.

But, there are a bunch of boutique labels that would happily license a release like this. They don't print Marvel #'s, they do smaller runs of deluxe editions at premium prices and would be happy with the sales this would bring.

Arrow, Shout Factory, Twilight Time, MVD Rewind, Olive, etc... would be perfect for this. They're all about the niche market.

djThunderfunk said:

BartVanHemelen said:

.

You could have bought the Canadian DVD years ago. Or the Australian Blu-ray (region free). Or the Japanese Blu-ray (region free). Other than the Canadian DVD (which was made from the same HD master that is used as the source as the Blu-rays), I don't think any DVD release was adequate.

.

So basically you are in the same boat all of us were in, until the German Blu-ray got released.

.

FYI you can buy SOTT in HD for $9.99 on Amazon Prime: https://www.amazon.com/Pr...076CS35WY/ .

I did buy the Canadian DVD. Missed out on the Japanese blu and didn't know about the Australian one. I'm not looking to pay high import prices anyway. Why are you excusing the inexecusable fact that it hasn't had a physical release in it's home country in over 30 years, anyway?

I don't want to buy an HD download. I want to buy a blu-ray. At a reasonable price without international shipping. There's no logic to it's lack of release.

Pick another battle. You're wrong.

There's a new blu-ray coming out soon. It's a UK release but I'm not sure if it's region B or region free. https://www.amazon.co.uk/...081WVBKKM/

I didn't buy any of the reissues, but I did get Originals (Target version with extra track) and 1999 Super Deluxe 5CD+DVD.

I got a bunch of books this past year, including The Beautiful Ones.

On top of that, checked off my bucket list item of visiting Paisley Park (Ultimate Tour) and exploring Minneapolis.

All in all, a great year.

Se7en said:

I didn't buy any of the reissues, but I did get Originals (Target version with extra track) and 1999 Super Deluxe 5CD+DVD.

I got a bunch of books this past year, including The Beautiful Ones.

On top of that, checked off my bucket list item of visiting Paisley Park (Ultimate Tour) and exploring Minneapolis.

All in all, a great year.

I'm pretty much the same. I didn't buy any reissues but I did get 'Originals' & '1999 Super Deluxe'.

I hope to get some reissues in the future but I'm waiting for the albums that either weren't previously released physically like 'Chocolate Invasion' & 'Xpectations', and I've also never been able to get my hands on an official CD of 'One Nite Alone'.

Personally I'm glad that Prince is getting released in abundance at the moment. That's the way it always should have been, but at least WB & Sony and catching up now. Having said that I do feel sorry for the fans who are collecting the vinyl. Between the reissues and '1999 Deluxe' I imagine last year was very expensive. Since I collect CDs and had no need for last year's reissues I didn't break the bank in 2019. I would have welcomed some more releases.

djThunderfunk said:

BartVanHemelen said:

.

You could have bought the Canadian DVD years ago. Or the Australian Blu-ray (region free). Or the Japanese Blu-ray (region free). Other than the Canadian DVD (which was made from the same HD master that is used as the source as the Blu-rays), I don't think any DVD release was adequate.

.

So basically you are in the same boat all of us were in, until the German Blu-ray got released.

.

FYI you can buy SOTT in HD for $9.99 on Amazon Prime: https://www.amazon.com/Pr...076CS35WY/ .

I did buy the Canadian DVD. Missed out on the Japanese blu and didn't know about the Australian one. I'm not looking to pay high import prices anyway. Why are you excusing the inexecusable fact that it hasn't had a physical release in it's home country in over 30 years, anyway?

I don't want to buy an HD download. I want to buy a blu-ray. At a reasonable price without international shipping. There's no logic to it's lack of release.

Pick another battle. You're wrong.

He's not wrong. Everything he said was true.

Here's a thread about the Australian Blu-ray release: https://prince.org/msg/7/380783

Here's another one in which you posted: https://prince.org/msg/7/379175

And here is the logic behind no U.S. release since the VHS edition: https://shadowandact.com/...imes/

[Edited 1/9/20 11:34am]

LoveGalore said:

Undertaker on vinyl in 2020 please and thanks.

Yes! Take my money!!

sexton said:

djThunderfunk said:

I did buy the Canadian DVD. Missed out on the Japanese blu and didn't know about the Australian one. I'm not looking to pay high import prices anyway. Why are you excusing the inexecusable fact that it hasn't had a physical release in it's home country in over 30 years, anyway?

I don't want to buy an HD download. I want to buy a blu-ray. At a reasonable price without international shipping. There's no logic to it's lack of release.

Pick another battle. You're wrong.

He's not wrong. Everything he said was true.

Here's a thread about the Australian Blu-ray release: https://prince.org/msg/7/380783

Here's another one in which you posted: https://prince.org/msg/7/379175

And here is the logic behind no U.S. release since the VHS edition: https://shadowandact.com/...imes/

[Edited 1/9/20 11:34am]

I didn't say he said something untrue. What is wrong is he was being dismissive of the lack of a U.S. release by suggesting I just get one of the other ones. Which is exactly what I did with the Canadian DVD.

The article you shared (thanks) gives the history, but ultimately asks the same question do. Who own the rights and when will we get a release in the U.S.?

I was satisfied. Originals was cool and I love 1999 deluxe. Good job all around.

Now all I need is a live box set (CD/DVD) and a proper, massive vault release.

djThunderfunk said:

sexton said:

He's not wrong. Everything he said was true.

Here's a thread about the Australian Blu-ray release: https://prince.org/msg/7/380783

Here's another one in which you posted: https://prince.org/msg/7/379175

And here is the logic behind no U.S. release since the VHS edition: https://shadowandact.com/...imes/

[Edited 1/9/20 11:34am]

I didn't say he said something untrue. What is wrong is he was being dismissive of the lack of a U.S. release by suggesting I just get one of the other ones. Which is exactly what I did with the Canadian DVD.

The article you shared (thanks) gives the history, but ultimately asks the same question do. Who own the rights and when will we get a release in the U.S.?

I didn't interpret his post as being dismissive. It was free of his usual snark.

Anyway, I have the Australian Sign 'O' The Times Blu-ray and one of the German editions. They both look very good.

As for the other 2019 releases, I only bought:

His Majesty's Pop Life / The Purple Mix Club 2LP
The Versace Experience (Prelude 2 Gold) Cassette
The Originals 2LP/CD

I'd splurge on some of the other vinyl reissues if they were on black vinyl and not mismatching purple.

sexton said:

djThunderfunk said:

I didn't say he said something untrue. What is wrong is he was being dismissive of the lack of a U.S. release by suggesting I just get one of the other ones. Which is exactly what I did with the Canadian DVD.

The article you shared (thanks) gives the history, but ultimately asks the same question do. Who own the rights and when will we get a release in the U.S.?

I didn't interpret his post as being dismissive. It was free of his usual snark.

Anyway, I have the Australian Sign 'O' The Times Blu-ray and one of the German editions. They both look very good.

As for the other 2019 releases, I only bought:

His Majesty's Pop Life / The Purple Mix Club 2LP
The Versace Experience (Prelude 2 Gold) Cassette
The Originals 2LP/CD

I'd splurge on some of the other vinyl reissues if they were on black vinyl and not mismatching purple.

No 1999 Deluxe!

Moonbeam said:

sexton said:

I didn't interpret his post as being dismissive. It was free of his usual snark.

Anyway, I have the Australian Sign 'O' The Times Blu-ray and one of the German editions. They both look very good.

As for the other 2019 releases, I only bought:

His Majesty's Pop Life / The Purple Mix Club 2LP
The Versace Experience (Prelude 2 Gold) Cassette
The Originals 2LP/CD

I'd splurge on some of the other vinyl reissues if they were on black vinyl and not mismatching purple.

No 1999 Deluxe!

I finally bought it today. I'll dive into it later this weekend. I'm 100% honestly looking forward to resequencing the edited versions on disc two in the same order as how they appear on disc one and listening to how a shorter version of the album sounds. Yay for rereleasing edits!

djThunderfunk said:

I didn't say he said something untrue. What is wrong is he was being dismissive of the lack of a U.S. release by suggesting I just get one of the other ones.

.

What I said is that the US has the exact same problem most of the world has WRT SOTT and isn't exceptional at all. The German Blu-ray (and upcoming UK Blu-ray) seem to be some kind of fluke/happy accident, but it's not like the German BD was attractively priced. The UK one seems to have a "regular" price, but it is also a barebones release (and let's wait and see what its A/V quality is before praising it).

.

And while the documentary and the interviews on the German BD are a nice bonus (and hurrah for someone finally filming interviews with these people 30+ years after the movie's release), they're also quite amateurish and obviously done on a very limited budget. Seeing the same handful of promo photos being used again and again also shows the lack of proper sources; we really should have gotten bonus footage etc., but if such footage exists in the PP vaults (and that is a very big if) it wouldn't have been part of this licensing deal anyway.

.

On the one hand: Prince could and should have fixed this decades ago by simply paying the company that owned this movie whatever sum of money they wanted to get back the rights. But then chances are there wouldn't have been any DVD or BD releases at all, not TV screenings or a re-release in movie theatres, nor would it have been available through the likes of Amazon Prime. Expecting this contractual mess to be solved by an estate that clearly doesn't have the kind of money to solve this now (I bet the price of SOTT has gone up in recent years), is futile.

.

Maybe some company wants to do a barebones BD in the US, maybe even including the German bonus material, maybe including some of their own (a commentary track featuring band members etc.), but there is some contractual block (e.g. a prohibition on home video releases in the USA, though that seems unlikely) or perhaps they fear the estate having the power to block such a release.

.

I thnink the lack of access to quality bonus material might be the biggest roadblock for several of these speciality labels. Considering that the German release involved that company fixing videoerrors in the UGTL segment and creating two multi-channel audio tracks based on the existing stereo audio track, one could even argue that the source material isn't satisfactory to their needs in an era where 4k remasters are de rigueur.

sexton said: