Lovesexy was the last time he did a conceptual tour. Although, SOTT may be the only real conceptual tour he's done. Up to Purple Rain, it was straight ahead music. PR was the movie as a concert, in effect. Parade Tour came across as a revue (like Ike & Tina, etc.) That's an idea more than a concept. Lovesexy had two acts, an intermission like a play, the first half was Camille and the evil stuff, the 2nd act had him literally coming out of the ground, like Adam created from dirt. It was his garden of Eden, songs about God, songs about love (opposed to lust and carnal desires). It was exhausting to watch when I saw it live. I think he was just sorta done with that stuff. And by the time GB had flopped, it was better to turn into a Greatest Hits type act for a bit, just sing the songs. The revamping w/ D&P., etc were nice turns, but there still wasn't much concept after that.

I did find The Nude Tour boring in song selection and had some pacing problems. (Many shows do.) I think The Ultimate Live Experience show I saw on YouTube was one of the most thrilling of the 90s. It was focused, powerful, purposeful. Took no prisoners. No fluff, all raw in your face music.

TheKid94 said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Lovesexy was the last time he did a conceptual tour. Although, SOTT may be the only real conceptual tour he's done. Up to Purple Rain, it was straight ahead music. PR was the movie as a concert, in effect. Parade Tour came across as a revue (like Ike & Tina, etc.) That's an idea more than a concept. Lovesexy had two acts, an intermission like a play, the first half was Camille and the evil stuff, the 2nd act had him literally coming out of the ground, like Adam created from dirt. It was his garden of Eden, songs about God, songs about love (opposed to lust and carnal desires). It was exhausting to watch when I saw it live. I think he was just sorta done with that stuff. And by the time GB had flopped, it was better to turn into a Greatest Hits type act for a bit, just sing the songs. The revamping w/ D&P., etc were nice turns, but there still wasn't much concept after that.

I did find The Nude Tour boring in song selection and had some pacing problems. (Many shows do.) I think The Ultimate Live Experience show I saw on YouTube was one of the most thrilling of the 90s. It was focused, powerful, purposeful. Took no prisoners. No fluff, all raw in your face music.

Act 1 was a bit of a conceptual tour as well. Was it not?

skywalker said:

Act 1 was a bit of a conceptual tour as well. Was it not?

I always felt those had the aesthetics of the album mixed into it, but there wasn't necessarily a promoted storyline in the show. Of course, every artist pulls in the trinkets of the project, whehter it's clothing, colors, designs, slogans, symbols, etc. Lovesexy had a full on Adam and Eve redemption storyline. Other tours, even stuff like Purple Rain, had the album's accoutrements in it. But I wouldn't say it was conceptual like Lovesexy. The first half was stuff, and the second was the greatest hits. Lovesexy really used all his songs to carry the narrative of evil vs. good (as did the tour programme). Remember, he was on that religioius "I saw God" kick. Clearly, that left by the time The Nude Tour was in play.

What I really liked about The Nude Tour, despite some pacing issues and weird moments, was the opening medley. The Linn cranked out "The Future" drum pattern throughout "1999," "Housequake," "Sexy Dancer," and "Kiss" in a blazing medley of hits.

TrivialPursuit said:

skywalker said:

Act 1 was a bit of a conceptual tour as well. Was it not?

I always felt those had the aesthetics of the album mixed into it, but there wasn't necessarily a promoted storyline in the show. Of course, every artist pulls in the trinkets of the project, whehter it's clothing, colors, designs, slogans, symbols, etc. Lovesexy had a full on Adam and Eve redemption storyline. Other tours, even stuff like Purple Rain, had the album's accoutrements in it. But I wouldn't say it was conceptual like Lovesexy. The first half was stuff, and the second was the greatest hits. Lovesexy really used all his songs to carry the narrative of evil vs. good (as did the tour programme). Remember, he was on that religioius "I saw God" kick. Clearly, that left by the time The Nude Tour was in play.

What I really liked about The Nude Tour, despite some pacing issues and weird moments, was the opening medley. The Linn cranked out "The Future" drum pattern throughout "1999," "Housequake," "Sexy Dancer," and "Kiss" in a blazing medley of hits.

I love the Act 1 tour, just a shame there are no soundboards around.

.

I thought he played it perfect. The first half virtually all the new album, Goldnigga tracks and Carmen's Everybody Get On Up. And the second half was not too greatest hits heavy with him pulling out She's Always In My Hair and Irresistible Bitch (which both sounded great with this band)

skywalker said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Lovesexy was the last time he did a conceptual tour. Although, SOTT may be the only real conceptual tour he's done. Up to Purple Rain, it was straight ahead music. PR was the movie as a concert, in effect. Parade Tour came across as a revue (like Ike & Tina, etc.) That's an idea more than a concept. Lovesexy had two acts, an intermission like a play, the first half was Camille and the evil stuff, the 2nd act had him literally coming out of the ground, like Adam created from dirt. It was his garden of Eden, songs about God, songs about love (opposed to lust and carnal desires). It was exhausting to watch when I saw it live. I think he was just sorta done with that stuff. And by the time GB had flopped, it was better to turn into a Greatest Hits type act for a bit, just sing the songs. The revamping w/ D&P., etc were nice turns, but there still wasn't much concept after that.

I did find The Nude Tour boring in song selection and had some pacing problems. (Many shows do.) I think The Ultimate Live Experience show I saw on YouTube was one of the most thrilling of the 90s. It was focused, powerful, purposeful. Took no prisoners. No fluff, all raw in your face music.

Act 1 was a bit of a conceptual tour as well. Was it not?

Definitely conceptual. It was more than just the album tracks and aesthetic. There were vignettes from the very start (with hired actors or just crew members in costume) trying to concoct a narrative about "Princess Mayte" and God knows what. The 3 Chains 'O Gold?

"Before we begin tonight's concert, we would like to acknowledge some very special guests in the house. Tonight, if you will, please join us in welcoming King Abdul Aziz, and his lovely daughter, Princess Mayte."

I think if you look at the Nude tour in comparison to Lovesexy Live, you're bound to be disappointed, because the differences are striking. You're looking at the biggest stage show he ever produced contrasted with his most stripped back show in years. There's just less "stuff." But that was the point. You really only need Prince, and he knew that. And it also provided him the opportunity to recoup, after the financial disaster that was the Lovesexy Tour.

I loved the Nude Tour. I thought the stripped back concept was cool. The arrangements, band, and playing were killer. There were some really cool set list additions, like Sex, The Future, Question of U, Batdance, and Bambi. As others have mentioned, that opening block of songs was unreal, and unrelentingly funky.

I think this tour reminded people that he was a beast, with or without a multimillion dollar stage set up.

The European Lovesexy Tour was a huge succes. And well recieved by the media. The dissapointing ticket sales for the US leg, was the reason for the loss of money and high production costs. The Japanese leg made such an big amount of money, to cover up for the losses fof the US leg.

The Nude Tour, didn't, like previous tours, promote an album. It was just an Greatest Hits tour. It was also organised by a new management team. Its been said, that some large venues were re-scheduled to smaller venues, because of the several other big names that were touring during the summer of 1990.

I think Prince tours are more enjoyable when they revolve around promoting an album...It makes the shows feel way more cohesive. While I usually enjoy different versions of his hits, the Nude Tour setlist has always felt a little odd to me. I would have made the tour more Batman album heavy, perhaps include tracks like Electric Chair and Vicki Waiting.

PurpleColossus said:

SantanaMaitreya said:

PurpleColossus said:

I think Prince tours are more enjoyable when they revolve around promoting an album...It makes the shows feel way more cohesive. While I usually enjoy different versions of his hits, the Nude Tour setlist has always felt a little odd to me. I would have made the tour more Batman album heavy, perhaps include tracks like Electric Chair and Vicki Waiting.

By the time the tour started, the Batman album had already slowed down in terms of sales and Prince was already working on Graffiti Bridge, so using this tour to promote Batman would have been a bad idea. But, yeah, him rocking the guitar on Electric Chair would have been great! Such a shame that there were no aftershows...

Yeah, that is a fair point about the promotion. I think for me, opening with The Future and peforming Batdance/Partyman always made this a quasi Batman Tour, so more of those tracks would have fit right in. I also agree that it's a shame there were no aftershows...Which is surprising because he did so many incredible aftershows in his last tour. He could have had some very interesting setlists for them.

PurpleColossus said:

SantanaMaitreya said:

PurpleColossus said: By the time the tour started, the Batman album had already slowed down in terms of sales and Prince was already working on Graffiti Bridge, so using this tour to promote Batman would have been a bad idea. But, yeah, him rocking the guitar on Electric Chair would have been great! Such a shame that there were no aftershows...

Yeah, that is a fair point about the promotion. I think for me, opening with The Future and peforming Batdance/Partyman always made this a quasi Batman Tour, so more of those tracks would have fit right in. I also agree that it's a shame there were no aftershows...Which is surprising because he did so many incredible aftershows in his last tour. He could have had some very interesting setlists for them.

I suppose he needed time to work on GB...

I think its a fairly underated tour, very lean and funky. As others have noted, the intro run of songs is awesome. Also, when played, I think the version of When Dvoes Cry is the best live version he ever did.

At the same time it does feel like a bit of a cash grab and the first tour where he's cruising a bit at times. I think between the relative finanical failure of the Lovesexy tour, Paisley Park records not really taking off and maybe the full realisation of how much Paisley Park itself cost to run, someone got in his ear about needing a cash injection. Given his huge popularity in Europe, a stripped back summer tour was the best option.

I also think thats why there werent any aftersows and the shows themsevles were relatively short, he wanted to cram in as many as he could in a shortish period of time playing consecutive nights where possible.