What are the feelings on this "album"? In my opinion, it should get a release in CD or digital format!! I need to bump Poor Goo or The Ride on one of these hot summer days!

That guitar solo on Poor Goo is about to rip my guts out! I make the stank face on the whole damn solo!

[Edited 6/15/20 0:32am]

It was `released`.

And then the b00tleggars did their thing.

The album was the greatest thing since sliced bread at the time.

It was because of that, I guess, that he did a reinterpretation of that material while playing at the IndigO2 in 2007.

Honestly I know a lot of people here really love it but it never did much for me. I would be open to give it another chance though one of these days.

Loved it back in the day. Probably my favorite version of "Bambi".

mynameisnotsusan said:

I don't know about consensus - as a covermount for a magazine it's pretty great but I got the vhs and really my impression is that it's half-assed. He spent about $20 on the production and why so few songs? He could've easily just kept playing but I always read it as him being pissed off with Warner's at the time and he was determined to give as little as he possibly could to them. You would have to imagine that there would be endless footage of a similar or better quality available. Plus it's the first release where I disliked the tone of his guitar - with that weird fake synthesised sound.

WB wasn't supposed to have it at all at first, neither the audio version (that was supposed to be released with the magazine as you noted), not the video that was first announced as a NPG Store/subscription self-release. WB blocked the mag thing as we all know, and probably blocked the video release as well, so P finally gave them this and the SOV video album (previously aired on MTV), most likely not to fulfill any contract obligation (I do not believe these included any video album, these must have been the result of some extra negociations), but because he wanted the material out there (and/or maybe to cash in a little on it). So the length appear to be purely an artistic decision (36 mn is not excessively short for a concept album like this anyway).

Hard as it is to believe now, back in the day, people used to be unaware of/question Prince's guitar skills. I'd put him up there with Jimi and Santana and give this album to prove my point. It worked every single time.

I really think the title track is a gem, and also a sound he never really covered in such a down dirty, groovy, natural, moody way. No compressed hand claps in that!

The studio version with Mavis Staples throws it back into familiar "Prince" brand territory of productoin sound, and thats not as cool.

I know that non prince fan friends who caught a glimpse of the The Undertaker video, were like "wow... this looks cool... and real" "I didn't know Prince was like this"

It comes off as Prince doing a guitar show live, raw, but in the most isolated dark circumstances.

That's kind of cool for someone with the exact opposite public image.

The first time i heard The Undertaker was at the Estandard aftershow (23 August 1993), i was literally blown away. And i really like the sound of this "rehearsal". Michael B., Sonny T. and P (the Power Trio) had a unique sound together and this performance really captures it perfectly.

I would have hoped that all of their collaboration would sound like this!

The Undertaker, the song, is pure heaven. The guitar is on fire. I remember them showing it upstairs at the NPG store in Minneapolis. They had given us questionnaires on what we liked/didn't like about it. I said I thought it would be better without all the effects, but I get that it was supposed to be all trippy.

Waaay too much compression. Sounds like it's playing from inside a sponge.

[Edited 6/15/20 11:16am]

Thanks for your opinions, guys! I'd love to have it on CD or digital. With his guitar capabilities, you gotta think, "There should be a shitload of rehearsals/albums/unreleased songs with Prince on guitar, even instrumentals." I just wonder what the Estate is waiting on. Maybe they haven't found the songs, yet. Shit! It's been 4 years, though.

mynameisnotsusan said:

I don't know about consensus - as a covermount for a magazine it's pretty great but I got the vhs and really my impression is that it's half-assed. He spent about $20 on the production and why so few songs? He could've easily just kept playing but I always read it as him being pissed off with Warner's at the time and he was determined to give as little as he possibly could to them. You would have to imagine that there would be endless footage of a similar or better quality available. Plus it's the first release where I disliked the tone of his guitar - with that weird fake synthesised sound.

Same. I like that it's really stripped-down and has this kind of bored, fuck you attitude but the guitar tone really isn't my thing. Also, his playing really isn't particularly inspired, IMO. Haven't listened to it for a while, though.

Amazing

I have the VHS bootleg, and "Poor Goo" was my shit. I didn't fully appreciate the whole thing like I do now. I hope they release this at some point.

williamb610 said:

ufoclub said:

I really think the title track is a gem, and also a sound he never really covered in such a down dirty, groovy, natural, moody way. No compressed hand claps in that!

The studio version with Mavis Staples throws it back into familiar "Prince" brand territory of productoin sound, and thats not as cool.

I know that non prince fan friends who caught a glimpse of the The Undertaker video, were like "wow... this looks cool... and real" "I didn't know Prince was like this"

It comes off as Prince doing a guitar show live, raw, but in the most isolated dark circumstances.

That's kind of cool for someone with the exact opposite public image.

I absolutely loved it when it came out and still love it to this day and I got the same reactions you got from your friends. They were all in awe of his guitar playing and the way he performed those songs, especially the title track (which is by far my favorite version of the song The Undertaker).

.

I wish he had done more of these 3 a.m recording sessions.

Sure, some here wish it was longer and I agree but considering how late it was (or early in the morning) , it is a pretty remarkable recording. His whole outfit and hair and make-up looks great, too, considering the time it was recorded at.

Just like your friends, my friends liked the rawness and purity of it and the straightforward guitar playing and no nonsense, no gimmicks performance.

It´s among my favorite video releases and is, in my opinion, a very unusual release.

Honestly, I'm not a big fan of it ...The sound is really muffled, and there is something off about the drums. I think comparing the 1990 Tokyo performance of Bambi vs. The Undertaker version showcases the difference of quality.

PurpleColossus said:

Honestly, I'm not a big fan of it ...The sound is really muffled, and there is something off about the drums. I think comparing the 1990 Tokyo performance of Bambi vs. The Undertaker version showcases the difference of quality.

.

So a TV broadcast sounds 'better' than an in-studio 'direct to DAT' performance?

The studio thing pretends to be quick and dirty so the mixing etc might not be top notch as it was done live.

The concert situation would have lengthy sound checks to get things right.

I like the CD but not the videos. Too much jerky camera work and weird effects. Kinda made me nauseous/dizzy

herb4 said:

I like the CD but not the videos. Too much jerky camera work and weird effects. Kinda made me nauseous/dizzy

love it...rarely did we hear him totally let loose. I love the Peach and Black Plus podcast on this ...those guys go into his playing.