The Super Deluxe Edition set also features a 120-page hardcover book containing Prince's previously unseen handwritten lyrics for many of the songs from the era, including the hits "U Got The Look," "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man," and "Hot Thing," iconic unseen images from the era taken by Prince's primary photographer in the mid-1980s to early 90s, Jeff Katz, plus images of archive assets including original analog tape reels and studio tracking sheets.

The Super Deluxe Edition book is completed with brand-new liner notes by Prince's creative peers and friends Dave Chappelle (in conversation with photographer Mathieu Bitton) and Lenny Kravitz; Prince's longtime engineer Susan Rogers; Daphne A. Brooks, Professor of African American Studies, American Studies, and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Yale University; Minneapolis radio host and author Andrea Swensson, host of the Official Prince Podcast; and Prince scholar and author Duane Tudahl.

This was a big surprise for me. The book is beautiful. I can't wait to read it.

Absolutely beautiful stuff. This really is a deluxe edition for the ages. They're spoiling us.

That said, I can't wait for the contents of the book to end up on Wikipedia.

I jumped straight to the lyric sheets and Duane's liner notes. I'll read the rest later. Some really nice photos in there too.

Ended up purchasing the digital for $80. Can someone clue me in on what's great about the book?

I only had a short impression so far. I really love the book. It is a great combination of interviews about Sign O The Times, with a.o Lenny Kravitz, a lot of great photo's of Prince taken during this area including the shoot for the album cover, photo's of written lyrics and the master tapes / reels.

I smiled when I saw the written lyrics of Starfish and Coffee, he first wrote Peepee and he changed it with red pencil to Coffee.

[Edited 9/25/20 7:57am]

The book is beautifully designed and printed.

It's a really excellent job - and I hope that for ALL future releases this is the standard.

I'd even pay money for another 1999 SDE done in this format.

The book layout, choice and quality of prints (PRINCE! lol) are generally excellent.

Someone actually thought about the design choices in relation to the format, unlike the 1999SDE CD booklet.

Giving it a few more reads before I decide my thoughts on the written content.

ThePersian said:

The book is beautifully designed and printed.

It's a really excellent job - and I hope that for ALL future releases this is the standard.

I'd even pay money for another 1999 SDE done in this format.

Agreed (I mentioned this in another thread), All future SDE's to be in this format (and go back and re-do 1999). Imagine Purple Rain done like this!

The official YouTube for SuperDeluxeEdition has an impressive unboxing that shows nearly all of the book. Check it out here.

Was very surprised (and happy) to see the book included in the Super CD version....I thought it was only going to be included in the vinyl version...The estate really went all out for this package.

My book has been inserted/glued upside down.

kingricefan said:

My book has been inserted/glued upside down.

That would be a collectors item.

i'm waiting for the scan
0 dollars in my hand

SPYZFAN1 said:

ThatWhiteDude said:

My package was so huge

PennyPurple said:

kingricefan said:

My book has been inserted/glued upside down.

That would be a collectors item.

Possibly, but we have to see if/how many others have this with their copies. I thought about sending it back for a replacement but just don't want to deal with the hassle. I'm hunkering down for a Prince listening marathon....

Is the super deluxe with the book a permanent release or a limited time? I'm streaming the album now and want to save the physical release for my wife to get me for chrsitmas. I'm hard to shop for.

kingricefan said:

PennyPurple said:

That would be a collectors item.

Possibly, but we have to see if/how many others have this with their copies. I thought about sending it back for a replacement but just don't want to deal with the hassle. I'm hunkering down for a Prince listening marathon....

Oh heck no, I'd hang on to that.

alandail said:

lustmealways said:

ThatWhiteDude said:

My package was so huge

Vicki didn't laugh at all...

PennyPurple said:

kingricefan said:

My book has been inserted/glued upside down.

That would be a collectors item.

As a long-time bookseller, it's just an error. It adds no value.
Beanie Babies are worthless now, too

laytonian said:

PennyPurple said:

That would be a collectors item.

As a long-time bookseller, it's just an error. It adds no value.
Beanie Babies are worthless now, too

As a long time book buyer I also know that this type of thing adds no value to a book, unless there's a printing error with the typesetting itself, such as the true first printings of Steinbeck's East Of Eden with the 'byte' error.

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

I'd have gotten per Nielsen to write a piece He did all the hard work for everyone else to benefit from I'd also have gotten some writers from the 80s to do a piece Neal karlen, Nelson George, that would have been very cool

But we got Dave Chappelle! Surely there is no better authority on a 1987 masterwork than a dude who made fun of Prince in a five minute comedy sketch from 2004? It's getting me all geared up for the guy from SNL's "The Prince Show" Parade SDE essay.

hearing this book is "a wealth of information treasures"

going to need someone to post all highlights, thank you

better yet why hasn't anyone scanned it yet. omg.

kingricefan said:

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

#grumpyoldman

Not sure why they added Duane's detail on all the Vault tracks, but didn't include them on the songs that were actually on SOTT. I love all the new Jeff Katz pictures!