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Thread started 10/19/20 9:24pm

RODSERLING

A visual appreciation of the Black Album era

I often wondered about the cover : was it eerie black or raisin black?
We all know that most of the raisins are purple. It was surely an artistic choice : sometimes purple can be dark, so it can be black.
.
Was it Jeff Katz that did the art cover ?
[Edited 10/19/20 21:28pm]
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Reply #1 posted 10/20/20 12:23am

mediumdry

RODSERLING said:

I often wondered about the cover : was it eerie black or raisin black? We all know that most of the raisins are purple. It was surely an artistic choice : sometimes purple can be dark, so it can be black. . Was it Jeff Katz that did the art cover ? [Edited 10/19/20 21:28pm]

.

It was more pastel black. And I have to say, I do like the peach and black. The label on the album is nicer than the default WB or NPG labels (Paisley Park had beautiful labels).

Paisley Park is in your heart - Love Is Here!
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Reply #2 posted 10/20/20 2:43am

databank

avatar

falloff
A COMPREHENSIVE PRINCE DISCOGRAPHY (work in progress ^^): https://sites.google.com/...scography/
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Reply #3 posted 10/20/20 4:36am

RJOrion

Rhodium black...number 45 on the periodic table
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Reply #4 posted 10/20/20 5:20am

RODSERLING

What do you think comes first?
I mean was the black album named because the cover was whatever-black, or was the cover black just because it was named black album?
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Reply #5 posted 10/20/20 5:37am

bwaaatch

If someone can send me their original 1988 Black Album I would be happy to accurately identify the colour, as an act of good will for org community. :-)

Of course, this is a real question. I am genuinely interested in whether it is just black ink, or if it has components of other colours (often used to create a ‘rich’ black in print). Black ink can be used in interesting ways.

http://www.casualoptimist...sons-1984/
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Reply #6 posted 10/20/20 5:40am

RJOrion

RODSERLING said:

What do you think comes first? I mean was the black album named because the cover was whatever-black, or was the cover black just because it was named black album?

it was named the Black Album because it was said he was losing his core black fanbase and perhaps even selling out, and that was his response...a Black Album

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Reply #7 posted 10/20/20 5:52am

OldFriends4Sal
e

I've tried to image the same. I strongly believe by the time the Black album was to drop they already had photoshoots, style/look etc ready to go. When Sheila E appeared on the Tonight show in the black outfight and the purple drum set I can see that as being a part of it.

I don't think she played a purple double kick drum set during the Lovesexy shows

Contempt

Winter Spring Summer or Fall

love is no good

unless it's felt by all

19871201b.jpg

Ce soir, la chante all night long

Maybe we'll unlock the secrets of your mind

My nickname's Hellzapoppin', I'm badder than the wicked witch

Their bodies shiver at the mere contemplation of penetration
B-O-B, spell the shit backwards, what's it say?
Specially designed 2 make U do the do

These are "come-and-fuck-me" pumps (Who, Robert?)

Or a reason 2 believe there's a God above

de88808972c88d094e0fe3ae9a0b20770646981d.jpg


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Reply #8 posted 10/20/20 6:00am

OldFriends4Sal
e

I think some of what we saw him wearing durin the Lovesexy period/photo shoots would have been the Black album era look too




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Reply #9 posted 10/20/20 6:03am

OldFriends4Sal
e

A hot Black Album show set list

1. Le Grind

2. A Love Bizarre

3. SuperfunkiCaliFragiSexy

4. When 2 R in Love

5. Erotic City(w/Sheila E)

6. It

7. Bob George

8. Annie Christian

9. Cindy C

10. Make Up(Vanity 6 cover) Cat or Sheila e on lead

11. D. M. S. R

12. Love On A Blue Train

13. Possessed

1569ead8872c407dfcdfb756d1a4a1049a5df141.jpg

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Reply #10 posted 10/20/20 7:32am

herb4

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Reply #11 posted 10/20/20 9:07am

OldFriends4Sal
e





Time upon a once
There was a boy named Camille
Now this boy named Camille
didn't know how 2 feel.
Sometimes he was lonely
sometimes he was sad
but most times
he just took 4 granted
all the nice things
that he had.

Some people said they loved him
but Camille said
"Contempt!
Winter, Spring,
Summer, or Fall,
love is no good
unless it's felt by all"

So, naive & terrifically in need
Camille started looking for answers
His paintbrush the questioner,
his canvas the arena,
Camille set out to silence his critics.
"No longer daring" - his enemies laughed.
"No longer glam, his funk is half-assed...
one leg is much shorter
than the other one is weak.
His strokes are tepid,
his colors are meek."

So Camille found a new color.
The color black:
strongest hue of them all.
He painted a picture
called Le Grind --
hittin' so tall.
And then Cindy C --
THE vogue fantasy.
Horns & vocals 2 die 4.
Lollipops -- in yours!

Stroke after stroke callin' all others a joke.
Superfunkycalifragisexi.

Camille rocked hard in a funky place. Stuck his long
funk in competition's face. Tuesday came. Blue Tuesday.
His canvas full, and lying on the table, Camille mustered
all the hate that he was able. Hate 4 the ones who ever
doubted his game. Hate 4 the ones who ever doubted his name.

"Tis nobody funkier -- let the Black Album fly." Spooky
Electric was talking, Camille started 2 cry. Tricked.
A fool he had been. In the lowest utmostest. He had allowed
the dark side of him 2 create something evil. 2 Nigs United
4 West Compton. Camille and his ego. Bob George. Why?
Spooky Electric must die. Die in the hearts of all who
want love. Die in the hearts of men who want change.

Die in the bodies of women who want babies that will grow up
with a New Power Soul. Love Life, Lovesexy -- the feeling
u get when u fall in love, not with a girl or boy but with the
heavens above. Lovesexy -- endorphin. Camille figured out
what 2 feel. Glam Slam Escape -- the Sexuality Real.
Tonight we make love with only words. Girls first. This
feeling's so good in every single way.

God is alive! Let Him touch u and He will quench
every thirst. Let him touch u and an aura of peace will adorn u.
God is alive!

Let Him touch u and your own Lovesexy will be born.
Let Him touch u, let Him touch u, and Heaven is yours.
Welcome 2 the New Power Generation.


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Reply #12 posted 10/20/20 9:53am

funkaholic1972

avatar

herb4 said:


LOL, I was just thinking to post the same picture! lol

RIP Prince: thank U 4 a funky Time...
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Reply #13 posted 10/20/20 10:33am

databank

avatar

herb4 said:

How can we know for sure whether this is the real TBA cover and not just a black square, though?

A COMPREHENSIVE PRINCE DISCOGRAPHY (work in progress ^^): https://sites.google.com/...scography/
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Reply #14 posted 10/20/20 12:22pm

OldFriends4Sal
e



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Reply #15 posted 10/20/20 12:28pm

sulls

avatar

databank said:

herb4 said:

How can we know for sure whether this is the real TBA cover and not just a black square, though?

falloff falloff falloff

"I like to watch."
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Reply #16 posted 10/20/20 3:13pm

slyjackson

databank said:

herb4 said:

How can we know for sure whether this is the real TBA cover and not just a black square, though?

lol lol lol

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Reply #17 posted 10/20/20 3:50pm

herb4

databank said:

herb4 said:

How can we know for sure whether this is the real TBA cover and not just a black square, though?


LOL

Joke's on you. It's Spinal Tap's "Smell the Glove" album. Beat Prince by about 6 years.

https://www.youtube.com/w...Hy6_vQueLI

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Reply #18 posted 10/20/20 3:54pm

databank

avatar

herb4 said:

databank said:

How can we know for sure whether this is the real TBA cover and not just a black square, though?


LOL

Joke's on you. It's Spinal Tap's "Smell the Glove" album. Beat Prince by about 6 years.

https://www.youtube.com/w...Hy6_vQueLI

Crazy. This may actually be the only cover identically shared by 2 albums by 2 different artists. We'd have to check if it's the exact same black, though lol

A COMPREHENSIVE PRINCE DISCOGRAPHY (work in progress ^^): https://sites.google.com/...scography/
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Reply #19 posted 10/20/20 4:04pm

lavendardrumma
chine

Devil horn curls and big buttons on the blazer?

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Reply #20 posted 10/20/20 4:10pm

TrivialPursuit

avatar

Prince shit on a Fuji disposable, clicked the shutter, then tossed it at Katz and said, "Print it. That's the cover."

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #21 posted 10/20/20 7:14pm

RODSERLING

herb4 said:



databank said:




herb4 said:




How can we know for sure whether this is the real TBA cover and not just a black square, though?




LOL

Joke's on you. It's Spinal Tap's "Smell the Glove" album. Beat Prince by about 6 years.

https://www.youtube.com/w...Hy6_vQueLI



Haha, that s true!
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Reply #22 posted 10/20/20 7:18pm

RODSERLING

RJOrion said:



RODSERLING said:


What do you think comes first? I mean was the black album named because the cover was whatever-black, or was the cover black just because it was named black album?




it was named the Black Album because it was said he was losing his core black fanbase and perhaps even selling out, and that was his response...a Black Album



So in fact, you are implying the cover could have been, let s say yellow, and still be named the Black Album because of his aimed audience? Interesting.
.
What a statement to the world it would have been, if the Black Album cover was pure white! People would still be talking about it.
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Reply #23 posted 10/20/20 7:48pm

LoveGalore

RJOrion said:



RODSERLING said:


What do you think comes first? I mean was the black album named because the cover was whatever-black, or was the cover black just because it was named black album?




it was named the Black Album because it was said he was losing his core black fanbase and perhaps even selling out, and that was his response...a Black Album



And as we all know, black people are literally pitch black.
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Reply #24 posted 10/21/20 12:19am

mediumdry

well.. originally the title was The Funk Bible, iirc. Would be interesting to see if the estate can come up with more information on art direction and such that was planned for the black album. Of course, he wanted it to be released without any fanfare, even less than Around The World In A Day, with his name not even on the record. Would be good to get the story from before blue tuesday, as most stories we know now just focus on what led to the album being canceled. Would be nice to get the story of the black album up until that point.

Paisley Park is in your heart - Love Is Here!
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Reply #25 posted 10/21/20 3:33am

herb4

databank said:

herb4 said:


LOL

Joke's on you. It's Spinal Tap's "Smell the Glove" album. Beat Prince by about 6 years.

https://www.youtube.com/w...Hy6_vQueLI

Crazy. This may actually be the only cover identically shared by 2 albums by 2 different artists. We'd have to check if it's the exact same black, though lol


3 actually. Metallica did it too

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Reply #26 posted 10/21/20 4:01am

LoveGalore

herb4 said:



databank said:




herb4 said:




LOL

Joke's on you. It's Spinal Tap's "Smell the Glove" album. Beat Prince by about 6 years.

https://www.youtube.com/w...Hy6_vQueLI



Crazy. This may actually be the only cover identically shared by 2 albums by 2 different artists. We'd have to check if it's the exact same black, though lol




3 actually. Metallica did it too



Close but Metallica's cover has their logo barely visible. TBA is solid black.
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Forums > Prince: Music and More > A visual appreciation of the Black Album era