Many of us have been celebrating the incredible remaster job on Sign O' The Times. There are threads focusing on how good it sounds. I hope the estate listens to the feedback and does the same job on The Black Album. This album has slipped in it's inital legendary status. Although I agree, the songs are not in his absolute top tier there is enough interesting and amazing happenings on the album to make it a hell of a good album. I really feel, a great remaster will generate interest and put the album back on a pedestal. There is just too much amazing stuff happening on the album. Le Grind is just a great song...the bass, the piano, the joy! You can't hear it well .. but it is there. A remaster will just benefit this song like the remaster did fro Slow Love..I often overlooked that track until the SOTT remaster came out. Just superb.

There are so many great moments on this album. RELEASE IT.

Well it is my fave so I second that. but if it a deluxe pairing with Lovesexy (how weird was the Eye No 12" remix snippet back in the day?) is needed, then so be it.

It's a novelty in the Prince discography, known more for being canceled than for its content.

IMO it's a step down from SOTT.

The mystique the origins and direction of this album keep me tweaked. I actually listen to this more than Lovesexy.

And now that we have Walking In Glory, I'm loving it. I want more. This needs more than a remaster. It need a book to go alone with it. It typical Prince fashion, I have no doubt photos were already being taken, clothing/style made-evolved etc video planned, was there a single release talked about.

We had many questions about the Black album ready for a Q&A for Cat but some people fucked it up.

Le Grind is an under appreciated banger.

jfenster said:

Isn't it still tied up in legal problems?? But for damn sure it needs a remastered release

It never was as far as we know.

My understanding is that the 1994 deal did not allow WB to reissue it past the original release, that's all.

By now, with all non-OST's distribution rights reverting to them, it's most likely up to the Estate to do as they please with it.

Poplife88 said:

Are there seriously people here who would NOT want this? Take my money now!

I would buy it solely for a cleaner sound. The 1994 CD was super murky (well beyond any "intentional" murkiness -- it's just bad).

I've said this before, but it reminds me of how U2 released "Zooropa" very soon after "Achtung Baby". Achtung Baby was their SOTT, and Zooropa was a bit of a continuation (but lesser quality). That's how I feel about The Black Album.

Se7en said:

Poplife88 said:

Are there seriously people here who would NOT want this? Take my money now!

I would buy it solely for a cleaner sound. The 1994 CD was super murky (well beyond any "intentional" murkiness -- it's just bad).

I've said this before, but it reminds me of how U2 released "Zooropa" very soon after "Achtung Baby". Achtung Baby was their SOTT, and Zooropa was a bit of a continuation (but lesser quality). That's how I feel about The Black Album.

Oh, I agree its not near the work of art that SOTT is (However I do like a bit more than Lovesexy). I like your U2 analogy. But at the same time The Black Album is a fun, funky album that is in desperate need for a remaster. I would also love to see the pics, stories, and interviews about this crazy little album. I would snatch it up in a heartbeat.

I love this album. It was my first significant boot in college in 1989. Everything before then was on cassette. The Spanish translation on the disc is "it's black and long like his arm."

[Edited 12/9/20 16:01pm]

dadeepop said:

I love this album. It was my first significant boot in college in 1989. Everything before then was on cassette. The Spanish translation on the disc is "it's black and long like his arm."

[Edited 12/9/20 16:01pm]

My first Black Album cd boot was similar to this, only with a Dirty Mind era cover shot. I'd previously had two bootleg cassettes. Can't get more bootleg than this message from the printers! I LOVE the Black Album and would love to get a remaster.

[Edited 12/10/20 5:07am]

Now THAT is a bootleg. None of this music file download crap!! lol This is vintage

dadeepop said:

I love this album. It was my first significant boot in college in 1989. Everything before then was on cassette. The Spanish translation on the disc is "it's black and long like his arm."

[Edited 12/9/20 16:01pm]

RODSERLING said:

Oh shit, I thought this was an official statement from the estate.

So did I. His subject line is a bit misleading.

I love the Black Album and agree it's in desperate need of a remaster. I'm not an audiophile or music snob and typically listen to music on cheap ear buds. Consquently, I sually have no idea what people are talking about when they say an album sounds bad. But even to my inexpert ears, I can tell the Black Album sounds incredibly murky.

The DJ Foefour "remaster" is signficantly better than the officially release version. I would recommend it to people over the authentic version.

sulls said:

dadeepop said:

I love this album. It was my first significant boot in college in 1989. Everything before then was on cassette. The Spanish translation on the disc is "it's black and long like his arm."

[Edited 12/9/20 16:01pm]

My first Black Album cd boot was similar to this, only with a Dirty Mind era cover shot. I'd previously had two bootleg cassettes. Can't get more bootleg than this message from the printers! I LOVE the Black Album and would love to get a remaster.

[Edited 12/10/20 5:07am]

Very cool! I had only heard rumors that this was an actual album before I got this CD. I'll never forget when I first put it in my CD player and heard the opening track. Trippy! Yes, a remaster is a must.

OldFriends4Sale said:

Now THAT is a bootleg. None of this music file download crap!! lol This is vintage

dadeepop said:

I love this album. It was my first significant boot in college in 1989. Everything before then was on cassette. The Spanish translation on the disc is "it's black and long like his arm."

[Edited 12/9/20 16:01pm]

You know it! Lol Old school, baby!

Yesss, take my money!

cooldayla said:

Le Grind is an under appreciated banger.

yes it is...

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

No one needs this urgently.

.

Especially now we need a release of Lovesexy + TBA and related materials in a packaging like SOTT SDE with one side the Lovesexy cover, other side black...

Don't you feel the times?

for those saying it was not a great album...exactly my point - when this album gets the SOTT level remaster, there will be new found appreciation for it. I use my new found love for Slow Love as the best example. I thought that track to be a near throwaway for many years. After the remaster, I have revisited it many times. It's all the bits and pieces that have given me a complete pic of the song.

I really feel we'll hear more and will appreciate the music on Black once we hear it clearly. Like I said to a friend, even on Prince's lesser songs, there is typically some redeeming factor that still impresses. Le Grind a active bassline that needs to be heard. Piano parts that I can barely hear. There is so much joy in that song and a remaster will bring it forth. Cindy C has some really cool horn bits as does Rock Hard and we just don't hear them properly now. Super Funkysexy just has so much happening and the thin shitty sound on the released cd does it NO justice.

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

No one needs this urgently.

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I DO !

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Vannormal said:

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

No one needs this urgently.

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I DO !

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needed like last week

OldFriends4Sale said:

Vannormal said:

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I DO !

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needed like last week

Been needing it since 1987...