This is like the 3rd Lovesexy thread in the last month. No offense

FWIW, hold the cassette sleeve up to the light and watch the symbol appear on Prince's thigh, just like the title track says

[Edited 5/11/21 17:24pm]

PurpleHigh said:

What I'd like to hear is what went through y'alls minds having to place that album on the record store counter with that cover in 1988.

Absolutely nothing. Never knew there was any kind of discussion til I came here years ago. Still don't understand it. Europe 1988 had no problem with the cover, nobody talked about it, album was number 1 in many countries.

[Edited 5/12/21 4:26am]

PurpleHigh said:

What I'd like to hear is what went through y'alls minds having to place that album on the record store counter with that cover in 1988.

I just wanted new Prince music. The cover wasn't a big deal. The press made more of it than anything. Record store sorta reflected the quasi-hype around the cover. I walked into Tower Records in Philadelphia and bought it. No one batted an eye. Laid that shit right out on the counter, too.

You gotta remember, this was during a time of W.A.S.P and Wendy O. Williams, so Lovesexy wasn't shit in comparison.

PurpleHigh said:

What I'd like to hear is what went through y'alls minds having to place that album on the record store counter with that cover in 1988.

IIRC some record stores were forced to place a huge sticker over Prince and the flower. Some stores refused to carry it. At the store I shopped I had to ask for it as it was kept behind the counter.

Is the LINE the only sessions outtake?

Love Life, L♥vesexy -- the feeling
u get when u fall in love, not with a girl or boy but with the
heavens above. L♥vesexy -- 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.

OldFriends4Sale said:

-

His highlight (for me) after Purple Rain & Parade.

I was 24, and it arrive din springtime like a dog in heat.

We were standing in line at the local recordshop to get it first thing in the morning.

It remains an important year and release in my life.

POLKADOTS !

A very overlooked album from start to finish. Should've got more attention.

The last and most coherent and best album in a row of 6 (imho).

After that, it went slowly downhill. (Don't bash me).

The B-sides were surprisingly great and fun !

That ''Alphabet st.'' video hit us all like a bomb !

That fantastic cover art.

The fonds, the looks, the lyrics, the hair, the words all over their clothes ...

The layers and layers or arrangements, and still he got away with it.

The fact that he kept ''When 2 R In Love"...

Great extended versions from every released single.

That very beginning of "Eye No", building up... the funk !

This is an album where you still can discover so much in those wonderful multiple layers, even after all these years.

And the feel that came with it was a complete 180° turn after SOTT and Parade.

Brighter and fresh.

-

Seen Prince 5 times live wiht that tour.

This was his most visual, most entertaining, most clear sound, flashiest, the

most special cause it had a pause halfway, which was new adn bizarre,

the craziest lightshow, the most hunting stage performances by all members,

the car when he arrived with Cat and Sheila...

Prince was having fun, visually having loads of fun.

The horn section were imortant troughout the shows and were absolutely stunning,

The famous aftershows (never attended one, only have the bootlegs),

The Trojan Horse (Paard Van Troje) bootleg, was a reply as a live album to that tour for me.

I listened to that boot soooooo much.

The ladies in the band were tight and fun, loads of songs, a fantastic tourbook, and so on and so forth...

-

This is also the era where he went over the top on everything, also budget wise.

He could do what he wanted, but started to loose it too, bit by bit.

Lovesexy is one of the brightest, most uplifting, spiritual and life affirming albums I have ever heard. Whenever I feel really down, I always put on Lovesexy to make myself feel better and connect myself closer with Prince. Crazy to think it's 33 years old and still oozes so much joy and positivity.

PurpleHigh said:

What I'd like to hear is what went through y'alls minds having to place that album on the record store counter with that cover in 1988.

I was 18 and very self-conscious at the time. I clearly remember walking to the counter in Our Price Records, gritted teeth, thinking variations on "face into it, deal with it, look 'em in the eye, nothing to be embarrassed about" in anticipation of judgemental looks from the guy behind the counter.

He didn't bat an eyelid, of course.

OldFriends4Sale said:

Is the LINE the only sessions outtake?

The I Wish U Heaven 12" is sheer brilliance. Lucky to see the concert version of Take This Beat with a small gospel choir, conducted by Sheila, during the tour...amazing moment part of a mind blowing show.

gsmith5678 said:

PJMcGee said:

He had created such an open, vulnerable record, put it all out there, and was rejected by the public. After that, he played it much safer.

Yep...he grew a beard for Graffiti Bridge and then was running around with a microphone shaped as a gun! Quien es mas macho???

Electrostar said:

It wasn't a favourite for many years. But now probably my favourite album ever. It really is a trip. I remember when it first came out my girlfriend freaked at the cover. She wasn't a fan. I had a poster of the cover on my bedroom wall. "why do you want a naked guy on your wall?" she used to say. Lol. Daring always. What a dude.

My best friend at the time said the same thing. "Dude, why would you want a picture of naked man on your wall?" I was 12. It didn't even occur to me that it was strange at the time. The album cover made me giggle a bit just because of how smooth his butt and thighs looked compared to the rest of his body.

It's the record that cemented my superfandom, and it's still my favorite. Eye No was my instant favorite. I had the cassingle of Alphabet St. that I became obsessed with before the album came out. I remember listening to that groove one day before school, and pulling my first funk face. It was the moment I knew what it meant to be funky.

Dance On was another early favorite. That beat had me beating on the thick ass Minneapolis/St. Paul phonebooks with my drumsticks. Destroyed them over the summer.

It took me a few weeks to get into songs like Glam Slam, Anna Stesia, I Wish U Heaven, and Positivity, but once I did, I was truly obsessed.

Praying for a superdeluxe someday soon.

I bought this on cd in the mid 90's when I was in my early 20's. I was late to true Prince appreciation in general but as I went through his discography this one probably gave me the most pause. Alphabet St. was the only song I knew and it was cool but nothing mind-blowing.

I laughed at myself for my trepidation upon bringing the cd to the counter. Sure I was a young black man from Oakland but I never bought into nor fit what that stereotype entailed anyway. Besides, I was at a Wherehouse in San Francisco

As for the album itself, I rate it as one of his second-tier albums which is to say I enjoy it immensely and although it's of high quality it isn't quite other-worldly. I'd put it on par with Parade, TRC and Controversy. For the record my first tier includes 1999, SOTT and Purple Rain.

For me Lovesexy was like a great summer fling. I was totally enveloped in the vibe and imagery when I got the album. It made me feel great like no other album at the time and maybe ever. I still appreciate it but I'm not in that space anymore and haven't really listened to the album much.

SoulAlive said:

I wasn’t embarrassed to purchase an album with a nude man on the cover (lol) but I can understand why some people would be I hate that the cover created so much controversy here in the States.It kept many people from exploring a really brilliant album.

-

As far as naked goes, everything was covered up.

I'll never understand why most poeple in the Anglo-Saxon world have so much issues with this even prudish but great album cover, that represent the title in all it's glory.

I mean, they even did not want to sell in some shops in the US, is that true ?

-

It's quite a drop for me in terms of quality from SOTT. Had he incorporated more of the Black Album songs apart from When 2 R In Love it may of worked better. Something like....

1) Alphabet St

2) Cindy C

3) Supercalifragisexy

4) Anna Stesia

1) Lovesexy

2) Rock Hard In A Funky Place

3) When 2 R In Love

4) I Wish U heaven

5) Positivity

Can't help feeling he was starting on a decline around this time. Batman was probably worse, and Graffitti Bridge was mostly older songs redone.

The tour was fantastic though....

SchlomoThaHomo said:

Electrostar said:

It wasn't a favourite for many years. But now probably my favourite album ever. It really is a trip. I remember when it first came out my girlfriend freaked at the cover. She wasn't a fan. I had a poster of the cover on my bedroom wall. "why do you want a naked guy on your wall?" she used to say. Lol. Daring always. What a dude.

My best friend at the time said the same thing. "Dude, why would you want a picture of naked man on your wall?" I was 12. It didn't even occur to me that it was strange at the time. The album cover made me giggle a bit just because of how smooth his butt and thighs looked compared to the rest of his body.

It's the record that cemented my superfandom, and it's still my favorite. Eye No was my instant favorite. I had the cassingle of Alphabet St. that I became obsessed with before the album came out. I remember listening to that groove one day before school, and pulling my first funk face. It was the moment I knew what it meant to be funky.

Dance On was another early favorite. That beat had me beating on the thick ass Minneapolis/St. Paul phonebooks with my drumsticks. Destroyed them over the summer.

It took me a few weeks to get into songs like Glam Slam, Anna Stesia, I Wish U Heaven, and Positivity, but once I did, I was truly obsessed.

Praying for a superdeluxe someday soon.

Yeah, Some of us just didn't think about the cover like that.

can Lovesexy produce a SUPER Deluxe? It really doesn't have outtakes outside of 2 songs.

1. the Line(simple)

2. the Line(busy)

3. Love Sexy

right?

I guess they could incorporate songs that were created during the tour: Pink Cashmere, People Without, Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic, Still Would Stand All Time etc

OldFriends4Sale said:

SchlomoThaHomo said:

My best friend at the time said the same thing. "Dude, why would you want a picture of naked man on your wall?" I was 12. It didn't even occur to me that it was strange at the time. The album cover made me giggle a bit just because of how smooth his butt and thighs looked compared to the rest of his body.

It's the record that cemented my superfandom, and it's still my favorite. Eye No was my instant favorite. I had the cassingle of Alphabet St. that I became obsessed with before the album came out. I remember listening to that groove one day before school, and pulling my first funk face. It was the moment I knew what it meant to be funky.

Dance On was another early favorite. That beat had me beating on the thick ass Minneapolis/St. Paul phonebooks with my drumsticks. Destroyed them over the summer.

It took me a few weeks to get into songs like Glam Slam, Anna Stesia, I Wish U Heaven, and Positivity, but once I did, I was truly obsessed.

Praying for a superdeluxe someday soon.

Yeah, Some of us just didn't think about the cover like that.

can Lovesexy produce a SUPER Deluxe? It really doesn't have outtakes outside of 2 songs.

1. the Line(simple)

2. the Line(busy)

3. Love Sexy

right?

I guess they could incorporate songs that were created during the tour: Pink Cashmere, People Without, Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic, Still Would Stand All Time etc

I think after Prince moved into Paisley Park he kept a better lid on stuff escaping. At least that's what the lack of bootlegs from the '87-88 ish period would suggest. Kinda shame, because it would be interesting to know how much of his music sounds like Lovesexy or like something completely different than before, having been handed a more diverse, larger set of tools to play with. I've heard, he hadn't used anything greater than 24 tracks up to that point.

I'd be amazed if from July '87 onwards (when he started recording at Paisley), he didn't do really different, vital sounding music again, since 1986 was such a pivotal, monstrously creative year for recording music, even by his standards.

OldFriends4Sale said:

SchlomoThaHomo said:

My best friend at the time said the same thing. "Dude, why would you want a picture of naked man on your wall?" I was 12. It didn't even occur to me that it was strange at the time. The album cover made me giggle a bit just because of how smooth his butt and thighs looked compared to the rest of his body.

It's the record that cemented my superfandom, and it's still my favorite. Eye No was my instant favorite. I had the cassingle of Alphabet St. that I became obsessed with before the album came out. I remember listening to that groove one day before school, and pulling my first funk face. It was the moment I knew what it meant to be funky.

Dance On was another early favorite. That beat had me beating on the thick ass Minneapolis/St. Paul phonebooks with my drumsticks. Destroyed them over the summer.

It took me a few weeks to get into songs like Glam Slam, Anna Stesia, I Wish U Heaven, and Positivity, but once I did, I was truly obsessed.

Praying for a superdeluxe someday soon.

Yeah, Some of us just didn't think about the cover like that.

can Lovesexy produce a SUPER Deluxe? It really doesn't have outtakes outside of 2 songs.

1. the Line(simple)

2. the Line(busy)

3. Love Sexy

right?

I guess they could incorporate songs that were created during the tour: Pink Cashmere, People Without, Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic, Still Would Stand All Time etc

I'm hoping there are things we don't know about. There must be.

I wouldn't be mad at the Black Album/Lovesexy dual release box set. I remember Pussy Power being mentioned as an outtake from the Black Album on one of Prince's old websites.

The unreleased Rave project would be cool to include (though they could include it with a Batman SDE). Am I Without U, Stimulation, Good Judy Girlfriend, Big House, The Voice Inside, God Is Alive, If I Had A Harem, We Got The Power, Pink Cashmere.

The stuff recorded post the SOTT release might be fair game if it's compiled from a chronological standpoint, even if the songs wouldn't technically be Lovesexy outtakes, like songs recorded for the original draft of Graffiti Bridge in 1987 (though obviously these could be used for a GB SDE): Ruthie Washington Jet Blues, The Grand Progression, Bloody Mouth, Everything Could Be So Fine, Beatown, Born Free, Camille, and in 1988: Billie Holiday, XYZ...wasn't there a song called Joshua? Or maybe another guy's name, Rearrange (1988 version).

The Cat album stuff: 9 Lives, Cat And Mouse, A Man Called Jesus, Cat Attack.

Prince versions of the Times Waits For No One album: Interesting, Train '88, Times Waits For No One, I Guess I'm Crazy, Come Home, Jaguar.

2nd Thoughts, and So Strong, which were submitted to Dale Bozzio, Prince's version of Bad by MJ, By Alien Means for Madonna, Prince's version of Like A Prayer, Cross The Line since it was included in the live show, Come Back 2 Me (recorded with Sheena Easton) along with Cool Love, Everything But U, Cornbread Rappers (mentioned by Cat), The Line, Luv Sexy, Pickle, Fuschia Light, If U Let Me Undress U, The Max (1988 version), No Changes, I Believe I Love U, Sticky Wicked, In A Winter Mood, Cookie Jar.

Soul Company, Girl Power, Knucklehead, Famous, Rhythm Angel, Latino Barbie Doll, all intended for Sheila E.

Some of the MC Flash stuff is from 1988: Curious Blue, We Can Hang, Brand New Boy, Warden In The Prison Of Love

Things get messy with these types of releases, as he had a lot of things going on and dipped back into the vault from time to time. I mean Good Love was recorded in 1986, released on the Bright Lights Big City stdk in 1988, and released again in a slightly edited form on Crystal Ball 1998. So where should it go? Where should Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic Go, as the released 1999 version is the nearly untouched version from 1988. Elephants & Flowers original version is from 1988. Feel U Up should've been on SOTT SDE but also belongs on a Batman SDE, and etc, etc, etc.

Vannormal said:

SoulAlive said:

I wasn’t embarrassed to purchase an album with a nude man on the cover (lol) but I can understand why some people would be I hate that the cover created so much controversy here in the States.It kept many people from exploring a really brilliant album.

-

As far as naked goes, everything was covered up.

I'll never understand why most poeple in the Anglo-Saxon world have so much issues with this even prudish but great album cover, that represent the title in all it's glory.

I mean, they even did not want to sell in some shops in the US, is that true ?

-

John Lennon and Yoko Ono once released an album called Two Virgins and they are both completely butt-naked on the cover,exposing everything I wonder if that was a big scandal back then,lol

SoulAlive said:

John Lennon and Yoko Ono once released an album called Two Virgins and they are both completely butt-naked on the cover,exposing everything I wonder if that was a big scandal back then,lol

I always wondered about that, and the hubbub around it. No one mentions it, ever. But they'll talk about Madonna having her tits out at a Jean-Paul Gaultier show, or Janet's accident with only one booby, or even the multiple record albums with a woman's bikini line and a healthy bush protruding above the bikini itself. Or gheezus, Lil Kim squatting spread-legged on her album... but Prince's big smooth stamen gets folks up in a titter?

Didn't we just talk about Janet's Damita Jo album having her nipple purposely showing on the cover, if you look into the shadows of her forearm allegedly covering her breasts? This after the Super Bowl?

But yeah, Lovesexy - totally x-rated.

Vannormal said:

SoulAlive said:

I wasn’t embarrassed to purchase an album with a nude man on the cover (lol) but I can understand why some people would be I hate that the cover created so much controversy here in the States.It kept many people from exploring a really brilliant album.

-

As far as naked goes, everything was covered up.

I'll never understand why most poeple in the Anglo-Saxon world have so much issues with this even prudish but great album cover, that represent the title in all it's glory.

I mean, they even did not want to sell in some shops in the US, is that true ?

-

Yes there were record stores in the US that would not sell the Lovesexy album. Others placed large stickers over Prince, mostly covering up all but his head.

TrivialPursuit said:

Lovesexy was released on this day in 1988.

Let's hear your thoughts about it.

1. No
2. Alphabet Street
3. Glam Slam
4. Anna Stasia
5. Dance On
6. Lovesexy
7. When 2 R In Love
8. I Wish U Heaven
9. Positivity

Prince – whatever
Sheila E. – drums (1, 2, 3, 8), drums and backing vocals (5, 9)
Boni Boyer – keyboards (1), backing vocals (4, 9)
Dr. Fink – keyboards (1)
Miko Weaver – guitar (1)
Levi Seacer, Jr. – bass (1)
Eric Leeds – saxophone (1, 2, 9)
Atlanta Bliss – trumpet (1, 2, 9)
Ingrid Chavez – spoken intro (1)

Cat Glover – rap (2), backing vocals (4)

• "Alphabet St." (#8 US, #3 US R&B, #9 UK)

1. "Alphabet St. – part 1" – 7" version only
2. "Alphabet St. – part 2" – 7" version only
3. "Alphabet St." – 12" version only
4. "Alphabet St. – This is not music, this is a trip" – 12" version only

• "Glam Slam" (#44 US R&B, #29 UK)

1. "Glam Slam" – 7" version only
2. "Glam Slam (Remix)" – 12" version only
3. "Escape (Free yo mind from this rat race)"

• "I Wish U Heaven" (#18 US R&B, #24 UK)

1. "I Wish U Heaven" – 7" version only
2. "I Wish U Heaven (Part 1, 2 and 3)" – 12" version only
3. "Scarlet Pussy"

The album hit #5 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and #11 on Billboard 200. It was #1 in the UK, Sweden, Holland, and New Zealand, making the top 10 in most other countries.

^There are also two promo only edits of I wish U heaven which are shorter versions of the remix that time at 4'25" and 5'45" respectively to be found on PRO-S-3371

andrewm7 said:

There are also two promo only edits of I wish U heaven which are shorter versions of the remix that time at 4'25" and 5'45" respectively to be found on PRO-S-3371

I know. I think I have them. I copied the regular singles from Wikipedia.

SoulAlive said:

Vannormal said:

-

As far as naked goes, everything was covered up.

I'll never understand why most poeple in the Anglo-Saxon world have so much issues with this even prudish but great album cover, that represent the title in all it's glory.

I mean, they even did not want to sell in some shops in the US, is that true ?

-

John Lennon and Yoko Ono once released an album called Two Virgins and they are both completely butt-naked on the cover,exposing everything I wonder if that was a big scandal back then,lol

-

In an attempt to avoid controversy, that album was sold in a brown paper bag.

You could only find out when you got hime to open it.

So far the controversy or scandaL.

The album didn't sell, it failed to hit the charts.

Though that was due to the experimental appraoch of the music.

-