Official Charts tweeted, "Welcome 2 America scores a Top 5 debut on the UK's Official Albums Chart - his highest-charting studio album in 17 years."

ARIA tweeted, "The late, great @prince scores his first #ARIACharts Top Ten studio album in 25 years with Welcome 2 America. aria.com.au"

[Edited 8/6/21 20:30pm]

TrivialPursuit said:

Official Charts tweeted, "Welcome 2 America scores a Top 5 debut on the UK's Official Albums Chart - his highest-charting studio album in 17 years."

.

Not bad, for a dead musicican?

And a rubbish album according to some on here.

LILpoundCAKE said:

oh boy am I enjoying that "17 Days" performance

it also makes me feel sad to see john and prince together on stage rip sirs.

I think I've watched it 20 times since yesterday. It's so good.

antonb said:

And a rubbish album according to some on here.

There's a lot of rubbish on the charts.

[Edited 8/7/21 13:44pm]

ludwig said:

Glascutter said:

antonb said:

oh, you not from sheffield?

Just outside but always been a Liverpool fan!

Up for the game against Norwich City?

dont want to talk about football after tonight

I have to say, after finally giving it a few spins I really, really love this album. What stands out most to me is the organic sound, Tal and Chris really seemed to be a great fit for him...shame nothing apart from this album came out of their collaboration.

Favorite songs right now are YES, Rin Tin Tin, Stand up and be strong and 1000 light years from here...but the whole album is very solid and just has an amazing flow!

A shame that there are a few issues with the sound quality, most notably on Stand up and be strong...those clicks almost ruin it for me..ALMOST!

Agree that the sound is really good and weaves well through the whole record. Or most of it anyway.

I'm not blown away by the record or anyhting but sound issues aren't on my list of any probelms with it.

Despite all the naysaying about W2A, it seems to be going well for the estate (#5 UK for instance, not sure about other charts around the world?) - So does anyone think the estate will re-evaluate where to go next with what to release, and will they have more belief in the latter day Prince material (Black is the New Black for example)?
I personally hope they delve into the 2000s onwards era - there must be a helluva lot of material to choose from and how they market it is the main stumbling block in my opinion as they seem to like 'pre-sequenced' material (apart from Originals), I'd personally like a big old box set of out-takes just like the bootlegs Dreams/Deposition etc. I know that they need to make sure they have out-takes for the SDEs but surely there is enough material for a grand blow-out 10+ disc boxset!!!!?

[Edited 8/9/21 2:40am]

Dandroppedadime said:

Despite all the naysaying about W2A, it seems to be going well for the estate (#5 UK for instance, not sure about other charts around the world?) - So does anyone think the estate will re-evaluate where to go next with what to release, and will they have more belief in the latter day Prince material (Black is the New Black for example)?
I personally hope they delve into the 2000s onwards era - there must be a helluva lot of material to choose from and how they market it is the main stumbling block in my opinion as they seem to like 'pre-sequenced' material (apart from Originals), I'd personally like a big old box set of out-takes just like the bootlegs Dreams/Deposition etc. I know that they need to make sure they have out-takes for the SDEs but surely there is enough material for a grand blow-out 10+ disc boxset!!!!?

A big box set of material would certainly go a long way to please fans and make the wait between other SDE or one off releases easier.

For instance, a box of all the studio tracks laid down with 3EG, which was said to be around 200+
odd songs. (i'm sure many covers and re-imagined tracks as well, but hey ho).

I mean, it's not like a PLECTRUM ELECTRUM deluxe is likely to be released within the next 30 years
so why not just collect all the 3EG era studio tracks in one big box and release it?

I really hunger for the aftershows. Give me a 3cd set with a bonus blu ray

herb4 said:

I really hunger for the aftershows. Give me a 3cd set with a bonus blu ray

100% agree. The Estate has tapped almost all the things that Prince is famous for (the vault, other artists songs, unreleased work, etc) except his legendary aftershows. I also think that would be a thankless task for them because us fans have our own favourite aftershows and not everyone would be satisfied but it would be a another cool marketing idea and I can imagine the label could build up that side of Prince to the music buying public.

Milty2 said:

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I already started remixing this album up to my likes.

Trying to make the songs sound more funky and less 'dry' or boring.

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Vannormal said:

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I already started remixing this album up to my likes.

Trying to make the songs sound more funky and less 'dry' or boring.

-

.

You do not like Mr.Hayes' production?

Vannormal said:

-

I already started remixing this album up to my likes.

Trying to make the songs sound more funky and less 'dry' or boring.

-

Vannormal said:

-

I already started remixing this album up to my likes.

Trying to make the songs sound more funky and less 'dry' or boring.

-

Frankenstein.

My review: https://www.youtube.com/w...ti84FTL0eA

Dandroppedadime said:

Has anyone in U.K. received a vinyl from the Prince Store as yet? Mine departed NJ a week ago and so must be on the international trip but tracking has ended.

I've only chosen to listen to it a couple of times, somehow it doesn't really inspire listening in the same way as his earlier stuff

It's a middling 2.5 stars for me. I've only streamed it and I'm not really motivated to buy it yet but that may change.

The keeps for me are:

Check The Record, (funky as hell but let down by lacklustre lyrics) Yes (although this sounds like quite an obvious rip off of Van Halen's Jump mixed with 'Chocolate Box'), 1,000 light years (also a good version, they are both like 2 different songs really, this one feels quite summery), Same Page, Different Book and Born 2 Die despite slightly judgemental lyrics.

I find When She Comes somehow a bit cringey as he was then older, I can see why he decided to shelve his more racier stuff as he got older, somehow wasn't as sexy to imagine! The version he released on HnR2 is much more palatable IMO. I keep thinking he's singing about Andy Allo with the reference to 'shooting stars' which was also on Superconductor, and thinking of that age gap (!), but I think this was recorded before she was on the scene? Anyone know who it was about ?? I also find that ish don't stank line rather offputting!

The turkeys for me are: 1010 (irritating antiquated synth a la Alicia Keys, and doesn't really make any sense?!), Hot Summer (same track as released before - still sounds like a DIY commercial) and pretty much the rest. W2A just 'ok'- could be more lively, P just sounds bored, there's too many 'twinkling' sound effects, although I like the other atmospheric sounds.

The rest are just 'meh'..

As usual with many of his later albums, this has been massively overproduced and lacks 'air' and breathability and yes I can clearly hear digital dropout on the streaming tracks, I hope for those who bought it it's not on the physical versions too?!

In terms of tracklisting, I keep wondering if it would have worked better for Stand Up and B Strong to be the positive outro track and to be swapped places with One Day We Will All B Free? (which has some musical similarities to Diamonds and Pearls). Stand up and B Strong just like a Hannah/3EG style Christian rock cover (I'm aware it's a cover) and could imagine it on PlectrumElectrum.

Oh and it's missing a hidden track compiled of the best of Shelby's 'Put Yo' Hands Up' chants repeated x 400.

[Edited 8/11/21 2:17am]

[Edited 8/11/21 7:18am]

iveivan said:

Has anyone in U.K. received a vinyl from the Prince Store as yet? Mine departed NJ a week ago and so must be on the international trip but tracking has ended.

My gold LP and 7" single arrived today, should be Hermes tracking on your email.

[Edited 8/11/21 4:27am]

I enjoy the record well enough but it's a little weird how it just sort of came and went. Might have something to do with the premature promotion and how hard it is to drag out hype for 3 or 4 months.

But, I mean, the critics predictably fell all over themselves to praise a release that's right in line with most of Prince's stuff since TRC, it sold OK and now hardly anyone is talking about it - even here.

MIRvmn said:

jn2 said: