No.

.

He said himself that unreleased music would be released after he'd gone, he knew this and chose not to make provisions for it, thus we assume he was ok with it, or at least didn't care enough to do anything about it. Ergo, enjoy the music guilt-free.

NouveauDance said:

If he didn´t want us to hear what´s in the vault, then he would´ve destroyed the material he didn´t want us to hear or see, simple as that. And like you said above, he said someone would release it one day after he´s gone.

KoolEaze said:

I don't feel any guilt, but I do wonder about quality control. I feel that the Estate had this album more or less ready-to-go (with some finalizing to it), the material was relevant to 2021, and they jumped on it.

Prince would shelve things and revisit them later. Half of Graffiti Bridge was recorded around 1999, for example. But, Prince wouldn't just pull them from the shelf and release them as-is. He would rework those songs and make them sound current.

For all we know, Prince may have included a few of those songs on an upcoming project, but reworked with the "New Minneapolis Sound".

But, W2A is now canon in the discography. Take it or leave it. Still better than Planet Earth and Newpower Soul.

I can't imagine trying to keep the Estate flush with cash is an easy task. The endgame is to monetize EVERYTHING. If there is valid music in the Vault to be released, they will release it. If doing re-issues is a short-term influx of cash with minimal effort, they'll do that. Eventually that might even mean the closure of Paisley Park if money isn't coming in.

Mackopolis44 said:

KoolEaze said:

If he didn´t want us to hear what´s in the vault, then he would´ve destroyed the material he didn´t want us to hear or see, simple as that. And like you said above, he said someone would release it one day after he´s gone.

Aye, good point. Do you think he destroyed a lot of material? I remember the story about the original Wally vocals. It's an interesting time 👍👍

I really don´t know but I was wondering about that, too while typing my post above.

In the late 90s he was very, very strict regarding his JW beliefs.

But I don´t know if he was zealous enough to destroy any of the old tapes. I guess not. I hope not.

KoolEaze said:

If he didn´t want us to hear what´s in the vault, then he would´ve destroyed the material he didn´t want us to hear or see, simple as that. And like you said above, he said someone would release it one day after he´s gone.

I don't see it this way. I see the Vault as Prince's own analog/digital scrapbook. If Prince had a sound in his mind that he could capture in the moment, he did it. With the idea of going back and revisiting ideas later.

He wrote once that all of his songs were like his "children", and that everything he did came from God. So destroying that stuff might fall into that belief system, which is why he kept most of it.

No guilt, I want more music. In ten more years, how many more people will there be still alive and able to shell out £150 on SDE sets? Get it out now! #freethevault.

i know what you mean.

Except for the pre-released tracks, i haven't heard the album yet.

...and it's been sitting in front of me since Friday...

nayroo2002 said:

No, he kept the music in the vault and was fully aware that someday someone would release it.

I think he also mentioned this in interviews. And I like the music and it also honors the great musicians who contributed like Tal Wilkenfeld.

[Edited 8/4/21 8:08am]

[Edited 8/4/21 8:08am]

NouveauDance said:

No.

.

He said himself that unreleased music would be released after he'd gone, he knew this and chose not to make provisions for it, thus we assume he was ok with it, or at least didn't care enough to do anything about it. Ergo, enjoy the music guilt-free.

[Edited 8/4/21 11:31am]

RJOrion said:

Guilt?...No ... because i dont steal it, i pay for it...end of story.

In the end, we all pay, my friend.

TraSoul82 said:

TraSoul82 said:

Nah, I'm good. Album was full of rehashed riffs and is way too reliant on potential ear worms. Lyrically, it was way too on the money for someone who is usually remarkably clever. He remade "On the Couch" without exactly remaking it. He also remade D'angelo's "Lady" without exactly remaking it. Y'all know I'm not lying. I'm sure I'll raise the score later as usual, but not by much.

I can´t stand "On the Couch" and I love "Lady" but where do you hear those on this album? I don´t hear those influences at all.

NouveauDance said:

No.

.

He said himself that unreleased music would be released after he'd gone, he knew this and chose not to make provisions for it, thus we assume he was ok with it, or at least didn't care enough to do anything about it. Ergo, enjoy the music guilt-free.

Exactly how I feel

I always wished he'd left one instruction. That the entire vault would be released immediately, for free. With one simple message.

'All of this and more, is for U, with love, sincerity and deepest care, My life with U I share. Welcome to the dawn'.

I don't feel guilty for the same reasons others have said. He didn't leave a will. So presumably his view was that whatever happens, happens.

I didn't feel very guilty when he was alive and I listened to recordings that had leaked, while he still was here and told us not to listen to them. Since he seemed okay with the idea that the vault would be released by "someone" after he died (or at least resigned to that idea), I'm certainly not going to feel guilty about it now.

Nope.

As much as I love Prince, when he was alive I wanted to hear everything, whether he wanted it released or not. That just goes double now he's gone.

Of course, I'd rather he was here, but that ain't happening any time soon.

No guilt. In the slightest.

No guilt. I saw him on Welcome 2 (Canada) tour, and would have bought this back then if he had promoted even one song on it. (All he did was release "Extralovable 2011" and play all his hits)

SquirrelMeat said:

I always wished he'd left one instruction. That the entire vault would be released immediately, for free. With one simple message.

'All of this and more, is for U, with love, sincerity and deepest care, My life with U I share. Welcome to the dawn'.

That´s actually a wonderful idea.