I think it's quite a negative book about Prince's career. I started reading from the beginning of the D&P era and went to the end. Then I started at the beginning and so far in all that I have read the only really positive thing I have read so far is when 1999 was released (obviously Hahn liked that album). I did read a bit of the UTCM and SOTT era and he kind of slates those albums as well. WTF!
How did Alex Hahn get people like Alan Leeds and Eric Leeds to talk about Prince like that. Even Tommy Barbarella and Michael Bland spill some beans. Does anyone think that Prince is upset about the Leeds's interviews in Possessed?
In every instance that there is something in Prince's life like an album release or a tour, there is a general comment about it and then it is immediately followed by a negative one. Something like," Emancipation was a sprawling three dics set which Prince wanted to prove that he was still relevant, but..."
There always seems to be a "but". I know and we all know that there have been some dubious moments in Prince's career but this guy thinks that all of Prince's career has been dubious even his social life. Ever relationship that is mentioned is mixed up in dramas.
There is very little or no mention about Prince's charity work. His support for the Prep School in Chicago gets no mention (I still don't know that whole story) and there is very little about the L4OA charity.
I think he makes Prince sound like an little dictator and I'm sure that's true to a point (deeply creative people like Prince are totally commited to their art and expect those around them to follow suit) but in every instance there is not one kind word about Prince. Surely he cannot be that bad of a person.
Face it. Hahn only wanted to dish some dirt whether it was true or not.

That's it! I'm finally gonna buy this book.I keep seeing you guys talk about it and I wanna know what all the controversy is about.What exactly does Alan and Eric Leeds say??!!


(on my way to Amazon.com)

DavidEye said:

no no no go to a small independent book shop!

milty said:[quote]
How did Alex Hahn get people like Alan Leeds and Eric Leeds to talk about Prince like that. Even Tommy Barbarella and Michael Bland spill some beans. Does anyone think that Prince is upset about the Leeds's interviews in Possessed?


I didn't think Eric and Alan Leeds come across too bad.

But I was surprised Michael and Tommy were quite negative and seemed like they were telling tales a bit.

Maybe they have every right to be pissed off and everything they say may well be true, we've all heard Prince can be a prick, but giving thier story especially to a gossip type book like 'Possessed' does not make themselves look very good IMO.
[This message was edited Thu May 29 7:52:50 PDT 2003 by dodger]

milty said:

The book is subtitled 'The Rise and Fall of Prince'. which is a very general summary of the picture it paints so, starting halfway through, it's hardly surprising you have encountered what you describe as 'negativity' - you launched into the 'Fall' section!!!Are you skim-reading? If we are discussing the album reviews, then the summary of the first album, for example, on page 24 is fullsome in its praise of the performance and musicianship. Similarly, the summation of the impact of the 'Dirty Mind' album on p.38 is glowing.Yeah and he kind of praises them to the skies as well ... even where he criticises 'Parade' for what is described as inconsistency, he even sees that as adding to its appeal (p.103), and he describes the SOTT album as a'triumph' and 'stunning' (p.117).I can't trace that particular example ... is it in the book, or have you made it up to illustrate the impression you gathered? The summary of the 'Emancipation' album on page 217 seems to me to be a well-balanced presentation of Hahn's opinions about the album content. he gives very specific praise describing the album as possessing 'thematic coherence' (not a sprawling work), saying it comprises very little 'filler' in his opinion, but rather with 'myriad highlights', which he then goes on to illustrate with named examples. The criticism that follows is not regarding the material, but of the lack of pioneering development and inventiveness in Prince's music, which was strongly associated with his '80s material.If he had wanted to have written a hagiography, I'm sure he would have done. The 'buts' are a common device for presenting the pros and the cons! You illustrate it well in your next sentence.I wouldn't say that he describes his social life as 'dubious' - 'dramatic', yes.Yes, it would have been interesting to learn some more.Now you are just employing the formula which you roundly accuse Hahn of adopting i.e. ... general statement + BUT + dollop of negativity x (regarding Hahn's intentions behind the book) dishing the dirt whether it's known to be true or not.

ahhh, i think you have too much time on your hands, langebleu.

I am just about done with this book. It has given me quite an insite on the life style of Prince. I know that this is not the bible of Prince, but it does have very interesting points. I like that it points out that Prince has many, many girlfriends. It also tells how he has played alot of them cruely. And how he really cared for some.

This also gets info on the band members and how shitty Prince can be to them for total control and his way or the highway attitude. It also mentioned how he tried to pick a fight with a band member, but it didn't go outside.

Some good stuff and some unknown stuff.

Still interesting.

I only found this hard to read because I don't think that Hahn is an effective writer.

My 2 cents!


.

dodger said:

yeah you are right. i should have said that i'm surprised that they got to talk in the first place. still tho it could be a bit upsetting to P.

milty said:

enough to read the book through carefully, in the order it was written, and spot the positive bits you overlooked

langebleu said:

ooohhh, handbags at dawn.

milty said:

a bit early for me ... I need to paint my nails first

langebleu said:

a bit early for me ... I need to paint my nails first[/quote]

hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!