With just over a week left in the year, now's a good time to start writing your very own Prince-year in review, and here's a great place to post it. Here's what happened - I want to hear your views, and anything else I missed out:



The year started off with two great surprises - Xpectation and C-NOTE. Some of the most unusual-sounding work Prince has done in a while, I loved both of these. Of course a studio version of Xenophobia would have been nice, but I didn't mind much at all. As for C-NOTE, it would have been great if we all had access to it at the same time, rather than the area-specific e-mails to certain tracks. Most of us got all the tracks in the end, I guess, and maybe it prepared us for some of our dealings with NPGMC later in the year...

Then there was nothing really new for a while, until the 'Something big is coming soon' video of Mani and the whale (did that ever get explained?) and the opening of the doors of the NPGMC - I remember being really excited all day the day it opened, thinking that although I probably wouldn't be able to afford $100 membership (after 2 years of membership, my finances didn't support another year), we'd still see a whole new slew of music. When I saw that membership was $25, I jumped at it, only to find one new, non-downloadable, track, and a few videos. Still, the chat was fun, and it was great to see that they had message boards. And surely they would add a ton of new music all the time - maybe Reflection was just the first in a song-a-day listening station or something?

The days went on, and Reflection was still the only new music, until that got replaced by songs from old releases. The Glam Slam opening party that we were all so excited about was also a 15-minute mix from an old NPG Ahdio show... We asked and asked about a Celebration, heard nothing, and felt like we were being let down...

Then, all of a sudden, the random letters that had popped up on the main hall's floor were explained - NEWS was an album! We listened to the 20-second sample in the Vault area over and over again, until the pop-up showing us a new-age 'video' for East, and finally, June 19 came, and we listened to a track a day, and ordered the CD! Some were excited, some were angry there was another instrumental 'album' after two in a row. Some complained that since it was 4 tracks, surely it was an EP instead of an album, etc. But I loved it. I thought it was interesting, new for Prince, and similar to many of the '70s Miles Davis albums I was getting into.

The Ways Of The Pharaoh e-mail went out. We didn't know what to make of it. Prince asking us for the CDs we paid for? He must be going to give us new music in return! That must be the explanation. Free the music, right? That's what we've been suporting for years...

In August, the Aladdin DVD came out, although we already knew most of the concert had been edited out, and we didn't even get any of the aftershow. What was Prince thinking? This was starting to get ridiculous. But at least there were free showings for members at 10 movie theaters around the US, even if the picture quality was so poor that seeing it on the big-screen was almost unbearable. But hey, at least people in LA got a free aftershow (the first live show of the year), so membership was worthwhile after all (for them).

Our posts got locked and deleted. Questions were avoided. Our love for the Org was renewed daily...

It looked like Universal and Prince had signed some deal, whether it was just publishing or something else too. What was next? More music? A tour? Anji told us it would be a new 'Best Of' with re-recorded tracks. One CD of old Prince material re-recorded, and one of material. Then a CD of vault material, containing all the tracks people have wanted for many years. This 3rd CD, for NPGMC members only, was not re-recorded versions; these were the originals and the best. Some people hated the idea of a new 'Best Of', and some, myself included, loved the idea, especially of the vault CD. This was exciting stuff. Alas, it was denied, and Anji dropped off the face of the earth...

But it's ok, because The Chocolate Invasion is coming. A new pop-up on the NPGMC hypes up a 7CD set of previous NPGMC tracks/albums: The Chocolate Invasion, The Slaughterhouse (both comprised of individual tracks), The War, One Nite Alone (why was this getting released again?), Xpectation, C-NOTE and the Glam Slam Mix. But how much would this cost? We'd already paid $200 for these tracks. How much would it be? No need to worry, because before we knew it it had been 'indefinitely postponed'...

Instead we got a new non-downloadable track, 'What Do U Want Me 2 Do?' Interesting question, in light of everything that was happening.

Then, reacting to concerns of people outside of the US, Prince does what the Aussies have been pleading for for years - he set tourdates for down under. Only his second Australian tour, Prince warmed-up in Hong Kong, and played mostly hits, with a few aftershows more reminiscent of the now-legendary ONA Live tour. Fans loved the concerts, but what was up with the $1000 tickets for a meet and greet???

Hawaii seemed lucky - a last-minute concert was set-up for the way back from Australia. Only... it got cancelled within a few hours of tickets going on sale.

But the Family Jamm was coming. Sheila E had set up the unthinkable - a Revolution reunion, along with a reunion of The Family, Madhouse, and all the other Starr Company/Paisley Park acts from the '80s. This was when Prince would finally reconcile with everyone and they would be one hig happy family again. Or not...

Prince was on the table for the Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame nominations, in his first year of eligibility. Unbelievable though it seemed, he was chosen to be inducted!!! This would be the start of something big for 2004!

NEWS was nominated for a Grammy! What the...? Prince getting recognized for post-80s work? Damn, he must be coming back. Now all he needs to do is show up at the Family Jamm, and everything will be cool.

Oh, no, that would be too easy. Prince is a no-show. So is Morris Day.

However, 2 shows are set up in Hawaii, and Prince plays some amazing shows, similar to the Australia tour, although the shows are only half-attended. Prince's penchant for playing last-minute shows doesn't work so well around the holiday season, does it? Of course, US and European fans are worried that they'll get another hits show after one brand-new innovative tour. Since I missed the ONA tour, I don't want another hits tour either, since I've been seeing them for years...

News of Purple Rain, UTCM and Grafitti Bridge coming on DVD excites the fans, as does Prince's confirmation he'll play at the Rock 'n' Roll HOF induction, and 'Purple House' appearing on a Jimi Hendrix tribute album, a project delayed from 2003.

The NPGMC continues to be frustrating for many people, but let's face it, a lot has happened in 2003, and this is a pretty damn fun time to be a Prince fan!

Released in 2003:
Xpectation (MP3 album)
Reflection (MP3)
NEWS (CD)
Live At The Aladdin (DVD)

Semi-released in 2003:
What Do U Want Me 2 Do? (MP3 - not intended for download)

What Do U Want Me 2 Edit, girl?
[This message was edited Mon Dec 22 9:51:45 PST 2003 by booyah]

this year was ill, man... thanx for the recap, booyah!

That sums it up quite nicely... thanks!

Are you planning on submitting it over there too?

Very well summarised booyah

Anji - what a joke he was.

thedoorkeeper said:

who was anji? I keep seeing the name but I missed all that stuff.