This is the thing.. over here in Belgium in late 1987, early 1988 (can't exactly remeber when) i taped this THE BLACK ALBUM from some radiostation. I haven't got all the trax, but more than half though. It was covered (very quickly in fact) by a french group. The fact is that most cover versions are very much like the original recordings by Prince. But you can definately hear the difference. The singer's voice surely doesn't compete with Prince's, and the production/sound is too much of a big effort to sound like the original, with all the screams and "Uh's" included.
Still it's fun, and i think it's rare. I remeber that i went madcrazy in the local recordshops trying to find it, or any info on this particular release (if so) at all.
I even took my walkman ( with me to let 'm hear some.

Anyway, this is the only info i have on it:
Either it was broadcasted on the french rock radio RADIO-21, or i got it from a Dutch radiostation.. can't remember either. Didn't tape everything damnit.

I re-discovered this tape recently when i was cleaning up and listening to some old cassettes i found. Anyway, i will put it up soon for those to hear if you like (mail me : Johan.brepoels@pandora.be)

Is there anyone out there who has any info on this?
Which group? Where to find this so called complete covers/covered album?

[ Anyone remember the days when the original copy got out and was played over most radiostations over the world? these were days... dark and mysterious and so much fun! ]

thank u all...

I don't know much about the specifics of who made that tape but I happen to own a copy of it too. I was friends with this french exchange student and when he went back to france he made me a copy of this.

I thought I was just getting a bad quality recording of it, I didn't realize it was a complete re-make of the thing! (WHEW! that explains a lot).

Anyway, just wanted to share.

I've got a CD of this. The front and back insert are completely black with no writing at all, and it came with 2 large oval stickers saying "I own the Black Album". It's in the back of a cupboard somewhere at my parents house. I don't think I've set eyes on it for 10 years. I may have to look for it and ebay it though.

Yeah, I downloaded it a few months back, I've been sharing it on the usual places.

It is very well done.

I have the cd and the cdsingle superfunki and it's crap. I remember that a french cd salesman was saying that this was the black album.... Then I gave him the tape from my walkman and he let out an eeekkk.....because it was a copy of the real BA. Was hilarious.
[This message was edited Thu Jan 15 13:10:26 PST 2004 by spaceboy]

I've got that on vinyl and it's shitty crap. Only fun if you are really drunken

I saw that album in a recordstore in Germany around 1987 or 88. It simply said "The Royal Black Album Band"...I think the cover was yellow and black.
Sorry, don´t have any further info.

Yep, I bought this way back when it was released. Actually, at this time I was a downright Prince newbie and really took it for granted it's Prince singing. Oh my.

Btw, a few days ago it went on eBay for about $ 7.00:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eB...egory=1562

The description is German only (no, I'm NOT the one who sold it). The seller himself describes it as being the genuine Black Album by Prince. I sent him a message to prevent him from being accused for providing misleading information in case he finds another copy...

Wolf

Thanx everyone for this great info!
this is what makes the ORG such a great place, and uncompareable to the NPGMC, the biblestudy fans(h)ite.
A kiss for u all!

Wow, wait a minute, that's the weekend feel that 's got a grip on me, sorry folks.