I know it's virtually sacrilegeous to say this, but it seems that Prince's epic and much discussed work ethic has slowed WAY down the past few years.

I know some of you are going to say things like, "Everyone slows down in their 40's," and, "Prince is only human."

That is no excuse.

Many, many artists in their 40's, 50's, 60's, even 70's are still just as active in their later years as they were in their 20's. Springstein tours like a MANIAC. Dylan and Neil Young put out albums left and right. And these guys are TRULY old!

I remember the days when a typical Prince year was something like this - record and mix a new album of unbelievably innovative music over three months, film three music videos, record dozens to toss-away brilliant b-sides and unreleased music, produce, write, and RECORD whole albums for protege artists. and play at leats 80 concerts across the US, Europe, and Japan.

Last year Prince was practically comatose. We got a four track instrumental album recorded in ONE DAY, a live boxset and DVD recorded over a year ago, some piddly remixes on his terrible website, and maybe five concerts!!!

I think he's burned out and is suffering from a huge case of writers block, or something. This is most unlike him.

Maybe the flame has been extinguished...

Soladeo

I dig what you have to say, even though I don't agree with you. I saw Bowie the other night and at 57, he shows no signs of slowing down. For my birthday last year, I was treated to B.B. King, who at the time, was 77, so I can see both sides of it. I just believe that Prince's priorities have changed and he has had such a successful career that he now can reap the fruits of his labor. We all want to retire early, right?

TheOrgerFormerlyKnownAs said:

But do you think Prince sees making music as work?

In the past he certainly didn't.

Sly said:

I didn't use to, but now I do. To me, it seems more of a chore than fun to him.

He's busy with other things these days.

Who says he ain't recording just as often as he used to? Just because less and less of it is seeing the cold light of day, it don't mean it ain't happening!

I think the way he releases his music these days is the main problem and is holding him back more than Warner ever did.

Maybe Prince is a bit lackadaisial now But I dont think he could ever be lazy...not with him doing all that touring and whatnot... as far as music is concerned he is testing out other ways of making it and how much to put out...Prince has been everywhere and seen everything, so maybe he needs some new inspiration...I dont see him asking other people to write music/songs for him like other entertainers who get burned out and want a good hit or tune to get them out of a slump. He's burned bridges and seems quite content with his NPG band members.
No. He's not lazy...he just is talking about something else in his music.

PrimordialOoze said:

Church

It really wouldn't suprise me if he retired, in some ways i wouldn't blame him, and i certainly wouldn't hold it against him.

He's had a great career.

Marrk said:

Fair enough, but what would he actually do if he really retired from music (which won't ever happen, but still).

SpcMs said:

He's already into real estate isn't he?

I don't think he'll retire completely from music,we'll see a less prolific Prince, if that already hasn't started.

I think he'll move into the business side of it more.

If Prince gets to where he doesn't have anything to say with music, then he shouldn't say anything. He shouldn't just go through the motions to collect a paycheck or do what is expected of him by most fans. If he gets bored with music, then it's probably better that he hang it up than release crappy, uninpired stuff.

I remember when he married Mayte, he said that she was curing him of his studio addiction. Maybe he lost it and never got it back.

I suspect he doesn't record as much music as he used to (82-88 period) although I'm sure he still records alot and most of it we'll never hear.

I think he still loves music and performing as much as ever and he certainly looks far happier these days. As to whether he can write innovative music anymore I have my doubts, but he could still release quality material when he is sufficently inspired like with TRC.

Maybe he simply has a (healthier) life now, he doesn't feel the need to stya in the studio for days and go without eating...like he used to back in the day

soladeo1 said:

Precisely. He doesn't need one. If he doesn't want to record as much as he used to (and none of us knows whether he does or not) that's his prerogative. He's not a machine, bound to be at your beck and call. Springsteen, Dylan and Young ALL have taken breaks at different points in their careers, and even if they hadn't, big friggin whoop.

Some of you folks need to learn that Prince isn't "supposed" to do things the way so-and-so does things any more than so-and-so is supposed to do things the way Prince does.
º
[This message was edited Thu Jan 15 20:21:11 PST 2004 by Supernova]

Sadly this is the first year he got his ass kicked The new Outkast record smoked NEWS and TRC together. Hey Ya! and 'She Lives in my Lap' 'Spread' these were hot and reminicent of the Dirty Mind/1999 days.
However the last time he seemed to be slowing down...right after the symbol album when we got Come he came back with TGE, so think about it.
I think he finally learned not to talk any shit until he has the product ready for release.

"After I'm free from Warner Bros,it'll either be very quiet or very exciting.But it won't be in the middle"---Prince,1996 (LA Times interview)

just something to think about

soladeo1 said:

Probably not. Waiting? Possibly. The best lager in the world? Cannot say so for copyright reasons.

Supernova said:

---
I can't believe anyone would ask this question. Prince has work ethtic out the a**.
He has slowed down but, I would slow down to if I never took a break for the first 18 years of my career (LOL).

I'm not sure I understand the point of this post. In the last couple of years he did release:

One Nite Alone - Studio Version
One Nite Alone - Live (3 disc set)
N.E.W.S.
Live At The Alladin DVD
Two previously unreleased tracks ('Reflection', 'What Do You Want Me To Do')

I think the real question is: 'Is there any other artist out there working this hard'?

violator said:

I'm a big fan of Princes recent work. The thing is that we don't actually KNOW what he's doing at the moment. Back in the day bootlegs came out with recent tracks B4 their parent albums were ready 4 release. So we knew he was working on something. Nowadays he's plugged those holes. We don't have access 2 what he's working on. 4 all we know he could have 2 albums worth of new stuff ready. I know that in the 80's he had quality songs falling out of his arsehole!
Who knows? I'd love 2 hear the outtakes from TRC, NEWS etc. Prince in my view has a lot of great material we are yet 2 hear. And I mean new stuff not archive retrospective material.