Reading some of the articles about the press conference I came across the following....

"The thing I wanted to let you know is that we have a new CD coming out called Musicology. It's primarily new music."

"Prince performed songs from his new album, as well as some oldies, but goodies. In fact, Musicology, will include some new tracks, as well as some of his best selling singles, which have been re-recorded."

WTF?

http://www.ndtv.com/ent/m...ur&id=2550


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[This message was edited Wed Feb 25 14:16:49 2004 by Universaluv]

Good Lord.. here we go with the Lyrical Religious Retardation

lawd....

Cloudbuster said:

I'll trade racy lyrics for Prince behind a real drum kit any day.

As long as the amount of old tracks is very limited, it's fine.

I knew it! It was too good to be true. So much for a NEW album.

Well it's not so bad, really.

If it's, say, 15 new tracks with like 5 classics included, that's fine by me.

This way, if the album gets released through a major label properly, some new fans can hear versions of the songs we all knew are amazing.

It's strange.
But if this is truly a greatest hits tour, then I guess I see the connection with having some re-recorded classics included. But which songs, and how many songs are the biggest concern for me.
Many have heard the re-arranged versions of I could Never take the place of your man, Paisley Park, etc.. that have sounded incredible. But if he re-records "HITS" and worstens them
( like with 1999 the new master) then this could really blow.
Why not release a CD of new material, and then release the newly recorded classics on a separate disc later (or through the NPGMC?).

You Want Me is more than likely on it.

I have a sneaking suspicion that it will be a 2 disc affair. Disc one will be all new musicology material and disc two will be a re-recorded greatest hits disc. This could help the album to sell as old fans who recognise new versions of old favourites will buy the album and also get a chance to hear what's new with P.

Could be a smart move, providing the cost is low

JimmyNothing said:

now THATS a great idea

bad idea, imo.

just release the NEW album and re-master the older hits with the new translation lyrics for another project.....please oh please. . .

XxAxX said:

By releasing his hits that are bound to create nostlgia with older fans packaged with new material, the older fans can see what is new with Prince and start buying his stuff again. This would work if the new material was of a strong quality and catchy tunes like back in the day.

I'm with you on the new translation lyrics, so I really hope that lyrical changes are extremely minimal, if they are there at all.

Dissapointing news, to say the least.

JimmyNothing said:

I thought it could be 2 discs too - that would be the best of both worlds, in theory, the hits to satisfy his casual fans and new music to satisfy his hardcore fans.

BUT hang on, there's already been 2 hit packages out already, casual fans are more than likely to have bought the most recent one already - they probably won't be interested in yet another one.

If it is a 2 cd hits/new format, it reminds me of Michael Jackson's HIStory package - which I thought was good idea at the time but I got the impression it didn't sell as much as they hoped?

metalorange said:

The HIStory album was in the back of my mind when I was thinking the Musicology thing over. I agree that if you have The Hits and Very Best of Prince, there really would be no need to buy a new greatest hits package... which is why the re-recording of them is a great idea, as they will essentially be "new tracks." I recently bought the acoustic Bon Jovi album and I already have their hits, just because it's nice to hear your favourite songs in a different context.

I just hope that the re-recordings will be similar to the Starfish and Coffee re-recording and not just remixes. With a name like "Musicolgy" though, I have a feeling that it'll be heavy on live instruments.

this will be a disaster.
no one wants to hear watered down versions...

how about coming up with new songs that are interesting and innovative rather than relying on the past to generate interest?

i dont know, this is frustrating.

scrambledeggsaresoboring said:

I like to hear alternate versions,especally live or acoustic.



I believe the new album will be mostly new music. possibly an entire CD's worth)




Agreed... the not knowing what Prince's game plan is can be frustrating, especially as we are unsure if we are getting an album of new music (although this is probably 99% sure)

But once again it's a pretty exciting time to be a Prince fan! I haen't been this hyped for a long time

Universaluv said:

The phrase "re-recorded classics" send a shiver down my spine as a rule , (in a bad way lol),
but I suppose it makes good marketing sense to include these songs with some new ones , i.e. the only way I'd happily purchase these "new masters" if if I'm getting some good new stuff at the same time.

Harry Connick's new album is one new cd of new music, and one bonus disc of 5 tracks spanning his career.

That's good marketing when you think about it! Like this? Sample some catalog!

Redone oldies with the current band would be more interesting than havng your 4th copy of "Let's Go Crazy"

I've generally never been into remastered versions of hits. I'd like it if he cleaned up production of old songs he never released. By the time We can funk made it to the GB album, it lost all it's grit. Stuff like that.
If he's asking us to not box him in to the past, why does he keep bringing it up.
I wouldn't mind a reduced price for two cds either.

If it's 2 discs, with disc 1 being the brand new album and disc 2 being a collection of re-recorded
songs I think it would be a great idea, as long as the price is kept low.

There's been an increase recently of albums packaged with some kind of 'bonus disc' or DVD.
If it's presented in this kind of way, with the disc of re-recorded songs as a bonus disc, then
I'm all for it.

He's taking a bit of a risk with this though.

If the new material isn't that good, we might hear those re-recorded classics and just think "Man, he was so much better back then".

Not that we don't think that anyway, but it might make it seem too obvious with the classics being on the same album and all. So the classics could make the album experience a little depressing.

Then again, the new material might be quite good.

Time'll tell.
[This message was edited Wed Feb 25 14:17:52 2004 by PurpleKnight]

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[Edited 4/24/17 0:03am]

PurpleKnight said:

I think this is the rationale behind why more vault material stays locked up. Critics would say-"See: his old cast-offs are even better than what he does now!", or "See how much better he was with Wendy and Lisa?"

I really think "Musicology" is a VERY calculated release-just like the Beyonce Grammy gig. This may turn out to be a very ATYPICAL album; maybe kind of a sampler of old and present Prince, "Hey remember me? Remember these songs? This is also what I'm up to these days"--a big musical advertisment.

"Musicology" may end up being a really weird release!

hmmm interesting... and it makes sense in a way. Fits the whole "musicology" concept.

Wouldn't it be cool if the album was structured along the lines of P's career? Like tracks 1-3 can be really raw funk like the Prince and Dirty Mind albums, tracks 4 through 7 darker, melodic synth-pop like 1999 and Purple Rain, etc... through his career. Like a musical timeline, with a handful of previously released songs thrown in along the way as guideposts, so to speak. That might be fun.

I don't know.... could be interesting.

I hope the info is not accurate, and the "old" material is actually reworked versions of Vault songs, ala the proposed Roadhouse Garden album.

It didn't sound like he ever actually nailed down a deal with any one of the major labels...

Maybe this way he can blame all the major labels at once when his half-baked plans fizzle
out. After the shit he pulled with WB and Artista i'm eager to see who will do business
with him again.

Rev said:

From PP7 yesterday on the chat about this info!!>> NOT TRUE!


MUSICOLOGY is a brand new album from Prince, No Hits re-recorded on it !

I think Prince fans and the general public are hyped a great deal lately and don't take this info as fact.

But suppose it's an idea they are working on... then I wouldn't be happy about it. Re-recorded classics don't work (see 1999 new master). You can't recapture the past. And i think he should respect the past and let it be as it always has been.

Therefore, proper uncensored remasters, including several outtakes and/ or live material, with a blasting promotion, would be the best thing to do, IMO.