Prince
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Haven't bought any of his stuff for years and the last time I saw him live was in 1996. Yet I'm still surprised by how much this news has affected me. The guy was a freak of nature - in a good way.
Never bought a single record of his in my life but i did like a lot of his songs.He was never the kind of artist whose records i collected but i loved all those 80s singles.I guess i'll always associate him with the period 1984 to 1989.He kind of took off in a massive way with Purple Rain though he was already pretty successful before that.Purple Rain (the song) i love and stuff like Little Red Corvette, When Doves Cry, Let's Go Crazy, I Would Die 4 U, Take Me With U, Raspberry Beret, Sign 'O The Times, U Got The Look.... I wasn't so big on or followed much his 90s output though i did like The Most Beautiful Girl In The World.But he put albums so regularly it was impossible to keep up with what he was doing; did i read this evening that he had released 4 albums in the past 18 months? That's just mad.The guy probably played every single instrument on each album as well, he could play just about every instrument ever invented.
Oh and he was reportedly a big fan of the Cocteau Twins so he was always a cool motherfucker in my book.
Fotzepolitic wrote: I guess i'll always associate him with the period 1984 to 1989.
I think it would be fair to say that those were the 'peak' Prince years. He probably released his most essential albums during that period. I was looking at Discogs earlier and realised that looking at his albums as "Prince" meant that I wasn't seeing stuff released as Prince & The Revolution, Prince and the New Power Generation or The Artist Formerly Known As Prince (TAFKAP). Put it all together - along with all the other aliases and there is a LOT of stuff!
I was lucky enough to catch Prince twice during his run at the O2 in London back in '07. I remember he priced the tickets at £31.21 to match the title of his recently released album..."3121". Mad as a box of frogs.
His more recent stuff hasn't been so easy to get into. Planet Earth is probably the last album by him that I found likable stuff on. But really I would urge anyone to listen to these albums: Purple Rain [1984] Around The World In A Day [1985] Parade [1986] Sign o' The Times [1987] (My personal favourite. Effortlessly creative rock, pop, funk, soul, and more. The concert film of the same name is great too.) Lovesexy [1988]
An album every year. And he carried on like that into the mid 90's.
And if you like those, these are worth a go too: The Black Album Diamonds & Pearls The Symbol album
Probably a lot of NO fans remember these from the 80's so, sorry for stating the obvious but for anyone who hasn't heard 'em, they're just so worthwhile!
Andy wrote: Richard Ashcroft on Prince: JoWhiley. Skip to 1:08:36
Loving his new single Hold On, by the way. This is How it Feels is good too.
Thanks, i listened to the part where Ashcroft talks about Prince and he said his favourite song was/is Raspberry Beret.I've found today with one of the music channels on, repeating over and over again all the old Prince videos Raspberry Beret was the one i was turning up the volume up to and watching the vid every time.I remember when it originally came out (around 1985?) and liked it a fair bit then but been enjoying it even more today, immensely.Such a quirky and irresistibly catchy song, funny lyrics with a great tune and great production.And just a pure great pop song if nothing else.And the video like many other Prince videos is everyone having one big fun and funky party.The guy always had some very sexy ladies (including Wendy and Lisa from The Revolution)hanging out with him.What a dude.He had so much talent at so many things musically and struck a perfect balance (at least in the 80s days) with musical excellence and commercial success and at the same time came across as massively intelligent yet , as Debaser said, mad as a box of frogs.You always got the impression the world of Prince was one great fun, funky and sexy party.
Quite liked that live acoustic version of This Is How It Feels with the Purple Rain added lyrics towards the end that Richard Ashcroft did.
Debaser wrote: The Guardian has ranked ALL THE ALBUMS HERE. I won't argue with their Top 3.
Rating his albums can be tricky. One way is to check the ratio of brilliant tracks versus crap ones. Sign O' the Times (check the 1963 drum beat on It) definitely deserves the top spot in that regard but I would argue with a few others in their top 10.
I would rate 1999 and Purple Rain (check the Round & Round sequenced bassline on I Would Die 4 U) above Parade.
I also think Dirty Mind and Controversy, while musically innovative, have dated very poorly lyrically. Conversely, his self-titled (1979) album released just before them has a more timeless appeal.
Lastly, while not a top 10 contender, the Batman soundtrack definitely deserves a higher placing (though I must admit I haven't actually heard some of the LP's above it). It's a strong, consistant LP with the great, shoulda-been-a-single track Lemon Crush.
Now is not the best of times to say this, but just like Madonna, if Prince had been any other nationality than American, he would have been as financially successful as... Chris De Burgh...
His chords are crap and anyone who thinks his voice is anything like as talented as Morten Harket's, well...
A few years ago I was informed by someone high up in Sony, that Prince was a big New Order fan. Who knew?
Saw him at the Roundhouse in Camden, 2014, entire audience enthralled by his brilliance. Never bought one of his records but recognised everything he played. Dead at 57? sheesh.
JG wrote: A few years ago I was informed by someone high up in Sony, that Prince was a big New Order fan. Who knew?
Saw him at the Roundhouse in Camden, 2014, entire audience enthralled by his brilliance. Never bought one of his records but recognised everything he played. Dead at 57? sheesh.
Well, he does close the Around the World in a Day LP with an 8 minutes plus track called Temptation...
I'm really liking right now Paisley Park (the song) from the Around The World In A Day album.Memory a bit vague but think this one was the first single released in the UK from that album? Or was Raspberry Beret the first, can't recall now.Raspberry Beret was the more obvious catchy single contender, not that that sort of thing ever bothered Prince.Paisley Park is a great song but not what i'd call single material, it's not as catchy as Raspberry Beret but what did Prince care.Upon hearing it for the first time back then my impression was ah so he's not just made Purple Rain part 2, that's cool and interesting.Apart from the Paisley/Psychedelic thing i always for some reason made a connection along with it and the Around The World In A Day artwork with early childhood memories and watching Mr Ben ( uk 1970s children's animated tv programme about a guy called Mr Ben who went on strange and wonderful adventures to far off strange lands depending on what clothes he tried on in a magical shop) - some kind of connection with an ideal utopian state of mind.Dunno, maybe the song and Mr Ben trigger some feeling of an ideal utopian world or state of mind![[:)]](/emoticons/smile.gif){kind=small}
I see after all the years when Prince was alive of him not allowing any of his stuff on YouTube it's now been flooded with his videos.
Here's a good snapshot of Prince: Makings of Rain. A live DVD of a benefit concert from 1983. He chose this show to debut 5 tracks from Purple Rain (including an epic 13 minute version of the title track) more than 10 months before the LP was released.
Among other tracks performed: A Joni Mitchell cover and a track destined to never be released (er, Electric Intercourse). It was also the debut of new band member guitarist Wendy Melvoin. She must have been shitting bricks.
I thank in advance all that watched over the good and wonderful progress of this forum. Especially keep it up. Thanks again. friendly
