Between 1980 and 1992, there were few artists I loved more than Prince. 1994-1999 was a shakey stretch, but there was enough to keep me on board. But then it was a slow and painful decline from 2000-2016. It was bleak. I know there will be plenty of Prince apologists ready to tear me a new love symbol when I say, those 16 years were crap. Even Questlove has said how he's pretty much only on board for Prince's first ten years. I was loyal longer than Questlove.
Earlier this week, my old pal cmealha sent me an email with the above song attached. He said, "Thanks to you, I periodically go back to records I dismissed. It's how I came around to Elvis Costello's 'Momofuku.' I heard this on Prince's 'Planet Earth," and wow!"
Yeah, "Somewhere Here On Earth" is kinda wow. The rest of "Planet Earth," not so much.
My reply was, "There must be some patient Prince realist out there who could create two amazing records out of 16 years of garbage."
I am a Prince realist. But I have no patience. I am just coming out of a COVID fog, so I don't need to risk going back under by sifting through "Musicology" or "Art Official Age" for a gem or two.
But maybe someone reading would find this project a fun challenge.
Prince apologists need not apply. I am not looking for "not bad."
Your sources begin with 2001's "The Rainbow Children" and finish with 2021's gold-plated dreck "Welcome 2 America."
Two albums, each running no longer than 45 minutes.
7 comments:
I've always imagined someone doing this. Not me, but someone. And I was worried if I met Questlove he'd excoriate me for not recognizing how awesome three of the tracks on Crystal Ball really are! (Crystal Ball ain't eligible for this exercise, I know.) I hope someone takes you up on this.
There are a lot more than three awesome tracks on "Crytsal Ball."
FWIW, I saw him live during the fallow period you're citing, and he was still a tremendous performer.
I have yet to cover anything from The Rainbow Children on for the blog. I am trepidacious.
No question! Some of the best shows I have seen.
I was going to start with "3121" (which I thought was pretty decent at the time) but it runs almost 54 minutes...
Can't be two existing albums. And "pretty decent" might as well be "not bad." I'm thinking two compilations running 45 minutes each, with the absolute best tracks from those years.
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