#Prince #1999Deluxe **INITIAL THOUGHTS - MEGATHREAD**
So, as most folks will know by now, the album leaked yesterday. I think folks are still digesting it, and rightly so, but here's a few initial thoughts.
So, as most folks will know by now, the album leaked yesterday. I think folks are still digesting it, and rightly so, but here's a few initial thoughts.
The remastered album sounds great. I'd like to test it on a variety of systems but on my studio monitors it's very evenly done and exactly what I expected to hear. Finally I can be comfortable dropping album tracks into a live DJ set without relying on fanmade remasters!
But... here's a hot take. In the future, I'd like to hear the tracks with a fresh mix. Some folks would abhor this - but I'll point out that doing this wouldn't replace the OG mixes. This has been done well in the past - see the 2013 Steve Albini mixes of "In Utero" by Nirvana.
Alternatively, give us the multitracks and I'll make my own mixes (THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN LOL).
Disc 2 is a bit odd. Some of the rarer promo only mixes are very welcome. Others feel a bit unnecessary, but for the sake of being a completist it's still nice to have them here.
Now, onto the outtakes. Here's the real value for fans. There's some real highlights here, even ones that have been heavily bootlegged - amazing to have Do Yourself A Favor in hi-quality for example. Bold Generation, Rearrange, Possessed 82, Something In... (Alt) ALL STELLAR.
And, as I long predicted, the full version of "If It'll Make U Happy" is PHENOMENAL.
But.... in terms of nailing down the point that Prince's vault material was often as good or sometimes stronger than his released? Not including Extra Loveable and Lust U Always was a real missed opportunity, and stops this set being a truly comprehensive set.
I get the risk, especially in this climate. But music, ultimately is art. You can turn on Netflix and see shows like "13 Reasons Why" that depict rape and violence. You can't erase these songs from history like this.
I'd take an edit where those lyrics were reversed out in order to have the songs in higher quality. I suspect most fans would. Put a disclaimer in the booklet. Whatever you need to do.
Fact is, those two aren't throwaways - they are VITAL to the era and often heralded as among the best of ALL his unreleased work, especially the original Extraloveable. That trumps the risk of a few random headlines, IMO.
If any more vault songs are used to promote the set, then "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore" alternate take and "Do Yourself A Favor" are the obvious choices to me. If there's any vault rehearsal footage of Prince playing piano...... Make a compilation of that for HCUDCMA!
Or an animated video for DYAF, like the Holly Rock one. Just make sure you give Pepe Willie a cameo 😜
Finally, the live audio from Detroit - 30th November 1982. This is super clean! Did I hear that this was mixed by David Z? He did a fantastic job. Live audio is often a pretty raw mix, but this sounds perfectly balanced, from someone who knows EXACTLY how the show should sound.
I've heard a LOT of live Prince audio, and this is among the best in terms of pure audio quality, and of course, it's a great performance from a band on the cusp of taking over the world. Absolutely brilliant to hear.
I'll save a final score, because for me a big part of a deluxe edition is in the presentation and packaging, and liner notes. But aside from my gripes, which are mostly minor aside from the omitted tracks - This is damn near exactly the set I wanted. A fantastic release. BUY IT.
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