Thrift don’t matter 2 Night: Huge re-release of the funk-pop genius’ second most successful album.
Actually, as so often happens in Prince’s highly productive sheep, things should have turned out differently: The Purple One originally wanted to release a four to five CD box set with unreleased material in 1991. Label Warner found this too sensitive: the best-selling BATMAN soundtrack in 1989 had restored confidence in its commercial potential after LOVESEXY narrowly missed the top ten in 1988. But BATMAN’s breakthrough was primarily due to an unprecedented marketing campaign – there is no other explanation for the success of the cut-up-like “Batdance”, the most bizarre No. 1 hit in US chart history – and its successor, GRAFFITI BRIDGE 1990, did not have a decisive hit.
Warner’s counter-proposal of a double CD, consisting of an overdue greatest hits collection and the BLACK ALBUM, which was withdrawn at the last minute in 1987 and considered “evil” by Prince, countered the never-tired one with a completely new work in February 1991: DIAMONDS AND PEARLS the first record he recorded with his newly formed backing band The New Power Generation, which, with a short break, would accompany him until his death. To his record company’s relief, the album was full of obvious hits – even though the lead single “Gett Of” wasn’t even on the tracklist. He only recorded the song in May and was so enthusiastic about it that he immediately wanted to release it as an EP as a 9:22 minute “Damn Near 10 Minutes” mix, together with the top-class artists “Cream”, “Horny Pony” and “Money Don’t Matter 2 Night.” Pearls before swine, so to speak.
Warner intervened. Prince took revenge with a limited edition 1,500 max single of the XL version of “Gett Of,” which he had sent out to radio stations in time for his 33rd birthday. Warner wanted to give the fans a breather after GRAFFITI BRIDGE, but followed suit with the official “Gett Of” single and the entire album. Two years later, as a sign of protest against Warner, Prince would write “Slave” on his cheek and abandon his name in favor of an unpronounceable symbol.
For the first time, Prince didn’t set trends, but rather adapted to existing ones
After “Gett Of” was only granted an astonishingly low number 21 in the US charts, the simple but highly effective “Cream” like “Kiss” reached number 1. Both catchy dance commandments around the usual subject of chattering, both – what a commercially nasty, artistically but cool move is – with the same B-side: the fanfartastic fan favorite “Horny Pony”. The ballad that gave the album its title and the socially critical “Money Don’t Matter 2 Night,” which was accompanied by two videos, were further single winners, making DIAMONDS AND PEARLS Prince’s second most profitable album behind the PURPLE RAIN soundtrack.
Stylistically, he primarily used funk like “Jughead” and pop (the obvious question given the pairing: Does Prince actually exist as a Funko Pop! figure? …google, google… Yes, there is), as well as the then current R’n ‘B incarnation New Jack Swing. However, he also made a surprising turning point by relying more on rap interludes and fatter beats after the hip-hop parody “Dead On It” in 1987. For the first time, Prince didn’t set trends, but rather adapted to existing ones. But like Bowie, he knew how to incorporate them coherently and respectfully. “Push” is a prime (no pun intended) example of the sexy marriage of rap and Prince’s trademark sound.
A total of 105 positions in a one night stand
The turnaround was in the right direction and would lead him to one of his hardest and best songs the following year: “My Name Is (not for long – note) Prince”. His penultimate album with mainstream appeal (MUSICOLOGY and 3121 with all honors, but nothing compares 2 Prince’s mass magnetism of the 80s and early 90s) is now being released in all sorts of new configurations. At the forefront is a version with twelve LPs or seven CDs, which, in addition to the remastered original, contains 47 unreleased tracks, as well as a recording of a show in the “Glam Slam” club.
The gig also opens as a concert film on a Bluray that contains the performance at the Special Olympics in 1991, as well as a previously unseen sound check and the “Diamonds And Pearls Video Collection,” which was first released in 1992. Makes a total of 105 positions in a one night stand – as long as you have the (new) wanting power to give yourself to this insatiable man for a night.