The Black Album
by Prince

From Brandon8 04/16/2020 03:26 | #250004

This is one of the funkiest Prince albums but not one of his best. It’s fun and enjoyable but a lot of these songs sound like they were thrown together on the spot. They do not have the usual care you would expect from Prince and ultimately I believe that’s why he decided to pull it but it’s an interesting detour not too long.

From Boltzmann 10/10/2019 22:27 | #243634

This is the one where he just didn't pull any punches. People complained he got too pop, which was fair criticism; his music began to grow stale. And he just got so funky and honest he got scared of himself listening it back. These moments where genius artists completely abandon their morals are the most beautiful of music history. He wishes rappers dead (erm... on it) and shows them he's living the lifestyle they say they are living, and gave the last burst of rock hard feminine energy of the '80s before the world got lost in ass-backwards mannerisms in the '90s.

It's as much of a complete bop as Dirty Mind, but while Dirty Mind had its charm in its temperedness, this one doubles down in energy and aggressive percussions and extreme vocals.

Recalled weeks before its intended release because Prince was convinced it was "evil", "The Black Album" is a diversion into more urban territory. Thankfully, the record retains the dirty funk from most of his previous records, making it a joy to listen to ("Cindy C" in particular). It's not one of his best, but I'd still recommend it to Prince fans.

This album has been leaked on youtube since Prince's death, so check it out before it all gets taken down and you have to pay $80-200 for a copy (This album, more any of Prince's work, needs to be re-released!!!!). There's a reason he thought this album was evil; it was simply too funky & vulgar for any sensible human being to handle back in the 80's. It was mostly recorded in a day as a party/birthday present for Sheila E.'s birthday in 1986. If this album doesn't make you wanna dance like a crazy monkey, then you must be pretty boring and think Cream is his best song. Frankly I think this is Prince's best and funnest album, but also his strangest and most vulgar at times. Bob George will shock you at first, then you will find it absolutely hilarious and funky. I hope more people rediscover this hidden gem and we can reevaluate it's merit among the black music pantheon. It was originally called The Funk Bible, which works perfectly. It is the biggest selling bootleg of ALL TIME. Le Grind could have been a MASSIVE single if he went through with the release; I have been listening to it nearly every day for weeks to get my ass outta bed and get groovin' to life!

This record is a mixed bag. It's got some great tracks and some not so great. If your a die hard prince fan you will dig it, if just a casual listener probably not so much.

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Back in the 80s, I drove three hours to Atlanta to scour the record stores hoping to find a vinyl bootleg of this album. I found it in the first record store I walked into. This album will have you shaking your boo-tay from beginning to end.