The Duke Listens To "The Black Album" By Prince
Published July 07, 2004
"And really", I believe the memo reads, "What in the hell does that line about 'Where'd you get that booty' mean?
The record was scrapped and Prince went ahead and flung LoveSexy together, the record what has him naked on the cover, complete with fairly shameful hair-stylings.
I bet those record company types wouldn't have been so quick to dismiss the songs about the booty, had they known he'd bare his arsehole next time around.
The Black Album is very similar in tone, execution and fuck-words with that later album what no-one knows what to call. The one with the symbol and the song about His Name Is Prince, which was the first track just in case you picked up the CD and hadn't a clue who the hell it was by.
I mean, who the hell would blame you? All it had was a gold squiggle for a title.
This album here, this Black Album, is, as you would imagine, quite dark. There have been yackings by various musicologists about how this was Prince returning to his African-American roots, hence the "black" and the songs about Nigs In West Compton. This argument holds some weight, what with the raps and so on, and the talk of booty, but it wouldn't be that far-fetched a notion to assume that the "black" referred to the tone of the aural shenanigans, as well as the thematic concerns.
Bob George, a hip-hop influenced bout of extended minimalism, sounds like something you might hear nowadays on a record by The D-12's. It sounds nasty, aggressive, threatening. It's not much fun, is the truth of the matter. You'd be hard pressed to pull off a recognizable whistle, is what The Duke would assume. Ain't no-one ever going to mistake it for Raspberry Beret.
It does, however, share a certain aesthetic similarity to Sign O The Times.
It sounds clichéd and monotonous now, but believe it or not, that song about Bob George is actually another example of how ahead-of-his-time Prince was. It's just a shame that, here, the time he ended up in was filled with crap songs.
The following track, though, is notable for possibly even out-stupiding that line about where might you have found your rectum?
The song in question is a fairly underwhelming slab of by-the-numbers funk, only threatening to be memorable via the occasional burst of descending melody. It does, though, operate under the awe-inspiringly moronic title of Superfunkicalifragisexy.
The Duke (Aaron McMullan to his parents and the clergy) is a Northern Irish writer, performer and insomniac currently residing in London. He is the creator of Mondo Irlando, wherein his scribblings and hollerings can be found. He is currently working towards the completion of his first novel, and his debut "punk / country / folk / whatever" album has recently been released by Ex Libris Records . You can also pop by His MySpace Page and maybe have a coffee and a biscuit.
- The Duke Listens To "The Black Album" By Prince
- Published: July 07, 2004
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- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Rock, Music: Rap, Music: Hip-hop, Music: Pop, Music: Funk
- Writer: Duke De Mondo
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Comments on this articleComments
This is an absolute must-hear classic album. I'll give El Duke the point about a couple of cheesy pickup lines, but even those were on purpose.
He didn't even mention probably the two best songs on the album, "Dead On It" and "Rock Hard in a Funky Place."
Then there's the heart of darkness that is "Bob George."
OK Duke, now go in there and put on that new wig I bought you. NO, NO- the reddish brown one.
Bob- ain't that a bitch?
Hey folks. As i hinted at the end, this record does grow on you, but however aesthetically adventurous it is, you gotta admit its pretty hard to love.
But its certainly interesting, often brilliant.
I don't think i did a very good job with this here. It was, what, half five in the AM. a fella needs sleep at such an hour, not to be yacking about such a monumental record. Sorry folks. Although theres some good jokes in there, Duke, odn't be too hard on yourself.
What really helped "The Black Album" was for the longest time, it was only available as a bootleg. Nothing like creating demand through denial.
As for "Lovesexy", the initial CD version was mastered as one track, so you couldn't go from track to track. Somebody brought their copy back to Sam the Record Man on Yonge St. and complained: "There's something wrong with my Lovesexy", the clerk said: "Go tell Dr. Ruth".
For one thing, in your review, the whole opening diatribe is based on a misunderstanding of the lyrics. It's not "Where'd you get that booty, Mama?", it's "Where'd you get that beauty mark?" Which refers to Cindy Crawford's very famous beauty mark - she's the whole subject of the song. Hello?
wow... so... so very riddled with errors. damn. 4 example, the misquoted lyrics, as jesse haskell pointed out. not 2 mention the fact that warner bros. was intent on releasing it, prince stopped it. derr hey. very repetitive and over-critical. but i suppose that's why the review showed up on a blog. it's obvious that you listened to it and offerred an honest opinion which is commendable but be sure to check facts next time and maybe try to create a better foundation to build upon. sort of superficial, altho the album is. but i guess that's sort of why it's so good. also, b sure 2 keep in mind that prince was trying to parody rap after being criticized for not playing for "black audiences" anymore after the transition to rap music so yes, it is pretty goofy. there's nothing wrong with having a little fun. after all, if you can find anything deep about a john wayne movie, it loses it's purpose and charm, duke.
This was the most briliant thing I'd heard amidst all the other stuff on the radio in 1988. My friends were listening to the Cure or Depeche Mode or the dismal top 40 of the time, and I hear a bootleg of this... and learn what creativity means.
Bob George was influenced by hip hop? Can you name a track pre-1988 that this was influenced by? NWA came out after didn't it? Even Public Enemy was later, wasn't it? Or simultaneous?
Superfunky's title was a riff of Parliament track (George Clinton) and Mary Poppins... have you listened to what's being said in the song?
I love this strange, addictive, and aggressive album. It might have had the most ear opening effect on me since I discovered the Beatles catalog for myself as a youth.
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I'll say one thing, Duke: for someone who can't stand TV dinners you sure do eat enough of those motherfuckers.