Paisley Piano
How many days? How long did it take before they took a blow torch to Prince's legendary vault of treasures? His hidden gems. His unreleased tracks and albums. His real music collection. Rumour has it that Prince once recorded an entire duet album with good friend and 'American Woman' live collaborator Lenny Kravitz (whose current, cool, calm 'Raise Vibration' album out this month also is the 'Let Love Rule' feeling of peace the whole world needs right now), only to tell him upon completion, "this is just for us"! Can you imagine Kravitz's jaw and cash drawer dropping reaction? But there's something beautiful and sacred about that. The fact that no matter how much we yearn and burn for it, we probably will never hear the soul these two spiritual artists worked on together, personally...and more importantly privately. Which is their right, not ours. And no matter what, it's still out there. And we mean in the musical ether for God's ears only. Not for public, vulturing consumption. Believe me, some things should just be left be. And if you really love the artist you claim ownership to in fandom, then there is something inherently not quite right about the grave-digging, cherry-picking, money-making off the music he probably never intended to release. Which now sees the light of day in a way which should have only been seen with his consent. Still, truth be told we have no idea of Prince's true feelings on this subject to judge his estate. We had a clue with what they did to Mr. Jackson with 'Michael' and his cease and desist reaction to his love symbol being used in his late friend and music rivals posthumous album artwork. Or the Superbowl Halftime Show ('Purple Rain' in the rain as he throws his bandana into the crowd so cool! Thank you musical Gods) legends beyond the grave thoughts of a hologram being used in sync with pop superstar Justin Timberlake's mid-February tribute. Turns out in the end the man who once started a rivalry with Mr. Rogers after the purple one asked how can sexy be back when it never left, performed a respectful tribute fit for a Prince as the city of Minneapolis lit up a beautiful, purple love symbol across the Viking's stadium and the streets of this Minnesota city. Yet still although we should all just let this great man rest in the peace he's earned and not be like these tabloids who still want to exploit the details of this mans death which in rights only belong to his family privately, just to sell newspapers. There's something about new music from this genius that we just want to at least hear even if the game is to be sold and not to be told. Just to keep this mans spirit alive. Even though we all know it could never die.
'Moonbeam Levels' set it all off on the '4Ever' collection of his ultimate greatest hits. Proving that the level of this stars cutting room floor edits could still shoot for the moon. But we already knew this from his B-Sides greatest best that even appeared in concert (most notably 'She's Always In My Hair' and the originals of superstar songs he wrote for others like Sinead O'Connor's, 'Nothing Compares 2 U') and the complete 'The Works'. And we always knew this day was going to come too where we would see the first full release album from a multiple artist discography load of work from a man who averaged an album for each year he was active in the music industry for over three dynamic, dominant, definitive decades. And you thought rap God, Tupac Shakur had a songbook to rival Dylan's. This real king of pop, Prince had it all in any genre and style. All the way down to the acoustics of the bare and beautiful, pen and paper songwriting origins. Forget two turntables and a microphone. All he needs is piano and I and one. And in tinkling ivories for some songs in the key of his life. Prince gets his 'How Come You Don't Call Me', Alicia and Elton John on. Chord progessive fitting in the fact that the artist was about to tour with just that one instrument and his voice before he died two tragic years ago in the same 12 months we lost a princess too, the beautiful Bowie, George Michael at Christmas, saw the Champ fall and got nothing but Trump and Brexit back in return. Beautiful in tribute in so far as in Paisely Park Prince was actually performing on piano after concerts, in private invite only gigs for his fans where all were welcome on multiple nights, despite multiple health problems, days before he died. There was no other way to set off this collection of life after death releases. And in '83, bridging the year gap between his breakout '1999' and his magnum opus 'Purple Rain', 'Piano & A Microphone, 1983' fits in perfectly. Where else could you hear a minute and change version of the eight wonderful minutes, 'Purple Rain' just as grand and a real and raw rework of the 'International Lover' closer off '99?
Stripped down to the bare minerals and as inspiringly intimate as the freedom of musicality and sexuality the M.F. Prince brought to the 80's like with the 'Virgin', Madonna. For all that's going to come out from this artist in the coming years, this is probably and essentially the closest we will ever get to Prince Rogers Nelson. From the opening "can we turn the lights down" request of the piano sharp highlight of '17 Days' there are no smoke and mirrors here. Just like the iconic, dark room, black and white captured flashbulb moment of the albums artwork and now collection classic cover. Featuring the man himself poignantly and pensive, albeit with strength looking into the good light of the make up mirror, with foundation, water and tissues on the ledge of the desk in front of him. In theatre they call this shot and moment 'The Half' (hour) before curtain call. It's arguably an artist at their most vulnerable, before they bare it all. And what better way to capture Prince's most purest performance than this? And in this nine track beauty featuring the signs of the early times of 'Strange Relationship' and the now lead single of his own classic cover of the spiritual 'Mary Don't You Weep', which has been done from everyone from the dear departed Aretha, to the Seeger Sessions of the Boss Springsteen with so much soul. There's so much gold here from the dust of Prince's purple piano. From 'A Case Of You' to 'Wednesday' and the title and album standout, 'Cold Coffee and Cocaine' that gives the visionary blues key to Ray Charles a run for their stimulating substance. But Trent D'Arby delicately floating finally in this cohesive collections closer 'Why The Butterflies', Prince asks his mother, "what's this strange, strange". And it's almost an echoed sentiment here. Because no matter how good and privileged it feels to hear new music from Mr. Nelson. It also feels a little intrusive and off...and not because of the nature of these real and raw demos that without polish are simply perfect. Take it this way, a 'Hit N Run' year before he died this writer somehow at the last ticket and time off work minute got to see Prince live in the greatest gig he'll ever see and has no cell phone away record of. One that also ended with the encore of a piano solo. All I have is a review and the words that could never do justice to the show that just went on from a showstopper on the envelope pushing top of his musical game (you should really hear the last, new music). One that looking younger than ever we had no idea was going to pass just a calender later. Like Ziggy we thought the symbol was going to live for ever. But in a way like Stardust he will...he's just gone on home to his home planet (thanks Daily Planet in 'Justice League'). But the morning after when I thought my review was going to meet poor writing criticism, it actually found an e-mail headed from "the offices of Prince". One graciously saying they actually, amazingly (thank you lord) liked what I wrote, would I use this official photo instead (erm...yes of course!) and would it be okay to use quotes from it on their website with of course a credit (now c'mon man...what do you think?). Now although hoax or no hoax I never saw my name in those official headline lights it doesn't quite matter. I can't help think to this day, "the offices"? Does this mean he saw my review?! Prince?! Does the 'Controversy' cover star even read his own press? I hope so. But now I'll never know. And in someways like the music we'll never hear, somehow that's alright with me. It's more fitting this way. More pure and beautiful that way. In some ways...it's just right. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Key Tracks: 'Mary Don't You Weep', '17 Days', 'Cold Coffee & Cocaine'.
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