4/5
Diamonds Are Forever.
Draped in diamonds, Prince dropped pure pearls of wisdom in 1991 right in the midst of his 'Purple Rain' as the biggest star in the world like Michael. Jordan or Jackson (this was the 90s, after all). The multi-platinum, worldwide smash hit 'Diamonds and Pearls featured smash singles like the album's terrific title-track. Not to mention the 'Cream' of the crop like 'Gett Off' (like Eric Leeds) for a man who knew how to do exactly that without a parental advisory sticker (remember those? Feel old yet? You're parents now yourselves). An 'Insatiable' desire that believed in an elevator higher love that rained like a cinematic 'Thunder'. One that would give you the world like 'Diamonds and Pearls', but in actuality all that it has to offer is the best and the most we can give another, our hearts. Because like the jazzy album highlight 'Money Don't Matter 2 Night'. And it won't matter tomorrow when you wake up with the one who will still be there the morning after...and the day after that.
When Prince passed, vultures said, "this will be the day"...and raided his legendary vault in Paisley Park for the heart of the Minnesota Purple Yoda. The wolves may have come in Minnie, thinking they had the Big Ticket like Da Kid, KG, but A to Z, we know better. We know how the game works. It's strange in this day and age to be writing about this Super Deluxe Edition album, and not quite right. Especially in the same week that THIS generation's music megastar Taylor Swift releases her version of her classic '1989', to take creative control and power back from her masters. But like "being colour-blind" in 'Diamonds', let's let the 'Pearls' of "love decide". We have to give it up for the man we're streaming on YouTube, not the machine that keeps churning out his classics for profit. But as long as the money is going to his family, or foundation...we understand. The '91 jam recorded between Olympic, London and North Hollywood (and of course, Paisley) was a lucky 13th release this New Music Friday with New Power for your revolution's Generation. The first of its and their kind, getting closer than legendary Rosie Gaines close, front and centre like a Diamond, for this girl best friend. The funk of 'Daddy Pop' for you 'Jughead(s)' also kept this album 'Strollin'' ('Walk Don't Walk' like the most confusing crossing) and stone rolling. Whilst another album highlight 'Willing and Able' was ready for the Super Bowl XXVI closing CBS credits for a man who would bring that very house down years later.
'Push' play and play again on this remastered masterpiece painted by Prince. All the way to the 'Last Words From The Cockpit' that 'Live 4 Love'. Because like tracks of Springsteen sessions for your boot-cut American dream bootlegs, Prince's vault holds more diamonds than an Ian Fleming forever novel. New mixes and extended cuts of his classic add more legacy making layers to his MPLS love symbol sound. Especially getting off for 'Damn Near 10 Minutes' before the house-lights of the Houstyle remix as 'Violet The Organ Grinder' does exactly that. This is it. The best 'Cream' of the crop since Prince threw his rings into the Webster Hall crowd with his purple acoustic set he wouldn't start until the fans sang along ("nah-uh") the right way. This 'Horny Pony' keeps on rocking until a rocking horse s###s with hits like the 'Gangster Glam' of the B-side winning again. A K.C mix of 'Do Your Dance' continues to make love with your headphones. Whilst Tony M. raps 'Things Have Gotta Change' for the New Power and some generational music television. It's time to 'Call The Law', because it only gets more arresting from here on out. The 'Vault Tracks' of this album that came between the 'Graffiti Bridge' movie soundtrack and the '7' seal of 'The Love Symbol' album unlock even more. Beginning endlessly with the 'Schoolyard' days from the funkiest one, and 'My Tender Heart', at Prince's most beautiful. "I watch as the leaves turn from green to brown/And I know One by one they fall right to the ground/And I try not to wonder if I'll ever see you around/'Cause just like the winter you came in with a roar/And left without a sound." The fall of this Autumnal love too much for a man who spent 'Another Lonely Christmas' like '17 Days' as the rain came down, because you weren't there.
Drinking banana daiquiris until you're blind because the 'Pain' is exactly that, Rogers Nelson solidarity soothes. His pain, he shares it with you. Like a 'Streetwalker' looking for love. Maybe it's in the form of 'Lauriann', "The rhythm of her walk/Like a tall-tale talkin'/Ain't a boy around her/Ever been tame." There's a 'Darkside' to all these extended versions and alternate takes, and it's all so beautiful as you skip to my lou like Rafer Alston for 'Skip To My You My Darling'. Nelson cooks up more in 'Martika's Kitchen', originally off Martika's self-titled debut. But it's the soulful 'Spirit' of this Jehovah's witnesses 'Open Book' that really 'Works That Fat'. All until you 'Hold Me' over lines like, "I've tried so many times 2 erase your memory from my mind/Yet, it doesn't ever last 4 long/I see your picture then I hear your voice/Our love must be stronger than before." Brooding beauty until theirs 'Blood On The Sheets', instrumentally proving this guitar symbolic God can rock out the best of them like when he did for George Harrison, never coming down. Bang Pow Zoom and the Whole Nine act like Rodman and Pippen to the Jordan of 'The Last Dance'. But 'Don't Say U Love Me' when, "If ever there was a girl of contradiction, baby, that girl is you/One minute you are a stranger, the next you’re my guru/You used to hug me, kiss me, touch me, lick me, fill me with all your charms/That was then, this is now." This man has lyrics that lick to go like he's got "too many hits" in London's 02 run after party.
'Get Blue' like Joni and the third disc of this vault trilogy keeps it purple, before it fades to black, never in the red. On the 'Tip o' My Tongue' Prince brings that cream feeling back...yeah I said it. 'The Voice' of explicit beauty like Murakami in Japan, preaching the gospel of, "Ching!/Mr. Politician goes on vacation (Oh)/Brings along a friend or two/In the disguise of taxes/Mr. Politician (Sends) sends the bill to you know who." If you thought it was all about sex, then what the f### were you thinking, as Prince gets political, a songbook spokesperson for a once great America like Bruce and Bob Dylan. He's 'Trouble' as he keeps you tumbling down the rabbit hole for the revelatory 'Alice Through The Looking Glass'. Taking it personally and then making it so for this next generation with the trouble in paradise of 'Standing At The Altar'. There is lonely and there is lonely. And then there is "Why?/I got the news just yesterday/They said you up and ran away/All because of what somebody said/I spent my wedding night alone in bed", in matrimony with many who have been jilted and left holding a broken heart until death does them part. 'Hey U', you know how it feels and Rogers has got you like Hammersmith. Live at the Apollo like a 'Letter 4 Miles' that still reaches you after all these years (over 30) and the death of the one who reigned supreme. Long live Prince, singing 'I Pledge Allegiance To Your Love', "So 4 U and all that is good and true/I hereby state my allegiance 4 U and all that is true/I hereby state my allegiance." Curtain concluding with the damn over ten-minute 'Thunder Ballet' to sign off these tracks that are slamming like the late, great Charlie Murphy once said. All before the in your face Live At Glam Slam set brings us back on home to the twin cities. Thunder, all around, volleying through the night until the pearls fall for the man who even gave 'Batman' a sick soundtrack. The NBA may have just celebrated three quarter's of a century, but nothing balls out like these tracks. Happy, boys and girls? I guess with this diamond mined out the rough, love is still the master plan. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Playlist Picks: 'Diamonds and Pearls', 'Thunder', 'Money Don't Matter 2 Night'.
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