Could Prince's 1999 Album Benefited From Editing?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Jarvius, Feb 8, 2016.

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  1. Jarvius

    Jarvius Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Gautier,Ms
    I listened to this album on Saturday, and while I've been a Prince fan for 8 years, I have yet to get over the length. First of all, "Let's Pretend...." drags on for no reason at all. That was a 4 minute song basically. Same with "Automatic". That song song was over at 4:40ish. For someone like me, it's hard for me to sit an enjoy a unnecessary long song/album. I have ADHD. Not too keen on telling people that.

    This album should've been 60 minutes at least. Not 78. Side 1 is the perfect length. I know it's an artist expressing himself, but it goes nowhere most of the time. "Automatic" was like uuugggghhhhh after the 5 minute mark.
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2016
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  2. wolfram

    wolfram Slave to the rhythm

    Location:
    Berlin, Germany
    Naah, it's fine as it is. "Automatic" has to be that long. There's joy in repetition, you know?
     
  3. DeeThomaz

    DeeThomaz Senior Member

    Location:
    In The Felony Room
    Well, it was edited on CD, omitting "DMSR."
     
  4. segue

    segue Psychoacoustic Member

    Location:
    Hawai'i
    No.
    Man, of all the things to bitch about...:D
     
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  5. Bowieboy

    Bowieboy Forum Resident

    Location:
    Louisville
    compared to some of his 90s stuff, 1999's length is just fine. Not like Emancipation and Crystal Ball which both had 30+ tracks each and both could've had a solid 12 track album there.
     
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  6. Jarvius

    Jarvius Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Gautier,Ms
    Haha. I mean the is pretty long for no reason.
     
  7. 99thfloor

    99thfloor Senior Member

    Location:
    Sweden
    Yes, I think he should have done just like with all his other albums of the time, edited the songs down to "normal" lenght and saved the long versions for 12" releases. There's no reason for "Let's Pretend We're Married", "D.M.S.R.", "Automatic" and "Lady Cab Driver" to go on that long in the context of an album.

    I think the opposite about Purple Rain, I wish those songs had not been edited to fit on a single LP, but there you have it, it is what it is.
     
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  8. Scott S.

    Scott S. lead singer for the best indie band on earth

    Location:
    Walmartville PA
    I never had that thought once with 1999. On the other hand, Sign o' The Times I thought was lousy for that very reason, it seemed to be the first record where Prince wasn't at all picky about what he included.
     
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  9. Hannah

    Hannah Only love can conquer

    The early versions of the CD. For pressings from the past 10 years or so, DMSR is on the CD.
     
  10. 99thfloor

    99thfloor Senior Member

    Location:
    Sweden
    It seems some are commenting on number of songs and song selection, like with Emancipation and Sign "☮" The Times, but the OP is talking about song lenght (at least that's how I interpret it). There's nothing wrong with the songs that are on there, but many of them are unnecessarily long. If it had to be a double LP there were several more good songs from the era he could have added, like "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" and "Irresistible Bitch".
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2016
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  11. JohnnyQuest

    JohnnyQuest Forum Resident

    Location:
    Paradise
    The only flaw is the terrible track sequencing.
    It suffers from a incredibly strong side one. (The ultimate opening trifecta) It makes every other side look weak in comparison.
    So I tinkered with the track listing and now it's all balanced out.

    [​IMG]
    1. 1999
    2. Little Red Corvette
    3. Something in the Water (Does Not Compute)
    4. Delirious
    5. Automatic
    6. Free
    7. Lady Cab Driver
    8. All the Critics Love U in New York
    9. Let's Pretend We're Married
    10 D.S.M.R.
    11. International Lover
     
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  12. Jarvius

    Jarvius Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Gautier,Ms
    Exactly. It's a great album. I just don't think he did the Isaac Hayes Black Jesus too good.
     
  13. Chemguy

    Chemguy Forum Resident

    Location:
    Western Canada
    Nice post question. Yep, it's too long. Editor! Editor!
     
  14. 99thfloor

    99thfloor Senior Member

    Location:
    Sweden
    Make that 25, it was reinstated in 1990/1991.
     
  15. Michael

    Michael I LOVE WIDE S-T-E-R-E-O!

    no...no album should be edited, but one can always skip the tracks they dislike...Ha!
     
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  16. 99thfloor

    99thfloor Senior Member

    Location:
    Sweden
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  17. Matthew Tate

    Matthew Tate Forum Resident

    Location:
    Richmond, Virginia
    crystal ball was an compilation of unreleased/remixed material. why would you want that edited?
     
  18. Matthew Tate

    Matthew Tate Forum Resident

    Location:
    Richmond, Virginia
    for me 1999 is the ultimate 80's prince album so no its fine the way it is
     
  19. JohnnyQuest

    JohnnyQuest Forum Resident

    Location:
    Paradise
    *Black Moses
     
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  20. BlueGangsta

    BlueGangsta Forum Resident

    Location:
    Australia
    "An universe where there is less Prince than in our own is a derelict one."

    - Thomas Jefferson, 750AD (at the first drafting of the Magna Carta for Rolling Stone)
     
  21. Orthogonian Blues

    Orthogonian Blues A man with a fork in a world full of soup.

    Location:
    London, UK
    Some of the grooves on that album I wish could go on forever! But having said that, I wouldn't miss Delirious or Automatic if they were gone.
     
  22. Squealy

    Squealy Forum Hall Of Fame

    Location:
    Vancouver
    If that's your rationale, why not go further and put 1999 and Little Red Corvette on different sides?
     
  23. JohnnyQuest

    JohnnyQuest Forum Resident

    Location:
    Paradise
    Because the transition between the "1999" and "Little Red Corvette" sounds perfect.
    I could replace the two with the single edits but they differ in sound quality with the rest of the album. They're slightly lower in pitch.
     
  24. Preston

    Preston Forum Resident

    Location:
    KCMO Metro USA
    Am I the only person who believes that "D.M.S.R" is brilliant and definitely should not be shortened/edited??? I LOVE that song.
     
  25. andy75

    andy75 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Sweden
    It's perfect! 1999 is one of the finest double albums ever released. On my Prince top five list any day!
     
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