Features
- Cover Type: Paperback with 351 pages
- Published by: SAF Publishing Ltd; 2Rev Ed edition September 1, 2003
- Written in: English
- ISBN 10 Number: 0946719640
- ISBN 13 Number: 978-0946719648
-
Book Dimensions:
7.7 x 5 x 1.1 inches
- Weighs: 13.4 ounces
From Library Journal
Dismissing the last ten years of The Artist Formerly Known as Prince's recorded output as "overproduced and somewhat laboured," Nilsen, editor of the Prince fanzine Uptown, writes instead about the pop star's most creative and successful years (which, he claims, ended with the critically acclaimed Sign of the Times album in 1987). Nicely compensating for the dearth of interviews with the media-shy artist, Nilsen draws from a wealth of interviews with his former band members, lovers, and close associates. But, although he occasionally acts as an apologist for The Artist's eccentric behavior, Nilsen is evenhanded to a fault--he offers little in the way of analysis. Still, his writing allows the reader to form an appreciation for TAFKAP's talent and his staunchly professional work ethic. Although the book contains neither a bibliography nor source notes, it does have annotated appendixes--including a studio session guide, a listing of concerts, and a discography. A good complement to Liz Jones's Purple Reign: The Artist Formerly Known as Prince (Carol Pub. Group, 1998), but purchase only as demand warrants.
-Lloyd Jansen, Stockton-San Joaquin Cty. P.L., CA Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Kirkus Reviews
A tediously detailed hagiography of the prolific pop star who is most famous for changing his name to an unpronounceable typographic symbol, and is now universally referred to as the Artist Formerly Known as Prince. The First Thirty Years might have been a better subtitle, since Nilsen (Prince: A Documentary, not reviewed) begins at his subject's birth as Prince Roger Nelson in 1958, through sexually charged hit records, grueling concert tours, the making of feature films and sound tracks, to the end of 1987, as Prince capriciously decides to withdraw his ``Black Album'' while it is being shipped to record stores. Along the way Nilsen bathes every step on Prince's rise to fame in mythic overtones. ``His talent was so great,'' he quotes an early manager, ``that I walked out of an $8 million-a-year business for him.'' The son of a part-time
jazz musician and a lady who sang in his band, Prince learned to play piano, drums, and guitar while in his teens and rapidly established himself on the Minneapolis dance club scene with flamboyant costumes and tightly scripted shows of flagrantly sexual songs he sang in an androgynous falsetto while doing a striptease or fondling his guitar. Between performances, he worked obsessively on new songs, sometimes for 48-hour marathons without sleep or food. During the first half of the `80s, Prince recorded so much music for himself, for mainstream singers Sheena Easton and Kenny Rogers, and for former lovers Vanity, Apollonia, and Sheila E. that it seemed a short step to the silver screen. His first feature film, the autobiographical Purple Rain, won him a national mainstream audience. But subsequent films Graffiti Bridge and Under a Cherry Moon flopped, though Prince remains respected as a pop experimenter whose techniques have been copied by more commercial singers. A handful of pre-fame photos, thirdhand backstage gossip, and an appendix of recording dates and concert performances: for fans only. (8 pages b&w photos) --
Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Reader Reviews
This review is from: Dancemusicsexromance : Prince - The First Decade (Paperback)
Per Nilsen is the renowned expert on Prince. Combined with "Days Of Wild" (ISBN 91-630-9225-5), you'll be up to date on everything that this artist has given to us. A Prince fan for the last nineteen years, both fanatical, and blasé, I've grown to appreciate the music more because of these writings. Other than the Uptown Fanzines that come out about once every two months, there's really nothing else that is worth reading when it comes to this artist other than other fans writings. All of the critics either love or hate him, always have, and always will (minus the two critics in Minneapolis, who have always been honest about his current output.) While most of the fans are fanatics, who can't find a thing wrong with his work, there are those out there that are subjective, and intelligent. While Per Nilsen is an author himself, he is obviously an admirer of Prince's art as well. It's impossible to find the insight that he provides us elsewhere.
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