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Dance Music Sex Romance: Prince: The First Decade |
Author: Per Nilsen
Published: 2003-09-01 |
List price: $14.95
Our price: $11.21
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Usually ships in 2 to 4 weeks
As of: December 01st, 2008 01:37:36 PM
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Customer comments on this selection.
 Informative and interesting, but too much of the author's opinion
I read this book in about two days. As a fan for more than 20 years, I was excited to learn more of the back story of Prince's first decade in the music biz, which is the time period this books is supposed to cover. However, it focuses more on the first six years than the first ten. Overall, I found this book very informative in some ways, but far too opinionated in others.
There was interesting information about Prince's early tours, song history, side projects, encounters with various musicians, relationships with some girlfriends (of which there were many) and his charitable side, which usually takes a backseat in the press to more salacious, tabloid-friendly fare. So these were postive aspects of the book, which make it worth the price.
However, where the book fails is that though the information is culled from interviews with "friends" and associates as well as various press interviews that Prince gave during the time covered, the author, Per Nilsen, too often offers his opinion, which hurts the presentation of the information. Nilsen seems to favor the Revolution and appears to overinflate the influence of Wendy and Lisa on Prince's music. Several contradictions reveal themselves as a result of this. For example, Nilsen basically credits Wendy and Lisa for "introducing" Prince to rock music, which is absurd as his earliest albums show obvious rock influences. Nilsen also spends too much time painting the picture that Wendy's sister Susannah was the "love of Prince's life." Again, contradictions present themselves here. At one point the author states that Prince had gone farther with Susannah than any other woman and that she was "wearing his ring." Yet, in an earlier chapter it states that he had been engaged to Susan Moonsie of Vanity 6 sometime in the early 1980s. Nilsen's apparent love of Wendy, Lisa and the Revolution causes him to gloss over many of Prince's other important musical and personal relationships, especially during the Sign O' the Times and LoveSexy era. Finally, another negative is that there are times when Nilsen tries too much to put himself in Prince's head.
That said, it is an interesting read. However, as with any biography, it should be taken with a grain of salt as there is no input from the subject himself.
 Enraptured
I am utterly enraptured with this book!! I have learned so many interesting facts about Prince and his career. I would absolutely recommend this to any Prince fan.
 great amount of info
even f you're a fan, this book will blow you away with loads of information about this artist who had a rollercoaster private life. you won't put this book away.
Detailed Overview of Early Prince
You will enjoy this book if you are a BIG fan of early Prince. If you only have a passing interest in Prince then this book is probably a little bit full on, a little bit too fascinated with the dates of recording and who did what on which track (as it turns out it was generally Prince who did everything on everything). The book is sub-titled: The First Decade. It covers the music of Prince up until the album Sign O the Times. If you are a fan of the later Prince and think his early stuff is naff (electronic drum machines, yuck) then this book is not for you either. The author of the book thinks that Prince has become a lot less interesting through the 90s and on.
There is always going to be one problem with writing any biography about Prince. He doesn't talk to people. You can interview musicians, friends and lovers who knew him, but he doesn't really seem to have talked to them either. The impression that these people give is of an intensely private man who lives through music. You should know this before you buy any biography of Prince. I personally don't believe that it is possible to read too much into Prince's lyrics if you are looking for biographical insights. Frankly, most of his lyrics, especially in the early days, were ridiculous. Ever since Little Richards bawled the opening of Tutti Frutti pop stars have proven you don't need to make sense to sound good.
The book has eight pages of black and white photos on standard paper that are generally unenlightening and uninteresting. There is no index. For the Prince trainspotter there are appendices at the back that list all of Prince's actions in the studio, on the stage and on record from 1975 to 1987, and the personnel involved. The review on the back of the book says that Nilsen writes with a "steady hand", and that seems a fair comment. The writing is not flashy, but the book represents a thorough run through the early Prince chronology for big fans.
Dance Music Sex Romance:Prince The First Decade
This book has alot of information about Prince.
About how he got his start, and things about his life, etc.
If you like to read about Prince and collect his facts.
than this is a good book to get.
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