Crystal Ball [Box] - Prince (CD 1998)

Prince has been reported to have enough music recorded in his vaults to release a new album every month for a whole year and still have a number of albums left over. The Crystal Ball, his first attempt to release a collection of older music, is a reflective look at tracks that almost made Prince s cut from back in his days with The Revolution up to his days when he was known as a symbol. The Crystal Ball is actually a compilation of bootlegs and near misses that didn t quite make the bar for other Prince releases. It is also Prince s first attempt at an album with online interaction. In that I mean that the lyric book is featured online with outstanding artwork and original presentation. He also included alternate cover art that can be printed. This whole period of time was Prince s online experimentation as The Artist Formerly Known As Prince . His website contained lyrics, a few retail items, info about band members attempts elsewhere in the music world and reactions to other artists and happenings in the industry. The actual Cystal Ball website remains where Love4oneanother.com has been replaced by npgmusicclub.com. Still the artwork and the imaginative way that the lyrics for all of the songs was shown on the Crystal Ball website is well worth the wait of the long page loading times.

The Crystal Ball contains 3 cds of bootlegs and an acoustic album of new material by The Artist which was eagerly anticipated by fans once realized it was acoustic. Yet despite the raw energy of most acoustic performances, this cd was quite mediocre. Each Crystal Ball CD has around 10 to 12 tracks. A few of the tracks are remakes or remixes. One track ( The Ride ) is a live unreleased track. The rest is a hodge-podge of runner-up studio tracks. So let me break it down for you disc by disc.

Disc 1

Crystal Ball
This funky and truly vintage Prince tune is a testament to the originality and genius of Prince. Now that doesn t necessarily mean that it is a great song, but more rather a brave song. It is a track that starts out with strange spacey sounds clicks and whirs and features Prince with a slightly-hydrogen altered voice that he sometimes uses in some of his songs. Probably for the first 5 minutes of the song, Prince really shows why this song was written in a deepbluefunk depression before he attempts to jump into a more funky and solo instrumental song. Still, to this day I have never been ever to really completely understand the lyrics to the song so it more one that a Prince FANATIC would have to explain. Still, the ten and a half minute has some tight bass and guitar solos later in the song after some of the space age noisy-ness is done. Even so, the song ends off quite the way it began weird.

Dream Factory
With a high spirited and loud intro, get ready to jump into another funk classic with Prince still using that hydrogen-altered voice that he enjoys using. A tight song that has two different moods really. Each verse wants to tell a story and slows the vybe down just enough to get the words out before screaming into the chorus where Prince takes his funky bass and rhythm guitar into the next gear. Another testament of what many call the true funk-ability of Prince that many hoped his latest efforts would contain.

Acknowledge Me
In the liner notes it was said that this song was created for the Gold Experience album which I hope to review soon. It was later replaced on the album by the track called P. Control . This song has a bit of appeal and is kind of similar to We March and 319 on the Gold Experience. It isn t too spectacular to me and even has another one of Prince s poor attempts to rap. Complete with strong synth keys and the NPG hornz accompanying, it has a sample from a track called The Line that I suppose Prince plans to release soon.

Ripopgodazippa
A truly sexy song with reggae undertones, this is a tight song that the liner notes say was inspired by an episode on a weight lifting bench . The track is said to be Chante Moore s Precious with the NPG Hornz providing a bit more flava.

Lovesign (Shock G Remix)
This song was originally released on Prince s compilation album 1-800-New-funk with Nona Gaye. I always thought this song was funny because it is said to be Nona Gaye featuring Prince. Still, you hear mostly Prince s voice while Nona s soft voice accompanies his throughout the song. This remix isn t much different from the original only it has a you don t stop cut into various points in the song with a few other track changes.

Hide the Bone
A song by Prince s late 90 s group NewPowerGeneration, it is one of the few songs that Prince did which he didn t actually write. It is an energetic song featuring Prince hollerin and screamin throughout. It also has Prince doing an interesting jazz scat in the middle of the song. Nothing really to get excited about though.

2morrow
One of my favorites, this smooth and mellow track has a really nice cool out vybe and Prince or one of the NPG playing a really nice jazz guitar with the NPG Hornz following in the background. The liner notes say that it was inspired by a girl from the Love4oneanother experience and hence a small clip of the Most Beautiful Girl In The World . It s basically a song confessing jealousy if the girl is desired by the rest of the band .

So Dark
A completely redone smoothed-out track for the original off of the Come album which actually had the song called Dark . This version is much more preferrable.

Movie Star
This is a hillarious song that reminds fans of the days when Prince still rolled with Morris Day and The Time (whom it was actually written for). It has Prince kind of re-enacting the Under A Cherry Moon playa character. The song itself is kind of funky with the synth drums and funky guitar and key play. It is said by the liner notes to be D Angelo s favorite bootleg.

Tell Me How U Wanna Be Done
A slightly repetitive remix that has virtually spoken verses by Prince and Carmen Electra. Not really a spectacular song. I could see it being played in a strip club though.

DISC 2


Interactive
This song was another song that was supposed to be on the Gold Experience. It features some tight guitar play and some raw gritty bass play that carries the track throughout. With his wife Mayte singing background this lively jam was replaced by Endorphin Machine and actually sounds kind of similar to it. I thought it would have been a welcome addition to the album.

Da Bang
This is a strange song that starts of sounding like a semi-blues song and then accelerates into a chaotic rock track midstream. Then, quirkily, it recesses back to the semi-blues cool out vybe over and over. This song, compose when he was still called The Artist I felt could have been left in the Vault. For those itchin for his guitar play give this track a shot.

Calhoun Square
A sort of funky mellow groove that was actually composed about his NPG store. Prince once again gets on his guitar and rocks it. This is a decent track.

What s My Name
A wicked song with Prince playing a funky bass solo throughout. Lyrics are too low to really care about. The bass play has to be heard to be believed!

Crucial
Ok, just imagine a song that kind of reminds you of that classic Adore from the Sign O The Times album well, it should because that is where it was to be placed. Prince does all instruments on this classic and beautiful song in its own right.

An Honest Man
A nice little purely vocal track by Prince inspired by Under the Cherry Moon. Short and Sweet.

Sexual Suicide
Hornz, a Sheila E. conceived drum beat, funky bass, and a Girls & Boys flavor. A decent filler track

Cleorren Bacon Skin
This is one of the oddest tracks that I ve heard. I honestly think that it was D Angelo s inspiration for his Chicken Grease song on Voodoo. This is purely Prince and Morris Day in the studio vybin together on a funky spur of the moment track. It is a fifteen minute long drum and bass track with no lyrics. It is an interesting bootleg but maybe not one you d listen to everyday. You d have to be in that mood. Definitely funky though.

Good Love
A synthesized song that was reminiscent of his Black Album days. I usually skip over this one.

Strays Of The World
This song full of grandeur was intended for Prince s plans to do a Broadway musical. It kind of reminds me of some of his work done on Emancipation. I saw it as another filler track. Didn t like it too much.

DISC 3

Days Of Wild
One of the NPG s favorite jams that could easily been seen done late-night at Paisley Park. Imagine those weak rappers that used to be a part of NPG back in Diamonds and Pearl days and you ll catch the vybe of this song. Prince on the mic. I skip this one too.

Last Heart
A nice little track that Prince intended to be a demo (whatever that really means). It is hard to trap the flavor of this song. It is all around nice with Eric Leeds on the sax and is not necessarily funky but has a unique Prince soul sound to it with soothing jazzy-bluesy guitar riffs. This is another one of my favorites.

PoomPoom
Not made for any album and made when he was still The Artist , this track really did nothing for me with it s odd chorus and could have easily been stuck on Chaos And Disorder . It is that off-base .

She Gave Her Angels
This piano driven song is a story about his ex-wife Mayte. It kind of reminded me of Holy River and some of the other love songs on the end of Disc 2 of Emancipation. I usually skip this one too.

18 & Over
This song actually has a nice funky track that reminds me of Come which it actually pulls from. Unfortunately, Prince raps all through it which always finds me forwarding to the next track just like a Kemosabe-bone-Ranger should ..whatever.

The Ride
Ahh .an excellent live track with Prince providing an excellent blues bootleg. This track was supposedly played a number of times at live concerts and the Sacrifice of Victor version is said to be the best. This is the first of two versions that I ve heard and this one is pretty tight. It will definitely find its way onto your playlist if you like songs where Prince rips it on his guitar.

Get Loose & P. Control
These two instrumental synth-style booty/strip club joints were used for his Erotic City dancers to get down on. Probably good music for excercising since I don t do aerobic dancing, I skip.

Make Your Mama Happy
This is a funky song that is said to be a result of listening to Sly and the Family Stone s Fresh . This is the purest essence of funk by Prince. JB s like hornz with funk guitars and bass. Love it!! Now this one I d dance to!!

Goodbye
This lovely tune was replaced by Holy River on Emancipation. It really sounds fairly nice but I don t particularly like it any better than Holy River or anything else on that second disc slow jam. Drum beat reminds me of So Dark though. It is worth a try though.

The Truth

Finally, the most attractive part of the whole Crystal Ball package was the new acoustic album The Truth . This was really appealing because many felt he should have done one years ago just to flex his musical muscles and show that he could throw down instrumentally. All in all though, the album didn t live up to my expectations throughout AT FIRST. It ended up being one of those albums that as a whole had to grow on me. It is a unique and pleasurable Prince experience. Here is the rundown.

The Truth
This track finds The Artist sitting on a stool playing an acoustic guitar preaching How will U know the Truth . This bluesy track is fairly short and just another reason for fans to love the man. It adds flavor to any Prince playlist and sounds good when coupled with the next track and How Come U Don t Call Me Anymore .

Don t Play Me
I m over 30 and I don t smoke weed .

This is probably his testament to the rest of the artists shooting for him in the industry. Again it is just Prince jammin on an acoustic guitar.

I m the wrong color and I play guitar
my only competition is
well, me in the past
You couldn t play enough for me now
To make me feel like a star
Don t play me
I already do in my car
Don t play me

I love these first two tracks of this album. This one was just too short though. Not even 3 minutes.

Circle Of Amour
I still can t put my finger on the lyrics 4 girls who were cheerleaders and great friends. It is a truly mellow track with acoustic and jazzy guitar riffs accompanied by light synth keys in the background. It is a nice track.

3rd Eye
This track reminds me of Me Shell NdegeOcello jammin on Wild Night . It has Rhonda Smith jammin on the bass. It is a fast paced jam with only acoustic guitar, Prince, and Rhonda. Too tight!!

Dionne
A strange sounding song on the acoustic guitar where it sounded like Prince was trying to experiment with creating sounds on a acoustic guitar to accompany the spacey synth sounds that are featured on the chorus. Another high pitched vocal effort by Prince. Might appeal to others but it is just filler space for me.

Man In A Uniform
A slightly funky song co-written by Rhonda Smith with bongos, guitar, and bass. Strangely pleasing and short song.

Animal Kingdom
After taking a little while to get into the meat of the song, this Rhonda Smith-bass assisted jam has Prince preaching with odd sounds of dolphins in the background and electric guitar assistance for the song. It is a little bit better than a filler track. Will make the playlist for some people interested in Prince s more rock sound. He throws some soulful vocals in there to funk it up a bit.

The Other Side Of The Pillow
I could never put my finger on this one either. It has a blues feel to it while his high pitched vocals carry throughout. Never really caught my ear. SKIP!!

Fascination
Kind of a fast acoustic track with a cool exotic sound to it. The harmony on the chorus is electric. This song is probably one of the tightest on the track and features Rhonda Smith on bass and some percussion. The guitar solo is by someone named Mike Scott .hmmm, go figure. This will spice up any Prince playlist a bit. Not really a danceable track but it is appealing.

One of Your Tears
Killer bass by Rhonda Smith on this slow jam. Virtually no percussion and rightly so. Allows more concentration on the deep and wavy bass play and the occaisional acoustic guitar play.

Comeback
Never really appealed to me. Prince has some nice vocals on this acoustic guitar assisted track. Now percussion. Some may like it as a mellow cool out track.

Welcome 2 The Dawn
Probably a deep song if I had taken the time to listen to the words. Y all try it out because I didn t have the patience to get into the song.


All in all, it is a nice album. Still just as with any Prince album, it all depends on which one of his sounds of his that you like whether you ll like all, some, or none of the album. Still, the shortness of every cd, (50 minutes or less) kind of takes away from the vybe because it is all over before you know it. I recommend buying, picking favs, and making a big 80 minute mix of Crystal Ball/The Truth favs. In the end I felt it was worth the forty bucks I paid for it. It definitely has vintage AND new Prince written all over it .literally!!

Much luv til next time
Live4Love