21 NIGHTS - Vote for your favorite track and discuss the book and CD

[freedom]

http://pic30.picturetrail.com/VOL1497/6578230/19042788/336569067.jpg21 Nights is officially released on 30 September 2008. Share your thoughts on the book and cast your vote for your fav track on the CD here. You may also post any reviews from other publications in this thread that you may find.

[Ms.Goodnight]

Eye hate choosing just 1. It isn't fair eye loved them all!!!!!!!!

[Savage]

When I eventually get it I'll be voting! I wish it would hurry up.

[freedom]

When I eventually get it I'll be voting! I wish it would hurry up.

Listening to the CD whilst flicking the pages right now Savage... I'll cast my vote once i've fully digested :D

[Funk]

Well I have a fair few of them from other sources:cool: , and if they are from the same shows, I will find it hard to pick out just the one...If I have to, I will go for Misty Blue, its just so chilled.

Edit, just realised Girls and Boys is there, is it from the 9th Sept? If so then thats my fav... It was awesome, and I was there....

Bugger, edit again.. 3121 is there too... Im giving up until it arrives.

[Dpcontrol]

I got my book in the mail today. OMG!..the excitement.I love the book and the CD. My favorite tracks are Begging woman and Rock Steady ...The whole package is thing of beauty...Thank you My Prince.

[The One]

Prince is just a shy guy

PA Entertainment

http://musicnews.virginmedia.com/entertainment/images/180x180/20081002T052052-PS%20Latest%201-1.jpg Prince's friend and photographer says he is very shy


Prince has played to thousands of people all over the world but it has been revealed that out of the spotlight the star has a solitary and shy side to him.

In 2007 Prince played 21 sell-out concerts at London's O2 Arena and photographer Randee St Nicholas captured behind the scenes footage of the superstar.

And now Randee has revealed what Prince is really like off stage. She said: "He's got a very solitary, introspective side. A very artistic side that's very deep.

"When you see this book you will see how on his own he was. It was a very solitary time when he was here in London and he spends a lot of time on his own.

"He's social but I think he is shy. If he knows you and has something to say, he'll talk to you for hours. If he doesn't know you he's shy."

Asked if there was anything that would shock people about Prince, Randee said: "He's incredibly intellectual, he's an avid reader, he's very very smart and he's educated on pretty much any subject you want to talk about and he's also hilariously funny. I think those are two things that would make people go 'wow, I never thought he would be like that.'"

The photography book, 21 Nights, by Randee and Prince went on sale earlier this week.

http://musicnews.virginmedia.com/news/?news_id=90215

[joyinrepatition]

Just got it at Borders paid £25 tho....my first impresion was on how big it was (it's huge)... I had to ask for it as none were out on the shop floor, very relieved when he said theres one in stock....Im off to take a listen now...I'll cast my vote later.:)

[The One]

Prince: 21 nights on tour and behind the scenes

by SIOBHAN MURPHY - Thursday, October 2, 2008

http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2008/10/prince21nights_450x300.jpg

Unconventional as ever, Prince's first book, 21 Nights (Simon & Schuster, £30), is a bizarre 'photo essay' inspired by his residency at London's O2 Arena last year.

You'd hope for lots of live shots taken during the gigs (especially as everyone else was banned from taking them) - and there are a few but photographer Randee St Nicholas gives us a set of mainly posed fashion-shoot pictures, some snaps of Prince's room at The Dorchester and a slightly embarrassing 'naughty chambermaid' story thread.

Never mind, though: the accompanying Indigo Nights CD is a joyous live recording of Prince and co doing their thing at the after-party shows, which reminds you exactly why we worship the man.

http://www.metro.co.uk/metrolife/books/article.html?Prince:_21_nights_on_tour_and_behind_ the_scenes&in_article_id=334717&in_page_id=28&in_a_source=

[The One]

Take a picture sweetie, he ain’t got time to waste

Anyone not even mildly enthralled by Prince won’t care, but this was supposed to solve the issue of fans taking their own photos of Prince’s 2007 21 Nights In London O2 residency. Odd, then, that there aren’t many live shots, but mostly staged photos taken during his two-month stay in our capital. One of the most beautiful, however, isn’t from London, seeing Prince on a moonlit Charles Bridge during his short sojourn to Prague to film the Somewhere Here On Earth video.

It’s glaring, sometimes tacky, playful, ridiculous even, but always perfectly Prince, right down to the glimpsed 1982-referencing studded trench coat… only this time it’s all studded. The styles, shots with then-dancers The Twinz, early hours (5.33am!?) photos taken while Prince supposedly prowled the streets after the famed O2 aftershows (distilled into one 77-minute bonus CD): they capture what Living Colour’s Vernon Reid meant when he said the Prince of 1980 “became the pimp and the whore in the same body” (though the Prince of 2008 would abhor such a thing).

Mostly, perhaps, it’s a style catalogue, right down to the Style Source Directory; though no one can get close to this man. “Eye’m puttin’ on somethin’ that another won’t dare” he writes. Always have been. Always will.
http://recordcollectormag.com/images/rating-star.gif http://recordcollectormag.com/images/rating-star.gif http://recordcollectormag.com/images/rating-star.gif http://recordcollectormag.com/images/rating-star.gif
ISBN 9781847373830
Reviewed by Jason Draper
http://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/review-detail/3183

[The One]

Legend. Mastermind. Innovator. Renegade. Genius.

Just a few adjectives that are often used when in the midst of a Prince conversation. To me, Prince is the ultimate artist. He ticks every single box you could possibly create when talking about a musician/performer/artist.

Literally living and breathing music, his career spans over 40 years and counting. Grammy’s, Oscars and countless other accolades later and he’s STILL ticking all the boxes and continuing his legacy. Be it his legendary 21 nights in London or his free album giveaway via the Daily Express or his [frantic] campaign against the Internet and the need for total, undiluted control over his name and image over the World Wide Web.

How could Prince NOT be your favorite artist of all time?

This said, you can only imagine my complete and total shock when I received an email inviting ME (Speeakz…of PinBoard?) to attend the launch of Prince’s much anticipated “21 Nights” book at the Dorchester hotel. After my shock and a few days to recover, the 1st October was here - the night of the book launch!

http://pinboard.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/dsc07430-large.jpg?w=420&h=315

At Dorchester, the grand entrance, the restaurant and even the man playing the piano simply scream…Opulence. It was clear why Prince chose the Dorchester to be his home for 21 nights.

Making out way to the Crystal Room, we were greeted by the PR’s (all very nice may I just add) and a stunning grand crystal piano, after climbing the spiral stair case and passing a stunning crystal chandelier and a glass of champagne or two, (orange juice for the non-drinkers) we FINALLY got our hands on a copy of the book.

http://pinboard.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/dsc07426-large.jpg?w=420&h=315
http://pinboard.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/dsc07425-large-copy.jpg?w=420&h=315

The first thing you notice about the “21 Nights” book is the level of photography. Prince looked dapper, sensitive, sexy and oh, so very Prince-like. Images of the Twins, the NPG band and backing singers are also featured in the book. But the true bonus was the CD which I have been told will feature performances, live recordings, poems, and never before released tracks, an amazing account of his infamous Indigo Nights after party sessions.

While previewing the book Simon & Schusters (the publishers) editorial director gave a brief speech before introducing the photographer who brought the book to life: Randee St. Nicholas [pictured]. Extremely shy and sweetly petite she gave a very brief speech and personal insight, mentioning how truly blessed she was in taking part in such a monumental project.

http://pinboard.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/dsc07419-large.jpg?w=420&h=560

We all know Prince is very private and everything he does is shrouded in secrecy, so to be on the ‘inside’ of that world was just brilliant. Put simply “21 Nights” is an absolutely stunning piece of art. A gorgeous coffee table book that any Prince fan (or music fan for that matter) should own. The glossy pictures go on for what seems like forever (unfortunately it does come to an end) alongside Prince’s lyrics sprawled across the pages, with time and dates chronicling the 21 nights spent in London.

http://pinboard.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/prince-21-nights-11.jpg?w=420&h=319

As with anything Prince attaches his name to, I had extremely high expectations of this book and just like anything Prince attaches his name to - it exceeded them!
“21 Nights” is a MUST have purchase for either yourself or as a present, this book is magnificent but don’t trust me, trust Prince!

“21 Nights” is now available at most bookstores and amazon.com!

Peace, Love & Prince/21 Nights

http://pinboardblog.com/2008/10/02/prince-21-nights-book-launch-the-dorchester/

[Funk]

My Book arrived today. Love the book, fantastic value for money at £13.50, a real slick and professional looking book. Would have liked more shots of the shows, or Prince on a more relaxed seting, not so staged, but alas thats not his way.

As for the CD. Only listened to it once so far, and not that impressed tbh. Could have been so, so much better.

[freedom]

Some random thoughts...

For the discounted price (£15 + p&p) I'm impressed with the quality of the book/cd combo...Large format, hardcover on heavy stock paper... full marks to Prince and the publisher for that.

As for the pictures... most are beautifully photographed (albeit retouched/airbrushed). There could have been however more action shots of Prince and the band live onstage, more natural shots and less posing...

The cd I think is not a bad representation or what a typical Prince aftershow in a small intimate setting is like... Just Prince and the band (and odd guests), jamming, improvising, trying something different (either with his own songs or cover version), generally having fun pleasing/indulging himself plus some crowd interaction. Basically doing things he would not normally do at a standard live show.

The tracks that stand out for me on the CD are 3121, Just Like U, Rock Steady (our Bev did the man proud with this version), Whole Lotta Love, Indigo Nights (love Renato's skillful keys), Misty Blue, The One and All The Critics...

But the one that got my vote is the bluesy gospel-delic version of "Satisfied" - Mike Phillips sax sends chills down my spine!!!

Overall it's a great package and a good momento of those 21 nights in London. It could have included a bonus DVD though.... or is that too much to ask Mr. Nelson? ;)

[The One]

Purple haze

Prince wears a familiar mask in his new coffee-table photo book, but its live CD is a splendid late-night soundtrack.

By JON BREAM, Star Tribune

Last update: October 5, 2008 - 7:45 AM

Light some candles. Put “Indigo Nights” on the CD player. Plop down on the couch. Crack open the book on the coffee table.

It’s called “21 Nights” (Atria Books, $50). It contains 124 photos taken during Prince’s 21-concert stand at London’s O2 Arena in the summer of 2007.

The book, published Wednesday, comes with “Indigo Nights,” a 14-song CD recorded during those late-night, after-concert club shows Prince is famous for.

The music makes the photos come alive. Photographer-to-the-stars Randee St. Nicholas captures Prince walking in the rain, stepping out of a luxury car, standing in an elevator, talking on the phone, sorting through his closet, strutting down a purple-lit backstage hallway, standing by the side of his empty bed, fully clothed, at 5:33 a.m.

The photos are perfectly lit. His makeup is impeccable, his hair immaculate. Stylists, makeup artists and clothing/jewelry designers are given proper credit (including phone numbers/websites for some) in the back of this fashion-obsessed book.

Yes, Prince conceived some of these scenes himself, probably including the photo of his personal Bible (with “Prince R. Nelson” inscribed on the cover) on a hotel bedstand next to his blinged-out glyph pendant on a necklace.

These luxe, highly stylized shots might remind you of Prince in 1986’s “Under the Cherry Moon,” his second feature film, set in Paris. “21 Nights” is set in London (with a sidetrip to Prague), but Prince appears as stiff here as he did in “Cherry Moon.” His expressionless face masks any emotion. The same could be said of the other characters in “21 Nights” — the various members of his NPG band and model Chelsea Rodgers as a hotel chambermaid.

Poetry and lyrics — some from unrecorded songs — help to bring Prince’s personality to the pages. None of those lyrics is featured on “Indigo Nights,” a typically exciting late-night blend of jazz, blues, funk and rock that’s split between cover tunes (“Whole Lotta Love,” “Baby Love”), Purple favorites (“Boys & Girls,” “Alphabet St.”) and two unreleased songs (the title track and “Beggin’ Woman Blues”). Prince gets funky, funny and, of course, sexy in these selections recorded during his after-parties at Indigo2, a club space attached to the arena. He shares the spotlight with his players and singers Shelby J. (Dorothy Moore’s “Misty Blue”) and Beverly Knight (Aretha Franklin’s “Rock Steady”).

As for the photos, surprisingly few actually show Prince performing on the O2 stage. In what she calls a “photographic essay,” St. Nicholas, who has directed more than 150 music videos (starting with Prince’s “Gett Off” in 1991), opts mostly for posed images — something Prince has done so well for so long.

“It is not a manipulation for control’s sake, as it is often judged,” St. Nicholas argues in a preface to the book. “It is a way of being, a way of constantly stirring things up.”

Think about that for a moment as you get up from the couch. Turn up the CD player. You can dance if you want to.

Hear samples of "Indigo Nights" at startribune.com/music or call 612-673-7800 and enter 1285 for "Delirious," 1286 for "Beggin' Woman Blues" and 1287 for "Misty Blue."

source: http://www.startribune.com/entertai...l?elr=KArksUUUU (http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/30190584.html?elr=KArksUUUU)

[The One]

:punk: WHOLE LOTTA LOVE!!!! :notworthy: :boobies: :boobies: :firing: :bustedcop: :rasta: :hail: :musicband: :jumpy: :mooning: :headbang: :smoke: :muscle: :-)) :blush:

Peace.

[Warlock]

The book's alright, I don't see any real point to it, but it's alright. Mainly I see it as a really heavy CD cover.

The CD itself, though, is great fun and easily trumps the ONA live album for me. Using the Whole Lotta Love bassline on Rocksteady works superbly well. The sax playing on Satisfied is just incredible, too. I voted for Alphabet St. as my (current) favourite because it was the track I was expecting least of - I was only really half-listening the first time, and Prince stopping the band, highlighting the bass and pointing out just how funky it was, brought it alive for me.

Having put the CD on my iPod now, I doubt if I'll ever open the book again, though.

[Ms.Goodnight]

WOW 15 pounds. Sounds cheap 4 the book! Over here in the US it's 50 dollars. Eye don't no the conversion between the US and UK money. But it sounds as if there's a huge discount over there! Eye should move 2 England it much more funky over there! Prince seldom ever comes over here anymore.:( :-(

[The One]

EAR SHOT: Prince, 'Indigo Nights'

By Scott L. Miley, Herald Bulletin Special Projects Editor

Prince, "Book: 21 Nights by Randee St. Nicholas," Atria Books Rating: 1 (of 4)

Music: "Indigo Nights," NPG Records, Rating: 1.5 (of 4)

Prince may not be the marketing master he used to be. Last year, he irritated his record company by releasing “Planet Earth” as a freebie inside copies of London’s The Mail newspaper. Now, he comes back with a disc (his first live CD release) that is only available with a $50 coffee table fashion book. The book is the larger disappointment, failing to capture any excitement in the 21 sold-out nights at London’s O2 arena. Shot by Randee St. Nicholas (such a Prince-sounding name), the slick photos depict models getting out of cars and wandering through the Rochester Hotel where Prince stayed. There isn’t one crowd shot or even one showing the enormity of the venue. Included are rather shallow lyrics by the Purple poet. Allegedly giving us a view behind the scenes, the book is a poor marketing ploy that is nowhere near a concert keepsake.

The music on “Indigo Nights” reminds us that Prince often hides behind funk; he doesn’t have to play the guitar as long as he (shades of James Brown) has a tight band. Instead, Prince talks teasingly across the funk about women and fame. Three songs featured supporting females. There are times we’re not sure Prince is on stage. By the time he raises his guitar, it’s the ninth song and he throws everything into a cluttered “Whole Lotta Love.” We have to wait until the final two songs for the instrumentals: a simmering, solo-rich “The One” and a spunky, jazzy, London-revised “All the Critics Love U in New York.” Though it sounds like an enticing insider’s view of 21 concerts, both book and disc are weak. Marketer Prince may have outsmarted himself on this one.

http://www.theheraldbulletin.com/peopleandplaces/local_story_296192253.html

[partyman2008]

I vote for THE ONE

[thepurpleexperience]

whole lot of love cool version not many people pull it off
P did ok with this one

[Goldfigga]

beggin' woman. i just love it when prince drops the blues on us.