Prince (August 20, 1990) – “‘Graffiti Bridge’ Soundtrack Album May Be Prince’s Top Winner Since ’84” Feature – Star Tribune

This Star Tribune feature from August 1990, written by Jon Bream, reviews Prince’s Graffiti Bridge soundtrack album, predicting it could be his most successful release since Purple Rain. The article praises the record’s musical focus, collaborative spirit, and its balance between funk, spirituality, and accessibility.

Publication: Star Tribune   Date: August 20 1990 Country: United States

Under the headline “‘Graffiti Bridge’ Soundtrack Album May  Be Prince’s Top Winner Since ’84,” Bream

reports that the soundtrack would arrive in stores that week, ahead of the film’s release later in the year. He describes the 17‑track, 68‑minute double album as one of Prince’s most fully realized works, combining contributions from The Time, George Clinton, Mavis Staples, Tevin Campbell, and others.

The review highlights Prince’s thematic ambition — a search for utopia through the “New Power Generation” — and notes his narrowing of sound toward accessible funk‑rock reminiscent of Purple Rain.

Bream commends Prince’s integration of hip‑hop elements and his continued mastery of musical storytelling. The continuation of the article discusses standout tracks such as Thieves in the Temple, Round and Round, Shake, Can’t Stop This Feeling I Got, and Melody Cool. Bream observes that the album’s diversity and collaborations ensure its longevity, comparing it to Prince’s earlier double albums 1999 and Sign o’ the Times. He concludes that Graffiti Bridge reaffirms Prince’s status as pop music’s most inventive auteur, regardless of the film’s success.

CONTEXT AND NOTES  

By 1990, Prince was expanding his creative universe through multimedia projects, blending film and music as he had with Purple Rain and Under the Cherry Moon.

Graffiti Bridge represented both a continuation and reinvention of his Minneapolis sound, introducing new artists while revisiting familiar themes of faith, desire, and redemption.

This Star Tribune review captures the anticipation surrounding the release, reflecting Prince’s enduring influence on pop and funk as he entered the 1990s with renewed artistic clarity.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS  

Event: Release of Graffiti Bridge soundtrack album Era: 1990 – New Power Generation   Post‑Purple Rain Era

Tone: Analytical, optimistic, and musically detailed Photography: Black‑and‑white image of the Graffiti Bridge album cover featuring Prince’s portrait and collage artwork

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

• Review of Prince’s Graffiti Bridge soundtrack and its creative scope

• Discussion of collaborations with The Time, Mavis Staples, and Tevin Campbell

• Comparison to Purple Rain and earlier double albums

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