Prince (October 24, 1988) – “Prince Composes His Own Musical Journey” Feature - Detroit Free Press
This extensive Detroit Free Press feature examines Prince at a difficult but highly productive point in his career. Against the backdrop of the Lovesexy era, the article considers declining American record sales and concert attendance alongside Prince’s formidable musical output, Paisley Park activities and continuing determination to pursue artistic success rather than simply repeat the commercial formula of Purple Rain.
Publication: Detroit Free Press
Date: October 24, 1988
Country: United States
Published under the headline “Prince composes his own musical journey”, the feature considers the changing commercial position of Prince four years after Purple Rain had turned Prince into one of the biggest stars in popular music.
The article acknowledges that Prince continued to produce successful records and receive critical acclaim, but argues that the scale of Prince’s American popularity had declined. Album sales were lower, concert attendance had fallen and more recent films had been commercially unsuccessful.
Radio programmer Rick Gillette argues that Prince could no longer rely simply upon celebrity, saying audiences were increasingly judging each recording on its musical merits.
The article backs this assessment with contemporary sales figures. Around The World In A Day is reported as selling 3.4 million copies in 1985, Parade 1.9 million in 1986, and the double album Sign O’ The Times 1.7 million. At the time of writing, Lovesexy had yet to receive million-selling certification.
THE LOVESExY PERIOD
The article also looks at the American Lovesexy Tour, described as Prince’s first extensive U.S. tour in four years.
Despite Prince’s reputation as a live performer, the newspaper reports that the tour was having difficulty selling tickets. Prince had already removed hometown appearances scheduled for September and was facing additional problems in other cities.
The article contrasts this situation with Prince’s extraordinary Detroit popularity in 1984. The photograph caption recalls that during that year Prince was sufficiently successful to perform seven sold-out Detroit concerts.
Prince himself is quoted discussing commercial considerations in much broader terms, emphasising that money and record sales were secondary to the music and to Prince’s desire to continue producing work.
A CAREER AFTER PURPLE RAIN
The feature identifies Purple Rain as creating an almost impossible commercial standard for Prince’s subsequent releases.
Other artists are used to demonstrate how difficult it can be to follow an enormous breakthrough record. The article argues that even successful performers rarely match the sales of their biggest albums every time.
Prince’s output since Purple Rain is described as exceptionally prolific. Alongside the albums, Prince had completed two films, toured Europe and recorded The Black Album, which was withdrawn shortly before its intended release.
The article suggests that the volume of work may itself have contributed to Prince’s changing commercial position.
PAISLEY PARK AND OTHER ARTISTS
Another important part of the feature concerns Prince’s work beyond Prince’s own recordings.
The article notes the establishment of Paisley Park Records and Prince’s songwriting and production involvement with artists including Sheila E., The Bangles, Sheena Easton, Kenny Rogers, The Family, Madhouse, The Three O’Clock, Taja Sevelle and Nona Hendryx.
While acknowledging the generally high quality of much of this material, the feature questions whether Prince’s extraordinary workload may have created professional exhaustion.
Radio programmer Chuck Beck describes the possibility of burnout, while music writer Jon Bream identifies several factors that may have damaged Prince’s American commercial position, including single choices, the lack of extensive U.S. touring and Prince’s continuing reluctance to give interviews.
PRINCE’S OWN VIEW
Prince’s comments provide an important counterpoint to the commercial analysis.
Prince speaks about striving for perfection while admitting to a stubborn streak. Rather than expressing concern about sales statistics, Prince talks about wanting the freedom to pursue whatever creative direction feels appropriate.
The article also includes comments from musicians who had worked closely with Prince.
Sheila E. recalls Prince encouraging Sheila E. towards greater independence, while Lisa Coleman describes Prince as “a true artist” and suggests that Prince’s body of work would ultimately be judged through the albums rather than simply through immediate sales figures.
CONTEXT AND NOTES
The feature offers a detailed snapshot of Prince’s American career in October 1988, balancing evidence of reduced commercial momentum against the extraordinary amount of music Prince continued to create.
Rather than presenting Prince as an artist whose career was simply in decline, the article asks whether changing public tastes, relentless productivity and Prince’s refusal to repeat earlier formulas had altered the scale of Prince’s mainstream success.
The accompanying photograph shows Prince performing with a guitar. Its caption contrasts the situation in 1988 with 1984, when Prince played seven sold-out concerts in Detroit.
WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS
• Assessment of Prince’s changing commercial position following Purple Rain
• Reported sales of Around The World In A Day, Parade and Sign O’ The Times
• Discussion of difficulties affecting the American Lovesexy Tour
• Reference to Prince’s seven sold-out Detroit concerts in 1984
• Discussion of The Black Album being withdrawn before release
• Prince’s work through Paisley Park with numerous other artists
• Comments from Sheila E., Lisa Coleman, Jon Bream, Rick Gillette and Chuck Beck
• Prince emphasising artistic freedom and music over sales statistics
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Event: Career assessment during the Lovesexy era
Era: 1988 Lovesexy period
Tone: Analytical, questioning and ultimately respectful
Photography: Large black-and-white performance photograph of Prince with guitar
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