RIP Prince

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Press photoshoot from 1996.

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Really enjoyed working on this 1981 beauty and restoring it in a new fashion.

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Great acoustic set from 2004.

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Finally converted that VHS tape from '97:

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This particular one is a mix of 'What's My Name' (that was written by the Artist in 1993 and later released in 1998 on "Crystal Ball") & "The Sacrifice of Victor" (that was included on the 1992 Symbol album). It is quite a fascinating blend of two powerful songs that, in unison, produce a magnificent composition about the roughness of life & a level of endurance that it takes to get through it.

* Fun Fact: this song was also performed, live on stage, along with Kendrick Lamar on 30th of September, 2014.

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This is one of my personal favorite projects that I had a chance to work on (despite a lot of visual/audio-related issues). I honestly feel that this heartbreaking and tragic story that The Artist is trying to tell us through his lyrical composition (he recorded it back in 1982) is actually better suited with his own 2014 dark, haunting & foreboding reworking as opposed to his more uplifting, upbeat, cheery, almost nursery rhyme-like 1987 original from the Sign O' The Times album (not trying to disown anything, just stating my personal opinion).

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Wishing Chaka Khan a speedy recovery (she had it really rough as of late, so let's support her in this very difficult time in her life unlike a lot of angry individuals over other social media platforms, after all, she is just struggling human being like all of us, we all go through our ups & downs, so showing some compassion and love is not that difficult).

I would like to dedicate the following gentle & sensitive track to her... "Journey 2 The Center Of Your Heart" from Chaka's 10th album "Come 2 My House" was written, recorded & produced by the Artist (along with Chaka) from 1995-1998, only to be finally released in '98. It also featured Chanté Moore on background vocals, while some of the original rough tracking had Stacy Francis recording unfinished vocal overdubs.

* Interesting fact: this song was performed by the Artist along with his fantastic band (Renato Neto, Rhonda Smith & the late, great John Blackwell) only once in a live format (our video project - in 2009).

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We start this Thursday with "When You Were Mine" from The Artist's Dirty Mind album (1980). It's a pretty self-explanatory song, but one that has a catchy tune and a very great musical vibe. When you really start to think about it, most of The Artist's early repertoire (1979-1981) deals with the notion of P trying to understand a lot of women & give them all that they could ever ask for, but in the end, all they do is covered in disappointment, lies & frustration.

* Fun Fact: A few days ago, on March 18th, 1980, I Wanna Be Your Lover (also from our 'Party Like It's 1981' cycle of video projects) was certified gold by the RIAA (1,000,000 copies):

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Mixing & restoring this special video project was a delight, for it was rather exciting to see the Artist taking on a striking new stage guise & performing visual, audio & theatrical wonders. So much provocation, so much mad energy & so many raw feelings. It truly captivates one's imagination... you cannot take your eyes off him.

This is an amazing live mashup of several memorable compositions crafted by The Artist throughout the years: "It" (1987), "Thieves In The Temple" (1990), "Sexy M.F." (1992) & "D.M.S.R." (1982).