What Qualifies For Inclusion On The Site?

I strive to make sure all releases listed on this site are widely circulating amongst collectors. By using the term "widely circulating" I refer to a group of around 100 people. Shows / aftershows / studio material which remains within a small group of people does not qualify for inclusion. Including recordings which are in the hands of a small circle would lead to constant requests and/or bad feeling. This site is not an ego-trip.

Sound Quality

In all honesty it is very difficult to be impartial and/or 100% honest when rating the sound quality of either a show or studio material. I try to comment on flaws which are evident, and I rate the sound quality accordingly. I do not demote the recording on account of it being incomplete, of the performance being weak, or it being a below-par concert - I rate the sound quality only. 

Live Recordings 

Soundboard (SB) : A recording taken either direct from the soundboard or from circulating video footage. Whilst most soundboard recordings are of exceptional quality, there are a number from early / mid 1980's which are rather unimpressive. Bear in mind that just because something is a soundboard recording doesn't necessarily make it great.

Audience Excellent (Audience EX) : The best audience recorded quality. Minimal crowd level and maximum enjoyment. Graded in to 3 sub-categories of Audience Ex+ / Audience Ex / Audience Ex-.

Audience Very Good (Audience VG) : An average audience recording. Audible crowd noise, but not so distracting as to be detrimental to the end product. Graded in to 3 sub-categories of Audience VG+ / Audience VG / Audience VG-.

Audience Good (Audience G) : A below average quality recording. It may suffer from a very distracting crowd level, there may be annoying interference, or it is simply a poorly recorded show. Graded in to 3 sub-categories of Audience G+ / Audience G / Audience G-. 

Audience Poor (Audience P) : Terrible sound quality. This grading is reserved purely for the worst of the worst - which thankfully there aren't THAT many of. No sub-categories.

Studio Recordings

Excellent (EX) : Graded in to 3 sub-categories of EX+ / EX / EX-. A rating of EX+ would be on par with any official release.

Very Good (VG) : Graded in to 3 sub-categories of VG+ / VG / VG-. The material would have to have some form of audible defect to be given this rating.

Good (G) : Very rarely used as a rating for studio material as it would signify there is a serious problem with it. Not graded in to any sub-category as a rating of G is sufficient to point out this material has problems.

Poor (P) : Again, it would be extremely rare to find studio material rated as Poor. 

Picture Quality

Far easier to judge than audio material as if something looks shit on screen, it's hard to say it isn't. As with audio material I aim to be as fair as possible to whomever has recorded it as they have evidently gone to great lengths to capture video footage. For detailed picture quality comments, please refer to individual listings.

Professionally Filmed : Filmed either for official video release, for broadcast, or for Prince's own use.

Audience Filmed : Filmed by an audience member in the crowd. 

What's The Point?

It is what it is. This is a completely impartial site detailing the widely circulating recordings of Prince. Whether they be fan released CD-R's, or factory pressed label releases I list anything which is deemed to be "out there". I reserve the right to provide an honest and frank comment on all releases listed within the site. Unlike others, I am in no way connected to any bootleg label and have no vested interest in anything listed within this site. I own no label, nor am I ruled by the politics of the game - I stand fully behind the comments given. 

Contact Info

I can be contacted if you have any comments, queries, information you feel should be added to a listing, if you want to report a dead link, etc, etc. I'd ask that you please bear in mind any requests for / requests on the whereabouts of unofficial material will not be answered and will be simply ignored.