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Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1555
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 11, 2008 - 12:32 pm: | 
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Here is something all you Prince fans out there can appreciate; 21 Nights
Interestingly enough this is a book review I almost did not run. In fact, I'd made a decision not to go out of my way to do any promotion for this book.
You see, during Book Expo America this there was a big book launch party at Prince's house -- I later learned he actually performed. I was not invited to the big shindig.
Now it is not that I'd never seen Prince, in fact I'd resently spent a boatload of money to see him perform at his club in Vegas.
The point was, as a prominent Black book seller exhibiting at Book Expo, this was too much of a slight to ignore. Other book vendors not invited did not really care... Honestly I did not care THAT much either but still I think not being invited is indicative larger problem in publishing.
Here you have a $50 (retail) book that, in all honestly will not likely sell many units. You would think they would make some overtures to vendors -- at least a free promotional copy.
Despite that I even went to a "listening party" and paid full retail + tax for a copy of the book! Which I promptly gave away as a present. It did not look like more than a handful of copies were sold during the event. I often wonder why bother to support some entities...
So despite the folks at Atria; I know there are some hardcore Prince fans out there that would really appreciate this book. Thumper raved over 21 Nights (Thumper even PURCHASED the copy he reviewed). At the end of the day I'm more concerned about sharing information about good books than anything else.
Peace |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1556
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 11, 2008 - 12:33 pm: |
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Oh, here is the URL to the book review: http://reviews.aalbc.com/21_nights_by_prince.htm |
Emanuel
Veteran Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 664
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 11, 2008 - 01:13 pm: |
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Awww! I was hoping for a memoir with details about Vanity 6, The Time, etc. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 12940
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 11, 2008 - 01:32 pm: |
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Actually the book appears to be a showcase for Prince's enormous ego. I like "old" Prince music, and I didn't grow with him. What some called "eccentricities" started to come across to me as just plain childishness. I think the last song I actually dug by him was "Adore". After that I never got into anything else he put out. My loss, I'm sure... |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1560
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 11, 2008 - 02:44 pm: |
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E, Cyn, you are looking at the book the way an average person might. Which is one of the reasons (besides alienating at least one book seller ;-)) the book will not garner mass appeal or big sales figures.
Sure if you saw 21 in the store you might pick it up a flip through the pages and wonder what the songs on the CD might sound like. But at $50 most people will pass.
This book is strictly for Prince fans. I trust Prince is doing some promotion of the book himself, or else it will really bomb.
The book is impressive in size and weight. The copy I brought was shrink wrapped so I actually have not seen the inside of the book myself.
If a Prince fan (Thumper) likes it that is good enough for me to recommend. Even Thumper writes "21 Nights is a book for Prince’s fans. I doubt it if anyone not interested in Prince as an artist, will give one whit about this book/CD." |
Thumper
Veteran Poster
Username: Thumper
Post Number: 670
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 11, 2008 - 07:50 pm: |
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Hello All,
Troy: Man, if I had known that Prince gave you the snub I wouldn't have written a review for the book/CD. Prince is my boy and all but business is business. I paid $30 for mine, but I aint about to lie, I would have paid $50, happily.
Cynique: Yeah, Prince has an ego, but the book is really a big concert program book. But, as I stated, I'm a serious Prince fan so I'm real cool with it. I can't knock your perception. Adore was a tight cut, loved the harmonies on that one. |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1565
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 11, 2008 - 10:14 pm: |
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Thump, I'm sure Prince has no idea man (well at least I'd like to think so). I'm sure it was the myopic folks at Atria.
Still I thought you did the book justice. And hey you never know, maybe I'll sell a few more that the one you ordered (smile). It would be nice if I make enough to earn the money I spent on the one I brought.
Now tell me; why would anyone (me), in their right mind, would pay 20 extra bucks for a book they can buy online (via AALBC.com of course) AND have delivered for free?
I have to admit it I did think twice about shelling out the extra money. But then, in this case, it obviously was not just about the book... |
Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 3239
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 12:54 pm: |
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Thanks for the ordering info, Troy! And great review, Thumper! |
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