By Aliki Barnes
Prince's posthumous legacy in the entertainment industry extends far beyond the extraordinary catalogue of music he released in his lifetime. When he died, in April 2016, he left behind a vault of unheard treasures, unreleased albums, music videos and a trove of additional media waiting to see the light of day.
His work was so prolific, and creativity came to him as easily as fish to water. Many other artists today, whether consciously or not, have gone down a similar path churning out a remarkable volume of work. His contemporaries SAULT, who released five albums in one day, and Devin Morrison, an artist who released 11 albums over two years stand out. Of course, it can be a mistake to overproduce albums. On the one hand, maintaining a constant stream of output allows for consistent practice and skill refinement, potentially leading to artistic growth and development. However, on the other hand, a purely quantitative approach can sometimes jeopardise the overall quality of sound.
Prince’s chart-topping hits like "Purple Rain" and "Kiss” mesmerised audiences worldwide. Beyond his bonkers talent, Prince's distinctive style and enigmatic personality secured his status as an iconic figure in pop culture. Reports indicate that, within his vault in Paisley Park, he hoarded not only thousands of unreleased songs but also extensive concert recordings, rehearsal tapes, video footage and handwritten lyrics. Following his death, estate administrators and archivists began cataloguing and organising the contents of the vault, revealing the depth of Prince’s creative output.
The vault offered comfort and solace for fans as it provided a sense of connection to the singer after his death. It was as though he had left behind this treasure trove of his creativity, a gift for his fans to continue enjoying his new music and discover new sides to his artistry. Knowing that there was still so much unheard material waiting to be explored kept his memory alive. Prince’s former protégé and muse Cat Glover recalls, “We would just write, write, write and then put things to the side and fix them later. Some of his best stuff is in the vault”.
Estimates suggest that there could be over 8,000 items within, demonstrating the breadth of his abilities. Prince’s former sound engineer, Susan Rogers, told the Guardian, “I joined Prince in 1983 when he was preparing to do Purple Rain. I realised it would be smart for me to get his tapes together in one place... I wanted us to have everything he’d ever recorded. I called up the studios he’d been using and said: ‘Have you got any Prince tapes?’ This is his legacy. We need to protect these things. It’s an actual bank vault, with a thick door”.
The latest release from the vault was at the 2023 Prince Celebration at Paisley Park Studios. The annual celebration commemorates Prince’s life and legacy and last year attendees were treated to an exclusive never-heard-before release of “All a Share Together Now” and an alternative version of the track “7” titled “7 (E Flat Version)”. Efforts have been made to carefully curate and release select material from the archive allowing fans to continue the magic of Prince’s music for generations.
Prince's legacy continues to shape the contemporary music scene, where there's a noticeable trend towards prolific releases and a "more-is-more" mentality. In an era of constant content consumption and rapidly changing trends, artists often feel pressure to maintain a consistent presence and keep audiences engaged through frequent releases. Additionally, the availability of digital platforms and streaming services has democratised music distribution, enabling artists to share their work with global audiences more easily than ever before. Musicians are embracing the freedom of accessibility and continuous output of new material as a way to stay relevant in an oversaturated industry.
The time it takes to write and release an album varies widely among artists; however, it typically spans several years from inception to completion. These projects often entail extensive periods of refinement, experimenting with different arrangements and production techniques, ensuring every element aligns with the artist’s creative vision. Producing an album rapidly within a condensed timeframe can really take its toll on all those involved. Creativity demands a huge amount of energy and focus, making such accomplishments seriously impressive. This exact artistry is what makes SAULT’s recent work so remarkable. The band released an astonishing 11 albums in under four years. In an age where attention spans have been shortened by scrolling through 10-second dopamine-hitting videos and trends are everchanging, artists like SAULT understand the importance of staying active and continuously engaging their audience. Another example is Devin Morrison who released 11 albums, containing 7 songs each, within just two years.
When artists produce a large volume of work within a short timeframe, there’s inevitably less time to refine each piece. This often compromises the overall quality – which is a potential trade-off for prolific artists. Take Bob Dylan, for instance, who has released over 50 albums throughout his career, along with numerous live albums and collaborations. Yes, Dylan wrote a number of very popular songs that garnered worldwide acclaim, many tracks in his extensive catalogue did not receive the same level of recognition.
For example, it is known that Dylan’s creative slump in the 1980s hit its lowest point with the release of “Knocked Out Loaded” and “Down in the Groove” which were widely criticised for a lacklustre quality. Rolling Stone magazine stated “[Knocked Out Loaded] is a conceptual mess – the album includes no production credit, and for good reason – turns out to be likeable is a miracle, perhaps the strongest argument Dylan’s yet made for the advantages of being born again. Because he evidently didn’t take Knocked Out Loaded at all seriously.” Ouch!
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