Prince - Diamonds and Pearls (1992)

For the first time on DVD from Prince and the New Power Generation comes the Diamonds and Pearls DVD featuring concert footage band interviews and live versions of "Thunder" "Jughead" and "Live 4 Love" as well as video clips of the smash singles "Gett Off" "Cream" "Diamonds and Pearls" "Insatiable" and "Money Don't Matter 2 Night."Track Listing1. Gett Off2. Cream3. Diamonds and Pearls4. Call The Law5. Willing And Able6. Insatiable7. Strollin'8. Money Don't Matter 2 Night9. Thunder10. Dr. Feelgood11. Jughead12. Live 4 loveFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: MUSIC DVD/CONCERTS UPC: 603497164424 Manufacturer No: 971644-2 Product Description

disappointing

Really disappointing and boring. You have to go through so much bad acting to hear ANY decent music. January 11, 2007

It Is What It Is, Not Much More

For the first time Prince and the N.P.G.'s Diamond and Pearls Video Collection is available on DVD. The collection was a treasured favorite when it was available on VHS.

First things first, I must address the picture and sound quality. It doesn't appear that the set was re-mastered--the picture or the sound. Despite this, it looks and sounds good--just not what you would expect from a DVD. Sound and picture wise it's not much different than my VHS version.

If it's been awhile since you have seen this collection let me refresh your memory. It includes the music videos from Prince's album Diamond and Pearls album. Videos included are "Gett Off," "Cream," "Diamonds and Pearls," "Call The Law," "Willing and Able," "Insatiable," "Strollin'," and "Money Don't Matter 2 Night."

Live concert footage featured on the set includes "Thunder," "Dr. Feelgood," "Jughead," and "Live 4 Love."

The running time of the set is 58 minutes. It's pretty much the same as the VHS version--except on DVD. There is nothing new, but its great that Prince fans can finally own this set on the most current format available.
October 9, 2006

Finally and great!!!!!!!!

I never thought they would release this DVD. First of all, let me make this clear, this is in region 1, not region 2 like Amazon states. There are no extras at all. What we get is what exactly what was released on video in 1992. That is correct. My brother and I purchased this on Thanksgiving weekend in 1992, which was virtually 1 year after the Diamonds and Pearls album was released. This DVD is much better, as it represented crystal sharp quality, which of course beats the VHS. One thing I must note that many people never bring, possibly becuase they don't know. The "Gett Off" video is the edited version on the DVD, as well as it was on the Diamonds and Pearls VHS. I would think as a bonus, they would add the original cut. But they did not. The saddest part is most likely the original maxi-video will never be released on DVD. That video was released right before the Diamonds and Pearls album came out, and it was killer. This my suggestion of what shoould come out, and I hope warner in listening:

Based on the Ultimate Prince collection, these videos should be released:

1. I Wanna Be Your Lover (his solo version)
2. Uptown
3. Controversy
4. 1999
5. Little Red Corvette
6. When Doves Cry
7. Let's Go Crazy (possibly the film version that matches the version on U.P. CD which really is a killer)
8. Purple Rain
9. Rasberry Beret (also matches the collection to some degree with its extra instumental chorus)
10. Kiss
11. Sign o' the Times
12. U Got The Look (the video is closer to the "long hook" on the U.P. cd too)
13. I Could Never Take The Place of Your Man
14. Alphabet St.
15. Thieves In The Temple (closer the mix on U.P., even though the original single is brilliant)
16. Gett Off (Uncut, like the first video on the maxi-video collection)
17. Cream
18. Diamonds and Pearls
19. 7
20. My Name is Prince
21. Nothing Compares 2 U (the only concert performance)

As a bonus these 5 just to start:

22. Why You Wanna Treat me So Bad?
23. Sexuality
24. Automatic
25. Girls and Boys
26. Glam Slam

Notice the two I left out that were so called videos were I Would Die 4 U, which is really an annoying stage performance, and Money Don't Matter 2 Night, which you could get on this Diamonds and Pearls collection. I hope Warner Brothers is listening, because people will buy this. Thanks for reading! September 21, 2006

Been there, done that

First off, I'm a huge Prince fan. And I hate to complain, but I just don't see why this release is necessary, for two reasons: (1) The 3 hits contained herein are already available on the aptly-titled "The Hits" DVD, and (2) there are PLENTY of Prince music videos that have never gotten a home video release of any kind...not to mention the SIGN O THE TIMES concert film. It just kinda bugs me that Warners would put out something like this, when there's so much more to choose from.

BUT...if you are a fan, you might want to have it anyway. I bought the VHS version in the early 90's, and I'm content with that. The only other video of note is the Spike Lee-directed "Money Don't Matter 2Nite." The rest is just filler, in my opinion. They could have at least released the bonus remix videos of "Gett Off", including the rare "Violet the Organ Grinder" video (which, thankfully, I also have on tape).

September 11, 2006

Better Late than Never....

Ummm, am I missing something? If my memory serves me correctly, the album "Diamonds and Pearls" came out in 1991, so why is the accompanying video released for the first time in 2006? No matter. Back in the'90s, it was easy to get lost in the myriad releases that Prince offered, not to mention the whole name-changing thing. Prince simply released too much material for anyone to keep track, especially casual fans, which is why this DVD is such a welcome surprise. Despite the passage of time, the material on "Diamonds and Pearls" has aged quite well - much better than the haircuts worn by his bandmembers. Few artists have been as obsessed with fashion as Prince, and the state-of-the-art `90s outfits worn here can be quite entertaining all by themselves.
Nothing, though, can distract from Prince. Without saying much, Prince once again provides plenty of evidence that he may well be the single most talented performer alive today. He sings with raw power and sly innuendo. He plays guitar incredibly well. He writes. He produces. He oversees every last nuance of his band's appearance and performance. And, he dances. My God, how he dances. "Diamonds ands Pearls" is worth seeing (even this much after the fact) because it provides a much-needed visual element to some of Prince's best songs. He is simply a wonder to behold, channeling the spirits of Sly Stone, James Brown, Little Richard and vintage-Michael Jackson with ease. "Gett Off" is so good that you laugh out loud in amazement. People overlook it, but "Cream" might well be the best pop song of the `90s. It is certainly one of the best-produced songs of that decade and the video here gives it new life.
What made "Diamonds and Pearls" different from a lot of Prince's previous work was in the latitude that he allowed his bandmembers. Prince is so talented that he could (and often does) do everything by himself. While impressive, this sometimes makes his music feel airtight and claustrophobic. The presence of other musicians pumps new life in to this material, and gives the songs added depth. The only real weakness comes when the focus shifts away from Prince and onto rapper Tony M, who channels MC Hammer and forgets the fundamental rule of rap; don't just talk, tell me something. Otherwise, "Diamonds and Pearls" is a belated surprise that warrants attention, especially if you lost track of Prince in the past few years. A- Tom Ryan September 8, 2006

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