Dance Music Sex Romance: Prince: The First Decade [Paperback]

Per Nilsen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2003

"A serious and well-researched study. Nilsen writes with a steady hand. His account, based on countless interviews and meticulous research, remains critical despite his tremendous respect and appreciation of the artist."—Publishers Weekly

"Nilsen expertly documents Prince in the eighties . . . this book will inspire much rummaging around for that old copy ofPurple Rain."—Q magazine

Product Details

• Paperback: 351 pages
• Publisher: SAF Publishing Ltd; 2nd edition (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0946719640
• ISBN-13: 978-0946719648
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #854,661 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Informative and interesting, but too much of the author's opinion, December 1, 2007

By 

Bella Alma "realmusicfan" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dance Music Sex Romance: Prince: The First Decade (Paperback)

I read this book in about two days. As a fan for more than 20 years, I was excited to learn more of the back story of Prince's first decade in the music biz, which is the time period this books is supposed to cover. However, it focuses more on the first six years than the first ten. Overall, I found this book very informative in some ways, but far too opinionated in others.

There was interesting information about Prince's early tours, song history, side projects, encounters with various musicians, relationships with some girlfriends (of which there were many) and his charitable side, which usually takes a backseat in the press to more salacious, tabloid-friendly fare. So these were postive aspects of the book, which make it worth the price.

However, where the book fails is that though the information is culled from interviews with "friends" and associates as well as various press interviews that Prince gave during the time covered, the author, Per Nilsen, too often offers his opinion, which hurts the presentation of the information. Nilsen seems to favor the Revolution and appears to overinflate the influence of Wendy and Lisa on Prince's music. Several contradictions reveal themselves as a result of this. For example, Nilsen basically credits Wendy and Lisa for "introducing" Prince to rock music, which is absurd as his earliest albums show obvious rock influences. Nilsen also spends too much time painting the picture that Wendy's sister Susannah was the "love of Prince's life." Again, contradictions present themselves here. At one point the author states that Prince had gone farther with Susannah than any other woman and that she was "wearing his ring." Yet, in an earlier chapter it states that he had been engaged to Susan Moonsie of Vanity 6 sometime in the early 1980s. Nilsen's apparent love of Wendy, Lisa and the Revolution causes him to gloss over many of Prince's other important musical and personal relationships, especially during the Sign O' the Times and LoveSexy era. Finally, another negative is that there are times when Nilsen tries too much to put himself in Prince's head.

That said, it is an interesting read. However, as with any biography, it should be taken with a grain of salt as there is no input from the subject himself.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dance Music Sex Romance:Prince The First Decade, July 26, 2006

By 

C. Murray (Cincinnati, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dance Music Sex Romance: Prince: The First Decade (Paperback)

This book has alot of information about Prince.
About how he got his start, and things about his life, etc.
If you like to read about Prince and collect his facts.
than this is a good book to get.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SIMPLY OUTSTANDING!!!!, June 21, 2006

By 

lovesexy7 (Reseda, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dance Music Sex Romance: Prince: The First Decade (Paperback)

this book is absolutely perfect for anyone, from the most die hard prince fans, like myself, or just someone who's interested. it has so much rare information. very detailed, very very well researched. so many comments from people who were, and some who still are, close to prince. it's also great to see such an informed prince fan write openly about prince. he doesn't hide anything, or try and make prince sound good and look good from every angle. he tells it like it is, and isn't afraid of being critical. still, in the end, this book is a fantastic tribute to a man who is a living legend. a man who has changed the face of music forever. simply amazing!