Prince, Piano & A Microphone 1983 | Album Review 💿

Piano & a Microphone 1983 shows Prince in a more creative, intimate, and rawer setting.  His brilliance and musicianship are indisputable. 

There is a new Prince album in 2018….  That news was confirmed on what would’ve been ‘The Purple One’s’ 60^th birthday.  Piano & a Microphone 1983 officially arrived on September 21, 2018.  In advance, listeners were treated to “Mary Don’t You Weep”, a single that accurately foreshadowed the sound and vibe of the posthumously released album.  While the intimate, rawer nature of Piano & a Microphone 1983 might disappoint some fans used to more elaborately arranged hits, the musicianship alone should impress anybody who listens.

“17 Days”

“17 Days” kicks off Piano & A Microphone 1983 incredibly energetically. Prince is known most for his awesome vocals, guitar skills, and his high musical aptitude.  That said, his piano playing is absolutely incredible, evidenced from the jump.  While this stripped capacity isn’t how we’ve normally heard ‘The Purple One,’ it showcases how incredibly brilliant and utterly creative.  Of course, in addition to his pianistic prowess, he matches with truly sick vocals.

“Purple Rain” doesn’t get the full nine-minute treatment that the definitive 1984 version receives.  No, listeners are only treated to a painfully short, one-and-a-half-minute ‘demo’ essentially.  Nonetheless, much like “17 Days,” the creativity and improvisatory nature that Prince brings to the table is nothing short of amazing.  A second short number follows, “A Case of You,” which continues to highlight underrated piano skills.  In regards to signature cues, the falsetto is on-point, even if he sings in undertone for the first half of the record.

“Mary Don’t You Weep”

“Mary Don’t You Weep” isn’t only one of the best moments from Piano & A Microphone 1983, it’s also one of the most surprising.  Why? It’s a traditional spiritual, often performed in church.  Furthermore, it’s NOT an original, something we usually don’t associate with Prince.  All that considered, this spirited performance certainly makes the spiritual feel like it was composed or at least totally transformed and tweaked by the Purple One.  Think of this as a ‘testament’ to his artistry – the total musician.  His voice is bluesy and fierce, chocked-full of grit and nuances.  His piano skills continue to impress. This is among his best moments in a more intimate setting.

“Strange Relationship” has a hard act to follow, but Prince manages well – shocking. The key carries over from “Mary Don’t You Weep,” maintaining a minor key. Like the majority of cuts, rhythm is a prominently featured musical element.  There are some incredibly clever, jazzy, and angular pianistic lines.

“International Lover”

“International Lover” is among the most elite of Piano & A Microphone 1983.  A full-length number as opposed to an excerpt, it is one of more developed performances.  Sure, there’s still the sense that this is more demo than anything else (Prince likely would’ve never released it), but it’s definitely hypnotic and mesmerizing.  He follows up with the last shorter record, “Wednesday,” which just hits the two-minute mark.  Nonetheless, the tenderness and beauty of The Purple One’s voice and his thoughtful piano accompaniment is irresistibly delicious.

“Cold Coffee & Cocaine” brings back the heavy rhythm that drives earlier cuts like “17 Days” and “Mary Don’t You Weep.” Prince is in no rush as he delivers playful vocals, and broken, quick, and bluesy piano riffs. Notably, he gets a bit sassy and salty:

“Why didn’t you tell me, baby, you had a little black mouse
Good God
You can’t fuck with that
Oh, kinda cheesy.”

“Why the Butterflies” concludes Piano & A Microphone 1983.  Just shy of six-and-a-half minutes, it’s the lengthiest song on the album (“17 Days” is a close second).  Like “Cold Coffee & Cocaine,” Prince is in no rush.  That makes of course – this is more of him experimenting rather than recording a commercial gem.

Final Thoughts

Likely, Piano & A Microphone will be looked at a couple of different ways.  Those who appreciate superb musicianship, even at its most raw, will highly appreciate what Prince serves up here.  Those who know that there’s a reason why he didn’t release these tracks will point the finger at those looking to profit off of work that they ‘shouldn’t.’ Those expecting ‘hits’ the caliber of “Purple Rain” or “Kiss” may be disappointed that this project is more demo and unpolished, in a more intimate setting as opposed to one rich with guitars and synths.  Maybe the best viewpoint is somewhere in the middle.  Personally, Piano & A Microphone speaks to the genius of an artist that we lost far too soon.  His pianistic creativity is enough to earn him a highly favorable review and beyond in my eyes.

Gems: “17 Days,” “Mary Don’t You Weep” & “International Lover”

Prince • Piano & a Microphone • Warner Bros. • Release: 9.21.18

Photo Credit: Warner Bros.