On June 7 of this year, the estate of artist Prince announced to the public that an album found in his archive of music would be published later in the year. Titled “Piano and a Microphone 1983,” the posthumous release came out Sept. 21. Keepers of Prince’s estate found the album in the form of one single track, recorded on a cassette tape. Prince recorded it in his home studio in Minnesota, and it has no accompanying band. It is simply Prince, his piano and his microphone, as alluded to in the title.
The track list includes classics such as “Purple Rain” and “17 Days,” as well as a cover of Joni Mitchell’s “A Case of You” and unheard originals including “Wednesday.”
Known for being an extremely private person while he was alive, “Piano and a Microphone 1983” exposes a softer side of Prince that many did not get to see. Since it was recorded without a band and only features Prince’s vocals and piano, the songs’ airy feel make it seem as if the listener is sitting right next to him. It is this aspect of the music’s sound and the little snippets of comments Prince makes in between and during tracks that creates a connection between the listener and the music.
As I listened to the album, I could not help but tear up a little bit as each track passed. Prince’s music has a special place in my heart, and being able to hear music he created that I’ve never heard before reminded me not only of the raw talent he possessed, but the ability of his music to evoke such powerful emotion.
My favorite song off the album was “Mary Don’t You Weep,” a soulful rendition by Prince of the classic Civil War soul song. The track perfectly captures Prince’s vocal abilities and brings back the jazzy flavor of music Prince is known for. A music video was released to go along with the song, and follows the family of a young man recently killed by gun violence. The video comments on the issue of gun violence in inner cities as well as containing a brief reference of police brutality. Beginning with a statistic on how many young adults are killed and wounded each year by gunshots, the music video also contains the following Prince quote: “The system is broken. It’s going to take the young people to fix it this time. We need new ideas, new life…” The video’s political commentary stands true to Prince’s political activism.
“Piano and a Microphone 1983” provides an intimate look into the mind of artist Prince, brilliantly showcasing the scope of his talent in the years after his death. The release of this album does nothing but extend the lifespan of his legacy.
_Edited by Siena DeBolt | sdebolt@themaneater.com_
