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〕 |rev2 = ''Blender'' |rev2Score = |rev3 = Robert Christgau |rev3Score = A− |rev4 = ''Entertainment Weekly'' |rev4score = B |rev5 = ''Mojo'' |rev5score = (favorable) |rev6 = ''New York Times'' |rev6score = (favorable) |rev7 = ''Q'' |rev7score = 〔 |rev8 = ''The Rolling Stone Album Guide'' |rev8score = 〔Hoard (2004), p. 655. Portions posted at 〕 }} ''The Black Album'' is the sixteenth studio album by American recording artist Prince. It was released on November 22, 1994 by Warner Bros. Records. The album was originally planned for release on December 7, 1987 as the follow-up to ''Sign o' the Times''〔 and was to appear in an entirely black sleeve with no title or even a credit to Prince; hence it was referred to as ''The Black Album''. Dubbed ''The Funk Bible'' by preceding press releases, and in a hidden message within the album itself, the work seemed to be a reaction to criticism that Prince had become too pop-oriented. It was his attempt to regain his African-American audience.〔 The 1987 promo-only release had no printed title, artist name, production credits or photography printed; a simple black sleeve accompanied the disc. On promotional copies, only a song listing and catalog number—25677—were printed on the disc itself. The commercial version was to only have the catalog number printed in the color pink on the spine. The original compact disc pressing was made by Sony DADC rather than WEA Manufacturing. The album was withdrawn a week before its release date, and was replaced with the album ''Lovesexy'', a brighter pop-oriented album with elements of religious affirmation. == Music == Despite the mystique surrounding it, ''The Black Album'' has typically been viewed by fans and critics as a somewhat pro forma, rushed effort by Prince, although it is treasured by aficionados of the artist's funkier side, being as close to a straight funk album as anything he had recorded. The opening track also mentioned the title of the album as being ''The Funk Bible'', which was a consideration during work on this project. The title refers both to the album's all-black cover design and to Prince's attempt to earn back his credibility among the black pop audience.〔Carcieri, Matthew ''Prince: A Life in Music''iUniverse.com (2004), p. 49〕 The album features one of the most shockingly unusual Prince songs: "Bob George", in which he assumes the identity of a profane, gun-wielding alter ego who murders a woman and dismisses the figure of Prince as "that skinny motherfucker with the high voice" (later used as the title of an album of lo-fi Prince covers by Dump). The name for the track was a combination of Bob Cavallo (former manager), and Nelson George who was felt to have become very critical of Prince.〔Nilsen, Per Dance Music Sex Romance: Prince: The First Decade SAF Publishing Ltd; 2nd Revised edition (2003) p229〕 "Bob George" features a growling monologue that is slowed down to the point of being almost unrecognizable as Prince. Some interpret the track as a commentary on the glorification of violence and misogyny inherent in the gangsta rap musical genre, which was in its infancy at the time. The voice at the end of the song that says ''bizarre'' is actually a stock sound from the Fairlight CMI IIx library, pitched up. ''The Black Album'' features songs such as the hip-hop parody "Dead on It", which directly makes the accusation that all MCs are tone-deaf and unable to sing, and the playful "Cindy C.", which refers to supermodel Cindy Crawford. The rhyme at the end of the song was originally written by Steve "Silk" Hurley and was included on a song titled "Music is the Key," which was previously released by Chicago house-music group JM Silk, of which Hurley was the founder. Hurley would later go on to remix two of the songs from the "Gett Off" maxi-single, the Housestyle and Flutestramental versions. The album contains several instances of characters by way of either a sped-up or slowed-down vocal track by Prince (as on "If I Was Your Girlfriend", "U Got the Look", "Strange Relationship", and "Housequake", all from the ''Sign o' the Times'' album). The instrumental jazz-funk jam "2 Nigs United 4 West Compton" was revisited as a live song on the ''One Nite Alone... Live!'' album, but it was hardly the same track. "Rockhard in a Funky Place" was originally considered for inclusion on the planned ''Crystal Ball'' album and then the ''Camille'' project. After the album's fade out, dissonant feedback fades in, followed by Prince saying "What kind of fuck ending was that?" before fading out again. "When 2 R in Love" is the only ballad on the album, and reappeared on ''Lovesexy'', which was released the same year. Prince performed "Bob George", parts of "When 2 R in Love", and "Superfunkycalifragisexy" on his Lovesexy Tour. "When 2 R in Love" was usually part of the piano medley in Act II, whereas the other two songs were part of the Act I segment, where Prince's evil side showed through (coinciding with the idea that ''The Black Album'' was evil, hence its being pulled from release by Prince). Act II was his born-again segment, with more upbeat spiritual songs, highlighting most of the ''Lovesexy'' songs, and top 40 hits. Samples of "Bob George" would later show up on the "Dub Beats" official promo mix of Madonna's 1989 "Like a Prayer".〔https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGxJWdUsF5Y&feature=kp〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Black Album (Prince album)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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