It’s been just under two months since I started interviewing presenters from this spring’s interdisciplinary Prince conference at the University of Salford, and I’ve been absolutely thrilled with the results. But all good things must come to an end, so I had planned to make this chat with writer Erica Thompson the last of my post-conference podcasts. It would have been a great choice, too; Erica’s presentation was the result of many years of research for a book project on Prince’s spiritual journey, so our conversation was less about the conference in particular and more about her findings more generally: a nice segue into future, less Manchester-centric episodes.
But just when I think I’m out, they keep pulling me back in. Contrary to my own statements in this episode, I have already set up another interview with a few presenters from one of the conference’s gender and sexuality panels. So basically, expect me to keep interviewing scholars from the Purple Reign conference until the next milestone in Prince scholarship comes along. And in the meantime, please enjoy my and Erica’s conversation about the importance–and, sometimes, difficulty–of understanding Prince’s religious faith in relationship with his art.
00:00:00 Hello. How Are U? (from Purple Rain, 1984)
00:01:47 “God (Love Theme from Purple Rain)” (1984 B-Side, available on Purple Rain – Deluxe Edition)
00:06:47 “Rainbow Children” (from The Rainbow Children, 2001)
00:11:20 Prince Talks to God on the Purple Rain tour, Orange Bowl, Miami, 1985
00:13:00 “Anna Stesia” (from Lovesexy, 1988)
00:17:44 “Love and Sex” (1984 Recording, available on Purple Rain – Deluxe Edition)
00:24:04 The “All-Seeing Eye” (and Some Appropriately Crowley-esque Phallic Imagery) on the 1999 Cover
00:26:20 “Occult” Backmasking at the End of “Darling Nikki” (from Purple Rain)
00:33:37 “Let’s Pretend We’re Married” (from 1999, 1982)
00:38:24 “I’m So Confused” (from the Purple Rain Tour, Miami 1985)
00:42:59 An Earlier Conversation with Jane Clare Jones about the Disconnect between Prince’s Life and His Art
00:44:20 “Eye No” (from Lovesexy)
00:45:43 Erica’s Presentation at the Salford Conference
00:46:00 The Upcoming Prince from Minneapolis Conference
00:50:20 My Conversation with Karen Turman and Joni Todd
00:53:10 “The Work, pt. 1” (from The Rainbow Children)
00:56:04 Alex Hahn’s and Laura Tiebert’s (Very Good) Self-Published Biography
01:04:19 “Utopia” by Graham Central Station (from GCS2000, 1998)
01:08:05 “The Grand Progression” (1987 Recording)
01:13:59 “God is Alive” (1988 Recording)
01:16:54 Erica’s Blog, A Purple Day in December
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