Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Warner Bros. publicity materials peg this collection of previously unreleased recordings from Prince's long tenure at the company as "a noteworthy musical event." But Prince fans expecting something on the order of 1993's B-Sides disc or the oft-bootlegged Black Album are bound to be disappointed by The Vault. While well crafted and groove-wise, these 10 tracks provide little surprise beyond their general vapidity. Sparks occasionally fly, as on the Al Green-influenced "5 Women" and the funny Chuck Berry nod "Sarah," but this set intrigues much more than it entertains. Ironically for a 1999 release, it's ofte more fit for smooth-jazz radio than an apocalyptic party. --Rickey Wright

The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale,Prince,Warner Bros / Wea,Club/Dance,Dance-Pop,Neo-Psychedelia,Pop,Pop/Rock,Popular Music,R&B,Soul,Urban

The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale

Tracks:

The Rest Of My Life
It's About That Walk
She Spoke 2 Me
5 Women +
When The Lights Go Down
My Little Pill
There Is Lonely
Old Friends 4 Sale
Sarah
Extraordinary

Amazon.com

Warner Bros. publicity materials peg this collection of previously unreleased recordings from Prince's long tenure at the company as "a noteworthy musical event." But Prince fans expecting something on the order of 1993's B-Sides disc or the oft-bootlegged Black Album are bound to be disappointed by The Vault. While well crafted and groove-wise, these 10 tracks provide little surprise beyond their general vapidity. Sparks occasionally fly, as on the Al Green-influenced "5 Women" and the funny Chuck Berry nod "Sarah," but this set intrigues much more than it entertains. Ironically for a 1999 release, it's ofte more fit for smooth-jazz radio than an apocalyptic party. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

Simply Amazing!!!.......2006-08-02

As a long time Prince fan, I must say, I was extremely pleased at the depth of the songs on this release and how COMPLETELY different this is than anything he has put out commercially. It is full of musicianship, creativity and just genious writing that I as a Prince fan come to expect. I think my favorites, though hard to pick, are "5 Women" and "When the Lights Go Down". It is obvious who the influences are on these cuts with their BB King and Miles Davis flavor, but still 100% unique Prince.

If you're a commercial Prince fan, this may not be for you. But if you love GREAT jazzy/bluesy/pop music all in one, this is a must have for your collection.

It's Prince.......2006-06-14

While it is true this album could arguably be called "The Worst of Prince," understand that Prince's "worst" is still far better than many artists achieve in a lifetime.

Being a recording artist myself, I'm uncomfortable with the fact that these are cuts Prince never intended to release. I wouldn't like somebody going behind my back and putting stuff I didn't want heard out on the airwaves. Then again, I also understand that sometimes we are our own worst critics, and when you have as much talent and genius as Prince...maybe it's best to let it go and see what happens.

This isn't a bad album. Fans of Prince's older, pop-oriented stuff will surely devour this CD and come back for seconds. I liked it. If you're comparing it to most of Prince's other work, you may find it lacking. Taken on its own merit, however, it is...well, Prince!

just like usual...a new Prince.......2005-06-14

man, I'll tell you want. Prince never ceases to amaze me. you have to love this man for his orginality and innovation. What many people try to do is trap Prince (like you can do to so many other artists) into a typecast as strictly a funk/rock/slow jam/r&b/ or whatever artist. But you can't do that, and if you try you'll inevitably end up not liking Prince, like so many people do, for no other reason than he's not what they what him to be. anyhow, this album is fire. listen to me, this album is totally blazing, I love. It's vying in my mind for the top Prince album to me. But be warned, there's no Purple rain or 1999 types songs on here, this is what I believe to be Prince in the transition stage from his Prince ablum to Controvesy. overall, it has a real bluesly,jazzy-pop kind of feel.like my title says, you've seen peeps and glances of this Prince but I bet you never knew he could do what he does on this "album".simpy freaking amazing.you just have to kinda go with Prince (real fans know what I mean) if you are an sometimes fan of Prince, when he is only rock or funk, or dance or whatever then truthfully you probably won't like this album.but this is for true fans of Prince, or even those who don't like him or are indifferent this is a new genre of Prince.smooth, jazzy, a slight blues feel with a covering of pop. lovely. buy it, and love it.

A Fuller C.D. With Potenial..........2003-12-27

Its a Common Misconception that Prince himself Created this "Disaster" to hurt W.B. His the record company, when its entirely The Other way around, This was W.B. effort to Spit into Prince's Faces, Claiming they can make money by using his own Master Tapes that they own. Thus Prince labels this a "Contractual Obligation" C.D. Basically Warner Bros. Took Songs Prince Previously Recorded for them In-between 1999 and Under Cherry moon soundtrack "Parade"( who prince never bothered to release them and placed them on a C.D.) "OLD SONGS 4 sale" indeed, A lot of people have not heard this side of prince, The blend of jazz and funk with a fusion of rock is uncanny! And appealed to most people cause it came with the Name "Prince" and not "The Artist" , Competing with his 1999 C.D. rave Un2 the Joy fantastic a Funk rock fusion of music far from the likes of Old friends 4 sale,

It starts out on a high note with "the Rest of my life" I Have to be honest! I really hate this track, it doesn't phase me why Prince did not bother to release this, and a poor Choice fro an opening of the C.D. The Repetitive Keyboard beats are annoying and Prince Reciting "The rest day of my life " is rather haunting!
The Comes The Funky "Its about that walk" This was too upbeat to be a funk song, it sorta disgusted me at first because it was entirely too cheesy! But it grew onto me it can be enjoyable after a few listens!
This Track is probably Worth The money itself, the extended Version Of "She Spoke 2 me" Most only heard this song on low sound quality bootlegs, a Beautiful Fusion Of jazz and R&B, This track was the only reason I purchased the C.D.
Next is 5 Women... Great Song, the beat is rather Catchy! But not what IM used too from prince so it entirely doesn't appeal to me!
During this Point of the C.D. i was about to shut it off but then this song kept me interested again, The Hypnotic Jazz Flows caught me in a bind, This Song would go perfectly "When the lights do go down" This is Possibly the Prelude to Much of Prince's Success in Jazz Prior Rainbow Children and N. E. W. S. the Groovy Instrumental is to keep your toes tapping and your lips smacking your lovers tongue,
Then there's my little pill...
I Generally Hate this Song 2 , The Lyrical Organisation is annoying and the Melody is quite Off and annoying, I skip this track!
There Is lovely Sounds like a Live tune! It has quite some potential but it gets tedious the first listen, this one needs a few....
And Ha The Title Track "Old Friends 4 sale" This is a Watered Down Version of the Original Track that Premiered on the film Under The Cherry Moon, the Original Version Told of Treachery in Prince land, Prince's Former band Mates the famed Producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Louis, The Topic of Speculation Amongst the Prince "Fam" base, This is a watered Down Version that was Rewritten by Prince because the original was too personal to him, its All right but i prefer the Original
Sarah Is Reminiscent Of Morris Day Comically Funny! Its great to listen too with friends and just laugh about it
And It Closes with the R&B EXTRAORDINARY! At least it ended off on a good point I was left smiling afterwards most of the reason why I didn't return the C.D. Extraordinary is Great finish to a mediocre C.D.

All In All If your one of those Hard-core Prince Fans Buy this C.D., But if your New Just go to Apple music store or PRESS PLAY and Download 4 of the CDs songs for 99 cents, If your looking for Jazz trax from His PURPLE Majesty i Suggest Buying "The Rainbow Children" and his new Grammy nominated C.D. " N. E. W. S. "

Prince is Prince.......2003-03-29

What else can you say. You have to enjoy his music to own this. And this one is as usual, the absolute best!!

R&B Music: