Prince – Batman™ (Motion Picture Soundtrack)

warner bros should have put the batman logo on the labels. that wld hv been super cool. oh well 🦇

While I love the film, Prince's album 'Batman' is a masterwork in its own right. According to some sources, director Tim Burton disavows the album and the music's inclusion in the film, while others note that he used Prince's music in the rough cut of the film and brought him to the set and asked him to record music for the film. It's a misunderstood and generally derided and divisive entry in Prince's 1980's canon, even tough it was his first hit record since '1999.' I didn't understand how absolutely weird it was when I was jamming it as a 12 year old, obsessed with the music and the film. The album is written from multiple points of view - The Joker, Batman, Bruce Wayne, Vicki Vale. Originally, Michael Jackson was supposed to sing the Batman / Bruce Wayne songs and Prince The Joker songs. Instead, we have Prince doing the whole record basically himself with the exception of a duet with Sheena Easton. According to the Prince vault:

"Of note is that while the credits denote that Prince sings lead vocals, the lyrics are in fact attributed to characters from the movie, as if Prince is singing on their behalf. The Future and Scandalous are attributed to Batman, while Electric Chair, Partyman and Trust are attributed to The Joker.The Arms Of Orion is attributed to Bruce Wayne (Batman's alter-ego) and Vicki Vale, while Vicki Waiting is attributed to Bruce Wayne alone, and Lemon Crush is attributed to Vicki Vale alone.

"Batdance attributes different lines to different characters. The only line attributed to Prince, which seems very intentional, is the finale of Trust, "Who do ya trust if you can't trust God? Who can you trust - who can ya? Nobody." "

I have nothing else to compare it to, other than streaming on Apple music, but this record sounds incredible.

I have this and the 2023 reissue. This one—the original— takes the cake. The reissue has a nice bass boost but at the expense of the finer, funkier details that sound ever-present on this ‘89 release. The glossier jacket and photographic quality of the original’s packaging also shines by comparison.

This is an excellent record from Prince. He was on a streak from 1979 to 1993 with amazing album after album.

"The Future" is the perfect opener, and it sets the tone for the rest of the record: samples. He knew the song was good; it was the opener for his "Nude Tour" the following year.

"Electric Chair" is good, but his live rendition of the song in SNL is even better.

"The Arms of Orion" is a bland duet with Sheena Easton. Its not the best song on here, and sounds like it could belong in a Disney film

The rest of the songs ("Partyman","Vicki Waiting", "Trust", "Lemon Crush") are good upbeat funky tracks.

The final cut, "Batdance" is a mess, but a mess that suprisingly works and that only a genius could do

Hopefully, all of the licensing kinks can be ironed out sooner than later so that this can be added to P's reissued cannon.

Worth buying for Trust alone. Another in a long line of Prince pop at its best. Embarrassingly heard it in an episode of Family Guy, I hang my head in shame.

This is my favorite album songs wise. I finally came across a mint promo copy at a local record store for $39. Looks to have never been played

Been looking for it for years.

Album Revolution #9:

After "Lovesexy", "Prince" kind of took a little dive here with the "Batman Soundtrack"....Even though this was for the movie, it was not his best work....

It wasn't completely bad though....

The first single, and HUMMUGEST #1 hit in "Batdance" had serious HIT POWER, and was played constantly on the radio....

The second single, "Partyman" was cool, with a cool Video to match....

"Electric Chair" was a very good song and in my opinion should have been a Single...

"Vicki Waiting" was more "Prince" sounding....

The album did have Love Songs like "The Arms Of Orion" (featuring "Sheena Easton") and "Scandalous"..Even though they are not that bad, compared to songs like "Adore", there is no contest.....

This is really the first almost flat album by Prince to me.....I guess I feel that way because the album feels very manufactured...I know, I know, it was for the movie, but to me a "Prince" album shouldn't be that way....

Be that as it is, this is still a Prince Classic.....

I’ve seen the future and it will be. I’ve seen the future and it works. 💜

Possibly one of Princes best records. Sure it does not have the radio hits everyone is familiar with but these songs are all great. Because it is related to the Batman movie its been the butt of jokes in movies and most think of it move a novelty than a proper Prince release. However if you give it a listen songs like The Future, Electric Chair, Party Man, Trust and Lemon Crush are great songs that any fan should give another chance. The LP as well as the CD have good sound quality. If I made any complaint the bass could have been mixed a little louder. Plus Batdance still rocks.