Purple Snow: Forecasting the Minneapolis (Box Set)
LP
Bubbling up from the snow-blanketed land of 10,000 lakes, the Minneapolis Sound defied expectations, emerging late in the ’70s as a slick, black, technologically advanced fusion, poised to storm the charts. In relative silence, the Twin Cities had been harboring a tight-knit community feverishly at work in radically manipulating American dance music, varnishing futurist funk with guitar rock’s glamorous sheen.
Purple Snow, the Numero Group’s ambitious 50th mainline release, chronicles false starts and follow-throughs toward Minneapolis Sound, on four LPs or two CDs and 32 rare and unreleased recordings from the years just prior to, and just after, one gifted Nelson was crowned Prince. At some 30,000 words, our 144-page hardbound book meticulously directs the listener through two hours of music, and a decade dotted by adept producers, combos, and characters—like 94 East, Flyte Tyme, and Alexander O’Neal, whose less celebrated groundwork put Minneapolis’ purple launchpad on the map. From Jimmy Jam’s extroverted Mind & Matter collective to André Cymone’s polish-free bedroom demos, Purple Snow gathers as the sprawling, nonfiction prequel to Purple Rain’s cultural takeover. In image-rich splendor, funk-informed hordes of unsung Twin Cities talent bask for a spotlit moment, out of that persistent violet shadow, to shine.
94 East - If You See Me
Aura - Taste of Love
Herman Jones - I Love You
Orville Shannon - Oh Lover
Mind & Matter - I’m Under Your Spell
Haze - Waiting for the Moment
Prophets Of Peace - Get It On
Cohesion - Expense
Mind & Matter - Sunshine Lady
The Lewis Connection - Higher
Flyte Tyme - It’s The Things That You Do
Herman Jones - Ladie
Michael Dixon & J.O.Y. - You’re All I Need
Music, Love & Funk - Stone Lover
Cohesion - Cohesion
Haze - I Do Love My Lady
The Lewis Connection - Got to Be Something Here
Walter Lewis & The Blue Stars - I Have Love at Home
Flyte Tyme - I’ve Got You On My Mind
Quiet Storm - Can You Deal With It
Steven - Quick
The Stylle Band - If You Love Me
The Girls - I’ve Got My Eyes On You
Sue Ann Carwell - Should I Or Should I Not?
Ronnie Robbins - Contagious
Alexander O'Neal - Borrowed Time
Orville Shannon - One Life to Live
André Cymone - Somebody Said
Walter Lewis & The Blue Stars - Do It Baby Do It
Rockie Robbins - Together
Mind & Matter - No One Else Can Do It To Me Baby
Alexander O'Neal - Do You Dare
Purple Snow, the Numero Group’s ambitious 50th mainline release, chronicles false starts and follow-throughs toward Minneapolis Sound, on four LPs or two CDs and 32 rare and unreleased recordings from the years just prior to, and just after, one gifted Nelson was crowned Prince. At some 30,000 words, our 144-page hardbound book meticulously directs the listener through two hours of music, and a decade dotted by adept producers, combos, and characters—like 94 East, Flyte Tyme, and Alexander O’Neal, whose less celebrated groundwork put Minneapolis’ purple launchpad on the map. From Jimmy Jam’s extroverted Mind & Matter collective to André Cymone’s polish-free bedroom demos, Purple Snow gathers as the sprawling, nonfiction prequel to Purple Rain’s cultural takeover. In image-rich splendor, funk-informed hordes of unsung Twin Cities talent bask for a spotlit moment, out of that persistent violet shadow, to shine.
94 East - If You See Me
Aura - Taste of Love
Herman Jones - I Love You
Orville Shannon - Oh Lover
Mind & Matter - I’m Under Your Spell
Haze - Waiting for the Moment
Prophets Of Peace - Get It On
Cohesion - Expense
Mind & Matter - Sunshine Lady
The Lewis Connection - Higher
Flyte Tyme - It’s The Things That You Do
Herman Jones - Ladie
Michael Dixon & J.O.Y. - You’re All I Need
Music, Love & Funk - Stone Lover
Cohesion - Cohesion
Haze - I Do Love My Lady
The Lewis Connection - Got to Be Something Here
Walter Lewis & The Blue Stars - I Have Love at Home
Flyte Tyme - I’ve Got You On My Mind
Quiet Storm - Can You Deal With It
Steven - Quick
The Stylle Band - If You Love Me
The Girls - I’ve Got My Eyes On You
Sue Ann Carwell - Should I Or Should I Not?
Ronnie Robbins - Contagious
Alexander O'Neal - Borrowed Time
Orville Shannon - One Life to Live
André Cymone - Somebody Said
Walter Lewis & The Blue Stars - Do It Baby Do It
Rockie Robbins - Together
Mind & Matter - No One Else Can Do It To Me Baby
Alexander O'Neal - Do You Dare