Prince Estate Manager Discusses New Album 'Timeless' and Vault Releases
In an interview, Prince estate co-manager L. Londell McMillan discussed the release of the posthumous album 'Timeless,' which features previously unreleased recordings spanning Prince's career. He also addressed fan complaints and the estate's approach to the vault, as well as the upcoming 'Purple Rain' Broadway musical. The album includes tracks like 'I Am You' from 1977 and 'Bestest Friend' from 2012.
The album's tracklist deliberately spans Prince's entire recording life, from a 1977 home demo to a 2012 studio session, rather than focusing on one era. Several selections have notable backstories: "Tick Tick Bang" was originally recorded in 1981 before Prince handed the song to his side project the Time, while "With This Tear" was a piano ballad written for Celine Dion in 1991. The estate's legal structure was finalized in 2022, splitting control between Primary Wave and Prince Legacy LLC, the latter formed by Prince's three oldest heirs alongside McMillan and producer Charles Spicer Jr. This release marks the first vault material issued since 2023, following earlier projects like the demo collection *Originals* and the previously unreleased 2010 album *Welcome 2 America*.
This release could reshape how posthumous catalog management is perceived across the music industry, particularly regarding artist estates with substantial unreleased archives. Fans may feel their patience is being tested versus rewarded, influencing how other estates approach vault releases. The shelved Netflix documentary also raises questions about how estates balance artistic legacy against unflattering revelations, potentially affecting future biographical projects and the public's understanding of beloved artists.