Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale
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'sB-Sidesdisc or the oft-bootlegged Black Album are bound to be disappointed byThe Vault. While well crafted and groove-wise, these 10 tracks provide little surprise beyond their general vapidity. Sparks occasionally fly, as on theAl Green-influenced "5 Women" and the funnyChuck Berrynod "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