Emancipation “the album he was born 2 make” is released.
3 hours of Love, Sex and Liberty Three CD’s each with 12 tracks and each a total of 60 minutes long. This precision was inspired by O{+>’s studies of ancient Egypt, numerology, the pyramids and their correlation to heavenly constellations ☮️
"Emancipation" is the nineteenth full-length studio album by Prince, and his third album released under the name . It marks the first release after the conclusion of his contract with Warner Bros., which ended less than a week before this album's release. Notably, it is Prince's first triple album, released globally in November 1996, a mere four months following "Chaos and Disorder."
Prince began recording songs for the album in January 1995, and the work continued until October 1996. "Somebody’s Somebody," "Courtin’ Time," "The Plan," and "New World" are the only tracks known to have been recorded earlier. An album titled "New World" was compiled at some point in 1995, and many of the songs were also considered for "Emancipation." It is not entirely clear whether Prince viewed these two albums as separate projects or simply two names for the same project. For clarity, information about "Emancipation" (including its early configurations) is listed here, while details regarding "New World" are on that album's page.
Three preliminary configurations from early 1995, July 1995, and an unspecified date in 1995 are documented, though all were single-disc sets and are considered works-in-progress. Michael B. notes that the concept of releasing a triple album arose when Prince observed the sales accounting method for double albums by SoundScan, as seen with Michael Jackson's album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I, released in June 1995, where a 2-CD set counted as two copies sold. On September 20, 1995, at a Paisley Park Studios concert in Chanhassen, MN, Prince declared that Dallas Austin would co-produce his forthcoming album, humorously titled "Emancipation: 52 songs, 80 dollars. Save your money!" Although Austin's collaboration in the studio with Prince is unverified, and the stated number of songs (52) likely jestful, it suggested that Prince was contemplating an expansion beyond a single-disc format.
The album was primarily a solo endeavor, yet it featured tracks that marked Prince's evolution from the 1993-1995 iteration of The New Power Generation, which included Michael B., Sonny T., Tommy Barbarella, and Mr. Hayes, to the revamped 1996 lineup with Kirk Johnson, Rhonda Smith, Kat Dyson, Mr. Hayes, and Eric Leeds.
The album also marks Prince's first instance of including cover versions of other artists' songs, with the first commercial single, "Betcha By Golly Wow!", being a cover. Since "Emancipation," he has sporadically featured covers in his albums. Notably, each of the three CDs in the album comprises 12 tracks, totaling exactly 60 minutes. Prince has stated in interviews that this precise structure was influenced by his research into Egypt, specifically the construction of the pyramids and their alignment with the constellations, which he believed conveyed a message from the Egyptians about the origins of civilization.
Promotion
The album featured two singles released for commercial sale, "Betcha By Golly Wow!" and "The Holy River." Additionally, eleven months before the album's release, the single "Slave" was distributed as a cassette at a show in Paisley Park Studios to attendees.
Following the album's release, promotional singles such as "Somebody's Somebody," "Face Down," and "Can't Make U Love Me" were made available. However, EMI Records' bankruptcy during the album's promotional period halted all further promotion. Prince, known as , independently released a live single titled "NYC," which included live performances of "Jam Of The Year" and "Face Down."
Prince (as ) toured extensively to promote the album through the Love 4 One Another Charities Tour and the Jam Of The Year World Tour. Although the tours primarily featured past hits, a few songs from Emancipation were played regularly. Prince (as ) also made numerous television appearances and media interviews to support the album, proclaiming it as "the album I was born to make."
The album achieved number 11 on the Billboard 200 and number 6 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums Chart. It was certified double platinum by the RIAA in the USA on February 7, 1997, reflecting sales of 666,666 three-disc sets.
The album was reissued on 13 September 2019 by The Prince Estate and Sony's Legacy Recordings, coinciding with the re-releases of 'Chaos And Disorder' and 'The Versace Experience (Prelude 2 Gold)'.
Track listing
CD
The compact disc version is the original issue.
Disc 1:
Jam Of The Year (6:09)
Right Back Here In My Arms (4:33) 1
Somebody’s Somebody (4:43) 2
Get Yo Groove On (6:31)
Courtin’ Time (2:46)
Betcha By Golly Wow! (3:30) 3
We Gets Up (4:17)
White Mansion (4:47)
Damned If Do (5:20)
Can’t Make U Love Me (6:37) 4
Mr. Happy (4:46) 5
In This Bed Scream (5:40)
Disc 2:
Sex In The Summer (5:56)
One Kiss At A Time (4:40)
Soul Sanctuary (4:41) 6
Emale (3:37)
Curious Child (2:57)
Dreamin’ About U (3:52)
Joint 2 Joint (7:51) 1
The Holy River (6:55)
Let’s Have A Baby (4:07)
Saviour (5:48)
The Plan (1:46)
Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife (7:37)
Disc 3:
Slave (4:51)
New World (3:42)
The Human Body (5:41)
Face Down (3:16) 1
La, La, La Means Love U (3:58) 7
Style (6:40) 8
Sleep Around (7:41) 9
Da, Da, Da (5:15) 10
My Computer (4:36)
One Of Us (5:19) 11
The Love We Make (4:38)
Emancipation (4:12)
LP 2019 re-release
Side 1:
Jam Of The Year (6:09)
Right Back Here In My Arms (4:33) 1
Somebody’s Somebody (4:43) 2
Side 2:
Get Yo Groove On (6:31)
Courtin’ Time (2:46)
Betcha By Golly Wow! (3:30) 3
Side 3:
We Gets Up (4:17)
White Mansion (4:47)
Damned If Do (5:20)
Side 4:
Can’t Make U Love Me (6:37) 4
Mr. Happy (4:46) 5
In This Bed Scream (5:40)
Side 5:
Sex In The Summer (5:56)
One Kiss At A Time (4:40)
Soul Sanctuary (4:41) 6
Side 6:
Emale (3:37)
Curious Child (2:57)
Dreamin’ About U (3:52)
Side 7:
Joint 2 Joint (7:51) 1
The Holy River (6:55)
Let’s Have A Baby (4:07)
Side 8:
Saviour (5:48)
The Plan (1:46)
Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife (7:37)
Side 9:
Slave (4:51)
New World (3:42)
The Human Body (5:41)
Side 10:
Face Down (3:16) 1
La, La, La Means Love U (3:58) 7
Style (6:40) 8
Side 11:
Sleep Around (7:41) 9
Da, Da, Da (5:15) 10
My Computer (4:36)
Side 12:
One Of Us (5:19) 11
The Love We Make (4:38)
Emancipation (4:12)
The MC was released at same time as the CD.
Side 1:
Jam Of The Year (6:09)
Right Back Here In My Arms (4:42) 1
Somebody’s Somebody (4:43) 2
Get Yo Groove On (6:31)
Courtin’ Time (2:46)
Betcha By Golly Wow! (3:30) 3
Side 2:
We Gets Up (4:17)
White Mansion (4:47)
Damned If Do (5:20)
Can’t Make U Love Me (6:37) 4
Mr. Happy (4:46) 5
In This Bed Scream (5:40)
Side 3:
Sex In The Summer (5:56)
One Kiss At A Time (4:40)
Soul Sanctuary (4:41) 6
Emale (3:37)
Curious Child (2:57)
Dreamin’ About U (3:52)
Joint 2 Joint (7:51) 1
Side 4:
The Holy River (6:55)
Let’s Have A Baby (4:07)
Saviour (5:48)
The Plan (1:46)
Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife (7:37)
Side 5:
Slave (4:51)
New World (3:42)
The Human Body (5:41)
Face Down (3:16) 1
La, La, La Means Love U (3:58) 7
Style (6:40) 8
Side 6:
Sleep Around (7:41) 9
Da, Da, Da (5:15) 10
My Computer (4:36)
One Of Us (5:19) 11
The Love We Make (4:38)
Emancipation (4:12)
All songs written by Prince (as ) except where indicated.
1 Lyrics co-written with Ninety-9 (uncredited and sampled from other songs)
2 Written with Brenda Lee Eager and Hilliard Wilson
3 Written by Thomas Randolph Bell and Linda Creed
4 Written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin
5 Lyrics co-written with Scrap D. (uncredited); Contains a sample of What Can I Do? by Ice Cube (written by Leon Ware, Arthur Ross, Ice Cube, Mychal-Kaye Simmons and Victor Nathan Taylor)
6 Lyrics co-written with Sandra St. Victor, Johnny Kemp (uncredited) and T. Hammer (uncredited)
7 Written by Thomas Randolph Bell and William Hart
8 Contains a sample of Atomic Dog performed by George Clinton (written by Garry Marshall Shider, David Lee Spradley and George Clinton Jr.)
9 Contains a replay section from "Squib Cakes" (miscredited as "Squibcakes") by Tower Of Power (written by Chester Thompson)
10 Lyrics co-written with Scrap D. (uncredited)
11 Written by Eric M. Bazilian
Musicians
Prince (as ) - all vocals and instruments except where noted (credited separately as "Azifwekaré" for "jobless pothead" on Style)
Kirk Johnson - drums (unspecified tracks)
Rosie Gaines - additional vocals on Jam Of The Year
Eric Leeds - tenor saxophone and flute on Jam Of The Year, baritone saxophone on Get Yo Groove On, horns on We Gets Up, Sex In The Summer ("part 2") and Style, saxophone on Can’t Make U Love Me, Emale and Dreamin’ About U
Walter Chancellor Jr. - saxophone on Jam Of The Year and Style
Ninety-9 - vocal sample on Right Back Here In My Arms and Face Down, spoken word on Joint 2 Joint
Rhonda Smith - bass on Get Yo Groove On, We Gets Up, Sex In The Summer ("part 2") and Dreamin’ About U, additional vocals on Get Yo Groove On, fretless bass on Can’t Make U Love Me
Kathleen Dyson - additional vocals on Get Yo Groove On, "dirty guitar" on Sex In The Summer ("part 2"), guitar on Emale, Dreamin’ About U and The Love We Make
Mr. Hayes - additional vocals on Get Yo Groove On (as "Montalbo Stewart"), keyboards on Betcha By Golly Wow!, Saviour and One Of Us
Michael B. Nelson - trombone (credited collectively as the NPG Hornz) on Courtin’ Time, Damned If Do, Saviour and Sleep Around
Steve Strand - trumpet (credited collectively as the NPG Hornz) on Courtin’ Time, Damned If Do, Saviour and Sleep Around
Dave Jensen - trumpet (credited collectively as the NPG Hornz) on Courtin’ Time, Damned If Do, Saviour and Sleep Around
Kathy Jensen - baritone saxophone (credited collectively as the NPG Hornz) on Courtin’ Time, Damned If Do, Saviour and Sleep Around
Brian Gallagher - tenor saxophone (credited collectively as the NPG Hornz) on Courtin’ Time, Damned If Do, Saviour and Sleep Around
Sonny T. - bass on Betcha By Golly Wow!, Saviour and One Of Us
Michael B. - drums on Betcha By Golly Wow!, Saviour and One Of Us
Tommy Barbarella - keyboards on Betcha By Golly Wow!, Saviour and One Of Us
Brian Lynch - horns on We Gets Up, Emale and Style
Janice Garcia - "bold girl" on White Mansion (and possibly on We Gets Up)
Mayte - Spanish on Damned If Do (as “Janelle”) and background vocals on One Of Us
Mayte’s friend (unnamed) - Spanish on Damned If Do
Todd Burrell - additional keyboards on Can’t Make U Love Me
Scrap D. - rap on Mr. Happy and Da, Da, Da, shouts on Style
Ricky Peterson - piano on Sex In The Summer ("part 2"), additional keyboards on Saviour
Savion Glover - tap performance on Joint 2 Joint
Michael Mac - scratches on Joint 2 Joint, shouts on Style
Hans-Martin Buff - "driver" on Joint 2 Joint
Kathleen Bradford - additional vocals on Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife
Rhonda Johnson - additional vocals on Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife
Steve Parke - jeep horn on Face Down
Chanté Moore - additional vocals on La, La, La Means Love U
Mike Scott - guitar on La, La, La Means Love U
Smooth G. - shouts on Style
Kate Bush - additional vocals on My Computer
Production
Prince (as ) - producer and arranger, engineer
Kirk Johnson - associate producer, arranger, additional synth programming and "best man", engineer
Tom Tucker - engineer
Ray Hahnfeldt - engineer
Steve Durkee - engineer (as "Steve D.")
Shane T.K. - engineer
Hans-Martin Buff - engineer
César Sogbe - engineer, additional programming on The Human Body and Sleep Around
Joe Galdo - engineer, additional programming on The Human Body and Sleep Around
Peter Mokran - engineer
Vlado Meller - mastering (Sony Studios, New York)
Michael B. Nelson - horn arrangements on Damned If Do
Jeff Katz - photography
Randee St. Nicholas - additional photography
Steve Parke - computer art and package design
Debbi McGuan - "Endorphinbed" painting
Kim Lawler - "Holy River" painting
Thanks
"Thank U - 2 my Creator, eternally Mayte, our angels, the Mojicas, Nelly, John & Jan, Mia, Hena 2000, Isis, L. Londell McMillan, also K.A.J. Productions. As always the New Power Generation - Mr. Hayes, Kirk A. Johnson, Rhonda S., K. Dyson, Eric Leeds, and on cd one track 6, and cd two track 10 - Sonny T., Michael B., and Tommy Barbarella."
"Also - Franklin Felder, Aaron L. HM Buff, R. Hahnfeldt, Steve D., Remi Watson, Juli Knapp-Winge, Parke, J. Katz, Randee St. Nicholas , George Benson, 99, Savion Glover, Chanté Moore, bMW, AOL, Billy Sparks, Tom Joyner, BET, VH1, and all the musicians, poets and distributors that believed in this xperiment in truth. The only love there is... is the love we make... Peace and B wild! - O(+>"
"Thanks, Shiva" - Emale
"Thanx Kate" - My Computer
Comments