Diamonds And Pearls

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Diamonds And Pearls

Diamondsandpearls.jpg
from the album Diamonds And Pearls

left
from the album
Diamonds And Pearls (Super) Deluxe Edition
Diamondsandpearls single.jpg
single art for Diamonds And Pearls
Song details
Performer: Prince and the New Power Generation
First Released: 1 October 1991 - Diamonds And Pearls album
Album(s): Diamonds And Pearls

The Hits 1
The Hits / The B-Sides
The Very Best Of Prince
One Nite Alone... Live!
Ultimate
4Ever
Diamonds And Pearls Deluxe Edition and Super Deluxe Edition

Writer(s): Prince (credited to Prince and the New Power Generation)
Producer(s): Prince (credited to Prince and the New Power Generation)
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
Performed regularly on tour:
Performed occasionally in shows:

Diamonds And Pearls is the third track on Prince’s 13th album Diamonds And Pearls, the first album to be credited to Prince and the New Power Generation. Seven weeks after the album’s release, Diamonds And Pearls was released as the album’s fourth worldwide single. In 1993, the track was included as the 17th track on The Hits 1 (also included as the first disc of The Hits / The B-Sides). In 2001, the track was included as the 16th track on The Very Best Of Prince. A brief live version of the track (titled Diamonds & Pearls) was included on the 2002 release One Nite Alone... Live! (along with Xenophobia, Extraordinary, Avalanche, Family Name, Raspberry Beret, The Everlasting Now, EyeBlue.png Wanna B Ur Lover, The Beautiful Ones, Nothing Compares 2 U and How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore from the same show). In 2006, the studio version of the track was included as the twelfth track on the first disc of Ultimate.

Basic tracking took place on 19 November 1990, at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota. The song is the earliest "Prince" studio recording to feature several musicians who would record with Prince for many years: the track features Michael B. (drums), as well as Tommy Barbarella (keyboards) and Sonny T. (bass guitar), both of whom Prince had recruited to play for Flash, a backing band for Margie Cox. Rosie Gaines co-lead vocals were recorded at a later date. Sheila E. also added to the song, adding synth drum fills. Engineer Michael Koppelman recalled in the liner notes for the Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition that Prince asked him to play a few instruments on the track, "which he never let me do. And he would just make fun of me when I did. And we're doing the mix, but then he literally unmuted my guitar for one half of a bar. I was like, 'Okay! That's my first note on a Prince song.'"

The track was included as the sixth track on the December 1990, configuration of Diamonds And Pearls, but was moved to become the third track on the 1 March 1991 and 8 May 1991 configurations, where it remained for release.

The initial long version was released in October 2023, as the twelfth track of Vault Tracks part 1, one of the discs with previously unreleased tracks included with the Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition.

Prince used the words "diamonds" and "pearls" in songs on previous occasions, including the early track Blue Diamonds & Sunday Pearls, International Lover, and The Glamorous Life. These tracks are all otherwise unrelated to Diamonds And Pearls, however.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
19 November 1990 Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Tracking
November 1990 Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Additional recording with Rosie Gaines and Levi Seacer, Jr.
16 December 1990 Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Mix by Michael Koppelman
Recording Personnel
  • Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted (listed in liner notes as ‘Insatiable’)
  • Rosie Gaines - co-lead vocals (liner notes state "co-lead backing vox, Purpleaxxe™ sampler and organ")
  • Levi Seacer, Jr. - guitar
  • Michael B. - drums
  • Sonny T. - bass guitar (credited for "bass and backing vox")
  • Tommy Barbarella - keyboards (liner notes state "Purpleaxxe™ sampler, other various keys and sex symbol")
  • Sheila E. - synth drum fills (uncredited)
  • Michael Koppelman - guitar (uncredited)

Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Diamonds And Pearls 4:43 Diamonds And Pearls

Diamonds And Pearls single
The Crown Jewels promotional album

Studio
Diamonds And Pearls 4:43 Diamonds And Pearls (Super) Deluxe Edition Studio Remastered 2023
Diamonds And Pearls (Edit) 4:20 Diamonds And Pearls single

The Hits 1
The Hits / The B-Sides
The Very Best Of Prince
Ultimate
4Ever

Edit
Diamonds & Pearls 0:40 One Nite Alone... Live! Live 30 April 2002, Portland Center for the Perf. Arts - Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland, OR, USA
Diamonds And Pearls (Edit) 4:20 Diamonds And Pearls - The Singles (collection)

Diamonds And Pearls (Super) Deluxe Edition

Edit Remastered 2023
Diamonds And Pearls (Long Version) 5:32 Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition Studio Remastered 2023
Diamonds And Pearls (Live At Glam Slam) 5:31 Diamonds And Pearls / Nothing Compares 2 U (Live At Glam Slam) single

Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition

Live 11 January 1992, Glam Slam, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Video Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Diamonds And Pearls 4:30 The Hits Collection VHS/DVD

Diamonds And Pearls (Super) Deluxe Edition blu-ray
Prince streaming video platforms (2017)
Released for sale as separate track on iTunes (2017)

Studio See Diamonds And Pearls video for details
Diamonds And Pearls (Live At Glam Slam) 5:31 Diamonds And Pearls / Nothing Compares 2 U (Live At Glam Slam) single

Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition blu-ray

Live 11 January 1992, Glam Slam, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Diamonds And Pearls (Special Olympics 1991) ?:?? Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition blu-ray Live 20 July 1991, Special Olympics, The Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN
Broadcasts/streaming (only)
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Diamonds And Pearls / Let’s Go Crazy ?:?? Live performance TV broadcast Live 4 September 1991, Arsenio Hall Show, Paramount Studios, Hollywood, CA, USA; Diamonds And Pearls intro only (first aired on 9 September 1991)
Sampled, Referred to, Quoted in...
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Purple Medley 11:03 Purple Medley single Studio medley See Purple Medley for more details
Purple Medley (Edit) 3:14 Purple Medley single Edit See Purple Medley for more details
Unreleased Versions
Title Version Additional Info
Diamonds And Pearls Studio Version without Rosie Gaines, placed on the 27 November 1990 configuration of the Diamonds And Pearls Album
 
Additional Information

See also Trivia

  • The intro of the song bears a striking resemblance to "In The Meantime" by Betty Davis (from the album: Betty Davis, 1973) and Sheila E.’s Romance 1600.

References
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