Difference between revisions of "Album: Hitnrun Phase One"

artwork used in album announcement
(not confirmed as album cover)

A tracklist for the album was revealed by Amazon.fr four days before the Tidal stream. It does not entirely match information given in an interview and album preview by Medium posted the day before, however, which suggested that the album contains 10 tracks, and also suggested that a remix of Breakfast Can Wait is included. At the time of writing it remains to be seen if the Tidal stream will match the contents of the French CD release as listed on Amazon.fr, however, and this page will be updated as and when new information becomes available.

The album title suggests a connection with Prince's various "hit n' run" one-off shows - a term he has used since the Spring 1986 series of short-notice shows prior to the Parade Tour - this is a studio album recorded and produced in similar fashion to his other recent work, however. Having been announced before its release, the title also doesn't reflect the album's release strategy, and the tracks themselves were recorded over an extensive period of time, so the title does not refer to a quick recording process either.

Recording process

The album is believed to have been recorded in early-to-mid 2015 at Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA. It is assumed at this point that A 1,000 Hugs And Kisses and This Could Be Us are new recordings not based on the previously-exisiting recordings of these tracks, but more details will be added as they become known.

During the announcement of the album, Hannah Welton-Ford announced that the album was recorded solely by Prince and Joshua Welton, indicating that the 3rdEyeGirl band was not involved in the album.

She also announced that the album was played in full during a DJ set by Joshua Welton following Prince and 3rdEyeGirl's private show celebrating African-American Music Appreciation Month, hosted by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in the East Room of The White House in Washington, D.C., on 13 June, 2015, indicating that the album was complete at that time.

An interview and album preview by Ebony also confirmed guest appearances on the album by Rita Ora and Judith Hill. It is likely that Rita Ora's appearance is on Ain't About 2 Stop, a song they recorded together, although it is not yet known on which track Judith Hill appears.

Promotion

The album was first announced during an interview by Hannah Welton-Ford on BBC 6music on 24 July, 2015. An article on the BBC News Entertainment & Arts website followed the same day. Another interview by the 3rdEyeGirl band with BBC 6music DJ Liz Kershaw was announced for the following day to discuss the album further, but this was then postponed to either 8 or 15 August, 2015 (this did not end up taking place).

In the two weeks prior to the album's availability on Tidal, several newspapers and music websites ran interviews with Joshua Welton, which were held at Paisley Park Studios. Prince would drop in briefly during each interview. Curiously, reporters were asked not to name any tracks on the album other than those already confirmed at the time (Hardrocklover, This Could B Us and 1000 X's & O's.

Three singles from the album have been released to date: Fallinlove2nite was released 18 months before the album (prior to the release of the two previous studio albums, in fact, with no album announced at the time of the single's release); Hardrocklover was released ten weeks before the album's release (although no album was announced at the time of the single's release); This Could B Us was released two weeks prior to the album's availability on Tidal.

The compact disc and digital versions are the original issue.

1. Million $ Show
2. Shut This Down
3. Ain't About 2 Stop
4. Like A Mack
5. This Could B Us
6. Fallinlove2nite
7. X's Face
8. Hardrocklover
9. Mr. Nelson
10. 1000 X's & O's
11. June

All songs written by Prince and Joshua Welton (assumed)

• Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted (assumed)
• Joshua Welton - unidentified instruments
• Other recording personnel details unknown

• Prince - co-producer, co-arranger, mixer
• Joshua Welton - co-producer, co-arranger, mixer
• Other production details unknown.

• Prince's band 3rdEyeGirl confirm new album for 2015 (BBC: 24 July, 2015)
• Prince’s new album HITNRUN will be a Tidal exclusive by FACT Team (FactMag: 7 August, 2015)
• Fnac: Hitnrun CD preorder