Hitnrun Phase Two (stylized as HITnRUN Phase Two) is the 39th full-length studio album by Prince.
It contains twelve tracks, six of which were previously unreleased in any shape or form. At time of release, the album was only available as a bundle with Hitnrun Phase One on Tidal. Later it was also avialable as standalone download via iTunes. A physical CD was first available for purchase at Prince's two-show Piano And A Microphone Gala Event at Paisley Park Studios on 21 January 2016. It is not yet known if a wider release is planned.
First Steps
While the use of "Phase One" on the title of its predecessor led many to assume that a follow-up using this title was planned, the album was only confirmed by Prince three months after the release of Hitnrun Phase One in a tweet.
In a response to a fan question by @_dirtydiana97 asking "is there a HitNRun Phase 2 coming out someday?", the response by @Prince3EG was:"Warner Bros. Records WB HAS IT ALREADY. PETITION THEM 2 RELEASE IT."
When the same fan asked for any titles of songs included, the account confirmed that Big City is included, followed later by re-posting a 54-second snippet of the track previously shared in October 2013, suggesting that the version planned for inclusion was the same. @Prince3EG also confirmed the inclusion of Revelation soon after.
When asked why the album was given to Warner Bros. Records, @Prince3EG replied using the phrase: "OLIVE BRANCH"
The tweet that included the link to the Big City snippet read: "WARNER BROTHERS "BIG CITY" SHOUT ... C'MON U'ALL, WE CAN WORK THIS OUT!"
This phrasing was interesting, given that the unreleased 1977 track We Can Work It Out included the lyric "Makin' music naturally, me and W.B. / Music for the young and old, music bound to be gold". However, as expected We Can Work It Out is not included on the album.
A few days later, @Prince3EG confirmed Black Muse as another track included on the planned album. The following day, 2 Y. 2 D. was also confirmed.
As speculated before its release other tracks debuted in 2015 are also included on the album. however Free Urself and the 2014 re-recording of If Eye Could Get Ur Attention are not.
Recording process
Much of the album is believed to have been recorded in early-to-mid 2015 at Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA.
Some tracks were recorded earlier, however, with 2 Y. 2 D., Groovy Potential and Big City dating back to 2013, Screwdriver and Rocknroll Loveaffair (as 'Rock And Roll Love Affair') to 2012, Xtraloveable and Groovy Potential to 2011 and Black Muse is believed to originate from 2010.
Promotion
Four singles from the album have been released to date, although none specifically to promote the album, instead between 2011 and early 2015 respectively.
- Furthermore Stare was released as standalone track on Tidal in September 2015.
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Personnel
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Musicians
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- Prince - Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted (assumed)
- Michael B. Nelson - trombone on Baltimore, Rocknroll Loveaffair, Xtraloveable, Groovy Potential, When She Comes and Black Muse
- Steve Strand - trumpet on Baltimore, Rocknroll Loveaffair, Xtraloveable, Groovy Potential, When She Comes and Black Muse
- Dave Jensen - trumpet on Baltimore, Rocknroll Loveaffair, Xtraloveable, Groovy Potential, When She Comes and Black Muse
- Kenni Holmen - tenor sax on Baltimore, Rocknroll Loveaffair, Xtraloveable, Groovy Potential, When She Comes and Black Muse
- Kathy Jensen - baritone sax on Baltimore, Rocknroll Loveaffair, Xtraloveable, Groovy Potential, When She Comes and Black Muse
- Stringenius - strings on Baltimore
- Ida Nielsen - bass guitar on Rocknroll Loveaffair, Screwdriver and Big City
- John Blackwell - drums on Rocknroll Loveaffair, 2 Y. 2 D., Look At Me, Look At U, Xtraloveable, When She Comes, Screwdriver, Black Muse, Revelation and Big City
- Justin Stanley - keyboards and handclaps on 2 Y. 2 D.
- Michael B. - drums on Groovy Potential
- Andrew Gouché - bass guitar on When She Comes and Revelation
- Xavier Taplin - keyboard on Look At Me, Look At U and Revelation
- Justin Stanley - keyboards and handclaps on 2 Y. 2 D.
- Shelby J. - background vocals on Big City and Black Muse (assumed)
- Elisa Dease - background vocals on Big City and Black Muse (assumed)
- Liv Warfield - background vocals on Big City and Black Muse (assumed)
- Andy Allo - background vocals on Black Muse (assumed)
- Eryn Allen Kane - vocals on Baltimore
- Ledisi - background vocals on Big City
- Cassandra O'Neal - keyboards on Big City
- Marcus Anderson - flute on Look At Me, Look At U, tenor saxophone on Stare and Big City, soprano saxophone on Revelation (as part of NPG Hornz)
- Keith Anderson - tenor saxophone on Look At Me, Look At U, Stare, Revelation and Big City (as part of NPG Hornz)
- Lynn Grissett - trumpet on Look At Me, Look At U, Stare, Revelation and Big City (as part of NPG Hornz)
- Joey Rayfield - trombone on Look At Me, Look At U, Stare, Revelation and Big City (as part of NPG Hornz)
- Adrian Crutchfield – flute on Groovy Potential, alto saxophone on Look At Me, Look At U, Stare, Revelation and Big City (as part of NPG Hornz)
- BK Jackson - baritone saxophone on Look At Me, Look At U, Stare, Revelation and Big City (as part of NPG Hornz)
- Sylvester Onyejiaka - baritone saxophone on Look At Me, Look At U, Stare, Revelation and Big City (as part of NPG Hornz)
- Steve Reid - trumpet on Look At Me, Look At U, Stare, Revelation and Big City (as part of NPG Hornz)
- Phil Lassiter - trumpet on Look At Me, Look At U, Stare, Revelation and Big City (credited as Philip Lassiter, as part of NPG Hornz)
- Nick Marchione - trumpet on Look At Me, Look At U, Stare, Revelation and Big City (credited as Nicholas Marchione, as part of NPG Hornz)
- Roy Agee - trombone on Look At Me, Look At U, Stare, Revelation and Big City (as part of NPG Hornz)
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Production
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Thanks
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