Difference between revisions of "Album: Superconductor"

The album includes contributions by Prince, who is the album’s executive producer, Trombone Shorty (marking his first appearance on a Prince-related album), Maceo Parker, the Hornheads (as 'Hornheadz') (making their first appearance on a Prince-related album since 2001’s The Rainbow Children) and members of the New Power Generation. Prince’s musical contributions are not documented, but he is believed to play on every track.

Sessions and compiling

Work on the album began in Summer, 2011. People Pleaser was premiered during a show on 24 June 2011, Métropolis, Montreal, QC, Canada, although it is unclear if a studio version had been recorded at that point. Zürcher Oberländer reported that Prince recorded at Powerplay Studios, Maur, Switzerland, from 20-31 August 2011, where some work on the album took place.

Further work took place at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, MN, USA later in 2011 and early 2012. Trombone Shorty posted on Twitter on 23 November 2011, "Dream come true worked in the studio with Prince and Maceo Parker yesterday!!!", indicating that his work on the album was recorded then. In early January 2012, Andy Allo posted a photo of her with the Hornheadz, suggesting their contribution(s) were recorded around that time. Andy Allo gave a number of media interviews in Sacramento in June 2012, in which she stated that she was "putting the finishing touches" on the album.

Promotion

The album was preceded by the digital single People Pleaser, released two weeks before the album.

The CD contains a digital booklet in .pdf not available on the digital version.

1. Superconductor (5:26) ¹
2. People Pleaser (5:31)
3. Long Gone (3:37) ¹
4. The Calm (5:20) ¹
5. Yellow Gold (4:16)
6. Nothing More (5:39)
7. If I Was King (6:18)
8. Story Of You & I (3:23)
9. When Stars Collide (6:34)

Platforms:

AlloEvolution.com

Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, Deezer

Released in April 2014 through andyallo.com

1. Superconductor (5:26) ¹
2. People Pleaser (5:31)
3. Long Gone (3:37) ¹
4. The Calm (5:20) ¹
5. Yellow Gold (4:16)
6. Nothing More (5:39)
7. If I Was King (6:18)
8. Story Of You & I (3:23)
9. When Stars Collide (6:34)
10. Long Gone (Live) (3:56) ¹
11. Story Of You & I (Live) (3:10)

All songs written by Andy Allo except where indicated.

¹ Written by Andy Allo & Prince

• Andy Allo - vocals, guitar
• John Blackwell - drums
• Michael B. - drums on Superconductor
• Ida Nielsen - bass guitar
• Morris Hayes - keyboards and fix
• Shelby J. - background vocals
• Elisa Dease - background vocals
• Liv Warfield - background vocals
• Maceo Parker - saxophone on People Pleaser and If I Was King.
• Trombone Shorty - trombone on People Pleaser and If I Was King.
• Prince - horns arrangements, guitar (uncredited)
• Michael B. Nelson - horns arrangements

Credited Collectively as The Hornheadz:

• Michael B. Nelson - trombone on People Pleaser, Yellow Gold, When Stars Collide and If I Was King
• Kathy Jensen - baritone saxophone on People Pleaser, Yellow Gold, When Stars Collide and If I Was King
• Dave Jensen - trumpet on People Pleaser, Yellow Gold, When Stars Collide and If I Was King
• Kenni Holmen - tenor saxophone on People Pleaser, Yellow Gold, When Stars Collide and If I Was King
• Steve Strand - trumpet on People Pleaser, Yellow Gold, When Stars Collide and If I Was King

• Andy Allo - producer, composer, mixing, mastering, art direction, album package design
• Prince - executive producer (credited as NPG), mixing
• Dylan Dresdow - mixing, mastering
• Justin Stanley - mixing
• AJ Clark - mixing assistant
• Jesse String - mixing assistant
• Justine Walpole - photography
• Kim Berry - hair
• Magpie - clothing
• Jett Media - art direction & album package
• Amelia Tubb - digital booklet design

• Thank you to Prince and The NPG community for taking me in and giving me all the nurturing and room to grow and blossom. Thank You to all the superconductors out there for taking this journey with me and sharing the music. I love you all and you have my eternal gratitude.

• The project was announced on Andy Allo’s Facebook page on 8 March 2012 with a 15-second video using a clip of the song Superconductor. Drfunkenberry.com posted a 1:09 sample of People Pleaser from the album hours later, and posted additional information regarding the project.
• On 26 April 2012, a 23-second video titled Wonder What It'll Feel Like..., using a clip of an unidentified song (with the lyrics "This is what it feels like") was premiered on YouTube to promote the album. DrFunkenberry.com identified the track as When Stars Collide.
• People Pleaser was performed live on French TV show Le Grand Journal a year before the album’s planned release.
• On 14 June 2012, Andy Allo appeared on radio station V101.1 in her hometown of Sacramento, talking about creating the album with Prince, and played clips of the album versions of People Pleaser, Superconductor and When Stars Collide.
• DrFunkenberry.com posted a lengthy interview and article on the album on 23 June 2012, which confirmed an additional track title, If I Was King.
• Andy Allo posted photos of the finished CD packaging on her Facebook page on 11 September 2012.
• Andy Allo held a Superconductor listening party and played a short live set with the NPG in the House Of Blues, Chicago. IL, USA on 23 September 2012.
• Andy Allo guested a few times during Prince’s "Welcome 2 Chicago" series of shows, and she and the NPG performed a short set at the first "afterjam" on 25 September 2012 (a.m.); they started the show very late, however, so much so that they were shut down, before Prince, who was there could potentially join in.
• Andy Allo and the NPG performed People Pleaser on three Chicago-area TV stations on 24 September 2012 (WCIU’s You And Me morning show, broadcast the next day) and 26 September 2012 (WGN’s Morning News, followed by another performance of the song on Fox Chicago’s Good Day Chicago), while in town for Prince’s "Welcome 2 Chicago" series of shows.

• Press release on 11 September 2012:

  Andy Allo, funk/soul artist extraordinaire, has been announced to perform live at Prince’s after-jam at Chicago’s House of Blues on September 24, following a special performance by Prince himself, at his "Welcome 2 Chicago" engagement. The "Welcome 2" event will be held at the United Center earlier that evening, in support of the Rebuild the Dream foundation, founded by Van Jones, whose mission is to mobilize thousands of everyday people who come together to build strong vibrant communities, and to fix the U.S. economy from the ground up.
  
  Allo, who opens for Prince on-tour and is a guitarist/vocalist in his band, The New Power Generation, will be releasing her sophomore CD on Prince’s NPG Records on September 20 titled "Superconductor." The album is Executive Produced by Prince, and features six self-penned tracks by Allo, with three songs co-written by Prince - "Superconductor," "The Calm" and "Gone" [released as Long Gone]. The album also includes featured artists Maceo Parker, Prince and Trombone Shorty.
  
  As soon as we felt Andy Allo’s energetic presence on tour with r band," says Prince, "we knew she’d b leading her own revolution soon!"
  
  Adds Allo, "Touring with Prince & The NPG has been a challenging and rewarding experience and Superconductor is a work of art that encapsulates the journey thus far."
  
  A poet, songwriter, singer and dancer, Allo has been a member of The New Power Generation since 2011. Allo will continue to tour with Prince in conjunction with the release of "Superconductor."

• Image of the USB edition:
  

(image credit: discogs.com)

• Facebook: Andy Allo's official page
• New Andy Allo Featuring Prince Coming Soon! Listen Now To People Pleaser! (DrFunkenberry: 8 March 2012)
• Andy Allo Shows Us What It Takes To Be A Superconductor (DrFunkenberry: 23 June 2012)
• Prince To Debut New Artist Andy Allo At His "Welcome 2 Chicago" After-Jam At Chicago's House Of Blues On September 24 - In Support Of The "Rebuild The Dream" Foundation (Prnewswire: 11 September 2012)
• Discogs