Difference between revisions of "Album: Welcome 2 America"

Sessions and compiling

The tracks tentatively planned for inclusion on the album were recorded in 2010 and early 2011, although specific recording dates are not known. Hot Summer and Stand Up And B Strong are known to have been recorded in Spring 2010 (before the release of the 20Ten album), and may have been the earliest tracks recorded for this album, but this is unconfirmed.

Black Muse and Cause And Effect are two more tracks assumed to have been recorded around the same time but it’s unclear if they were at any point slated for inclusion on the album.

Musicians input

While musical credits are not known for many of the album's tracks (specifically Born 2 Die, Check The Record, Running Game (Son Of A Slave Owner), Stand Up And B Strong and Welcome 2 America), it is clear that the album contained more contributions from others than its predecessor, 20Ten. Background singers including Shelby J., Liv Warfield and Elisa Dease, who had been present throughout 20Ten, appeared on Same Page Different Book and Welcome 2 America, with Shelby J. providing a rap on the former track. Elisa Dease also provides co-lead vocals on Stand Up And B Strong. Andy Allo is believed to appear on background vocals on the 1,000 Light Years Away (although since she joined Prince's band in May 2011, it's possible that her vocals on the released version were added after the album project was abandoned). Drummer Chris Coleman and bass guitarist Tal Wilkenfeld appear on Hot Summer.

Track releases

Hot Summer was premiered on Minnesota public radio station 89.3 The Current's website on 7 June 2010, Prince's 52nd birthday, prior to the album's intended release. Same Page Different Book was streamed as audio only over a static video on 3rd Eye Girl YouTube channel in January 2013. 1,000 Light Years Away was released in 2015 on Hitnrun Phase Two, included in full as a 3:05 coda to the track Black Muse (as such, the title 1,000 Light Years Away is not used on the album's tracklist). When She Comes was also released on Hitnrun Phase Two, although the version intended for Welcome 2 America was more stripped-down, with just piano and not the accordion used on the released version.

Nine tracks are known to have been slated for the project at some point, although there is no exact tracklist or sequence known. In alphabetical order these tracks are:

• 1,000 Light Years Away
• Born 2 Die
• Check The Record
• Hot Summer
• Running Game (Son Of A Slave Owner)
• Same Page Different Book
• Stand Up And B Strong
• Welcome 2 America
• When She Comes

All songs written by Prince (assumed), except for Stand Up And B Strong, which is a Soul Asylum cover, written by David Pirner.

• Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
• Ida Nielsen – bass guitar on unconfirmed tracks (assumed)
• Michael B. Nelson - trombone, horn arrangement on 1,000 Light Years Away
• Steve Strand - trumpet on 1,000 Light Years Away
• Dave Jensen - trumpet on 1,000 Light Years Away
• Kenni Holmen - tenor sax, flute on 1,000 Light Years Away
• Kathy Jensen - baritone sax, clarinet on 1,000 Light Years Away
• Andy Allo – background vocals on 1,000 Light Years Away
• Chris Coleman – drums on Hot Summer
• Tal Wilkenfeld – bass guitar on Hot Summer
• Shelby J. - background vocals on Same Page Different Book and Welcome 2 America (assumed)
• Elisa Dease - background vocals on Same Page Different Book, Stand Up And B Strong and Welcome 2 America (assumed)
• Liv Warfield - background vocals on Hot Summer, Same Page Different Book and Welcome 2 America (assumed)

• Prince - producer (assumed)