Mad

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Mad

NPGMusicClub logo.jpg

NPG Music Club Edition # 1 - no official artwork created

Song details
Performer: SymbolSmallerBlue.png
First Released: 18 February 2001 - NPG Music Club Edition # 1 download
Album(s): None
Writer(s): Prince (as SymbolSmallerBlue.png) (assumed)
Producer(s): Prince (as SymbolSmallerBlue.png) (assumed)
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
Performed regularly on tour:
  • none
Performed occasionally in shows:

Mad was offered as an mp3 download as part of NPG Music Club Edition # 1 (along with Funky Design, Peace, Splash, When EyeBlue.png Lay My Hands On U and NPG Ahdio Show #1).

The track originates from 1994, however, and the studio version was played at The New Power Generation Store in Minneapolis in November 1994 (along with Funky Design and Snow Man). The song contains repeated vocal samples of "He’s always on some medication" from Ninety-9’s track Simlac (containing input by Prince) - it is unknown if this sample was added immediately or at a later date. Mad also uses a prominent loop of the song "Bebop Ta Hip Hop" by Headshock.

In 1998, a live version was included on the Beautiful Strange TV special (released in 1999 on VHS). An excerpt of the track had also been streamed on NPGOnlineLtd.com on 17 July 2000, before the full track was released in 2001.

Despite being released after Prince reverted to using the his own name, rather than SymbolSmallerBlue.png, the track was credited to SymbolSmallerBlue.png, as it was recorded while using that name.

Specific recording dates are unknown, but it is likely that basic tracking took place in November 1994 at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Sonny T. also overdubbed vocals (replacing SymbolSmallerBlue.png’s) for a version included as the tenth track (sixth song) on a 2 December 1994 configuration of the New Power Generation’s second album Exodus. This version remains unreleased, however.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
November 1994 Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Tracking
November - December 1994 Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Sonny T. vocal overdubs
Recording Personnel

SymbolSmaller.png version

  • Prince (as SymbolSmallerBlue.png) - all vocals and instruments (assumed)


New Power Generation version

  • Sonny T. - lead vocals
  • Prince (as SymbolSmallerBlue.png) - background vocals and all instruments (assumed)

Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Mad 5:32 NPG Music Club Edition # 1 mp3 download Studio
Video Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Mad 5:40 Beautiful Strange VHS Live 28 August 1998 (a.m.): Cafe De Paris, London, England; with Doug E. Fresh; see Beautiful Strange for more details
Broadcasts/streaming (only)
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Mad T.B.C. NPGOnlineLtd.com Real Audio stream Excerpt Excerpt from full studio version above
Sampled, Referred to, Quoted in...
Title Length Released Version Additional info
P. Control (House Mix) 5:43 P. Control promo Remix Shares bombastic drum/synth ending; also samples Get Wild; see P. Control for more details
Unreleased Versions
Title Version Additional Info
Mad Studio New Power Generation version with Sonny T. vocals
Mad Remix Remix of SymbolSmallerBlue.png’s version repeating the sampled phrase "be-bop to hip-hop"
 
Additional Information

See also Trivia

  • Mad is often paired with Funky Design, which was recorded, streamed, and released at the same time. Both songs were also considered for Exodus, and have only rarely been played live.

References
Machine   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   The Mad Pope