Difference between revisions of "The Work Part 1"

• 30 March 2001: Park West, Chicago, IL, USA (first confirmed performance, although possibly also played earlier in 2001)
  
• 15 December 2002, Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts, Las Vegas, NV, USA

• Hit N Run Tour
• One Nite Alone... Tour

• 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006

The Work Part 1 is the fourth track (as The Work Pt. 1) on Prince's 24th album The Rainbow Children, his first album after reverting to the name Prince, but six months earlier, a slightly different mix of the track had been made available (as The Work Part 1) as an official free download from the file-sharing service Napster, before being made available as part of NPG Music Club Edition # 3 two weeks later. The following month, a live performance video of the song was included as part of NPG Music Club Edition # 4. In 2003, a 2002 live version was included as part of the third track (listed as Money Don't Matter 2 Night / The Work) on the Live At The Aladdin Las Vegas concert DVD.

Specific recording dates are unknown, but it is likely that basic tracking took place at a live in-studio recording in February 2001 at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota (possibly during the 8 February 2001 session where the Hornheadz added horns to the rest of the album's tracks). It was stated on the NPG Music Club at the time of the track's release that Prince played both the guitar solo and the piano solo at the same time in one take. The track was mixed slightly between its initial release in April and the final configuration of The Rainbow Children album in June 2001.

The album version also includes a segue prior to the beginning of the following track, Everywhere.

The Part 1 in the title is likely an homage to songs by artists like James Brown, whose tracks were often split into segments for single releases, rather than an indication of other parts to the song. There was a report in early 2001, however, before any public mention of The Work Part 1, of Prince introducing a new song at Paisley Park Studios and calling it The Work Part 2 (this report may have been in error, however).

• Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted (credited as "All other instruments - digital or otherwise, lead and co-lead vox, percussion and sound FX per4med by Prince ...and U.")
• John Blackwell - drums (credited as "John Blackwell, the Magnificent")
• Larry Graham - bass guitar
• Niyoki White - background vocals (credited collectively as Milenia)
• Mikele White - background vocals (credited collectively as Milenia)
• Tia White - background vocals (credited collectively as Milenia)
• Malikah White - background vocals (credited collectively as Milenia)
• Kip Blackshire - background vocals
• Michael B. Nelson - trombone (credited collectively as The Hornheadz)
• Kathy Jensen - baritone saxophone (credited collectively as The Hornheadz)
• Dave Jensen - trumpet (credited collectively as The Hornheadz)
• Steve Strand - trumpet (credited collectively as The Hornheadz)

• The Rainbow Children album
• NPG Music Club Edition # 3
• The Work Part 1 single

• The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004)