Album: Batman

1988: Lovesexy ◄

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Batman

Album details Released: 19 June 1989 (Europe) 20 June 1989 (USA) Length: 42:34 Label(s): Warner Bros. Records Studio(s): Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA Charts, Certifications & Awards Charts America Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart USA: Billboard Top Pop Albums 8 Jul. 1989 1(6) 34 USA: Billboard Top Black Albums 15 Jul. 1989 5 29 USA: The Billboard 200 14 May 2016 61R 2 R indicates re-entry of an album that had already charted.   Europe Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart Austria: Alben Top 75 15 Jul. 1989 3 20 Germany: Musikmarkt Top 75 Albums 3 Jul. 1989 3(?) 25 The Netherlands: Nationale Totale Top 100 1 Jul. 1989 1(1) 23 Norway: VG-Lista Week 26/1989 2(?) 12 Sweden: Album Charts 28 Jun. 1989 2(?) 9 Switzerland: Schweizer Hitparade 2 Jul. 1989 1(2) 19 U.K.: UK Albums Chart 1 Jul. 1989 1(1) 20   Pacific Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart Australia: ARIA Top 50 Albums 23 Jul. 1989 4 15 New Zealand: Albums Charts 23 Jul. 1989 4 21 Certifications Institution, Country Date Certification RIAA, USA 29 Aug. 1989 Platinum x2 (2 millions) BPI, UK 28 Jun. 1989 Gold (100,000) BPI, UK 1st Nov. 1989 Platinum (300,000) SNEP, France 1989 Gold (100,000) SNEP, France 18 Oct. 2001 Platinum (400,000) BVMI, Germany 1990 Gold (250,000) ARIA, Australia 1989 Gold (75,000) Awards This album has not received any awards in the USA Singles released Batdance b/w 200 Balloons Partyman b/w Feel U Up The Arms Of Orion b/w I Love U In Me Scandalous! b/w Sex Trust (Hong Kong promo only) b/w None The Future (Europe only) b/w Electric Chair See also Batman (Sheet Music)   Alternate Album Configuration March 1989 configuration The Future Electric Chair The Arms Of Orion Partyman Vicki Waiting Trust Lemon Crush Scandalous Dance With The Devil Undated configuration The Future Electric Chair Scandalous Partyman Vicki Waiting Trust Lemon Crush Dance With The Devil Batdance The Arms Of Orion

Batman (the motion picture soundtrack to the Tim Burton movie Batman) is the eleventh full-length studio album by Prince, and the first and only soundtrack album by Prince for a movie in which he was not involved as an actor. It was released worldwide in June 1989. First steps Director Tim Burton had used two Prince songs (1999 and Baby I’m A Star) in a rough cut of the movie, and felt they worked so well that in mid-December 1988, he contacted Prince to ask if he would re-record the tracks for use in the movie, or provide new tracks instead. Prince was initially uncertain, until visiting the movie set in January 1989, where he met Burton, discussed the concept, and watched a rough cut portion of the movie. He became so interested in writing music for the movie that he considered cancelling the Japanese leg of the Lovesexy Tour, but it would have been too costly to do so. Sessions and compiling Prince began recording songs for the album in mid-February 1989, immediately after returning from the Lovesexy Tour, and he previewed eleven songs in late February, including Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic and 200 Balloons, intended to replace 1999 and Baby I’m A Star respectively), and Batman Theme. He worked on the album further in March 1989, recording Partyman and Trust (to replace Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic and 200 Balloons respectively). Dance With The Devil was recorded for the album, but Prince considered the song to be too dark and replaced it with Batdance, which was the last song recorded for the album. While the bulk of the album was recorded between mid-February and the end of March 1989, Electric Chair was recorded in June 1988, and Scandalous in October 1988. In addition, Vicki Waiting was a revamped version of Anna Waiting, initially recorded in December 1988. Credits Of note is that while the credits denote that Prince sings lead vocals, the lyrics are in fact attributed to characters from the movie, as if Prince is singing on their behalf. The Future and Scandalous are attributed to Batman, while Electric Chair, Partyman and Trust are attributed to The Joker. The Arms Of Orion is attributed to Bruce Wayne (Batman’s alter-ego) and Vicki Vale, while Vicki Waiting is attributed to Bruce Wayne alone, and Lemon Crush is attributed to Vicki Vale alone. Batdance attributes different lines to different characters from the movie and to Gemini, a character half-Batman, half-Joker created by Prince. The only lines attributed to Prince, which seems very intentional, are the finale of Trust, "Who do ya trust if you can’t trust God? Who can you trust - who can ya? Nobody." and Batdance ("Stop"). Promotion The album produced five commercially-released singles, Batdance (which preceded the album), Partyman, The Arms Of Orion, Scandalous! and The Future (released in Europe only). Trust was also available as a promotional single in Hong Kong only (with no commercial release). Prince did not tour to support the album, having just completed the Lovesexy Tour in early 1989, but several songs from the album were played on the 1990 Nude Tour, which took place before the release of Prince’s next album, Graffiti Bridge. The album reached number 1 on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums Chart and stayed there 6 consecutive weeks, and number 5 on the Billboard Top Black Albums Chart. It was certified Platinum x2 on 29 August 1989 by the RIAA, indicating 2 million copies shipped in the USA. Track listing CD LP The Future (4:07) Electric Chair (4:07) The Arms Of Orion (5:02) 1  Partyman (3:11) Vicki Waiting (4:51) Trust (4:23) Lemon Crush (4:15) Scandalous (6:14) 2  Batdance (6:13) Side 1: The Future (4:07) Electric Chair (4:07) The Arms Of Orion (5:02) 1  Partyman (3:11) Vicki Waiting (4:51) Side 2: Trust (4:23) Lemon Crush (4:15) Scandalous (6:14) 2  Batdance (6:13) All songs written by Prince, except where noted. 1  Written by Prince and Sheena Easton. 2  Written by Prince and John L. Nelson. Personnel Musicians Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted Sounds of Blackness - sampled choir on The Future and possibly on Batdance Clare Fischer - orchestra on The Future (credited as "Clare Fischer Orchestra", sampled from Crystal Ball) Sheena Easton - co-lead vocals on The Arms Of Orion (credited for "special guest presence") Femi Jiya - sampled vocals on Partyman (credited for "special guest presence") Anna Fantastic - sampled vocals on Partyman (credited for "special guest presence") Eric Leeds - saxophone on Trust and possibly on Partyman Atlanta Bliss - trumpet on Trust and possibly on Partyman Matthew Larson - vocals on Batdance (credited for "special guest presence") Michael Keaton - sampled vocals (as Batman/Bruce Wayne, sampled from Batman) on The Future and Batdance, credited but not heard on Partyman and Vicki Waiting (credited for "special guest presence") Jack Nicholson - sampled vocals (as The Joker, sampled from Batman) on The Future, Partyman, Vicki Waiting and Batdance (credited for "special guest presence") Kim Basinger - sampled vocals (as Vicki Vale, sampled from Batman) on Partyman, Vicki Waiting and Batdance, credited but not heard on The Future (credited for "special guest presence") Christopher Fairbank - sampled vocals on The Future (uncredited, as Nic, sampled from Batman) Robert Wuhl - sampled vocals on Trust (uncredited, as Alexander Knox, sampled from Batman) Mavis Staples – sampled vocals on Batdance (uncredited) Production Prince - producer, arranger and engineer Femi Jiya - engineer David Friedlander - assistant engineer Heidi Hanschu - assistant engineer Chuck Zwicky - assistant engineer Eddie Miller - assistant engineer, mixing Chris Lord-Alge - mixing engineer on Electric Chair (at the Grey Room) Mastered at Masterdisk Anton Furst - logo illustration Jeff Katz - photography of Prince Tom Recchion - design Jon Peters - executive album producer Peter Guber - executive album producer Gary LeMel - executive in charge of album production for Warner Bros. Inc. Michael Dilbeck - music supervisor Thanks "Special gratitude 2 staff and friends at Paisley Park: Albert Magnoli, Alan Leeds, Harry Grossman, Femi Jiya, David Friedlander, Therese Stoulil, Matthew Larson, Sal Greco, Gilbert Davison, Anna Fantastic and John L. Nelson. Special mention 2 the filmmakers 4 their attention and support: Mark Canton, Jon Peters, Tim Burton; and 2 Michael Dilbeck, Gary LeMel & Debbie Reinberg 4 their tireless efforts. Special consideration 2 Skip Brittenham, Gary Stiffelman, Jerry Breslauer and Nancy Chapman 4 their dedication, and 2 the group at Warner Bros. Records: Mo Ostin, Lenny Waronker, Benny Medina, Michael Ostin and Russ Thyret 4 their support through the years. Special thanks 2 Eric Leeds, Atlanta Bliss, the Sounds of Blackness Choir, the Clare Fischer Orchestra, Mavis Staples, Sheena Easton, Chris Lord-Alge, Danny Elfman, Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton, Kim Basinger and U. "Who do U trust if U can’t trust God, who can U trust? ..Nobody! Don’t dance with the devil in the pale moonlight. The curious try and always die.""

Releases
LP, CD, Cassettes and Other versions
Country Format Cat. Number Comments Front Back Label 1 Label 2 This section is under construction Variants, Special Editions and Reissues Country Format Cat. Number Comments Front Back Label 1 Label 2 This section is under construction

Additional Information Promotion (at time of release) Trivia UK and US Press adverts published in august 1989.   An early configuration of the album is known to exist containing an extra track Dance With The Devil but omitting Batdance, which had not yet been recorded (see alternative section above). The sequence is otherwise the same as released. A different early configuration has Batdance as well as Dance With The Devil segueing into one another, and has the track order slightly revised with Scandalous as track 3 and The Arms Of Orion as the last track. Some of the film dialogue is also not present in the versions on this configuration. In an article published in 2022, Sounds Of Blackness’director Gary Hines discusses their recording session with Prince : "We recorded one song, which wound up being Scandalous. I say that because he remixed or reformatted what we did to where it was a whole ’nother creation. Originally, we were just going to do one song, but it was going so well. We got there probably at 7, 8 o’clock. By this time, it’s midnight. Sheila E. is actually conducting, or engineering, I should say, most of the session. Then he pulls me aside and says, "Gary Hines, I’m really happy. This is going so well, Gary Hines." I’m not exaggerating. He would do that all the time.". In an other interview, Hines gives other details about that one and only session involving Prince and Sounds Of Blackness: "In addition to the lengthy late nights - early morning phone conversations pouring out heart and soul, then some of the projects we were blessed with him on was like the Batman soundtrack. I’ll never forget he called and said they had this really important project that he wanted us to work with him on. At the time, he couldn’t even tell us what it was, he told us afterwards. He said we probably would stay an hour or two in the studio; of course we were there all night (laugh). We had a great time! In fact, Sheila E. actually engineered; she was at the console much of the session and Prince was producing. That was on a Halloween. I will never forget that. Of course there are countless others, but those are among the standouts.". Scandalous was recorded in mid-October 1988 (two weeks before Halloween), while he was working on both Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic and the Graffiti Bridge albums. Although that track is not known to have been considered for those projects, Prince’s organisation was contacted by the people behind the Batman film only in mid-december 1988, two months after the recording of the song. Since their contribution was discarded from that track, and that no other recording session with Sounds Of Blackness took place, it is likely that their vocals sampled on Batman soundtrack (the The Future and possibly Batdance) come from that session. When reaching the number one spot of the Billboard 200 on 22 July 1989, Prince’s Batman soundtrack replaced Fine Young Cannibals’s album The Raw And The The Cooked which contains significant contributions by David Z. and was partially recorded at Paisley Park Studios. Fine Young Cannibal’s album itself took the number one position 7 weeks earlier from Madonna’s album Like A Prayer which contains contributions from Prince. A limited edition was available at the time of the album’s release, featuring a 5" circular metal can containing the CD (as a picture disc) and a circular booklet.   Images courtesy eil.com References The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004) Copyright: US Copyright Office / SR0000108053 / 1989-07-28 Certifications: http://www.riaa.com/, http://www.bpi.co.uk, BVMI / Gold & Platinum Awards

1988 Lovesexy

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1990 Graffiti Bridge