Cream

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Cream

from the album Diamonds And Pearls from the album Diamonds And Pearls (Super) Deluxe Edition single art for Cream Song details Performer: Prince and the New Power Generation First Released: 9 September 1991 - Cream single Album(s): Diamonds And Pearls The Hits 2 The Hits / The B-Sides The Very Best Of Prince Ultimate 4Ever Diamonds And Pearls Deluxe Edition and Super Deluxe Edition Writer(s): Prince Producer(s): Prince Live Appearances First and last live appearance: 19 August 1991: The Ritz, New York, NY, USA 14 April 2016 (Show 2): Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA, USA Performed regularly on tour: Diamonds And Pearls Tour Hit N Run Tour A Celebration Musicology Live 2004ever Per4ming Live 3121 21 Nights In London : The Earth Tour Prince Live 2010 Welcome 2 America Tour Welcome 2 America Euro 2011 Tour Welcome 2 Canada Tour Welcome 2 Australia Tour Performed occasionally in shows: 1991, 1992, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2016 (solo piano)

Cream is the fourth track on Prince’s 13th album Diamonds And Pearls (the first album to be credited to Prince and the New Power Generation), and, three weeks before the album’s release, Cream was released as the album’s second single, released worldwide, with a maxi-single following at a later date. In 1993, it was included as the 16th track on The Hits 2 (which was also included as the second disc of The Hits / The B-Sides). In 2001, it was included as the 15th track on The Very Best Of Prince. In 2006, the Cream (N.P.G. Mix) was included as the 11th and final track on the second disc of the compilation Ultimate in 2006. A tape photographed in Prince’s vault at Paisley Park Studios lists two takes of the song ("Takes 1 & 2") and a third version (the final) as 3 December 1990. An early mix of the track was intended initially as the first track on a Gett Off EP also containing Gett Off, Horny Pony and Money Don’t Matter 2 Night, but this EP was aborted. The track was not included on the December 1990, configuration of Diamonds And Pearls, indicating that it had not yet been recorded, but was included as the fourth track on the 1 March 1991 and 8 May 1991 configurations, where it remained for release. The second studio take of the song, effectively Prince a full-band run-trough, was released in October 2023 as the tenth track of Vault Tracks part 1, one of the discs with previously unreleased tracks included with the Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition (as Cream (Take 2)). This version was streamed on Prince’s Youtube channel and other streaming platforms on 7 September 2023 (almost 32 years date-to-date after the first release of the song) as a preview of this posthumous release. This take was mixed by Chris James in 2022 for use on that collection. Remixes were made of the track for a single release, which gradually moved further away from the original track and were considered independent enough to warrant their own track names. These could be considered remixes of Cream, but here are given their own entries: see Things Have Gotta Change (Tony M. Rap), 2 The Wire (Creamy Instrumental), Get Some Solo and Do Your Dance (KC’s Remix) (which itself was remixed multiple times) for details of each track. Recording Information Recording Sessions Date Studio Additional info 3 December 1990 Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA Tracking August 1991 Unknown studio, USA Remixes by Junior Vasquez September-October 1991 Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA Remixes, overdubs, additional production 2022 Unknown studio Mix of Cream (Take 2) by Chris James Recording Personnel Album version Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted (listed in liner notes as ‘Insatiable’) Michael B. - drums Sonny T. - bass guitar (credited for "bass and backing vox") Tommy Barbarella - keyboards (liner notes state "Purpleaxxe™ sampler, other various keys and sex symbol") Levi Seacer, Jr. - rhythm guitar (credited for "rhythm guitar and backing vox") Rosie Gaines - vocals, keyboards (liner notes state "co-lead backing vox, Purpleaxxe™ sampler and organ") Kirk Johnson - percussion (credited for "backing vox and percussion") Bonnie Raitt - sampled slide guitar (uncredited - see trivia) Cream (N.P.G. Mix) additional musicians : Eric Leeds - saxophone (uncredited, sampled from ♥ Or $) Clare Fischer - string orchestration (uncredited, sampled from High Fashion) George Brown - drums (uncredited, sampled loop from Chocolate Buttermilk by Kool & the Gang) Cream (Take 2) Prince - vocals and guitar Michael B. - drums Sonny T. - bass guitar Tommy Barbarella - keyboards Levi Seacer, Jr. - rhythm guitar Kirk Johnson - percussion Versions Released Versions Title Length Released Version Additional info Cream 4:12 Diamonds And Pearls Cream single The Hits 2 The Hits / The B-Sides The Very Best Of Prince 4Ever Studio Cream 4:12 Diamonds And Pearls - The Singles (collection) Diamonds And Pearls (Super) Deluxe Edition Studio Remastered 2023 Cream 4:44 Cream single Remix Studio version as above with telephone segue # 1 added to end Cream (N.P.G. Mix) 5:44 Cream single Remix Includes sound effects also used on My Name Is Prince and samples from ♥ Or $ and High Fashion. Contains telephone segue # 2 Cream (N.P.G. Mix) 4:46 Diamonds And Pearls (Super) Deluxe Edition Remix Remastered 2023 Cream (N.P.G. Mix) 4:50 Ultimate Remix As above without telephone segue # 2 Cream (N.P.G. Mix) 6:16 Diamonds And Pearls single Remix As above telephone segue # 1, 2, 3 added to end Cream (Take 2) 4:51 Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Studio Cream / Well Done / I Want U / In The Socket (Medley) (Live At Glam Slam 1992) 13:58 Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition Live 11 January 1992, Glam Slam, Minneapolis, MN, USA Video Versions Title Length Released Version Additional info Cream 6:04 The Hits Collection (1993) Prince streaming video platforms (2017) Released for sale as separate track on iTunes (2017) Studio See Cream video for details Cream 9:21 Diamonds And Pearls Video Collection VHS/DVD Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition blu-ray Prince streaming video platforms (2017) Released for sale as separate track on iTunes (2017) Studio See Cream video for details Cream / Well Done / I Want U / In The Socket (Medley) (Live At Glam Slam 1992) 13:58 Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition blu-ray Live 11 January 1992, Glam Slam, Minneapolis, MN, USA Broadcasts/streaming (only) Title Length Released Version Additional info Cream ?:?? Live performance TV broadcast Live 4 September 1991, Arsenio Hall Show, Paramount Studios, Hollywood, CA, USA (first aired on 9 September 1991) Cream ?:?? The Art Of Musicology performance broadcast Live 20 April 2004, Webster Hall, New York, NY, USA Sampled, Referred to, Quoted in... Title Length Released Version Additional info Things Have Gotta Change (Tony M. Rap) 3:57 Cream single Studio See Things Have Gotta Change (Tony M. Rap) for more details 2 The Wire (Creamy Instrumental) 3:13 Cream single Studio See 2 The Wire (Creamy Instrumental) for more details Do Your Dance (KC’s Remix) 5:58 Cream single Studio Contains lyrics from Cream; see Do Your Dance for more details Housebangers 4:23 Cream single Studio Remix of Do Your Dance with lyrics from Cream; see Do Your Dance for more details Q In Doubt 4:00 Cream single Studio Mostly instrumental remix of Do Your Dance with lyrics from Cream; see Do Your Dance for more details Purple Medley 11:03 Purple Medley single Studio medley See Purple Medley for more details Unreleased Versions Title Version Additional Info Cream Studio rehearsal "Take 1" Cream Studio Slightly longer intro than released version, with less reverb on production throughout the song Cream (Straight Pass 12") Remix Unreleased remix by Junior Vasquez with lead vocals by Prince (taken from the album version), Lori Elle (Werner) ('Diamond') and Robia LaMorte ('Pearl'). Also includes sound effects used on both Cream (N.P.G. Mix) and My Name Is Prince and samples from ♥ Or $, High Fashion and Things Have Gotta Change (Tony M. Rap). Cream (TV Track 12") Remix Same as Cream (Straight Pass 12") without Prince on co-lead vocals. Cream (Instr. 12") Remix Instrumental version of the remixes above. Includes samples from ♥ Or $, High Fashion and Things Have Gotta Change (Tony M. Rap) (without the sound effects used on both Cream (N.P.G. Mix) and My Name Is Prince). Cream (12" Extended) Remix Unreleased remix by Junior Vasquez. Cream (CHR Remix) Remix Unreleased remix by Junior Vasquez. Cream (Creamstrumental) Remix Mainly instrumental remix by Junior Vasquez different from the Cream (Instr. 12"). Includes some vocals by Lori Elle (Werner) ('Diamond') and Robia LaMorte ('Pearl') (from Cream (Straight Pass 12")), sound effects also used on both Cream (N.P.G. Mix) and My Name Is Prince and samples from ♥ Or $, High Fashion and Things Have Gotta Change (Tony M. Rap). Cream (Creamstrumental) Remix Slightly shorter than the version above. Cream (Creaminch Vocal) Remix Unreleased remix by Junior Vasquez with Prince, Lori Elle (Werner) ('Diamond') and Robia LaMorte ('Pearl') on vocals. Sparser than the Cream (Straight Pass 12"). Includes sound effects used on both Cream (N.P.G. Mix) and My Name Is Prince and samples from ♥ Or $, High Fashion and Things Have Gotta Change (Tony M. Rap). Cream (Creaminch Vocal (No Rap)) Remix Unreleased remix by Junior Vasquez with Prince, Lori Elle (Werner) ('Diamond') and Robia LaMorte ('Pearl') on vocals. Cream (CreamixVocal) Remix Unreleased remix by Junior Vasquez. Cream (Creamhouse) Remix Unreleased mostly instrumental remix by Junior Vasquez. Sparser than the Cream (Instr. 12") with some vocals by Lori Elle (Werner) ('Diamond') and Robia LaMorte ('Pearl') taken from Cream (Straight Pass 12"), sound effects used on both Cream (N.P.G. Mix) and My Name Is Prince and samples from Things Have Gotta Change (Tony M. Rap) (no sample from ♥ Or $ and High Fashion. Cream (Cream12inchhouse (Instrumental)) Remix Unreleased remix by Junior Vasquez Cream (Louder Vocal S.P 12") Remix Unreleased remix by Junior Vasquez. Cream (Creamdub) Remix Cream (Alternate Instrumental) Remix Cream (Long TV Version) Remix Cream (Long TV Version Part 1) Remix Edit Cream (Long TV Version Part 2) Remix Edit Cream (Unedited Full 12″ Original) Remix Cream (Rough) Remix Cream (Dubstrumental) Remix Cream (Instrabass) Remix

Additional Information See also Trivia Diamonds And Pearls Diamonds And Pearls (Super) Deluxe Edition Cream single Cream video Diamonds And Pearls Video Collection VHS/DVD At the 11th annual Minnesota Music Awards ceremony, held at Glam Slam, Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 10 May 1992, Cream was named Best Song (and Diamonds And Pearls was named Best Album). In an interview in 2022 Bonnie Raitt claims Prince possibly sampled her slide guitar playing in Cream, saying [in 1987 when they attempted to collaborate] “... he wanted me to play slide on some stuff, and he wanted me to teach him how to do it.” (...) “He sampled some of my slide on Cream, I just showed him how I do it. So I got the feeling he said, ‘I don’t necessarily have to learn how to do this because I can just sample you.’” References The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004)

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