Album: The Gold Experience: Difference between revisions

From Prince Vault
Jump to navigationJump to search
mNo edit summary
m (typo correction)
 
(28 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 3: Line 3:
|album name            = The Gold Experience
|album name            = The Gold Experience
|album image            = [[Image:Thegoldexperience.jpg]]
|album image            = [[Image:Thegoldexperience.jpg]]
|date                  = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/September_25|25 September 1995]] (UK)<br>[[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/September_26|26 September 1995]] (USA)
|date                  = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/September_25|25 September 1995]] (UK)<br>
[[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/September_26|26 September 1995]] (USA)
|length                = 65:22  
|length                = 65:22  
|label                  = [[NPG Records]] / [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Bros._Records Warner Bros.]
|label                  = [[NPG Records]] / [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Bros._Records Warner Bros.]
|studios                = [[Paisley Park Studios]], Chanhassen, MN, USA; [[Guillaume Tell]], Paris, France; [[Record Plant-LA|Record Plant]], Hollywood, CA, USA
|studios                = [[Paisley Park Studios]], Chanhassen, MN, USA; [https://www.guillaumetell.com/ Guillaume Tell], Suresnes, France; [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Record_Plant Record Plant], Los Angeles, CA, USA
<!------ ALBUM CHRONOLOGY -------->
<!------ ALBUM CHRONOLOGY -------->
|previous year          = 1994
|previous year          = 1994
Line 14: Line 15:
|previous album        = Album: The Black Album
|previous album        = Album: The Black Album
|next album            = Album: Chaos And Disorder
|next album            = Album: Chaos And Disorder
|previous album link    = [[Album: The Black Album|''"The Black Album"'']]
|previous album link    = [[Album: The Black Album|''“The Black Album”'']]
|next album link        = [[Album: Chaos And Disorder|Chaos And Disorder]]
|next album link        = [[Album: Chaos And Disorder|Chaos And Disorder]]
<!-------ALBUM TEXT ------->
<!-------ALBUM TEXT ------->
|introduction          =   
|introduction          =   
'''The Gold Experience''' is the 17th full-length studio album by [[Prince]], and the first to be released using the name [[File: SymbolSmallerBlue.png|link=Alias: Symbol]], after Prince changed his name in 1993 to the unpronounceable symbol that first appeared on his 1992 album. It was released worldwide in September 1995 (13 months after his previous new release [[Album: Come|Come]] and eleven months after [[Album: The Black Album|''"The Black Album"'']]).
'''The Gold Experience''' is the 17th full-length studio album by [[Prince]], and the first to be released using the name [[File: SymbolSmallerBlue.png|link=Alias: Symbol]], after Prince changed his name in 1993 to the unpronounceable symbol that first appeared on his 1992 album. It was released worldwide in September 1995 (13 months after his previous new release [[Album: Come|Come]] and eleven months after [[Album: The Black Album|''“The Black Album”'']]).




<b>Recording process</b>
<b>Sessions and compiling</b>


While the bulk of the album was recorded in a condensed time period, between September 1993, and March 1994, some tracks date back to earlier recording sessions. [[Shhh]] had originally been recorded in mid-to-late June 1992 for use by [[Tevin Campbell]], but the version included on '''The Gold Experience''' was a re-recording from early 1994.  
While the bulk of the album was recorded in a condensed time period, between September 1993, and March 1994, some tracks date back to earlier recording sessions. [[Shhh]] had originally been recorded in mid-to-late June 1992 for use by [[Tevin Campbell]], but the version included on '''The Gold Experience''' was a re-recording from early 1994.  
Line 29: Line 30:
[[file:EyeBlue.png|link=Eye Hate U]][[Eye Hate U| Hate U]] was recorded in early 1994. The [[NPG Operator]] segues were recorded between September 1993 and March 1994. [[We March]] was recorded at some point from May - July 1994, but was re-worked in early-to-mid 1995 when additional work took place on the album. [[P. Control]] (initially known as [[P. Control|Pussy Control]]) was the latest recording to be included on the album, recorded in late July 1994.
[[file:EyeBlue.png|link=Eye Hate U]][[Eye Hate U| Hate U]] was recorded in early 1994. The [[NPG Operator]] segues were recorded between September 1993 and March 1994. [[We March]] was recorded at some point from May - July 1994, but was re-worked in early-to-mid 1995 when additional work took place on the album. [[P. Control]] (initially known as [[P. Control|Pussy Control]]) was the latest recording to be included on the album, recorded in late July 1994.


An untitled album was compiled in early 1994, considered to be an early configuration of '''The Gold Experience''', although it seems to have been intended to be known as '''''"The Gold Album"''''' (similar to [[Album: The Black Album|''"The Black Album"'']]); this version included [[Space]], which ended up on [[Album: Come|Come]], and [[Ripopgodazippa]] and [[Interactive]], which ended up on [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]], as well as the studio version of [[Days Of Wild]], [[Strength]], and cover versions of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_Stones Rolling Stones'] [[Angie]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Central_Station Graham Central Station's] [[The Jam]], all of which remain unreleased.  
An untitled album was compiled in early 1994, considered to be an early configuration of '''The Gold Experience''', although it seems to have been intended to be known as ’’'''"The Gold Album"’’''' (similar to [[Album: The Black Album|''“The Black Album”'']]); this version included [[Space]], which ended up on [[Album: Come|Come]], and [[Ripopgodazippa]] and [[Interactive]], which ended up on [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]], as well as the studio version of [[Days Of Wild]], [[Strength]], and cover versions of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_Stones Rolling Stones'] [[Angie]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Central_Station Graham Central Station’s] [[The Jam]], all of which remain unreleased.  


Further configurations took place in March (including [[Acknowledge Me]], which was later included on [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]]), May, and Summer 1994 (including [[Chaos And Disorder]] and [[Right The Wrong]], which were later included on [[Album: Chaos And Disorder|Chaos And Disorder]], and [[The Rhythm Of Your Heart|Listen 2 The Rhythm]], later included on [[Mayte]]'s [[Album: Child Of The Sun|Child Of The Sun]] as [[The Rhythm Of Your Heart]]), with another configuration compiled on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/October 13|13 October 1994]]; this latter configuration was considered final, but [[Days Of Wild]] and its corresponding [[NPG_Operator#NPG_Operator_unreleased_segues|NPG Operator]] segue were removed prior to the album's eventual release.
Further configurations took place in March (including [[Acknowledge Me]], which was later included on [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]]), May, and Summer 1994 (including [[Chaos And Disorder]] and [[Right The Wrong]], which were later included on [[Album: Chaos And Disorder|Chaos And Disorder]], and [[The Rhythm Of Your Heart|Listen 2 The Rhythm]], later included on [[Mayte]]’s [[Album: Child Of The Sun|Child Of The Sun]] as [[The Rhythm Of Your Heart]]), with another configuration compiled on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/October 13|13 October 1994]]; this latter configuration was considered final, but [[Days Of Wild]] and its corresponding [[NPG_Operator#NPG_Operator_unreleased_segues|NPG Operator]] segue were removed prior to the album’s eventual release.




Line 38: Line 39:
The album had been preceded 19 months earlier by the single [[Single: The Most Beautiful Girl In The World|The Most Beautiful Girl In The World]], but this had not been connected to an album at the time. [[Single: Dolphin|Dolphin]], [[Single: P. Control|P. Control]] and [[Single: Endorphinmachine|Endorphinmachine]] had been available as promotional singles in one form or another prior to the album, but [[file:EyeBlue.png|link=Single: Eye Hate U]][[Single: Eye Hate U| Hate U]] was the first commercial single release from the album, followed by [[Single: Gold|Gold]] a few months later.  
The album had been preceded 19 months earlier by the single [[Single: The Most Beautiful Girl In The World|The Most Beautiful Girl In The World]], but this had not been connected to an album at the time. [[Single: Dolphin|Dolphin]], [[Single: P. Control|P. Control]] and [[Single: Endorphinmachine|Endorphinmachine]] had been available as promotional singles in one form or another prior to the album, but [[file:EyeBlue.png|link=Single: Eye Hate U]][[Single: Eye Hate U| Hate U]] was the first commercial single release from the album, followed by [[Single: Gold|Gold]] a few months later.  


[[Prince]] (as [[File: SymbolSmallerBlue.png|link=Alias: Symbol]]) also toured heavily in 1994-5 (mostly in one-off shows, but also on [[The Ultimate Live Experience]]), focusing heavily on playing tracks from the album. Between the promotional singles and [[Prince]]'s live performances of the songs, many fans were very familiar with a lot of the material before the album's release. At the time of release, however, it seemed that [[Prince]] himself had moved on to other projects, and he didn't promote the album much upon release.  
[[Prince]] (as [[File: SymbolSmallerBlue.png|link=Alias: Symbol]]) also toured heavily in 1994-5 (mostly in one-off shows, but also on [[The Ultimate Live Experience]]), focusing heavily on playing tracks from the album. Between the promotional singles and [[Prince]]’s live performances of the songs, many fans were very familiar with a lot of the material before the album’s release. At the time of release, however, it seemed that [[Prince]] himself had moved on to other projects, and he didn’t promote the album much upon release.  


The album reached number 6 on [[The Billboard 200]] Chart, and number 2 on the [[Billboard Top R&B Albums]] chart. It was certified Gold by the RIAA on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/December_7|7 December 1995]].
 
In 1995, two Italian songwriters, Bruno Bergonzi and Michele Vicino filed a lawsuit against Prince for plagiarism. Bergonzi and Vicino claimed that [[The Most Beautiful Girl In The World]] borrowed heavily from one of their song called ''Takin’ Me To Paradise'' released by Raynard J. in 1983. Bergonzi and Vicino won their case in 2007. This judgement was confirmed by the Supreme Court of Cassation in Italy in 2015, acknowledging Bergonzi and Vicino as co-authors of [[The Most Beautiful Girl In The World]]. Although this decision is only limited to the Italian territory (where the song is banned for distribution), it impacted the status of [[Album: The Gold Experience|The Gold Experience]] in other countries. After [[Prince]]’s passing, his [[The Prince Estate|Estate]] re-released many of his albums physically (through [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Bros._Records Warner Bros.] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legacy_Recordings Sony’s Legacy Recordings]), except [[Album: The Gold Experience|The Gold Experience]] because of this legal action. All of his albums were also made available on streaming platforms including '''The Gold Experience''', but without [[The Most Beautiful Girl In The World]]. It was not until February 2022, after the dispute was settled, that the song was finally put online. On [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/June 18|18 June 2022]], the album was re-released by [[The Prince Estate]] and Sony’s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legacy_Recordings Legacy Recordings].
 
 
<b>Charts</b>
 
The album reached number 6 on [[The Billboard 200]] Chart, and number 2 on the [[Billboard Top R&B Albums]] chart.  
 
 
<b>Certifications</b>
 
It was certified Gold by the RIAA two months after release, on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/December_7|7 December 1995]].
<!-------TRACK LIST ------->
<!-------TRACK LIST ------->
|tracklisting          = <small>The compact disc version is the original issue.</small>
|tracklisting          = <small>The compact disc version is the original issue.</small>
Line 69: Line 81:
<!-------LP FORMATS ------->
<!-------LP FORMATS ------->
|other format            = LP
|other format            = LP
|content                = <small>The vinyl long play format was release at same time as the CD.</small>
|content                = <small>The vinyl long play format was released at same time as the CD.</small>
*Side 1:
*Side 1:
# <b>[[P. Control]]</b> (5:59)
# <b>[[P. Control]]</b> (5:59)
Line 89: Line 101:
# <b>[[Billy Jack Bitch]]</b> (5:32) <small><sup>2</sup>&nbsp; </small>
# <b>[[Billy Jack Bitch]]</b> (5:32) <small><sup>2</sup>&nbsp; </small>
*Side 4:
*Side 4:
# <b>[[file:EyeBlue.png|link=Eye Hate U]][[Eye Hate U| Hate U]]</b> (5:54)
# <b>[[NPG Operator#NPG Operator # 6|NPG Operator]]</b> (0:44)
# <b>[[Gold]]</b> (7:23)
<br>
<big><div style="color:#ab3e00">Digital</div></big>
<small>Without [[The Most Beautiful Girl In The World]] from February 2017 to February 2022 due to a legal action.</small><br>
# <b>[[P. Control]]</b> (5:59)
# <b>[[NPG Operator#NPG Operator # 1|NPG Operator]]</b> (0:10)
# <b>[[Endorphinmachine]]</b> (4:06)
# <b>[[Shhh]]</b> (7:16)
# <b>[[We March]]</b> (4:49) <small><sup>1</sup>&nbsp; </small>
# <b>[[NPG Operator#NPG Operator # 2|NPG Operator]]</b> (0:16)
# <b>[[The Most Beautiful Girl In The World]]</b> (4:25)<small> added in February 2022</small>
# <b>[[Dolphin]]</b> (4:59)
# <b>[[NPG Operator#NPG Operator # 3|NPG Operator]]</b> (0:18)
# <b>[[Now]]</b> (4:30)
# <b>[[NPG Operator#NPG Operator # 4|NPG Operator]]</b> (0:31)
# <b>[[319]]</b> (3:05)
# <b>[[NPG Operator#NPG Operator # 5|NPG Operator]]</b> (0:10)
# <b>[[Shy]]</b> (5:04)
# <b>[[Billy Jack Bitch]]</b> (5:32) <small><sup>2</sup>&nbsp; </small>
# <b>[[file:EyeBlue.png|link=Eye Hate U]][[Eye Hate U| Hate U]]</b> (5:54)
# <b>[[file:EyeBlue.png|link=Eye Hate U]][[Eye Hate U| Hate U]]</b> (5:54)
# <b>[[NPG Operator#NPG Operator # 6|NPG Operator]]</b> (0:44)
# <b>[[NPG Operator#NPG Operator # 6|NPG Operator]]</b> (0:44)
Line 94: Line 128:
<!-------PERSONNEL ------->
<!-------PERSONNEL ------->
|musicians              = [[Prince]] (as [[File: SymbolSmallerBlue.png|link=Alias: Symbol]]) - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
|musicians              = [[Prince]] (as [[File: SymbolSmallerBlue.png|link=Alias: Symbol]]) - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
*[[Mayte]] - background vocals and spoken vocals on [[P. Control]] and [[We March]]
*[[Mayte]] - background vocals and spoken vocals on [[P. Control]], [[Endorphinmachine]], [[We March]] and [[319]]
*[[Rain Ivana]] - [[NPG Operator]] on [[NPG Operator]] segues, [[Billy Jack Bitch]], [[file:EyeBlue.png|link=Eye Hate U]][[Eye Hate U| Hate U]] and [[Gold]]<br>
*[[Rain Ivana]] - [[NPG Operator]] on [[NPG Operator]] segues, [[Billy Jack Bitch]], [[file:EyeBlue.png|link=Eye Hate U]][[Eye Hate U| Hate U]] and [[Gold]]<br>
*[[Michael B.]] - drums on [[Endorphinmachine]], [[Shhh]], [[Dolphin]], [[319]], [[Billy Jack Bitch]], [[file:EyeBlue.png|link=Eye Hate U]][[Eye Hate U| Hate U]] and [[Gold]]
*[[Michael B.]] - drums on [[Endorphinmachine]], [[Shhh]], [[The Most Beautiful Girl In The World]], [[Dolphin]], [[319]], [[Billy Jack Bitch]], [[file:EyeBlue.png|link=Eye Hate U]][[Eye Hate U| Hate U]] and [[Gold]]
*[[Sonny T.]] - bass guitar on [[Endorphinmachine]], [[Shhh]], [[Dolphin]], [[319]], [[Billy Jack Bitch]], [[file:EyeBlue.png|link=Eye Hate U]][[Eye Hate U| Hate U]] and [[Gold]]; co-lead vocals on [[We March]]
*[[Sonny T.]] - bass guitar on [[Endorphinmachine]], [[Shhh]], [[Dolphin]], [[319]], [[Billy Jack Bitch]], [[file:EyeBlue.png|link=Eye Hate U]][[Eye Hate U| Hate U]] and [[Gold]]; co-lead vocals on [[We March]]
*[[Tommy Barbarella]] - keyboards on on [[Endorphinmachine]], [[Shhh]], [[Dolphin]], [[319]], [[Billy Jack Bitch]], [[file:EyeBlue.png|link=Eye Hate U]][[Eye Hate U| Hate U]] and [[Gold]]
*[[Tommy Barbarella]] - keyboards on on [[Endorphinmachine]], [[Shhh]], [[Dolphin]], [[319]], [[Billy Jack Bitch]], [[file:EyeBlue.png|link=Eye Hate U]][[Eye Hate U| Hate U]] and [[Gold]]
Line 109: Line 143:
*[[Brian Gallagher]] - horns (credited as "NPG Hornz") on [[Now]], [[319]] and [[Billy Jack Bitch]]
*[[Brian Gallagher]] - horns (credited as "NPG Hornz") on [[Now]], [[319]] and [[Billy Jack Bitch]]
*[[Steve Strand]] - horns (credited as "NPG Hornz") on [[Now]], [[319]] and [[Billy Jack Bitch]]
*[[Steve Strand]] - horns (credited as "NPG Hornz") on [[Now]], [[319]] and [[Billy Jack Bitch]]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenny_Kravitz Lenny Kravitz] - background vocals on [[Billy Jack Bitch]] (uncredited)|production            = [[File: SymbolSmallerBlue.png|link=Alias: Symbol]] - production, arrangement, mixer and engineer, art direction
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenny_Kravitz Lenny Kravitz] - background vocals on [[Dolphin]] and [[Billy Jack Bitch]] (uncredited)|production            = [[File: SymbolSmallerBlue.png|link=Alias: Symbol]] - production, arrangement, mixer and engineer, art direction
*[[Ricky Peterson]] - co-production and arrangement on [[We March]], [[The Most Beautiful Girl In The World]], [[319]], [[file:EyeBlue.png|link=Eye Hate U]][[Eye Hate U| Hate U]] and [[Gold]]
*[[Ricky Peterson]] - co-production and arrangement on [[We March]], [[The Most Beautiful Girl In The World]], [[319]], [[file:EyeBlue.png|link=Eye Hate U]][[Eye Hate U| Hate U]] and [[Gold]]
*[[Kirk Johnson]] - additional programming and production on [[We March]] (as "Kirky J.")
*[[Kirk Johnson]] - additional programming and production on [[We March]] (as "Kirky J.")
Line 144: Line 178:
|B-side = [[319]]
|B-side = [[319]]
|Image  = Pcontrol single.png
|Image  = Pcontrol single.png
|Link  = Single: P Control
|Link  = Single: P. Control
}}
}}
{{AlbumSinglesLine|
{{AlbumSinglesLine|
|Single = [[Single: Endorphinmachine|Endorphinmachine]] <small>(promo only)</small>
|Single = [[Single: Endorphinmachine|Endorphinmachine]] <small>(Japan promo only)</small>
|B-side = none
|B-side = None
|Image  = Endorphinmachine_single.jpg
|Image  = Endorphinmachine_single.jpg
|Link  = Single: Endorphinmachine
|Link  = Single: Endorphinmachine
Line 160: Line 194:
{{AlbumSinglesLine|
{{AlbumSinglesLine|
|Single = [[Single: Gold|Gold]]
|Single = [[Single: Gold|Gold]]
|B-side = [[Rock 'N' Roll Is Alive! (And It Lives In Minneapolis)]]
|B-side = [[Rock ‘N’ Roll Is Alive! (And It Lives In Minneapolis)]]
|Image  = Gold_single.jpg
|Image  = Gold_single.jpg
|Link  = Single: Gold
|Link  = Single: Gold
Line 179: Line 213:
| Date            = 14 Oct. 1995
| Date            = 14 Oct. 1995
| Chart (Country) = '''USA''': [[Billboard Top R&B Albums]]
| Chart (Country) = '''USA''': [[Billboard Top R&B Albums]]
| Peak Position  = 2<sup>(1)</sup>
| Peak Position  = 2
| Weeks in chart  = 17
| Weeks in chart  = 17
}}
}}
{{Chart-HRline}}
{{ChartLine|
| Date            = 26 Jun. 2022
| Chart (Country) = '''USA''': [[The Billboard 200]]
| Peak Position  = 47<sup>'''R'''</sup>
| Weeks in chart  = 1
}}
{{ChartLine|
| Date            = 26 Jun. 2022
| Chart (Country) = '''USA''': Billboard Vinyl Albums
| Peak Position  = 47
| Weeks in chart  = 1
}}
{{ChartLine|
| Date            = 26 Jun. 2022
| Chart (Country) = '''USA''': Billboard Top Albums Sales
| Peak Position  = 5
| Weeks in chart  = 1
}}
{{Template:ChartLine-2|text=<sup><b>R</b></sup> <i>indicates re-entry of an album that had already charted.</i>}}
{{Chart-Blank}}
{{Chart-Blank}}
{{ChartLine-3|text= Europe}}
{{ChartLine-3|text= Europe}}
Line 203: Line 257:
}}
}}
| awards        =
| awards        =
{{noAwards|format=album|Country=in the USA}}
{{noAwards|format=album|Country= the USA}}
| certifications =
| certifications =
{{Certification-Header}}
{{Certification-Header}}
Line 217: Line 271:
|see also              =  
|see also              =  
{{SeeAlso|
{{SeeAlso|
|item1  = [[Sheet_Music:_The_Gold_Experience|The Gold Experience<br>(sheet music)]]
|item1  = [[Sheet_Music:_The_Gold_Experience|The Gold Experience]]<br>(Sheet Music)
|image1  = [[File:SheetMusic-GoldExp.jpg|60px|border|link=Sheet Music: The Gold Experience]]
|image1  = [[File:SheetMusic-GoldExp.jpg|60px|border|link=Sheet Music: The Gold Experience]]
|item2  = &nbsp; 
|item2  = &nbsp; 
Line 227: Line 281:
|format = Album
|format = Album
|config =  
|config =  
* '''<u>?? ???, 1994, Untitled cassette configuration</u>'''
* '''<u>?? ??? 1994, Untitled cassette configuration</u>'''
:<small>Believed to have been known as '''''"The Gold Album"''''', and given gold artwork, although no formal title is known.</small>
:<small>Believed to have been known as ’’'''"The Gold Album"’’''', and given gold artwork, although no formal title is known.</small>
# <b>[[Strength]]</b><br>
# <b>[[Strength]]</b><br>
# <b>[[Ripopgodazippa]]</b><br>  
# <b>[[Ripopgodazippa]]</b><br>  
Line 317: Line 371:
# <b>[[Gold]]</b>
# <b>[[Gold]]</b>
}}
}}
|references            = [[Book:_The_Vault|'''The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince''']] ''by Per Nilsen & JooZt Mattheij, with the UPTOWN Staff'' (Uptown: 2004) ISBN 91-631-5482-X
|references            = ''[[Book:_The_Vault|The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004)]]''  
|categories            = [[Category:1995]][[Category:Albums (Symbol)]][[Category:Studio albums (Prince)]][[Category:NPG Records releases]]
|categories            = [[Category:1995]][[Category:Albums (Symbol)]][[Category:Studio albums (Prince)]][[Category:NPG Records releases]]
}}
}}

Latest revision as of 09:44, 17 November 2024

1994: “The Black Album” ◄ All Prince Albums All Related Artists Albums ► 1996: Chaos And Disorder
The Gold Experience

Album details

Released: 25 September 1995 (UK)

26 September 1995 (USA)

Length: 65:22
Label(s): NPG Records / Warner Bros.
Studio(s): Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA; Guillaume Tell, Suresnes, France; Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Charts, Certifications & Awards

Charts
America
Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart
USA: The Billboard 200 14 Oct. 1995 6 8
USA: Billboard Top R&B Albums 14 Oct. 1995 2 17
USA: The Billboard 200 26 Jun. 2022 47R 1
USA: Billboard Vinyl Albums 26 Jun. 2022 47 1
USA: Billboard Top Albums Sales 26 Jun. 2022 5 1
R indicates re-entry of an album that had already charted.
 
Europe
Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart
Germany: MusikWoche Top 100 Albums 9 Oct. 1995 24 8
The Netherlands: Album Top 100 7 Oct. 1995 3(?) 8
U.K.: UK Albums Chart 7 Oct. 1995 4 5
Certifications
Institution, Country Date Certification
RIAA, USA 7 Dec. 1995 Gold (500,000)
Awards
This album has not received any awards in the USA

Singles released

The Most Beautiful Girl In The World
b/w Beautiful
Dolphin (promo only)
b/w We March
P. Control (promo only)
b/w 319
Endorphinmachine (Japan promo only)
b/w None
Hate U
b/w Hate U
Gold
b/w Rock ‘N’ Roll Is Alive! (And It Lives In Minneapolis)

See also

The Gold Experience
(Sheet Music) 		  

Alternate Album Configuration

  • ?? ??? 1994, Untitled cassette configuration
Believed to have been known as ’’"The Gold Album"’’, and given gold artwork, although no formal title is known.
  1. Strength
  2. Ripopgodazippa
  3. Interactive
  4. Space
  5. Endorphinmachine
  6. Days Of Wild
  7. Now
  8. Angie
  9. 319
  10. The Jam
  11. Gold


  • ?? March 1994, configuration
  1. NPG Operator
  2. Interactive (shorter version)
  3. NPG Operator
  4. Days Of Wild
  5. NPG Operator
  6. The Most Beautiful Girl In The World
  7. NPG Operator
  8. Now
  9. Acknowledge Me
  10. Ripopgodazippa
  11. NPG Operator
  12. 319
  13. NPG Operator
  14. Shy
  15. Billy Jack Bitch
  16. Hate U
  17. NPG Operator
  18. Gold


  • ?? May 1994, configuration
  1. NPG Operator
  2. Interactive (longer version)
  3. NPG Operator
  4. Days Of Wild
  5. NPG Operator
  6. The Most Beautiful Girl In The World
  7. NPG Operator
  8. Now
  9. Acknowledge Me
  10. Ripopgodazippa
  11. NPG Operator
  12. 319
  13. NPG Operator
  14. Shy
  15. Billy Jack Bitch
  16. Hate U
  17. NPG Operator
  18. Gold


  • Summer 1994, configuration
  1. Chaos And Disorder
  2. Listen 2 The Rhythm
  3. Now
  4. Right The Wrong
  5. Acknowledge Me
  6. Ripopgodazippa
  7. The Most Beautiful Girl In The World
  8. 319
  9. Shy
  10. Billy Jack Bitch
  11. Hate U
  12. Gold


  • 13 October 1994, configuration
  1. P. Control
  2. NPG Operator
  3. Endorphinmachine
  4. Shhh
  5. We March
  6. NPG Operator
  7. Days Of Wild
  8. NPG Operator
  9. The Most Beautiful Girl In The World
  10. Dolphin
  11. NPG Operator
  12. Now
  13. NPG Operator
  14. 319
  15. NPG Operator
  16. Shy
  17. Billy Jack Bitch
  18. Hate U
  19. NPG Operator
  20. Gold
The Gold Experience is the 17th full-length studio album by Prince, and the first to be released using the name , after Prince changed his name in 1993 to the unpronounceable symbol that first appeared on his 1992 album. It was released worldwide in September 1995 (13 months after his previous new release Come and eleven months after “The Black Album”).


Sessions and compiling

While the bulk of the album was recorded in a condensed time period, between September 1993, and March 1994, some tracks date back to earlier recording sessions. Shhh had originally been recorded in mid-to-late June 1992 for use by Tevin Campbell, but the version included on The Gold Experience was a re-recording from early 1994.

Endorphinmachine and Dolphin were recorded in early January 1993. The Most Beautiful Girl In The World was recorded in late September 1993, soon after returned to Minneapolis from the Act II tour, and became the starting point when he began working on the album that would eventually become The Gold Experience in October 1993. Now and Shy were recorded in early October 1993. 319, Billy Jack Bitch and Gold were recorded in late October 1993.

Hate U was recorded in early 1994. The NPG Operator segues were recorded between September 1993 and March 1994. We March was recorded at some point from May - July 1994, but was re-worked in early-to-mid 1995 when additional work took place on the album. P. Control (initially known as Pussy Control) was the latest recording to be included on the album, recorded in late July 1994.

An untitled album was compiled in early 1994, considered to be an early configuration of The Gold Experience, although it seems to have been intended to be known as ’’"The Gold Album"’’ (similar to “The Black Album”); this version included Space, which ended up on Come, and Ripopgodazippa and Interactive, which ended up on Crystal Ball, as well as the studio version of Days Of Wild, Strength, and cover versions of the Rolling Stones' Angie and Graham Central Station’s The Jam, all of which remain unreleased.

Further configurations took place in March (including Acknowledge Me, which was later included on Crystal Ball), May, and Summer 1994 (including Chaos And Disorder and Right The Wrong, which were later included on Chaos And Disorder, and Listen 2 The Rhythm, later included on Mayte’s Child Of The Sun as The Rhythm Of Your Heart), with another configuration compiled on 13 October 1994; this latter configuration was considered final, but Days Of Wild and its corresponding NPG Operator segue were removed prior to the album’s eventual release.


Promotion

The album had been preceded 19 months earlier by the single The Most Beautiful Girl In The World, but this had not been connected to an album at the time. Dolphin, P. Control and Endorphinmachine had been available as promotional singles in one form or another prior to the album, but Hate U was the first commercial single release from the album, followed by Gold a few months later.

Prince (as ) also toured heavily in 1994-5 (mostly in one-off shows, but also on The Ultimate Live Experience), focusing heavily on playing tracks from the album. Between the promotional singles and Prince’s live performances of the songs, many fans were very familiar with a lot of the material before the album’s release. At the time of release, however, it seemed that Prince himself had moved on to other projects, and he didn’t promote the album much upon release.


In 1995, two Italian songwriters, Bruno Bergonzi and Michele Vicino filed a lawsuit against Prince for plagiarism. Bergonzi and Vicino claimed that The Most Beautiful Girl In The World borrowed heavily from one of their song called Takin’ Me To Paradise released by Raynard J. in 1983. Bergonzi and Vicino won their case in 2007. This judgement was confirmed by the Supreme Court of Cassation in Italy in 2015, acknowledging Bergonzi and Vicino as co-authors of The Most Beautiful Girl In The World. Although this decision is only limited to the Italian territory (where the song is banned for distribution), it impacted the status of The Gold Experience in other countries. After Prince’s passing, his Estate re-released many of his albums physically (through Warner Bros. or Sony’s Legacy Recordings), except The Gold Experience because of this legal action. All of his albums were also made available on streaming platforms including The Gold Experience, but without The Most Beautiful Girl In The World. It was not until February 2022, after the dispute was settled, that the song was finally put online. On 18 June 2022, the album was re-released by The Prince Estate and Sony’s Legacy Recordings.


Charts

The album reached number 6 on The Billboard 200 Chart, and number 2 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart.


Certifications

It was certified Gold by the RIAA two months after release, on 7 December 1995.



Track listing
CD LP

The compact disc version is the original issue.

  1. P. Control (5:59)
  2. NPG Operator (0:10)
  3. Endorphinmachine (4:06)
  4. Shhh (7:16)
  5. We March (4:49) 1 
  6. NPG Operator (0:16)
  7. The Most Beautiful Girl In The World (4:25)
  8. Dolphin (4:59)
  9. NPG Operator (0:18)
  10. Now (4:30)
  11. NPG Operator (0:31)
  12. 319 (3:05)
  13. NPG Operator (0:10)
  14. Shy (5:04)
  15. Billy Jack Bitch (5:32) 2 
  16. Hate U (5:54)
  17. NPG Operator (0:44)
  18. Gold (7:23)

The vinyl long play format was released at same time as the CD.

  • Side 1:
  1. P. Control (5:59)
  2. NPG Operator (0:10)
  3. Endorphinmachine (4:06)
  4. Shhh (7:16)
  • Side 2:
  1. We March (4:49) 1 
  2. NPG Operator (0:16)
  3. The Most Beautiful Girl In The World (4:25)
  4. Dolphin (4:59)
  • Side 3:
  1. NPG Operator (0:18)
  2. Now (4:30)
  3. NPG Operator (0:31)
  4. 319 (3:05)
  5. NPG Operator (0:10)
  6. Shy (5:04)
  7. Billy Jack Bitch (5:32) 2 
  • Side 4:
  1. Hate U (5:54)
  2. NPG Operator (0:44)
  3. Gold (7:23)


Digital

Without The Most Beautiful Girl In The World from February 2017 to February 2022 due to a legal action.

  1. P. Control (5:59)
  2. NPG Operator (0:10)
  3. Endorphinmachine (4:06)
  4. Shhh (7:16)
  5. We March (4:49) 1 
  6. NPG Operator (0:16)
  7. The Most Beautiful Girl In The World (4:25) added in February 2022
  8. Dolphin (4:59)
  9. NPG Operator (0:18)
  10. Now (4:30)
  11. NPG Operator (0:31)
  12. 319 (3:05)
  13. NPG Operator (0:10)
  14. Shy (5:04)
  15. Billy Jack Bitch (5:32) 2 
  16. Hate U (5:54)
  17. NPG Operator (0:44)
  18. Gold (7:23)

All songs written by Prince (as ), except where noted.

1  written by Prince (as ) and Nona Gaye
2  written by Prince (as ) and Michael B. Nelson



Personnel
Musicians


Production


Thanks
  • none.



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
  • There are several known unreleased early configurations of The Gold Experience album, containing additional tracks, see "Alternate Album Configuration" section above.
References
1994
“The Black Album” 		All Albums All Related Artists Albums 1996
Chaos And Disorder
Retrieved from "https://princevault.com/index.php?title=Album:_The_Gold_Experience&oldid=253844"