Album: GCS 2000

1998: Van Gogh ◄

All Albums

All Related Artists Albums

► 1999: To The Teeth

GCS 2000

Single details
Released:	2 February 1999
Length:	58:36
Label(s):	NPG Records
Studio(s):	Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA

GCS 2000 is the eighth studio album by Graham Central Station, and their first to be released by NPG Records. The album was co-produced by Prince (as ), who co-wrote one song (Utopia) and appeared on every track as a musician or vocalist (mostly uncredited).

The album was released on 2 February 1999, the same day as 1999: The New Master (on which Larry Graham also appears), and was third and final album in the 'trilogy' worked on with Prince (as ) and Chaka Khan from late 1997 to mid-1998 (New Power Generation's Newpower Soul and Chaka Khan's Come 2 My House were the other two albums in the trilogy).

The album produced only one promotional single, U Move Me, with no commercial release. It did not enter the charts.

Larry Graham and Graham Central Station toured extensively with Prince (as ) on the New Power Soul Tour and the New Power Soul Festival Tour, which was designed to promote this album and the 'companion' albums, the New Power Generation's Newpower Soul and Chaka Khan's Come 2 My House, but Larry Graham's set focused on his wider catalogue of songs (largely focusing on his work with Sly and the Family Stone) rather than this album, which was only released following the tour.

The album was recorded between November 1997, and January 1998, at Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA. Three of the songs are updated versions of previously-released tracks, however. GCS 2000 is an updated version of We've Been Waiting, the first track on the band's first album, Graham Central Station (from 1973).

Just B My Lady is an updated version of the track Just Be My Lady, the first track on Larry Graham's third 'solo' album, Just Be My Lady (from 1981, also released as a single). Eye'magettin' is essentially an updated version of the track Earthquake, the fifth track on Graham Central Station's fifth album, Now Do U Wanta Dance (from 1977).

Although credited as a Graham Central Station album, only GCS 2000 contains band members other than Larry Graham. The rest of the album is largely recorded by Larry Graham and Prince (as ), along with contributions from many of Prince's own associates.

Prince also appeared on three tracks on Larry Graham and Graham Central Station's 2012 album Raise Up; their first album since GCS 2000.

Track listing

CD

1. GCS 2000 (3:53)
2. Free (7:04)
3. U Move Me (4:43)
4. Just B My Lady (5:28)
5. Love 4 1another (8:15)
6. Segue (0:32)
7. Don't Let 'Em Change U (5:47)
8. Segue (0:46)
9. Utopia (3:47) *
10. Groove On (7:24)
11. Just Found Somebody 2 Love (5:16)
12. 'magettin' (5:35)

All tracks written by Larry Graham except where noted
* "Utopia" written by Larry Graham and Prince (as )

Personnel

Musicians

• Larry Graham - vocals and bass guitar
• Prince (as ) - additional vocals on Free and Just B My Lady, background vocals and all other instruments, except where noted (uncredited)
• Cynthia Robinson – trumpet on GCS 2000
• Jerry Martini – saxophone on GCS 2000
• Gail Muldrow – guitar and vocals on GCS 2000
• Wilton Robb – guitar and vocals on GCS 2000
• Robert "Butch" Smith – organ & vocals on GCS 2000
• Brother Jules – scratches on GCS 2000, Groove On
• The NPG – additional shouts on GCS 2000 (possibly including Prince (as ) and Kirk Johnson)
• Chaka Khan – co-lead vocals on Free
• Steve Strand - horns on Free, Love 4 1another and Groove On (credited collectively as the Hornheadz)
• Kathy Jensen - horns on Free, Love 4 1another and Groove On (credited collectively as the Hornheadz)
• Dave Jensen - horns on Free, Love 4 1another and Groove On (credited collectively as the Hornheadz)
• Michael B. Nelson - horns on Free, Love 4 1another and Groove On (credited collectively as the Hornheadz)
• Brian Gallagher - horns on Free, Love 4 1another and Groove On (credited collectively as the Hornheadz)
• Tina Graham – background vocals on U Move Me, Just B My Lady, Love 4 1another, Groove On
• Latia Graham – background vocals on U Move Me, Love 4 1another, Segue # 1, Don't Let 'Em Change U, Segue # 2 and Groove On
• Ricky Peterson – keyboards on Just B My Lady
• Marva King – background vocals on Just B My Lady, Don't Let 'Em Change U, Eye Just Found Somebody 2 Love
• Michael Bland – drums on Love 4 1another (sampled from Billy Jack Bitch)
• Mayte – finger cymbals on Love 4 1another (sampled from Billy Jack Bitch)
• Ice Cube - sampled vocals on Love 4 1another (from What Can I Do?, Lethal Injection, 1993)
• Kirk Johnson – phone voice on Segue # 2, drums on 'magettin' (as "Kirk J.")
• Rhonda Smith – background vocals on Utopia
• Kat Dyson – background vocals on Utopia
• Rosie Gaines - looped scream on Utopia (sampled from Gett Off)
• Clare Fischer - The NPG Orchestra arrangement on Just Found Somebody 2 Love

Production

• Larry Graham - co-producer, arranger
• Prince (as ) - co-producer, arranger, horn arrangements
• Kirk Johnson - arranger
• Hans-Martin Buff - engineer
• Michael B. Nelson - horn arrangements
• Arnie Frager - orchestra recording at O'Henry Sound Studios on Just Found Somebody 2 Love
• Brett Swain - orchestra recording assistant on Just Found Somebody 2 Love
• Brian Gallagher - mastering at Bernie Grundman Studios
• Parke - digital art, design and photography

Thanks

Special thanx…

• "UH-OHH, Moorena, B.Bro, Mi Hermanita, Mia-Mary, Kum-plakum plakum, NPGCS, P.P.Crew, Jac-key Thomp-sun, Angel."

Singles released

• U Move Me (promo only)
  

Charts

• This album did not enter the charts.

Releases

Country	Format	Cat. Number	Comments	Front	Back	Label1	Label2
USA	CD	7-89577-03342-9

Variants, special editions and re-releases

• The album was included in a so calledNew Power Pak 3CD box-set, released through 1-800 New Funk, along with New Power Generation's Newpower Soul and Chaka Khan's Come 2 My House. The box-set included the standard packaging for each album, with a cardboard slipcover around the three CD cases.

Album promotion

Time-of-release

• None.

Awards, nominations, and certifications

• None.

Trivia

• None.

References

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

1998 Van Gogh

All Albums

All Related Artists Albums

1999 To The Teeth