Album: Emancipation

1996: Chaos And Disorder ◄

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► 1998: Crystal Ball

Emancipation

Album details Released: 19 November 1996 Length: 60:00; 60:00; 60:00 Label(s): NPG Records / EMI Records Studio(s): Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA Charts, Certifications & Awards Charts America Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart USA: The Billboard 200 7 Dec. 1996 11 21 USA: Billboard Top R&B Albums 7 Dec. 1996 6 26   Europe Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart France: Top 50 Albums 16 Nov. 1996 9 4 Germany: MusikWoche Top 100 Albums 2 Dec. 1996 21 10 The Netherlands: Album Top 100 30 Nov. 1996 13 10 U.K.: UK Albums Chart 25 Nov. 1996 18 6 Certifications Institution, Country Date Certification CRIA, Canada 22 Nov. 1996 Gold (100,000) RIAA, USA 31 Jan. 1997 Platinum (1 million) RIAA, USA 7 Feb. 1997 Platinum x2 (2 millions) Awards Institution, Country Date Award Minnesota Music Awards (USA) 17 Jul. 1997 Best R&B Recording Singles released Slave promo only b/w New World Given out as a promo cassette single at Paisley Park Studios concert, 9 Dec. 1995 Betcha By Golly Wow! b/w Right Back Here In My Arms The Holy River b/w Somebody's Somebody Somebody's Somebody promo only b/w Somebody's Somebody NYC (Jam Of The Year live) b/w Face Down live Direct order only Face Down promo only b/w I Can't Make You Love Me See also Love 4 One Another Charities Tour Jam Of The Year World Tour Alternate Album Configuration early 1996 configuration Disc 1: Slave New World Journey 2 The Center Of Your ♥ Right Back Here In My Arms Feel Good Courtin' Time Betcha By Golly Wow! Get Yo Groove On Da, Da, Da She Gave Her Angels Emancipation Disc 2: One Kiss At A Time Soul Sanctuary Extraordinary Coincidence Or Fate? Van Gogh Let's Have A Baby [1000_X's_%26_O's

Emancipation is the 19th full-length studio album by Prince (his third using the name ) and the first album to be released following the end of Prince's contract with Warner Bros., which ended less than a week prior to this album's release. It is also Prince's first released triple album. It was released worldwide in November 1996 (just four months after Chaos And Disorder). Recording process Prince (as ) began recording songs for the album in January 1995, and work continued on the album until October 1996. Two early configurations, from July 1995, and a later unknown date in 1995, are known, but both were single-disc sets and should be viewed as works-in-progress (see below for details). The album was largely a solo work, although it also contains tracks showing Prince's transition from the 1993-5 version of The New Power Generation (with Michael B., Sonny T., Tommy Barbarella and Mr. Hayes) to the new 1996, version of the band (containing Kirk Johnson, Rhonda Smith, Kat Dyson, Mr. Hayes and Eric Leeds). The album is also Prince's first to include cover versions of others' songs (indeed the first commercial single release, Betcha By Golly Wow!, was a cover version). He has occasionally included cover versions on albums since Emancipation. Each of the album's three CDs contains 12 tracks and lasts exactly 60:00 - Prince mentioned in interviews that this was planned based on his studies of Egypt, "the building of the pyramids and how the pyramids were related to the constellations. They were a message from the Egyptians about how civilization really started." Promotion The album produced two commercially-released singles, Betcha By Golly Wow! and The Holy River. Eleven months prior to the album's release, Slave was given out as a cassette single to concert goers at a Paisley Park Studios show. Additionally, following the album's release, Somebody's Somebody and Face Down were available as promotional releases. EMI Records went bankrupt during the album's promotional run, however, stalling all promotion for the album. Prince (as ) also independently released a live single, NYC, containing live versions of Jam Of The Year and Face Down. Prince (as ) toured extensively to promote the album on the Love 4 One Another Charities Tour and the Jam Of The Year World Tour, although the tours focuses largely on past hits, with only a few songs from Emancipation played regularly. Prince (as ) also made multiple television appearances and media interviews to support the album, and labeled it "the album I was born to make". The album reached number 11 on The Billboard 200, and number 6 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums Chart. Track listing CD MC The compact disc version is the original issue. Disc 1: Jam Of The Year (6:09) Right Back Here In My Arms (4:33) Somebody's Somebody (4:43) 1  Get Yo Groove On (6:31) Courtin' Time (2:46) Betcha By Golly Wow! (3:30) 2  We Gets Up (4:17) White Mansion (4:47) Damned If Do (5:20) Can't Make U Love Me (6:37) 3  Mr. Happy (4:46) 4  In This Bed Scream (5:40) Disc 2: Sex In The Summer (5:56) One Kiss At A Time (4:40) Soul Sanctuary (4:41) 5  Emale (3:37) Curious Child (2:57) Dreamin' About U (3:52) Joint 2 Joint (7:51) The Holy River (6:55) Let's Have A Baby (4:07) Saviour (5:48) The Plan (1:46) Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife (7:37) Disc 3: Slave (4:51) New World (3:42) The Human Body (5:41) Face Down (3:16) La, La, La Means Love U (3:58) 6  Style (6:40) 7  Sleep Around (7:41) 8  Da, Da, Da (5:15) My Computer (4:36) One Of Us (5:19) 9  The Love We Make (4:38) Emancipation (4:12) The MC was released at same time as the CD. Side 1: Jam Of The Year (6:09) Right Back Here In My Arms (4:42) Somebody's Somebody (4:43) 1  Get Yo Groove On (6:31) Courtin' Time (2:46) Betcha By Golly Wow! (3:30) 2  Side 2: We Gets Up (4:17) White Mansion (4:47) Damned If Do (5:20) Can't Make U Love Me (6:37) 3  Mr. Happy (4:46) 4  In This Bed Scream (5:40) Side 3: Sex In The Summer (5:56) One Kiss At A Time (4:40) Soul Sanctuary (4:41) 5  Emale (3:37) Curious Child (2:57) Dreamin' About U (3:52) Joint 2 Joint (7:51) Side 4: The Holy River (6:55) Let's Have A Baby (4:07) Saviour (5:48) The Plan (1:46) Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife (7:37) Side 5: Slave (4:51) New World (3:42) The Human Body (5:41) Face Down (3:16) La, La, La Means Love U (3:58) 6  Style (6:40) 7  Side 6: Sleep Around (7:41) 8  Da, Da, Da (5:15) My Computer (4:36) One Of Us (5:19) 9  The Love We Make (4:38) Emancipation (4:12) All songs written by Prince (as ) except where indicated. 1  Written with Brenda Lee Eager and Hilliard Wilson 2  Written by Thomas Randolph Bell and Linda Creed 3  Written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin 4  Contains a sample of What Can I Do? by Ice Cube (written by Leon Ware, Arthur Ross, Ice Cube, Mychal-Kaye Simmons and Victor Nathan Taylor) 5  Lyrics co-written with Sandra St. Victor and T. Hammer (uncredited) 6  Written by Thomas Randolph Bell and William Hart 7  Contains a sample of Atomic Dog performed by George Clinton (written by Garry Marshall Shider, David Lee Spradley and George Clinton Jr.) 8  Contains a replay section from "Squib Cakes" (miscredited as "Squibcakes") by Tower Of Power (written by Chester Thompson) 9  Written by Eric M. Bazilian Personnel Musicians Prince (as ) - all vocals and instruments except where noted (credited separately as "Azifwekaré" for "jobless pothead" on Style) Kirk Johnson - drums (unspecified tracks) Rosie Gaines - additional vocals on Jam Of The Year Eric Leeds - tenor saxophone and flute on Jam Of The Year, baritone saxophone on Get Yo Groove On, horns on We Gets Up, Sex In The Summer ("part 2") and Style, saxophone on Can't Make U Love Me, Emale and Dreamin' About U Walter Chancellor Jr. - saxophone on Jam Of The Year and Style Ninety-9 - vocal sample on Right Back Here In My Arms and Face Down, spoken word on Joint 2 Joint Rhonda Smith - bass on Get Yo Groove On, We Gets Up, Sex In The Summer ("part 2") and Dreamin' About U, additional vocals on Get Yo Groove On, fretless bass on Can't Make U Love Me Kathleen Dyson - additional vocals on Get Yo Groove On, "dirty guitar" on Sex In The Summer ("part 2"), guitar on Emale, Dreamin' About U and The Love We Make Mr. Hayes - additional vocals on Get Yo Groove On (as "Montalbo Stewart"), keyboards on Betcha By Golly Wow!, Saviour and One Of Us Michael B. Nelson - trombone (credited collectively as the NPG Hornz) on Courtin' Time, Damned If Do, Saviour and Sleep Around Steve Strand - trumpet (credited collectively as the NPG Hornz) on Courtin' Time, Damned If Do, Saviour and Sleep Around Dave Jensen - trumpet (credited collectively as the NPG Hornz) on Courtin' Time, Damned If Do, Saviour and Sleep Around Kathy Jensen - baritone saxophone (credited collectively as the NPG Hornz) on Courtin' Time, Damned If Do, Saviour and Sleep Around Brian Gallagher - tenor saxophone (credited collectively as the NPG Hornz) on Courtin' Time, Damned If Do, Saviour and Sleep Around Sonny T. - bass on Betcha By Golly Wow!, Saviour and One Of Us Michael B. - drums on Betcha By Golly Wow!, Saviour and One Of Us Tommy Barbarella - keyboards on Betcha By Golly Wow!, Saviour and One Of Us Brian Lynch - horns on We Gets Up, Emale and Style Janice Garcia - "bold girl" on White Mansion Mayte - Spanish on Damned If Do (as "Janelle") and background vocals on One Of Us Mayte's friend (unnamed) - Spanish on Damned If Do Tom Burrell - additional keyboards on Can't Make U Love Me Scrap D. - rap on Mr. Happy and Da, Da, Da, shouts on Style Ricky Peterson - piano on Sex In The Summer ("part 2"), additional keyboards on Saviour Savion Glover - tap performance on Joint 2 Joint Michael Mac - scratches on Joint 2 Joint, shouts on Style Hans-Martin Buff - "driver" on Joint 2 Joint Kathleen Bradford - additional vocals on Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife Rhonda Johnson - additional vocals on Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife Steve Parke - jeep horn on Face Down Chanté Moore - additional vocals on La, La, La Means Love U Mike Scott - guitar on La, La, La Means Love U Smooth G. - shouts on Style Kate Bush - additional vocals on My Computer Production Prince (as ) - producer and arranger, engineer Kirk Johnson - associate producer, arranger, additional synth programming and "best man", engineer Tom Tucker - engineer Ray Hahnfeldt - engineer Steve Durkee - engineer (as "Steve D.") Shane T.K. - engineer Hans-Martin Buff - engineer César Sogbe - engineer, additional programming on The Human Body and Sleep Around Joe Galdo - engineer, additional programming on The Human Body and Sleep Around Peter Mokran - engineer Vlado Meller - mastering (Sony Studios, New York) Michael B. Nelson - horn arrangements on Damned If Do Jeff Katz - photography Randee St. Nicholas - additional photography Steve Parke - computer art and package design Debbi McGuan - "Endorphinbed" painting Kim Lawler - "Holy River" painting Thanks "Thank U - 2 my Creator, eternally Mayte, our angels, the Mojicas, Nelly, John & Jan, Mia, Hena 2000, Isis, L. Londell McMillan, also K.A.J. Productions. As always the New Power Generation - Mr. Hayes, Kirk A. Johnson, Rhonda S., K. Dyson, Eric Leeds, and on cd one track 6, and cd two track 10 - Sonny T., Michael B., and Tommy Barbarella." "Also - Franklin Felder, Aaron L. HM Buff, R. Hahnfeldt, Steve D., Remi Watson, Juli K. Winge, Parke, J. Katz, Randee St. Nicholas, George Benson, 99, Savion Glover, Chanté Moore, bMW, AOL, Billy Sparks, Tom Joyner, BET, VH1, and all the musicians, poets and distributors that believed in this xperiment in truth. The only love there is... is the love we make... Peace and B wild! - O(+>" "Thanks, Shiva" - Emale "Thanx Kate" - My Computer

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 Prince (as ) promoted the album heavily with multiple interviews, television performances and concerts. Click here for more details. The album marks the first time Prince released a cover version on a studio release. Press release (NPG Records: 22 November 1996): "The Freedom Train Rolls In Minneapolis; Live Performance And Video Simulcast Via Satellite." "Chanhassen, Minneapolis - "Free at last! Free at last! God Almighty, we're free at last!" was the chant that began the birth of the Emancipation era. Broadcast live around the world by MTV, VH1 and BET in a rare show of cross-network unity, delighted millions with a liberating performance at his Paisley Park Studios. celebrating both his artistic freedom and the November 19th release of his new album Emancipation on NPG records, and his four-piece New Power Generation band performed selections fro mthe new albul on a heavenly all-white soundstage. The half-hour long set included new album tracks "Jam Of The Year", Joan Osbourne's "One Of Us", and "Get Your Groove On", as well as old favorites "Purple Rain" and "If I was Your Girlfriend". The video for the first single, "Betcha By Golly Wow" (directed by ) kicked off the broadcast. Among thos swaying in gleeful attendance and snacking on 's favorite cereal (Cap'n Crunch) were Boys II Men, Donatella Versace, Phish, Bill Belamy, Mavis Staples and D'Angelo." "At a press conference following his performance, commented:" "The whole process of this record was different. I'm a free man, I'm a happy man, I'm a married man and I'm a clear man. All the tracks on this record are free, happy and clear. making this record was uplifting for me." "Emancipation is 's historic celebration of personal freedom, the album he states he was "born to make", times three: three discs, three hours of love, sex and liberty". References 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 Certifications: CRIA / Emancipation

1996 Chaos And Disorder

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1998 Crystal Ball