The Voice

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The Voice

from the album The Voice single art for The Voice Song details Performer: Mavis Staples First Released: 24 August 1993 - The Voice album Album(s): The Voice Writer(s): Prince, Rosie Gaines and Francis Jules Producer(s): Prince (as Paisley Park) Live Appearances First and last live appearance: This track is not believed to have been performed live by Prince. Performed regularly on tour: none Performed occasionally in shows: none

The Voice is the first track on Mavis Staples' second Paisley Park Records album, The Voice (tenth track on the 1994 re-issue), and, around the same time as the album’s release, The Voice was released as the album’s first single (the single was also re-released in 1994). The track was written by Prince, with Rosie Gaines and Francis Jules, and was produced by Prince under the name Paisley Park. Prince also played most of the instruments on the track. Basic tracking took place on 25 April 1991 at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota (two days after Go Carmen Go, the same day as I Hear Your Voice), and the song was originally intended for Rosie Gaines’s proposed album Concrete Jungle, which later developed into Closer Than Close. Beyond Prince’s 'guide' version, however, it is not known if Rosie Gaines recorded lead vocals for the track. Mavis Staples' lead vocal overdubs were recorded in late 1992 or early 1993 at Paisley Park Studios. In 1993, a brief sample of The Voice was used in a Segue from Carmen Electra’s album Carmen Electra, as if heard while scanning through a radio dial (clips of Hit U In The Socket, In A Word Or 2, Sexy M.F., With This Tear and Goldnigga are also heard). Recording Information Recording Sessions Date Studio Additional info 25 April 1991 Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA Tracking Late 1992 - early 1993 Creative Source Studios, Studio City, CA, USA Lead vocal overdubs by Mavis Staples 1993 (assumed) Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA (assumed) Remix by Prince with vocal overdubs by Tony M. Recording Personnel Mavis Staples - lead vocals Prince - all instruments, except where noted Levi Seacer, Jr. - guitar and background vocals Rosie Gaines - keyboards and background vocals Kirk Johnson - background vocals (as "Kirky J.") Tony M. - rap and background vocals Versions Released Versions Title Length Released Version Additional info The Voice 4:14 The Voice The Voice single Studio The Voice (Extended Remix Edit) 6:09 The Voice promo Studio Remixed by Prince (as Paisley Park) and additional rap by Tony M. Video Versions Title Length Released Version Additional info The Voice 4:18 Promotional release only Promo video See The Voice video for more details Sampled, Referred to, Quoted in... Title Length Released Version Additional info Segue [# 1] 0:29 Carmen Electra Segue See Segue for more details Unreleased Versions Title Version Additional Info The Voice Studio Prince guide vocals; recorded 25 April 1991 The Voice Studio Prince and Mavis Staples duet version

Additional Information See also Trivia The Voice album The Voice single The Voice video References The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004)

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