Carmen On Top

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Carmen On Top (a.k.a Robin On Top)

Song details Performer: Robin Power; Carmen Electra; Mayte Writer(s): Prince (music) & Robin Power (lyrics); Prince (music) & Carmen Electra (lyrics) Producer(s): Prince (assumed) Live Appearances First and last live appearance: 02 June 1992, Sporthalle, Cologne, Germany (during Carmen Electra opening act and with different backing music, possibly performed earlier on tour, no Prince input) This song is not known to have been performed live by Prince. Performed regularly on tour: none Performed occasionally in shows: 1992 (during Carmen Electra opening act, no Prince input)

Carmen On Top is an unreleased song planned to be included as the second track on a configuration for Carmen Electra’s first album, which was called On Top at that point (configuration compiled on 15 June 1992). The song was first intended for Robin Power and recorded as Robin On Top, between late 1989 and early 1991. It may have been considered for the Robin Power And The Uptown Dames’ album Prince and Power worked on before Prince lost interest in the project and started to work with Electra. The song was re-recorded as Carmen On Top with Carmen Electra on 9 March 1991 at Larrabee Sound Studios in North Hollywood, California (three days before Simp The Pimp). It is not know if the lyrics have been fully or partially reworked as the track was mentioned as being written by Carmen Electra on the credits printed for this configuration of the album. The song contains various samples including a saxophone riff lifted from The Max. The song was ultimately rejected from the album, however, and the album was renamed Carmen Electra. In mid-September 1993, the song was tried out during early sessions for Mayte’s first album Child Of The Sun at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota, and may have been renamed Mayte On Top, although the song may have been used only to determine appropriate song styles for Mayte and the lyrics may not have been reworked; details of her version are not known. Recording Information Recording Sessions Date Studio Additional info Late 1989 – Early 1991 Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA Tracking with Robin Power 9 March 1991 Larrabee Sound Studios, North Hollywood, CA, USA Re-recording with Carmen Electra Mid-September 1993 Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA Vocal overdubs by Mayte Recording Personnel Robin Power version Robin Power - vocals Prince - all instruments (assumed) Carmen Electra version Carmen Electra - vocals Tony M. - vocals Eric Leeds - saxophone (sampled from The Max) Atlanta Bliss - trumpet (sampled from The Max) Prince - all instruments, except where noted (assumed) Other recording personnel not known Mayte version Mayte - vocals Prince - all instruments (assumed) Other recording personnel not known Versions Unreleased Versions Title Version Additional Info Robin On Top Studio Recorded in 1989-1991 Carmen On Top Studio Recorded 9 March 1991 Carmen On Top / Mayte On Top Re-recording Mayte version; possibly renamed Mayte On Top

Additional Information See also Trivia Unreleased Songs Carmen Electra Robin Power Robin Power & The Uptown Dames On Top unreleased album Robin Power And The Uptown Dames unreleased album Bootsy Collins vocal sample from Deee-Lite’s Groove Is In The Heart used in this song also appears on MPLS. References The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004) Robin Power Talks Life, Carmen Electra, Graffiti Bridge and the Mack of Paisley Park Prince by Prince Podcast (18 April 2021)

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