1+1+1 Is 3

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1+1+1 Is 3

Rainbowchildren album.jpg
from the album The Rainbow Children
Song details
Performer: Prince
First Released: 16 October 2001 - The Rainbow Children album
Album(s): The Rainbow Children

One Nite Alone... Live!
Anthology: 1995-2010

Writer(s): Prince
Producer(s): Prince
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
Performed regularly on tour:
Performed occasionally in shows:

1+1+1 Is 3 (a.k.a. 1+1+1=3) is the eighth track on Prince’s 24th album The Rainbow Children, his first album after reverting to the name Prince.

In 2002 a live version from the One Nite Alone... Tour was released as the sixth track on the first disc of the One Nite Alone... Live! album (with no other tracks included from the same show). An edit of the same version had previously been included on the Days Of Wild single.

In 2003, another 2002 live version was included on the Live At The Aladdin Las Vegas concert DVD. Another live version from the 2002 Xenophobia Celebration was released as a 'free' download to NPG Music Club members in 2002, with Prince adding a spoken overdub at the end saying "Xenophobia - Coming soon 2 a monitor near U". The project indicated (presumably a set of live recordings from the celebration) remains unreleased.

Specific recording dates are unknown, but it is likely that basic tracking took place in late 2000 or early 2001 at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota.

The beginning of the track contains narrative to continue the album’s story. As "The Muse" is brought into "the sensual everafter" by "The Wise One", he implants in her a "seed of knowledge", asking her to repeat "1 plus 1 plus 1 is 3".


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
Late 2000 - early 2001 Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Tracking
Recording Personnel
  • Studio version
  • Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted (credited as "All other instruments - digital or otherwise, lead and co-lead vox, percussion and sound FX per4med by Prince ...and U.")
  • John Blackwell - drums (credited as "John Blackwell, the Magnificent")
  • Niyoki White - background vocals (credited collectively as Milenia)
  • Mikele White - background vocals (credited collectively as Milenia)
  • Tia White - background vocals (credited collectively as Milenia)
  • Malikah White - background vocals (credited collectively as Milenia)
  • Kip Blackshire - background vocals



Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
1+1+1 Is 3 5:16 The Rainbow Children

Anthology: 1995-2010

Studio
1+1+1 Is 3 6:05 One Nite Alone... Live! Live 6 April 2002, Lakeland Center - Youkey Theatre, Lakeland, FL, USA (incorrectly dated April 4th in the liner notes on the 2002 and the 2020 releases)
1+1+1=3 5:51 Days Of Wild single Live edit 6 April 2002, Lakeland Center - Youkey Theatre, Lakeland, FL, USA;
edit of One Nite Alone... Live! version above
1+1+1=3 5:01 NPG Music Club download Live 26 June 2002, Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA;
with overdubs and edits
Video Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
1+1+1=3 ?:?? Live At The Aladdin Las Vegas DVD
Live 15 December 2002, Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts, Las Vegas, NV, USA


 
Additional Information

See also Trivia

  • 1+1+1 Is 3 is one of two song titles by Prince containing mathematical equations. The other is 3 x 2 = 6.

References
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