3121 Radio
3121 Radio
 Broadcast on The Prince Channel - no official artwork created | ||||
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Show Details | ||||
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| Released: | 1 May 2020 | |||
| Length: | 2:19:36 | |||
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Broadcast Show Chronology | ||||
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3121 Radio is a demo radio show compiled by Prince and DJ Rashida in early 2006 for Sirius Satellite Radio, with a plan to launch a full-time Prince-focused station during the promotional push for the album 3121. The project was unknown until it was used in the launch of a one-month Prince-themed posthumous Sirius XM station in May 2020, as exclusive content not previously heard. The recording likely took place over two days on 30 March 2006 and 16 April 2006.
Similar to earlier broadcasts like 1989’s The New Power Generation Radio Show, 1995’s WNPG Radio, and the eleven editions of the NPG Ahdio Show, the show includes music from Prince’s own catalogue and associated artists, as well as songs he was inspired by (some of which he had covered live), music selected by DJ Rashida, and skits and segues - in this case, performed by DJ Rashida and comedian Katt Williams, who appears as DJ Rashida’s 'roommate' "Ezekiel" for various skits.
In a Vanity Fair announcement about the show, the show was discussed by DJ Rashida and Sirius XM president Scott Greenstein:
- "They recorded a two-and-a-half hour demo episode, but hardly anyone has heard it: “Nobody,” Rashida said, laughing, in a phone interview on Tuesday. She’d just been on the phone with other Prince collaborators. “I don’t think anybody knows that it exists other than the people who directly worked on it or were there while we were working on it,” Rashida said.
- In 2005 Prince and SiriusXM (Sirius Satellite Radio at the time) had talked about starting an artist-designed show that could play unreleased and live recordings, interviews, and music he’d been listening to. “I really wanted Prince to turn his full creative genius into a curated radio experience,” SiriusXM president and chief content officer Scott Greenstein wrote in an email."
Of note is the otherwise-unavailable performance of Beautiful Strange, which DJ Rashida notes was recorded "live" at Prince’s 3121 Antelo Road residence in Los Angeles, CA, USA. No audience is heard, however, suggesting she meant that it was recorded live in one take in the venue. Also previously unavailable were the live versions of Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough, What Have You Done For Me Lately, and Play That Funky Music, by Támar featuring Prince, from their 25 February 2006 show at Minneapolis' Orpheum Theatre (Rock Steady and Partyman/It’s Alright from within the same set had previously been streamed on the NPG Music Club on 18 March 2006).
Track Listing
Timings are not given, as several of the tracks overlap or feature spoken segues in the format of a radio DJ speaking over a song’s introduction. Please note that tracks that are simple edits of other versions are not included in that song’s listing - a track is included in the individual song listing only if it is a remix, live, or other alternate recording. Part One:
- DJ Rashida Intro over The Journey To The Hanamachi (John Williams)
- 3121 - Prince
- DJ Rashida / Ezekiel skit over Housequake (7 Minutes Mo'Quake) (Prince)
- Dream Factory - Prince
- (Not Just) Knee Deep - Funkadelic
- DJ Rashida Segue
- Can’t Keep Living Alone - Támar
- DJ Rashida Segue
- I Can’t Stand The Rain - Graham Central Station
- DJ Rashida Segue
- Come To Me - Björk
- DJ Rashida / Ezekiel Black Sweat skit
- Black Sweat - Prince
- DJ Rashida / Ezekiel Black Sweat skit
- Baby Love - Mother’s Finest
- DJ Rashida Segue
- In Time - Sly & The Family Stone
- Fame - David Bowie
- DJ Rashida Segue with 2020 lyrical interpolation
- Medley: Sometimes I Cry (Les McCann) / Ghetto Child (Ahmad Jamal) / Harlem Buck Dance Strut (Les McCann) / Misdemeanor (Ahmad Jamal) / Metropole (Cesar Camargo Mariano) - with DJ Rashida voiceovers
- La Banda - Spanish Harlem Orchestra
- Prepera - Rubén Blades
- DJ Rashida Segue
- Hey Baby (New Rising Sun) - Jimi Hendrix
- Beautiful Strange (Rehearsal) - Prince
- DJ Rashida / Ezekiel Beautiful Strange skit
- Help Me - Joni Mitchell
- DJ Rashida Segue over The Journey To The Hanamachi (John Williams)
Part Two:
- DJ Rashida / Ezekiel Intro over Common & Bilal ’s Star *69 (PS With Love)
- The Dance - Prince
- There Is Only So Much Oil In The Ground - Tower Of Power
- DJ Rashida Segue over Chocolate City (Parliament)
- Rock The Boat - Aaliyah
- DJ Rashida Segue
- True Knowledge Segue - DJ Rashida and Prince
- Sanaa Hamri Interview
- DJ Rashida Segue over China Girl (David Bowie)
- Rock Steady (Live) - Támar and Prince
- Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough (Live) - Támar and Prince
- What Have You Done For Me Lately (Live) - Támar and Prince
- Partyman / It’s Alright (Live) - Támar and Prince
- Play That Funky Music with If You Got Funk, You Got Style lyrical interpolation (Live) - Támar and Prince
- DJ Rashida Segue
- Come Live With Me Angel - Marvin Gaye
- DJ Rashida Segue
- No More - J*Davey
- Honey Molasses - Jill Scott
- DJ Rashida Segue with instrumental backing
- Satisfied - Prince
Personnel
- See individual tracks for musical personnel and production credits.
Quotations and trivia
- None.
