Difference between revisions of "Album: Raise Up"

25 September 2012 (US release)

Prince appears on three tracks, Raise Up, Shoulda Coulda Woulda and Movin'. Authorship of the tracks is currently unknown, however. The album also includes new versions of three songs previously released by Graham Central Station, which Prince has also covered live at other times (see It's Alright, Now Do-U-Wanta-Dance and It Ain't No Fun To Me), as well as a cover version of Stevie Wonder's track Higher Ground, also covered live by Prince (see Higher Ground), but he is not known to have been involved in these studio recordings.

It is not known when the tracks were recorded, and whether any of the tracks date from the 1997-8 recording sessions for GCS 2000. The three tracks that Prince participated in are credited to at least being partially recorded at Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA, but The G-Station, Chanhassen, MN, USA and Studio de l’Hacienda, Tarare, France are also listed as recording locations for the tracks.

The album produced only one promotional single in Europe, Raise Up, with no commercial release. It did not enter the charts.

Details given for Prince-related tracks only:

1. GCS Drumline
2. Throw-N-Down The Funk
3. It's Alright (The New Master)
4. Raise Up (5:36) - featuring Prince ¹
5. Shoulda Coulda Woulda (4:48) - featuring Prince ¹
6. Welcome 2 Our World
7. It Ain't No Fun To Me (The New Master)
8. Higher Ground
9. No Way
10. Hold You Close
11. Movin' (4:58) - featuring Prince ¹
12. Now Do-U-Wanta-Dance (The New Master)
13. One Day - featuring Raphael Saadiq

• Side 1:

1. GCS Drumline
2. Throw-N-Down The Funk
3. It's Alright (The New Master)
4. Raise Up (5:36) - featuring Prince ¹

• Side 2:

1. Shoulda Coulda Woulda (4:48) - featuring Prince ¹
2. Welcome 2 Our World
3. It Ain't No Fun To Me (The New Master)
4. Higher Ground

• Side 3:

1. No Way
2. Hold You Close
3. Movin' (4:58) - featuring Prince ¹

• Side 4:

1. Now Do-U-Wanta-Dance (The New Master)
2. One Day - featuring Raphael Saadiq

¹ Written by Larry Graham

• Larry Graham - lead vocals and bass guitar on Raise Up and Shoulda Coulda Woulda, lead vocals, electronic drums, bass guitar, guitar, keyboards on Movin'
• Prince - drums, guitar, keyboards and background vocals on Raise Up and Shoulda Coulda Woulda, guitar on Movin'
• James McKinney - vocoder on Raise Up, vocals on Movin'
• Brian Braziel - drums on Movin'
• Ashling Cole - vocals on Movin'
• David Council - keyboards, vocals on Movin'
• Wilton Rab - vocals on Movin'
• Támar Davis - vocals on Movin'
• Chance Howard - vocals on Movin'

• Larry Graham - producer
• Quentin Geerinckx - executive producer
• Joachim Becker - executive producer

• Our Artist friends:

Prince: My "brother" and friend forever. Much Love.

Raphael Saadiq for connection your heart with mine and sharing your special gift.

Wilton "Fab" Rabb, Ashling "Biscuit" Cole, Jimi "Joy" McKinney, Brian "Rio" Braziel and David "City" Council - "The Hardest Working Band In Show Biz".

The "Millfield Horns" for some slammin' horns!

All the other talented musicians and singers for sharing their unique gifts on this album.

• The project was announced on French music website Funk ★ U.
• A 5-track promo EP CD for the album was available in August 2012, containing the following tracks:
  

1. It's Alright
2. Throw-N-Down The Funk
3. Higher Ground
4. Movin' (4:58)
5. Shoulda Coulda Woulda (4:48)
   

Promo cover art:

• A 2-track promo EP CD for the album was available in September 2012, containing the following tracks (it is not considered a single, as it is clearly labeled "2-track promo EP"):
  

1. Raise Up (5:36) ¹
2. It Ain't No Fun To Me

• Prince et Raphael Saadiq invités du nouvel album de Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - Funk ★ U