Album: The Voice

From Prince Vault
Jump to: navigation, search
Heavenhelpusall album.jpg 1993: Heaven Help Us All All Prince Albums All Related Artists Albums 1993: Millennium Millennium album.jpg
The Voice

The Voice (Front Cover)

Album details


Released: 24 August 1993
Length: 53:44 - 1993 release

59:13 - 1995 reissue

Label(s): Paisley Park Records
Studio(s): Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA

Charts, Certifications & Awards


Charts
This album has not charted in the USA
Certifications
This album has not received any certifications in the USA
Awards
This album has not received any awards in the USA

Singles released


The Voice
b/w Positivity
Thevoice single.jpg
Blood Is Thicker Than Time
b/w I’ll Be Right There
Bloodisthickerthantime single.jpg

See also


Time Waits For No One
(Album)
1-800 New Funk
(Compilation)
Timewaitsfornoone album.jpg 1800newfunk album.jpg
The Voice is the eighth solo studio album by Mavis Staples (her second and final on Paisley Park Records), and her second to include input by Prince.

Eight of the album’s twelve songs are written by Prince (two of which, Melody Cool and Positivity, had previously been included in different forms on albums released by Prince), and he appears as a musician to varying degrees on some of the tracks also. Ricky Peterson produced the five newly-written Prince tracks, and added production to the vault track A Man Called Jesus.


Sessions and compiling

Melody Cool was recorded in Summer, 1987 (and was at one point planned for the Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic album), before lead vocals by Mavis Staples were overdubbed in late 1989 (a remix by Ricky Peterson was made in 1992 for its inclusion on The Voice).

A Man Called Jesus was recorded in late December 1988, with saxophone by Candy Dulfer added in July 1989, and lead vocals by Mavis Staples added in Summer 1992. The Voice was recorded in April 1991, with vocal overdubs by Mavis Staples in late 1992 or early 1993.

House In Order, Blood Is Thicker Than Time, You Will Be Moved and The Undertaker were recorded in Summer 1992, without Prince’s direct involvement. Positivity was recorded in 1992 or early 1993, reusing some tracks from the original December 1987, recording by Prince.


Promotion

The album produced two singles, The Voice and Blood Is Thicker Than Time, but the album failed to chart.

In 1995, the album was re-released by NPG Records with a different sequence, including an additional track, Come Home, which was previously included in identical form on Mavis Staples’ first Paisley Park Records release Time Waits For No One.



Track listing
CD MC

Details given for Prince-related tracks only:

  1. The Voice (4:14) 1
  2. House In Order (4:44) 2
  3. Blood Is Thicker Than Time (3:13) 2
  4. You Will Be Moved (4:12) 2
  5. All Because Of You (5:06)
  6. The Undertaker (7:26) 3
  7. Melody Cool (3:46) 2
  8. Kain’t Turn Back (4:03)
  9. I’ll Be Right There (4:03)
  10. A Man Called Jesus (3:56) 2
  11. Why (4:27)
  12. Positivity (4:34) 2


1995 NPG Records release

  1. Blood Is Thicker Than Time (3:13) 2
  2. I’ll Be Right There (4:03)
  3. Why (4:27)
  4. House In Order (4:44) 2
  5. All Because Of You (5:06)
  6. A Man Called Jesus (3:56) 2
  7. Kain’t Turn Back (4:03)
  8. Come Home (5:29) 2
  9. You Will Be Moved (4:12) 2
  10. The Voice (4:14) 1
  11. The Undertaker (7:26) 3
  12. Melody Cool (3:46) 2
  13. Positivity (4:34) 2
  • Side 1:
  1. The Voice (4:14) 1
  2. House In Order (4:44) 2
  3. Blood Is Thicker Than Time (3:13) 2
  4. You Will Be Moved (4:12) 2
  5. All Because Of You (5:06)
  6. The Undertaker (7:26) 3
  • Side 2:
  1. Melody Cool (3:46) 2
  2. Kain’t Turn Back (4:03)
  3. I’ll Be Right There (4:03)
  4. A Man Called Jesus (3:56) 2
  5. Why (4:27)
  6. Positivity (4:34) 2


1 Written by Prince, Rosie Gaines and Francis Jules
2 Written by Prince
3 Written by Prince, Tommy Barbarella, Michael B., Levi Seacer, Jr. and Sonny T.



Personnel
Musicians


Production
  • Prince - producer on The Voice (as Paisley Park) and Melody Cool
  • Ricky Peterson - producer on House In Order, Blood Is Thicker Than Time, You Will Be Moved, The Undertaker, A Man Called Jesus and Positivity, horn arrangement on House In Order, additional production on Melody Cool
  • Skeff Anselm - engineer (unspecified album track)
  • Joe Blaney - engineer (unspecified album track)
  • F. Byron Clark - engineer (unspecified album track)
  • Steve Durkee - engineer (unspecified album track)
  • Hugo Dwyer - engineer (unspecified album track)
  • Bill Essex - engineer (unspecified album track)
  • David Friedlander - engineer (unspecified album track)
  • Tom Garneau - engineer (unspecified album track)
  • Alan Gregorie - engineer (unspecified album track)
  • Ray Hahnfeldt - engineer (unspecified album track)
  • Femi Jiya - engineer (unspecified album track)
  • Kevin Kelly - engineer (unspecified album track)
  • Dave Kent - engineer (unspecified album track)
  • Michael Koppelman - engineer (unspecified album track)
  • Jimmy Lee - engineer (unspecified album track)
  • Eddie Miller - engineer (unspecified album track)
  • Steve Noonan - engineer (unspecified album track)
  • Brian Poer - engineer (unspecified album track)
  • John Poppo - engineer (unspecified album track)
  • Blair Sherman - engineer (unspecified album track)
  • Statik - additional programming on Melody Cool, A Man Called Jesus and Positivity
  • Michael Stokes - engineer (unspecified album track), remix on The Voice
  • Tom Tucker- remix on The Voice, remix on Melody Cool
  • Dana Vleck - engineer (unspecified album track)
  • Brian Gardner - mastering (at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, California)
  • John Ragel - photography
  • Gregory Muntana Gilmer - art direction


Thanks
  • I present my second album to you with an abundance of joy and pleasure. It is very special to me. It contains songs that strengthen us where we're weak, songs of hope, love and 'positivity'. These are trying times. My desire is that through my song some lost soul may be found. If I can help just ONE somebody in my lifetime, my living has not been in vain.
  • THANK YOU JESUS
  • My family "The Staple Singers" (Pops, Pervis, Cleotha and Yvonne) for your love and support. There’s no place like home.
  • Prince... "My Earth Angel" - for sharing your magic, heaven must have sent you.
  • SPECIAL THANKS TO: Keith Albert, Lauri Albert, Dana Anderson, Virgie Anderson, Graham Armstrong, Roy Ayers Jr., Marylou Baddeaux, Homer (Deacon) Banks, Billy Beck, Bernard (Down Home) Belle, Aja Brown, Ricky (The Lion) Brown, Carol Burnham, Kathy Busby, Bill (Muntana Sr.) Cosby, Aunt Billie (Sunshine) Christian, Merry Clayton, Stu Cohen, Tina Cope, John E. David Esq., Gilbert Davison, John Dukakis, Peter Edge - "Let’s Do It Again", Lillian Ellis, Rick Frio - Ego Management, Rosie Gaines,, Dr. Michael E. Goldman, Ray Harris, Julie Hartley, Chris Heim, Chuck Hermes, Lisa Hoey, Yusef D. Jackson, Juli (Walla-Walla) Knapp, Karen Lee, Gwen Gwyn Leeds, Alan Leeds, Lisa Longville, Diana Mae (Baby Girl) Louie, Dr. David M. Maclin, Ooo Danny Boy Madden, Foley (Bae-Bro) McCreary, Benny Medina, Bob Merlis, Duane (Dimples) Nelson, John (Pops) Nelson, The New Power Generation, Cheryl (Booty) Nick, Gary (Pit Bull) O’Neal, Mo Ostin, Paul Peterson, Ricky (Funky Pete) Peterson, June (Baby Sister) Pointer, Sue Roberts, Tom Ruffino, Michael Rumore, Glen Rupp, Jon-Jon Shields, Dr. Roland Sidney, Lester (Maestro) Snells, Hank Spann, Sonic Arts Studios, Billy Sparks, The Steeles - Fred, JD, Jearlyn & Jevetta 'My other Family - I love y’all", Lady Linda Stokes, Michael Stokes, Therese (Miss Teedi) Stoulil, Harold Sulman, Shannon Swedberg, Tonya Thompson, Russ Thyret, Tom Tucker, Henry and Robert (The Bodyguards) Ware, Warner Brothers Records, Lenny Warner, Pailette White, Jill Willis, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., ...and the Paisley Park Family
  • In Loving Memory of Mrs Oceola "Mom" Staples and Cynthia Marie Staples.
  • It’s me and my main man against the world... Love and Peace - Mavis



Releases
LP, CD, Cassettes and Other versions
Country Format Cat. Number Comments Front Back Label 1 Label 2

USA CD 9 25049-2 center center center center
CAN Cassette 92 50494 center center center center

Variants, Special Editions and Reissues
Country Format Cat. Number Comments Front Back Label 1 Label 2

US CD PRO-CD-6595 Promotional 4-track sampler center center center center
CAN CD ACD 1419 Reissue distributed by Attic center center center center
GER CD 0060542 Re-issued by NPG Records center center center center

 

 

 
Additional Information

Promotion (at time of release) Trivia

  • A 4-track promo CD titled Gospel Tracks was available around the time of release of The Voice containing the following tracks (it is not considered a single, as it is has a specific title and not named after one of the songs) :
  1. You Will Be Moved (Album Version) (4:12) 2
  2. I’ll Be Right There (Album Version) (4:03)
  3. Blood Is Thicker Than Time (Album Version) (3:13) 2
  4. A Man Called Jesus (Album Version) (3:56) 2
Promo cover art:
Gospeltracks.jpg

References
Heavenhelpusall album.jpg 1993
Heaven Help Us All
All Albums All Related Artists Albums 1993
Millennium
Millennium album.jpg