Album: Welcome 2 America

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Welcome 2 America

Welcome 2 America album artwork

Album details


Released: 30 July, 2021 (announced)
Length: 54:21 (studio album only)
Label(s): NPG Records, Inc. under exclusive license to Legacy Recordings
Studio(s): Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA

Charts, Certifications & Awards


Charts
This album has not charted in the USA, as it has not yet been released
Certifications
This album has not received any certifications in the USA
Awards
This album has not received any awards in the USA

Singles released


Welcome 2 America
b/w Dreamer / Welcome 2 America (Live, 14 May 2011)
Welcome2america single.jpg

See also


Welcome 2 America Tour  
W2A-Tour pass.png
Welcome 2 America has been announced for release in July 2021. It is the first full previously-unreleased studio album of Prince material to be released posthumously, and the tenth posthumous album release overall. Recorded in 2010, the album was tentatively planned for release in 2011, likely as a follow-up to 20Ten and in conjunction with the Welcome 2 America Tour, which ran from December 2010 to May 2011. The album was abandoned at the time for unknown reasons, however. The album as announced for release in July 2021 makes use of what's believed to be the final configuration of the album.

A deluxe edition of the album includes a blu-ray video of the 28 April 2011: The Forum: Inglewood, CA, USA show on the Welcome 2 America Tour (part of the "Twenty One Nite Stand" in California.

Sessions and compiling

The tracks tentatively planned for inclusion on the album were thought to be recorded in 2010 and early 2011, although specific recording dates are not known, and the official press release states that the album was recorded in "Spring 2010." Hot Summer and Stand Up And B Strong are known to have been recorded in Spring 2010 (before the release of the 20Ten album), and may have been the earliest tracks recorded for this album, but this is unconfirmed. Morris Hayes co-produced the album with Prince (as "Mr. Hayes").

Black Muse and Cause And Effect are two more tracks assumed to have been recorded around the same time but it’s unclear if they were at any point slated for inclusion on the album.

Musicians input

Drummer Chris Coleman and bass guitarist Tal Wilkenfeld make their only appearances on a Prince album, on Welcome 2 America, Hot Summer, and potentially on other tracks to be confirmed. While musical credits are not known for many of the album’s tracks (specifically Born 2 Die, Check The Record, Running Game (Son Of A Slave Master), Stand Up And B Strong and Welcome 2 America), it is clear that the album contained more contributions from others than its predecessor, 20Ten. Background singers including Shelby J., Liv Warfield and Elisa Dease, who had been present throughout 20Ten, appeared on Same Page Different Book and Welcome 2 America, with Shelby J. providing a rap on the former track. Elisa Dease also provides co-lead vocals on Stand Up And B Strong. Andy Allo appears on background vocals on the Hitnrun Phase Two release of 1,000 Light Years From Here, but since she joined Prince’s band in May 2011, it’s possible that her vocals on that version will not be included here.


Track releases

Hot Summer was premiered on Minnesota public radio station 89.3 The Current’s website on 7 June 2010, Prince’s 52nd birthday, prior to the album’s intended release. Same Page Different Book was streamed as audio only over a static video on 3rd Eye Girl YouTube channel in January 2013. 1,000 Light Years From Here was released in 2015 on Hitnrun Phase Two, included in full as a 3:05 coda to the track Black Muse (as such, the title 1,000 Light Years From Here is not used on the album’s tracklist). When She Comes was also released on Hitnrun Phase Two, although the version intended for Welcome 2 America was more stripped-down, with just piano and not the accordion used on the released version.

Promotion

The album was announced and available to pre-order on 8 April, 2021. The title track, Welcome 2 America, was made available on streaming and download platforms, and a 55-second promo video was made available to promote the set. The accompanying vinyl single, Welcome 2 America with an exclusive live b-side was also announced on the official website.



Track listing
CD LP

The compact disc and digital versions are the original issue.

  1. Welcome 2 America (5:23)
  2. Running Game (Son Of A Slave Master) (4:05)
  3. Born 2 Die (5:03)
  4. 1,000 Light Years From Here (5:46)
  5. Hot Summer (3:32)
  6. Stand Up And B Strong (5:18)1
  7. Check The Record (3:28)
  8. Same Page Different Book (4:41)
  9. When She Comes (4:46)
  10. 1010 (Rin Tin Tin) (4:42)
  11. Yes (2:56)
  12. One Day We Will All B Free (4:41)

Side A:

A1 Welcome 2 America (5:23)
A2 Running Game (Son Of A Slave Master) (4:05)
A3 Born 2 Die (5:03)
A4 1,000 Light Years From Here (5:46)

Side B:

B1 Hot Summer (3:32)
B2 Stand Up And B Strong (5:18)1
B3 Check The Record (3:28)
B4 Same Page Different Book (4:41)

Side C:

C1 When She Comes (4:46)
C2 1010 (Rin Tin Tin) (4:42)
C3 Yes (2:56)
C4 One Day We Will All B Free (4:41)

Side D: Etching

Blu-ray: Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011 - available on Deluxe (2LP + 1CD + Blu-ray) set only

  1. Joy In Repetition (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)
  2. Brown Skin (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)2
  3. 17 Days (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)3
  4. Shhh (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)
  5. Controversy (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)
  6. Theme From "Which Way Is Up" (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)4
  7. What Have You Done For Me Lately (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)5
  8. Partyman (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)
  9. It's Alright (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)6
  10. Make You Feel My Love (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)7
  11. Misty Blue (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)8
  12. Let’s Go Crazy (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)
  13. Delirious (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)
  14. 1999 (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)
  15. Little Red Corvette (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)
  16. Purple Rain (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)
  17. The Bird (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)9
  18. Jungle Love (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)9
  19. A Love Bizarre (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)10
  20. Kiss (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)
  21. Play That Funky Music (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)11
  22. Hollywood Swingin' (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)12
  23. Fantastic Voyage (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)13
  24. More Than This (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA April 28, 2011)14

All songs written by Prince except where noted.

1 Written by Dave Pirner
2 Written by Mark Batson, Shannon Sanders and India.Arie
3 Written by Prince, Lisa Coleman, Dr. Fink, Wendy Melvoin
4 Written by Norman Whitfield
5 Written by Janet Jackson, Scott McCallum and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
6 Written by Larry Graham
7 Written by Bob Dylan
8 Written by Bob Montgomery
9 Written by Morris Day, Prince, and Jesse Johnson
10 Written by Sheila E. and Prince
11 Written by Robert Parissi
12 Written by Robert "Kool" Bell, Ronald Bell, George M. Brown, Robert "Spikes" Mickens, Claydes Charles Smith, Dennis R. Thomas, Richard A. Westfield
13 Written by Fred Alexander Jr., Norman Beavers, Marvin Craig, Fred Lewis, Tiemeyer McCain, Thomas Shelby, Steve Shockley, Otis Stokes, and Mark Adam Wood, Jr.
14 Written by Bryan Ferry



Personnel
Musicians


Production


Thanks
  • TBA



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

USA CD n/a center center center center
USA Digital n/a center center center center
USA 2LP n/a center center center center

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

USA 2LP Gold n/a center center center center
USA Deluxe (2LP + 1CD + Blu-ray) n/a center center center center

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Additional Information

Promotion (at time of release) Trivia

  • The album was announced and available to pre-order on 8 April, 2021. The title track, Welcome 2 America, was made available on streaming and download platforms, and a 55-second promo video was made available to promote the set. The accompanying vinyl single, Welcome 2 America with an exclusive live b-side was also announced on the official website.
  • The promotional description of the set reads:
Recorded in the spring of 2010 and then mysteriously archived by Prince before its release, the statement album Welcome 2 America documents Prince’s concerns, hopes, and visions for a shifting society, presciently foreshadowing an era of political division, disinformation, and a renewed fight for racial justice. The album features some of Prince’s only studio collaborations with the bassist Tal Wilkenfeld, drummer Chris Coleman, and engineer Jason Agel, with additional contributions from New Power Generation singers Shelby J, Liv Warfield, and Elisa Fiorillo and keyboardist Morris Hayes, who Prince also recruited to co-produce the album.
The Deluxe Edition of Welcome 2 America combines the 2LP and CD versions of the album with a never before released Blu-Ray of Prince’s full April 28, 2011 performance at the Forum, part of the Welcome 2 America Tour’s historic 21 Nite Stand in Los Angeles. The show is presented in stereo, 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos, and includes 24 tracks from across Prince’s career, from his biggest hits to fan favorites to ten rare covers. In addition, the deluxe edition features a 32 page 12x12 book, exclusive poster and an embossed vellum envelope of limited edition memorabilia all housed in a luxe, gold embossed package. Experienced as a complete package, the Deluxe Edition provides an immersive view of Prince’s creative genius during his spontaneous, energetic, and thought-provoking Welcome 2 America era.
  • American CBS TV show 60 Minutes has announced that they will debut tracks from the album on their 11 April 2021 show. This page will be updated after the fact.

References
  • Preorder(s)
Prince.com
  • Press:
To be completed.
  • Releases:
To be completed.
SottDeluxe.jpg 2020
Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition
All Albums All Related Artists Albums
NoPreviousAlbum.png