New Power Generation

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New Power Generation (a.k.a Bold Generation)

Graffitibridge.jpg

from the album Graffiti Bridge
(as New Power Generation)

1999 Deluxe.jpg
from the album 1999 Super Deluxe Edition
(as Bold Generation)

Newpowergeneration single.jpg

single art for New Power Generation

Song details
Performer: Prince
First Released: 20 August 1990 - Graffiti Bridge album / 29 November 2019 - 1999 Super Deluxe Edition album
Album(s): Graffiti Bridge

1999 Super Deluxe Edition

Writer(s): Prince (music, lyrics), T.C. Ellis (rap)
Producer(s): Prince
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
Performed regularly on tour:
  • none
Performed occasionally in shows:
  • 1991 (based on written setlist only)

New Power Generation is the second track on Prince’s twelfth album Graffiti Bridge, and, two months after the album’s release, New Power Generation was released as the album’s second Prince single and fourth single overall (Round And Round by Tevin Campbell and Melody Cool by Mavis Staples had also been released). The track is also featured in the movie Graffiti Bridge. New Power Generation (Pt. II) is the seventeenth and final track on the album, and was featured as the b-side of the New Power Generation single. The maxi-single featured several tracks which could be considered remixes of the track, but are different enough that they are listed here as separate tracks. Only one, T.C.’s Rap, is included here; information about Brother With A Purpose, Get Off, The Lubricated Lady and Loveleft, Loveright can be found on their individual song pages.

The song started out as Bold Generation, which was recorded on 12 January 1982 at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California, during recording sessions that yielded tracks for The Time’s second album What Time Is It?. Although it’s not clear if the song was initially intended for the group, it features only Prince and Morris Day, like the majority of The Time’s tracks. Bold Generation in its early incarnation was not kept for What Time Is It?, but was released in 2019 as the sixth track on the Vault Tracks part 1 disc of a Super Deluxe Edition edition of the 1999 album. The song was sourced from a cassette to be included on this release as the original master tape was so damaged that it become unusable (a box photographed in his vault at Paisley Park Studios listing Bold Generation and Gigolos Get Lonely Too was made public after Prince’s passing).

In December 1989, the song was taken from the vault and reworked as New Power Generation at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota (during the same sessions that produced Round And Round). It was considerably overdubbed but retained the original drum track of Morris Day, buried in the mix. The lyrics and the melody stayed more or less intact. As New Power Generation, the song was included as the second track on a late 1989 configuration of Graffiti Bridge, with a shorter Reprise as the 14th and final track. It was kept as the second track on a 1990 configuration, with Pt. II as the 17th and final track, where they stayed for the final release. Among others it uses a keyboard part that had appeared earlier in Flesh And Blood recorded in the Summer of 1989 at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota, for use on the proposed second album by Jill Jones.

The track was remixed in September or October 1990 at Larrabee Sound Studios in North Hollywood, California, creating N.P.G. (Funky Weapon Remix) and T.C.’s Rap, during recording sessions for the New Power Generation maxi-single (during the same set of sessions as Tony’s Iggnant Mix, Get Off, The Lubricated Lady, Loveleft, Loveright, a segue later included in the N.P.G. (Funky Weapon Remix), Oobey Doop, Play, Heaven Is Keeping Score, Insatiable, additional recording on My Tree and A Positive Place and a remix for The Latest Fashion). The Segue recorded at the same time (beginning "Are there really angels?") was later incorporated into N.P.G. (Funky Weapon Remix) and Loveleft, Loveright, and is included here as a result.

New Power Generation (Pt. II) and T.C.’s Rap include the rap True Confessions, by T.C. Ellis, which was later developed into a full track for inclusion as the title track of his album True Confessions; the rap and the fully developed track have no input by Prince, however.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
12 January 1982 Sunset Sound,
Hollywood, CA, USA
Tracking of Bold Generation
December 1989 Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Reworking and overdubs
September - October 1990 Larrabee Sound Studios,
North Hollywood, CA, USA
Remixing and additional recording
Recording Personnel

Bold Generation


New Power Generation


New Power Generation Pt. II


Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
New Power Generation 3:39 Graffiti Bridge

New Power Generation single

Studio
New Power Generation (Pt. II) 2:57 Graffiti Bridge

New Power Generation single
Controversy single (1993 reissue)

Studio
N.P.G. (Funky Weapon Remix) 5:01 New Power Generation single Remix Remix containing pieces from original and Pt. II
N.P.G. (Funky Weapon Remix) 5:06 New Power Generation promo Remix Remix containing pieces from original and Pt. II, omits 'angels' intro, but has full ending
T.C.’s Rap (featuring T.C. Ellis) 3:11 New Power Generation single Remix Remix focused on rap from Pt. II with additional vocals by Prince
Bold Generation 5:54 1999 Super Deluxe Edition
Studio
Video Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
New Power Generation 3:00 Graffiti Bridge (2004 DVD release) Promo video See New Power Generation for details
N.P.G. (Funky Weapon Remix) 4:00 Promotional release only Promo video See N.P.G. (Funky Weapon Remix) for details
Sampled, Referred to, Quoted in...
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Soul Psychodelicide Studio Unreleased 1989 track
Brother With A Purpose (featuring Tony Mosley) 4:18 New Power Generation single Studio See Brother With A Purpose for more details
Get Off 4:41 New Power Generation single Studio See Get Off for more details
Loveleft, Loveright 5:00 New Power Generation single Studio See Get Off for more details
The Lubricated Lady 2:39 New Power Generation single Studio See The Lubricated Lady for more details
Heaven Is Keeping Score Studio Unreleased 1990 track; See Heaven Is Keeping Score for more details
My Tree Studio Unreleased 1990 track; See My Tree for more details
Oobey Doop Studio Unreleased 1990 track; See Oobey Doop for more details
Daddy Pop Studio 'lay down your funky weapons' sample in unreleased mid 1990 version
Unreleased Versions
Title Version Additional Info
New Power Generation Studio 1989 recording without backing vocals
New Power Generation (Reprise) Studio Pt. II 1989 recording without T.C. Ellis rap and backing vocals
New Power Generation (Pt. I & II) Studio Full version incorporating guitar solo from Prince joining two parts (title unconfirmed)
Segue Segue "Are there really angels?" segue, later incorporated into N.P.G. (Funky Weapon Remix) and Loveleft, Loveright
 
Additional Information

See also Trivia


References
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