Diamonds And Pearls is the third track on Prince's 13th album Diamonds And Pearls, the first album to be credited to Prince and the New Power Generation. Seven weeks after the album's release, Diamonds And Pearls was released as the album's fourth worldwide single. In 1993, the track was included as the 17th track on The Hits 1 (also included as the first disc of The Hits / The B-Sides). In 2001, the track was included as the 16th track on The Very Best Of Prince. A brief live version of the track (titled Diamonds & Pearls) was included on the 2002 release One Nite Alone... Live! (along with Xenophobia, Extraordinary, Avalanche, Family Name, Raspberry Beret, The Everlasting Now, Wanna B Ur Lover, The Beautiful Ones, Nothing Compares 2 U and How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore from the same show). In 2006, the studio version of the track was included as the twelfth track on the first disc of Ultimate.
While specific recording details are not known, initial tracking took place in the last week of December 1989, at Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA (during the same session as Live 4 Love). The track features Rosie Gaines (co-lead vocals) and Michael B. (drums), who had just joined Prince's band rehearsing for the Nude Tour, as well as Tommy Barbarella (keyboards) and Sonny T. (bass guitar), both of whom Prince had recruited to play for Flash, a backing band for Margie Cox. The song is the earliest "Prince" studio recording to feature each of the four musicians, all of whom recorded with Prince for many years subsequently (Rosie Gaines had recorded vocals on the Prince-written track I Want U earlier in the month for The Pointer Sisters, but this was produced by Levi Seacer, Jr.). Sheila E. also played on the song, adding synth drum fills. The track was included as the sixth track on the December 1990, configuration of Diamonds And Pearls, but was moved to become the third track on the 1 March 1991 and 8 May 1991 configurations, where it remained for release.
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Recording Information
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Recording Sessions
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Date
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Studio
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Additional info
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Late December 1989
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Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA
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Initial tracking
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Early 1991 (assumed)
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Paisley Park Studios Minneapolis, MN, USA (assumed)
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Additional recording
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Recording Personnel
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- Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted (liner notes state "insatiable")
- Rosie Gaines - co-lead vocals (liner notes state "co-lead backing vox, purpleaxxe sampler and organ")
- Michael B. - drums
- Sonny T. - bass guitar (credited for "bass and backing vox")
- Tommy Barbarella - keyboards (liner notes state "purpleaxxe sampler, other various keys and sex symbol")
- Sheila E. - synth drum fills (uncredited)
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Versions
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Released Versions
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Video Versions
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Broadcasts/streaming (only)
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Sampled, Referred to, Quoted in...
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Unreleased Versions
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Title
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Version
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Additional Info
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Diamonds And Pearls
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Studio
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Version without Rosie Gaines, placed on the 27 November 1990 configuration of the Diamonds And Pearls Album
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