The Flow
{{song-2|
|song name = The Flow
|single image = 
from the album 
|performer = Prince and the New Power Generation
|first released = 13 October 1992 - album
|album(s) =
|writer(s) = Prince and Tony M. (credited to Prince and the New Power Generation)
|producer(s) = Prince (credited to Prince and the New Power Generation)
|previous song = Flesh And Blood
|next song = For Love
|introduction = The Flow is the 13th track (12th song) on Prince's 14th album , the second to be credited to Prince and the New Power Generation.
Tony M. began adding a rap which ended up being used in the track to The Future during later dates on the Nude Tour (beginning 5 August 1990, IJsstadion Thialf, Heerenveen, the Netherlands), but basic tracking only took place on 11 September 1990 at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota (during the same session as Fancy Dancer, Horny Pony, Jughead and a reworked version of Something Funky (This House Comes)) within hours of returning to the USA from the Nude Tour in Japan. The track was included as the 13th and final track on the December 1990, configuration of the Diamonds And Pearls album, but was removed for later configurations. The track was re-recorded in early 1992 at Paisley Park Studios (during the same set of sessions that produced The Continental, Damn U, 3 Chains O' Gold, Born 2 B.R.E.E.D., With This Tear, Qualified and a revamped version of Sex). It was included as the 17th track (eleventh song) on a March 1992, configuration of the album and the 17th track (twelfth song) on a late Summer 1992, configuration, before the album's segues were removed for release.
The 1990 version contained a chant of "Michael B. in the house", which was later reused on Daddy Pop; this isn't considered to be a sample or reference to this track, however. It also utilizes the same groove lifted from Rock Steady that was later used for Daddy Pop. It was tried out extensively during soundcheck on 11 July 1990 at Wembley Arena in London, England.
Of note in the re-recording is that a lyric about "the brother" was changed to "the woman" to fit in with the female reporter storyline running throughout the album.
|recording info =
|- align="left"
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|11 September 1990
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Basic tracking
|- align="left"
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Early 1992
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Re-recording
|recording personnel =
version
- Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
- Tony M. - rap
- Kirk Johnson - background vocals
- Damon Dickson - background vocals
- DJ Graves- scratching
- Michael B. Nelson - trombone (credited as "Mike Nelson")
- Kathy Jensen - baritone saxophone (credited as "Kathy J.")
- Dave Jensen - trumpet
- Brian Gallagher - tenor saxophone
- Steve Strand - trumpet
Unreleased version
- Tony M. - rap
- Prince - all other vocals and instruments, except where noted (assumed)
- Michael B. - drums (assumed)
- Levi Seacer, Jr. - bass guitar (assumed)
- Miko Weaver - guitar (assumed)
- Rosie Gaines - keyboards and background vocals (assumed)
- Kirk Johnson - background vocals (assumed)
- Damon Dickson - background vocals (assumed)
|released versions =
| Title | Length | Released | Version | Additional info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Flow | 2:26 | album
|
Studio |
|unreleased versions = |- |style="color:#AB3E00" |Unreleased Versions
|- | valign="top"|
| Title | Version | Additional Info |
|---|---|---|
| The Flow | Studio | 1990 version, intended for Diamonds And Pearls |
| The Flow | Studio | 1992 version, missing repeated "Minneapolis" spoken sample (taken from unreleased album segue)
|
|broadcasts, streaming =
|video versions =
|sampled in =
|first live appearance =[[27 July 1990|27 July 1990: Estadio Municipal de Marbella, Marbella, Spain (rap during Baby I'm A Star); 10 September 1990: Yokohama Stadium (横浜スタジアム), Yokohama, Japan (first full performance)
|performed regularly on = Diamonds And Pearls Tour
|performed occasionally in = 1990 (usually rap only during The Future), 1992, 1993
|trivia =
|see also = album
|references = The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004)
|categories =
}}
