The Max

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The Max   < < < Non-Prince Songs All Prince Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Maybe
The Max

Symbolalbum.jpg
from the album SymbolSmallerBlue.png
Song details
Performer: Prince and the New Power Generation
First Released: 13 October 1992 - SymbolSmallerBlue.png album
Album(s): SymbolSmallerBlue.png
Writer(s): Prince (credited to Prince and the New Power Generation)
Producer(s): Prince (credited to Prince and the New Power Generation)
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
Performed regularly on tour:
Performed occasionally in shows:

The Max is the fifth track on Prince’s 14th album SymbolSmallerBlue.png, the second album to be credited to Prince and the New Power Generation.

While specific recording dates are not known, basic tracking took place in late 1991, at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota. The studio version of the song was premiered at a New’s Year’s Eve party at Glam Slam in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 31 December 1991, but further work was done on the track, and a rap added by Tony M., in early 1992. It was included as the seventh track (fifth song) on March 1992, and late-Summer, 1992, configurations of the SymbolSmallerBlue.png album, until many of the album’s segues were removed for release.

Interestingly, the track uses a lead line from the 1988 track Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic, which was unreleased at the time, but later released in 1999. While it may appear that Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic (as it was named upon release) borrowed the lead line from The Max, therefore, it was in fact the other way around.

The Max is lyrically and musically entirely different from the unreleased 1988 track The Max, sharing only a name (see The Max for details of that track).


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
Late 1991 Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Tracking
Early 1992 Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Additional recording and rap overdub by Tony M.
12 October 1992 Larrabee Sound Studios,
North Hollywood, CA, USA
Remix by Keith "K.C." Cohen
Recording Personnel

Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
The Max 4:30 SymbolSmallerBlue.png Studio
The Max 5:09 NPG Ahdio # 4 mp3 (not available as a separate track) Live 25 March 1993, Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY, USA
Video Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
The Max T.B.C. 3 Chains O’ Gold VHS/laserdisc Promo video See The Max for details
Broadcasts/streaming (only)
Title Length Released Version Additional info
The Max T.B.C. Delayed performance TV broadcast Live 23 February 1993, Arsenio Hall Show, Paramount Studios, Hollywood, CA, USA
The Max 3:48 3rdEye TV Show # 6 performance audio stream Rehearsal 28 June 2013 (a.m.), Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota (assumed); instrumental rehearsal
The Max 1:15 3rdEyeGirl’s YouTube account Live 17 August 2013, Coliseu dos Recreios - Sala Principal, Lisbon, Portugal
Sampled, Referred to, Quoted in...
Title Length Released Version Additional info
2 Whom It May Concern 4:02 My Name Is Prince single

7 single
Damn U single

Studio medley See 2 Whom It May Concern for more details
Unreleased Versions
Title Version Additional Info
The Max Studio Original 1991 version before rap overdub by Tony M.
The Max Remix Remix by Levi Seacer, Jr. with additional horns no formal title known
The Max Remix Instrumental version of the remix no formal title known
The Max Remix Keith "K.C." Cohen no formal title known, possibly the same as above
 
Additional Information

See also Trivia

  • The Max is lyrically and musically entirely different from the unreleased 1988 track The Max, sharing only a name (see The Max for details of that track).
  • In the discography section of Thedawn.com website, Atlanta Bliss was credited for a horn part in this song (but not in the album booklet). He is audible during the beginning of the second verse but since Bliss has left Prince’s camp months before the recording of The Max, this may be sampled from an earlier unknown or unidentified studio or live recording.

References
The Max   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Maybe