The Voice

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Violet The Organ Grinder   < < < Non-Prince Songs All Prince Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   The Voice Inside
The Voice


from the album The Voice


from the album
Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition


single art for The Voice

Song details
Performer: Mavis Staples; Prince (credited to Prince and the New Power Generation)
First Released: 24 August 1993 - The Voice album
Album(s): The Voice
Writer(s): Prince, Rosie Gaines and Francis Jules
Producer(s): Prince (as Paisley Park)
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
  • This track is not believed to have been performed live by Prince.
Performed regularly on tour:
  • none
Performed occasionally in shows:
  • none

The Voice is the first track on Mavis Staples’ second Paisley Park Records album, The Voice (tenth track on the 1994 re-issue), and, around the same time as the album’s release, The Voice was released as the album’s first single (the single was also re-released in 1994). The track was written by Prince, with Rosie Gaines and Francis Jules, and was produced by Prince under the name Paisley Park.

Basic tracking took place on 24 April 1991 at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota. With the song originally intended for her proposed album Concrete Jungle, which later developed into Closer Than Close, Rosie Gaines recorded vocals for the track in the same session following Prince’s guide and harmonizing with him. The Line The nightsticks are still singin’ 4-part harmony on brother's back is a direct reference to the beating administered to Rodney King seven weeks earlier (on 3 March 1991) by officers of the Los Angeles Police Department.

The version with Prince’s lead vocal was released in October 2023 as the third track of Vault Tracks part 3, one of the discs with previously unreleased tracks included with the Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition.

Mavis Staples’ lead vocal overdubs were recorded in late 1992 or early 1993 at Paisley Park Studios.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
24 April 1991 Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Tracking
26 April 1991 Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Mix
Late 1992 - early 1993 Creative Source Studios,
Studio City, CA, USA
Lead vocal overdubs by Mavis Staples
1993 (assumed) Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA (assumed)
Remix by Prince with vocal overdubs by Tony M.
Recording Personnel

Mavis Staples version


Prince version


Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
The Voice 4:11 The Voice

The Voice single

Studio
The Voice (Extended Remix Edit) 6:09 The Voice promo Studio Remixed by Prince (as Paisley Park) and additional rap by Tony M.
The Voice 4:42 Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition Studio Prince guide vocals; recorded 24 April 1991
Video Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
The Voice 4:18 Promotional release only Promo video See The Voice video for more details
Sampled, Referred to, Quoted in...
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Segue [# 1] 0:29 Carmen Electra Segue See Segue for more details
Unreleased Versions
Title Version Additional Info
The Voice Studio Prince and Mavis Staples duet version
 
Additional Information

See also Trivia


References
Violet The Organ Grinder   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   The Voice Inside