Way Up is the third track on George Clinton’s second and final Paisley Park Records album Hey Man... Smell My Finger. The song was written by Foley, who also produced it with George Clinton. Clinton stated in an interview that Prince appears on this song when speaking about his involvement on the Hey Man... Smell My Finger : He’s all over the record – Way Up, Get Satisfied, Big Pump. He got down on this one compared to his first Paisley Park Records album. I left the tapes goin’. I said 'Now don’t be shy. Put somethin’ on these motherfuchers'. He came to me like this was so sacred. I said 'Fuck that. I need a hit record; You’ve got the shit, let’s put it together. While Prince is credited as the co-writer of The Big Pump and his (uncredited) vocals are clearly audible and reconizable on Get Satisfied, the extent of his contribution on Way Up as a producer, arranger, vocalist or musician is unknown.
While specific recording dates are not known, album sessions took place between 1990-1991 at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota with Eric Leeds (on horns) and The Steeles. It was included as the seventh track on a 1992 configuration of the album, which was changed significantly before release.
Interestingly, an early version of the track contained lyrics recited by Clinton that were included on the song Martial Law and the chorus of Cookie Jar sung by The Steeles.
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