PRINCE VS. WB: THE FANS LOST
Part 4: Slave to the system

By Scififilmnerd

Exodus prologue
Just before Prince signed his infamous contract with Warner Bros. 31 August 1992, he was working on a side-project entitled MPLS during August.
Prince recorded The Ryde Dyvine with lead vocal by NPG bassist Sonny Thompson, who co-wrote the song, and Minneapolis, written by Sonny Thompson. Minneapolis was originally recorded by Jane Jade (Jana Anderson) in the winter of 1989/1990. The new MPLS version with lead vocal by Sonny Thompson started with a “stop the music”-sample from Carmen Electra: Powerline.
Other songs recorded for the MPLS project included Color with lead vocals by The Steeles and Super Hero, which was recorded live by The New Power Generation with backing vocals by The Steeles. A 1.000 Hugs And Kisses, which had been recorded in April/May 1992 by The New Power Generation featuring Rosie Gaines, was also earmarked for the project.
On 19 December 1992, ABC TV’s In Concert broadcast a 40-minute The Ryde Dyvine TV-special filmed at Paisley Park and featuring live performances by Prince and several Paisley Park artists. The first act was The Crayons, a group assembled to back up Sonny Thompson for the performance of The Ryde Dyvine. Sonny played bass and sang lead vocals. The line-up included, amongst others, guitarist Billy Franze from MC Flash and Dr. Mambo’s Combo and The NPG’s Morris Hayes on keyboards.
With Paisley Park Records getting closed down 1 February 1994, Prince, now called , worked on an MPLS single in the spring of 1994 for release on his new NPG Records label. He made a new mix of The Ryde Dyvine where he was less prominent on background vocals. Minneapolis also had slight changes made and a 12” Mix of the song was created.

The making of Exodus
Sonny Thompson’s MPLS performances inspired to create a new project using him as lead-singer. When pressed by Guitar World to identify role models on guitar, said: “I thought Sonny was God. Sonny was my hero. A lot of what I do on guitar, I learned from him. I’d go over to his house and we’d play records and he’d show me things on guitar.”
And now it turned out that Sonny could sing too. Having just finished work on the May 1994 configurations of Come and The Gold Experience, started work on Exodus with Sonny Thompson and the rest of The NPG at Paisley Park 15 May 1994. brought in demos of some of the songs, including The Good Life and Count The Days, while other tracks were the outcome of jamming. Seven tracks were completed over a few days in May.
The tracks were recorded live with The NPG and The NPG Hornz, who played on Get Wild, New Power Soul, It Takes 3 and The Exodus Has Begun. An electric violin player, Denis Boder from the Los Angeles Philharmonics’ junior ensemble, added a part to Hallucination Rain. The Steeles added background vocals on The Exodus Has Begun, which performed himself, although in an electronically altered voice.
Additional post-production work, including the recording of a number of segues, followed before the first configuration of the album was compiled 19 June 1994. was the songwriter on all of the songs, except for Get Wild, which was co-written with Sonny Thompson. The Good Life didn’t get included on the first configuration.

The New Power Generation: Exodus (19 June 1994)
1. NPG Bum Rush The Ship (Segue) (1:36)
2. The Exodus Has Begun (10:44)
3. NPG Operator (Segue) (0:34)
4. Get Wild (5:56)
5. Sonny Turns The T.V. Off (Segue) (0:48)
6. Count The Days (3:26)
7. D.J. Gets Jumped (Segue) (0:22)
8. New Power Soul (5:38)
9. D.J. Seduces Sonny (Segue) (0:45)
10. It Takes 3 (3:59)
11. Gettin’ The Soup Ready (Segue) (0:16)
12. Hallucination Rain (11:07)
13. Spooky Soup (Segue) (0:09)
14. NPG Outro (0:11)

NPG Outro was a hidden track advertising a sequel, New Power Soul, “coming soon on NPG Records”

MPLS releases
From 28 May to 26 July 1994, embarked upon a summer tour of clubs in Minneapolis, Miami, Los Angeles and New York dubbed The Love Experience. Get Wild was occasionally performed as a 10 to 15 minutes long party number.
On 9 August 1994, the soundtrack for the film Blankman was released. It included Super Hero by The NPG and The Steeles from the MPLS sessions. The song was released as a single.

The New Power Generation featuring The Steeles: Super Hero single (1994)
1. Super Hero (Indasoul Mix) (3:56)
2. Super Hero (5:00)
3. Super Hero (Denair Old Skool Mix) (4:10)

A few days later, 12 August 1994, two more MPLS tracks saw the light of day on the 1-800 NEW FUNK collection released on NPG Records: Minneapolis and Minneapolis (Reprise) by MPLS and Color by The Steeles.
The Minneapolis-single only became available through ’s NPG Stores in Minneapolis and London and remain a rare collector’s item.

MPLS: Minneapolis single (spring 1994)
1. Minneapolis (4:27)
2. Minneapolis (12 Inch Mix) (7:00)
3. The Ryde Dyvine (4:17)

Prior to September 1994, recorded two new songs that would later become part of the Exodus project: Mad and Funky Design.
He also recorded a version of Get Wild with himself on lead-vocal.
Prior to 14 October 1994, also produced a bunch of remixes of Get Wild: Get Wild (Money Maker), Get Wild (Kirky J’s Get Wild), Get Wild (Club Mix), Get Wild (Get Wild In The House) and Get Wild (Money Maker Funky Jazz Mix).

A different Exodus
During the autumn of 1994, continued work on Exodus before assembling a new configuration of the album 2 December 1994. Sonny Thompson recorded his vocals on the tracks Acknowledge Me (from The Gold Experience), Mad, Funky Design and Love, Thy Will Be Done, a classic Prince/Martika collaboration previously released by Martika in 1991.
A new version of Get Wild was created, featuring a rap by , of which an edit became the album version. A new version of Super Hero was recorded that incorporated a cover of Billy Preston’s Outa Space. Two other covers were recorded for the project, Funky by The Chamber Brothers and John Fogerty’s Proud Mary by Creedence Clearwater Revival. The lead vocal on Proud Mary was performed by guest-star Derek Hughes, with whom also recorded Somebody’s Somebody.
A brand new track was written for Exodus, Slave, which was later retitled Slave 2 The System. It was fairly short and got tracked with Acknowledge Me as one track. A new segue was also created, Sonny Segue. To make room for all of the new material, edited New Power Soul for length and removed D.J. Seduces Sonny, It Takes 3, Gettin’ The Soup Ready, Hallucination Rain, Spooky Soup and NPG Outro.

The New Power Generation: Exodus (2 December 1994)
1. NPG Operator Segue (0:34)
2. Get Wild (4:30)
3. Slave/Acknowledge Me (6:16)
4. Super Hero (7:20) - incorporates Outa Space (Preston/Greene)
5. Count Segue (0:49) – previously Sonny Turns The T.V. Off
6. Count The Days (3:24)
7. Sonny Segue (0:50)
8. DJ Gets Jumped (Segue) (0:22)
9. New Power Soul (3:57)
10. Mad (5:26)
11. Love, Thy Will Be Done (4:41) (Prince/Martika)
12. Funky (4:14) (The Chamber Brothers)
13. Proud Mary (4:19) (John Fogerty)
14. N.P.G. Bumrush The Ship Segue (1:33)
15. Exodus (10:45) – previously The Exodus Has Begun
16. Funky Design (4:18)

Finalizing Exodus
On 6 December 1994, Ready To Wear, the soundtrack album to the film Pret-A-Porter, was released. The album included the version of Get Wild from the first configuration of Exodus, but extended with a few seconds of the NPG Operator at the beginning.
In December 1994, recorded two new songs, Return Of The Bump Squad and Big Fun, which would end up on the third and final configuration of Exodus. On 5 January 1995, sequenced an NPG Records artist sampler cassette.

NPG Records: Sampler Experience cassette (5 January 1995)
1. N.P.G. Operator
2. 1-800 NEW FUNK – previously NPG Operator Segue
3. NPG: Get Wild
4. NPG: DJ Gets Jumped (Segue)
5. NPG: New Power Soul
6. NPG: Sonny Turns The TV Off (Segue) – previously Count Segue
7. NPG: Count The Days
8. N.P.G. Operator (Segue)
9. Tora Tora Experience: (Lemme See Your Body) Get Loose! (3:47) - previously Loose Dub
10. N.P.G. Operator (Segue) (0:16)
11. Madhouse: Asswhuppin’ In A Trunk (3:26) - previously Asswoop
12. Madhouse: Ethereal Segue (0:28)
13. Madhouse: Parlor Games (3:23)
14. Derek Hughes: Somebody’s Somebody (4:26)
15. N.P.G. Operator (Segue)
16. The NPG Orchestra: Kamasutra (Excerpt)

In early 1995, continued work on Exodus. Sonny Thompson added co-lead vocal to Return Of The Bump Squad and lead-vocal to Big Fun. Eric Leeds added horn overdubs to the tracks 16 January 1995. The tracks Slave/Acknowledge Me, Mad, Love, Thy Will Be Done and Funky Design were removed from the album, as was Super Hero, Sonny Segue and the covers of Funky and Proud Mary. Instead added The Good Life, an edit of DJ Seduces Sonny, Gettin’ The Soup Ready and an edit of Hallucination Rain.
The Exodus Has Begun and Sonny Turns The TV Off were edited for length, NPG Bum Rush The Ship had a new beginning added, and New Power Soul had a new ending added.
Finally, a new song Cherry Cherry with guitar by Michael Scott was added to the configuration, as was a handful of new segues of which two featured prominently, Mashed Potato Girl and New Power Day. sequenced the third and final configuration of Exodus before going to Europe 19 February 1995.

NPG: Exodus (early 1995)
1. N.P.G. Operator Intro (0:34) – previously 1-800 NEW FUNK
2. Get Wild (4:32)
3. Segue (0:38)
4. DJ Gets Jumped (Segue) (0:22)
5. New Power Soul (4:10)
6. DJ Seduces Sonny (Segue) (0:38)
7. Segue (0:42) – previously Sonny Turns The TV Off
8. Count The Days (3:24)
9. The Good Life (5:48)
10. Cherry, Cherry (4:44)
11. Segue (0:18)
12. Return Of The Bump Squad (7:20)
13. Mashed Potato Girl Intro (Segue) (0:21)
14. Segue (3:00)
15. Big Fun (7:26)
16. New Power Day (Segue) (3:49)
17. Segue (0:15) – previously Gettin’ The Soup Ready
18. Hallucination Rain (5:49)
19. NPG Bum Rush The Ship (Segue) (1:40)
20. The Exodus Has Begun (10:06) – previously Exodus
21. Outro (0:35)

Exodus live
On 3 March 1995, ’s European Gold Experience tour opened in London. The British newspaper The Guardian reported that some fans were given the Sampler Experience cassette, which included brief snatches of unreleased music: “Some of those samples were taken from a pending album by ’s band, The New Power Generation, which features on guitar and some vocals. That record will be released on NPG Records. Warner Bros. is keeping an eye on that project, wary of the prospects for a new album being slipped to the public outside of his contract.”
“The important thing is that my fans hear this music, whether it be through duplicating cassettes or (…) just turn up at radio stations and play the people our music,” told Time Out.
The Ultimate Live Experience, as the tour was dubbed, lasted until 31 March 1995. occasionally played Get Wild, Super Hero, Love, Thy Will Be Done, Funky and Proud Mary. At an aftershow in London, 22 March, advertised the NPG album, “it’ll be out next Monday,” and played a mostly instrumental version of Big Fun and Funky Design. At the aftershow the next night, led the audience in a Funky Design chant and added: “This CD is a little different than the others. WE put this one out, you understand? We ain’t running this shit. Oh, yeah, I’m a slave when it comes to my solo career, but when I’m with my homies ain’t nothing going on but the riffs and it’s funky. London, pick it up. Check it out. Sonny doin’ most of the leads on there. That’s my idol.”
Count The Days was played at a rehearsal, but with lead vocal by Sonny Thompson.
On 15 March 1995, The NPG taped a short performance of Get Wild for BBC TV’s Top Of The Pops, which was broadcast the following day. appeared in the role of band member Tora Tora. To remain inconspicuous, he stayed near the back of the stage. His face was covered with a veil on which were printed the words “The Exodus Has Begun.”

Release of Exodus
While was in the final stages of his European tour, Exodus was released on NPG Records in England, Australia and parts of Europe on 27 March 1995. The album was said to be about musical and spiritual freedom (from record companies). The album sold modestly, mainly attracting attention from converted fans. His background vocals were all over the record.
There was only one small moment of the album that fans didn’t like. That was in the DJ Gets Jumped-segue where Sonny Thompson rips the 1986 Prince And The Revolution masterpiece Dream Factory off the DJ’s turntable, saying: “Fuck this disco! Don’t you all wanna hear some real music?”
The cover inlay advertised the sequel, New Power Soul: “Exodus is a journey 2 long 2 live thru a single CD or cassette. If U would like a cassette of the next installment of New Power Soul, call 1-800 NEW FUNK.”
But no sequel became available prior to the NPG being disbanded 8 March 1996.
The first single release from Exodus was Get Wild.

The NPG: Get Wild – The Single (early 1995)
1. Get Wild (4:33)
2. Beautiful Girl (4:39)
3. Hallucination Rain (5:52)

The NPG: Get Wild – The Maxi Single (early 1995)
1. Money Maker (6:01)
2. Kirky J’s Get Wild (6:38)
3. Club Mix (5:44)
4. Get Wild In The House (6:14)
5. Get Wild (4:33)
6. Money Maker Funky Jazz Mix (6:20)

Beautiful Girl was a sax version of The Most Beautiful Girl In The World by Eric Leeds.
On 7 April 1995, , as Tora Tora, promoted Exodus as DJ in a 30-minute NPG special called Radio WNPG on BBC Radio One. He interviewed the other band members and played tracks from Exodus and remixes of Get Wild. The next day a British TV-show, The White Room, aired two live performances taped three days earlier with Sonny Thompson on co-lead vocal: A clean version of Count The Days and Get Wild.

The Good Life in the US
By 12 May 1995, was back in the US and met with Warner Bros. new top management. The meeting led and Warner Bros. to settle their differences, at least for the time being. New Warner Bros. Chairman, Danny Goldberg, agreed to release Exodus in the US. In turn, Goldberg believed he had extracted from a commitment to stop bashing the label in public as he had done while in England.
Although Goldberg had not committed to any specific timetable for releasing Exodus, assumed it would be rushed out almost immediately. When this failed to happen, he believed he had been misled. He felt that Goldberg did not understand him or his music.
Prior to 13 June 1995, had recorded Free The Music, which contained snippets of the NPG songs over a drum machine beat, and The Good Life (Big City Remix), which he performed himself. He also produced The Good Life (Bullets Go Bang Remix).
celebrated his 2nd birthday by giving a couple of concerts at Glam Slam Miami 7-8 June 1995. He performed Return Of The Bump Squad, Get Wild and Big Fun. Sonny Thompson performed Count The Days. A video for The Good Life was filmed on 8 June. It was the second single to be released from Exodus.

The New Power Generation: The Good Life single (May/June 1995)
1. The Good Life (Platinum People Edit) (4:12)
2. The Good Life (Platinum People Mix) (6:40)
3. The Good Life (Dancing Divaz Mix) (6:40)
4. The Good Life (Bullets Go Bang Remix) (5:14)
5. The Good Life (Big City Remix) (5:05)
6. The Good Life (Album Version) (5:48)

The Dancing Divaz Mix became a club hit in Europe.
On 13 June 1995, Warner Bros. released The Good Life in the US with a different track list from the European release. It included an edit of Free The Music.

The New Power Generation: The Good Life US single (June 1995)
1. The Good Life (Album Version) (5:48)
2. The Good Life (Bullets Go Bang Remix) (5:14)
3. The Good Life (Big City Remix) (5:05)
4. Free The Music (1:48)
5. Get Wild (In The House Remix) (6:14)
6. Get Wild (Club Mix) (5:44)

The promo video wasn’t released until three months later, 14 September 1995, and the single failed to chart.

The final Exodus tracks
Prior to 8 July 1995 made an edit of Get Wild In The House for a “soundtrack” to a Versace fashion show during Paris Fashion Days 8-10 July 1995.
On 12 August 1995, The NPG performed an Exodus set at a Love 4 One Another concert at Paisley Park. Sonny Thompson sang lead on Return Of The Bump Squad, Count The Days and The Good Life. took over for The Good Life (Big City Remix), before Sonny concluded the set with Cherry Cherry and Get Wild.
performed a short version of Mad at another Love 4 One Another concert at Paisley Park, 26 August 1995.
On 30 August 1995 a promo video for Count The Days premiered on BET. It was the third and final single release from Exodus.

The New Power Genration: Count The Days single (August 1995)
1. Count The Days (Clean Version) (3:24)
2. Count The Days (3:24)
3. New Power Soul (4:10)

In an interview in the September 1995 issue of Esquire Gentleman, talked about his slavery to Warner Bros. Records. Warner Bros. officials cancelled the US release of Exodus in retaliation.
In early 1996, resumed The Gold Experience tour, this time in Japan 8 – 20 January 1996 and on Hawaii 17 – 19 February 1996. The shows included a short performance of Funky, and Get Wild played in a medley with P. Control like in the P. Control (House Mix).
In February 2001, ’s versions of Mad and Funky Design were released as downloads to members of Prince’s now defunct internetsite, NPG Music Club. A live version of Return Of The Bump Squad from Paisley Park 22 October 1995 was made available as a download to premium members in March 2001. In August 2001, all members could download Get Wild (Miami Mix).

Thanks to:
BorisFishpaw

Sources:
Dan Glaister: The Singer vs. The Record Company, The Guardian, 3 March 1995
Peter Paphides: Slave To The Rhythm, Time Out, 15-22 March 1995
Alan di Perna: The Guitarist Formerly Known As Prince, Guitar World, November 1994
Uptown Presents Days Of Wild – A Documentary Of Prince/

Part 1:
The Come(back) album that never happened: http://prince.org/msg/7/317254

Part 2:
No records allowed, only videos: http://prince.org/msg/7/317534

Part 3:
All that glitters ain’t Gold: http://prince.org/msg/7/318315" target="_blank"> http://prince.org/msg/7/318315

Part 5:
Chaos and disorder: http://prince.org/msg/7/319752

Part 6:
Free at last!: http://prince.org/msg/7/342786

Appendix 1:
List of unreleased Prince album configurations: http://prince.org/msg/7/319757

Appendix 2:
List of unreleased Associated Artists album configurations: http://prince.org/msg/5/319895

Appendix 3:
List of chronological Prince recordings: http://prince.org/msg/7/320445
[Edited 8/26/10 8:25am]

Chronological Exodus recordings
* = released version

Winter 1989/1990
Jana Jade: Minneapolis #1 (Sonny Thompson) – tentative placing

The NPG, Studios 301, Sydney, 25 April – 3 May 1992
A 1.000 Hugs And Kisses #1 – recorded with The NPG, lead vocal: Rosie Gaines

MPLS, August 1992
The Steeles: Color (4:20)*
The Ryde Dyvine #1 (4:05) (Prince/Sonny Thompson) – Prince is more prominent on background vocals
Minneapolis #2 (4:13) (Sonny Thompson) – starts with sample of “alright, stop the music, stop the music” from Carmen Electra: Powerline
Super Hero #1 (5:00)*

MPLS: Minneapolis single, spring 1994
Minneapolis #3 (4:27)*
Minneapolis (Reprise) (0:48)* - tentative placing
Minneapolis (12-Inch Mix) (7:00)*
The Ryde Dyvine #2 (4:17)*
The Ryde Dyvine #3 (4:14) – ”clean version”

NPG: Exodus, Paisley Park, 15 May – mid June 1994 – 1st album configuration 19 June
The Good Life (5:48)* (May)
NPG Bum Rush The Ship (Segue) #1 (1:33)
The Exodus Has Begun #1 (10:45) – retitled Exodus on 2nd configuration
NPG Operator (Segue) (0:34)* - released as NPG Operator Intro
Get Wild #1 (5:56)
Sonny Turns The T.V. Off (Segue) #1 (0:49) - retitled Count Segue on 2nd configuration
Count The Days (3:24)*
DJ Gets Jumped (Segue) (0:22)*
New Power Soul #1 (5:38)
DJ Seduces Sonny (Segue) #1 (0:45)
It Takes 3 (3:59) (15/5)
Gettin’ The Soup Ready (Segue) (0:16)*
Hallucination Rain #1 (11:07)
Spooky Soup (Segue) (0:09)
NPG Outro (0:11)
Get Wild #2 (5:59)* – Pret-A-Porter version, tentative placing, identical to #1 but with part of NPG Operator added

July 1994
Get Wild #3 (5:36) – tentative placing

Pre September 1994
Mad #1 (5:33) – offered to From Dusk ’til Dawn Soundtrack in ’95 along with The Funk Of A 1000 Years (not mentioned in Turn It Up 2.0) & Alone In The Dark (possibly a Dark remix)
Funky Design #1 (3:47) – tentative placing

The Wild Experience single, pre 14 October 1994
Get Wild (Money Maker) (6:01)*
Get Wild (Kirky J’s Get Wild) (6:38)*
Get Wild (Club Mix) (5:04)*
Get Wild (Get Wild In The House) #1 (6:14)*
Get Wild (Money Maker Funky Jazz Mix) (6:20)*

Derek Hughes, autumn – winter 1994
Derek Hughes: Somebody’s Somebody #1 (4.26)
Derek Hughes: Somebody’s Somebody #2 (4:31)

NPG: Exodus, second half of 1994 – 2nd album configuration 2 December 1994
Get Wild #4 (5:36)
Get Wild #5 (4:34)* - edit of #4
Slave #1 (1:01) – later retitled Slave 2 The System
Acknowledge Me #3 (5:14)
Super Hero (7:20) - previously released, incorporates Outa-Space (Billy Preston/Greene) – cover of Billy Preston
Sonny Segue (0:50)
New Power Soul #2 (3:57) – edit of #1
Mad #2 (5:26)
Love, Thy Will Be Done (4:41) - previously released
Funky (4:14) (Chambers) – cover of The Chamber Brothers
Proud Mary (4:19) (John Fogerty) – cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival, lead vocal: Derek Hughes
Funky Design #2 (4:18)

NPG: Exodus, December 1994 – February 1995 – album completed in early 1995
Segue (0:38)*
New Power Soul #3 (4:10)* - new ending added
DJ Seduces Sonny #2 (0:38)* – edit of #1
Segue #2 (0:42)* - previously Sonny Turns The TV Off, edit of #1
Cherry Cherry (4:44)*
Segue (0:18)*
Return Of The Bump Squad (7:20)* – horn overdubs added by Eric Leeds 16/1-‘95
Mashed Potato Girl Intro (0:21)*
Segue (3:00)*
Big Fun (7:26)* – horn overdubs added by Eric Leeds 16/1-‘95
New Power Day (3:49)*
Hallucination Rain #2 (5:49)* - edit of #1
NPG Bum Rush The Ship (Segue) #2 (1:40)* - new beginning added
The Exodus Has Begun #2 (10:06)* - edit of #1
Outro (0:35)*

Remixes, Pre 13 June 1995
The NPG: The Good Life (Platinum People Edit) (4:12)*
The NPG: The Good Life (Platinum People Mix) (6:40)*
The NPG: The Good Life (Dancing Divaz Mix) (6:40)*
The NPG: The Good Life (Bullets Go Bang Remix) (5:14)*
The Good Life (Big City Remix) (5:05)*
The NPG: Free The Music #1 (3:23)
The NPG: Count The Days (Clean Version) (3:24)* - tentative placing

The Versace Experience, pre 8 July 1995
The NPG: Get Wild (In The House Mix) #2 (2:14) – edit of #1
The NPG: Free The Music #2 (1:44)* - edit of #1

2001
The New Power Generation: Get Wild (Miami Mix) (5:42) – available from NPGMC in August 2001, tentative placing


[Edited 10/25/09 13:58pm]

Nice. Thanks again.
This is one of Prince's most under appreciated works.

i love this album thanks 4 ur article

i agree - this was one FUNK filled cd... pretty much raw and balls to the wall. It's a shame so few people have heard it.

Another great post. Exodus is my favorite NPG album.

NPG Records: Sampler Experience cassette (5 January 1995)

Early Exodus design exercise.



-Courtesy of Groovement
[Edited 9/16/09 15:29pm]

Another early Exodus design exercise.



-Courtesy of Groovement
[Edited 9/16/09 15:29pm]

Early Count The Days single design exercise.



-Courtesy of Groovement
[Edited 9/16/09 15:29pm]

Early Get Wild single design exercise.



-Courtesy of Groovement
[Edited 9/16/09 15:29pm]

Scifi, who should I credit for the above early design pix?

Australian Exodus promo CD

Again - excellent stuff from my favourite era

Now I've got to count the days til your next instalment

squirrelgrease said:

I got them from Groovement who got them from a thread on Housequake.

scififilmnerd said:

Isn't it strange that he mostly played tracks that were no longer on the album? But I suppose it was because he figured people already knew these tracks?

I didn't mention this in the article, but Prince made a kinda Ryde Dyvine sampler cassette:

The Ryde Dyvine Sampler – (4 the ultimate RAVE) cassette (1992)
1. The Crayons: The Ryde Dyvine (4:00)
2. George Clinton: Let’s Get Satisfied (5:00)
3. George Clinton: This Beat Disrupts (4:40)
4. Carmen Electra: Everybody Get On Up – Single Edit (3:12)
5. Carmen Electra: Everybody Get On Up – Single Remix 3rd Time Funky Mix (4:07)
6. Carmen Electra: Everybody Get On Up – Wet And Juicy Dub (6:51)
7. Carmen Electra: Everybody Get On Up – Instrumental (7:00)

MPLS seems to have been a project similar to 1-800 NEW FUNK, so my guess is that MPLS evolved into that.
[Edited 9/16/09 10:19am]

I was waiting patiently,

This underrated gem is one of my faves and one of the projects that comes to mind whenever people imply that W&L were P's only significant influences. Exodus is funky throughout and so much fun to listen to.

I hear a lot of complaints about seques on Prince albums for some reason. I always enjoy them and even moreso on Exodus.

We're all fortunate that fans exist with the knowledge and ability to chronicle these events that Prince never really elaborates on. I ain't mad at him though, 'cause I guess he's just too busy making it all happen.

There's some songs listed here that I never knew were a part of the Exodus project, so that was particularly interesting to read.

And what about Hallucination Rain y'all? C'mon, where is the love???

This article was well worth the wait, thanks.

babynoz said:

The 12" is one of Prince's best songs.
Love that track.

From NPG Issue #1

From NPG Issue #2

From NPG Issue #3

From NPG Issue #3

From NPG Issue #4

From NPG Issue #4 - Note that the article says that the segues would be cut on the US version, which didn't actually happen.

From NPG Issue #4

From NPG Issue #4

From NPG Issue #4

Thank you for posting the Sonny T.-interview, Squirrel.

He ain't sexy, but he's cool.

I got so wrapped up in Exodus while writing the article that I simply had to make:

ULTIMATE EXODUS

Disc 1 – The Exodus Has Begun:
1. NPG Operator (0:34) – from Exodus
2. Get Wild (5:56)
3. Slave (1:01)
4. Acknowledge Me (5:14)
5. Super Hero (5:01) – from Super Hero single
6. New Power Soul (5:38)
7. Count The Days (3:24) – from Exodus
8. The Good Life (5:48) – from Exodus
9. It Takes 3 (3:59)
10. Hallucination Rain (5:49) – from Exodus
11. Mad (5:26)
12. Love, Thy Will Be Done (4:40)
13. Funky (4:14)
14. Proud Mary (4:19)
15. Exodus (10:44)
16. Funky Design (4:18)

Disc 2 – The Remixes:
1. Get Wild (5:36)
2. Get Wild In The House (6:15) – from Get Wild – The Maxi Single
3. Get Wild (Money Maker Funky Jazz Mix) (6:21) – from Get Wild – The Maxi Single
4. The Ryde Dyvine (4:18) – from MPLS: Minneapolis single
5. Super Hero (7:20)
6. New Power Soul (Album Version) (4:10) – from Exodus
7. The Good Life (Big City Remix) (5:05) – from The Good Life single
8. Cherry Cherry (4:44) – from Exodus
9. Return Of The Bump Squad (7:20) – from Exodus
10. Big Fun (7:26) – from Exodus
11. Hallucination Rain (11:07)
12. Mad (5:32) – NPGMC download
13. Funky Design (3:47) – NPGMC download

Disc 3 – Live:
1. Get Wild (9:00) – Miami, 9/6-94
2. Super Hero (6:25) – London, 4/3-95
3. Count The Days (3:35) – Paisley Park, 12/8-95
4. The Good Life/The Good Life (Big City Remix) (7:42) – Paisley Park, 12/8-95
5. Cherry Cherry (5:02) – Paisley Park, 12/8-95
6. Return Of The Bump Squad (6:18) – Miami, 8/6-95
7. Big Fun (4:18) – Miami, 8/6-95
8. Love, Thy Will Be Done (7:16) – London, 9/3-95
9. Funky (4:36) – London, 9/3-95
10. Proud Mary (3:59) – London, 4/3-95
11. Get Wild (11:04) – Brussels, 28/3-95



Unfortunately there weren't room for Derek Hughes: Somebody's Somebody on my collection, but that's alright, I guess. Really.