Since the Love Symbol & Come albums are sorta blended in the same time frame & look let's discuss both.



1.)My Name Is Prince (Prince, Tony Mosley) – 6:39
2.)Sexy M.F. (Prince, Levi Seacer, Jr., Tony Mosley) – 5:25
3.)Love 2 The 9's
4.)The Morning Papers
5.)The Max
(spoken word with Prince and Kirstie Alley) – 0:21
6.)Blue Light
7.)I Wanna Melt With U
8.)Sweet Baby
9.)The Continental
10.)Damn U
11.)Arrogance
12.)The Flow (Prince, Tony Mosley) – 2:26
13.)7 (Prince, Lowell Fulsom, Jimmy McCracklin) – 5:13
14.)And God Created Woman
15.) 3 Chains O' Gold
(spoken word with Prince and Kirstie Alley) – 1:30
16.)The Sacrifice Of Victor


Singles from Love Symbol
Sexy MF
Released: June 30, 1992
My Name Is Prince
Released: September 29, 1992
7
Released: November 17, 1992
Damn U
Released: November 17, 1992
The Morning Papers
Released: April 3, 1993



The fourteenth album by Prince, officially titled as the unpronounceable symbol , was released as a double vinyl or single CD, on October 13, 1992.[3] The album has been referred to as the The Love Symbol Album, or Symbol. It is Prince's second album to feature his backing group, The New Power Generation, which received co-billing for the release. The album contains elements of musical styles including funk, R&B, hip hop, jazz and synthpop.[4]

The album's first two singles, "My Name Is Prince" and "Sexy MF", were only minor hits on the US pop charts, though both made top ten in the UK. Conversely, the third single, "7", was relatively unsuccessful in the UK, but was a top ten hit in the US. The album was originally conceived as a rock-soap opera with various spoken segues throughout. However, in a last-minute attempt to add an additional song, most of the segues had to be cut for album length. The few that remained were somewhat confusing in context. The album also debuts Mayte Garcia, who also plays a part in the album's storyline, and would become Prince's wife in 1996. In a dispute with Warner Bros. in 1993, Prince decided to change his stage name to the album's eponymous symbol. He kept that name for several years until re-adopting the Prince moniker in 2000.



1."Come" – 11:13
2."Space" – 4:28
3."Pheromone" – 5:08
4."Loose!" – 3:26
5."Papa" – 2:48
6."Race" – 4:28
7."Dark" – 6:10
8."Solo" (Prince/David Henry Hwang) – 3:48
9."Letitgo" – 5:32
10."Orgasm" – 1:39


0-+>
[Edited 3/11/10 16:05pm]

Prince should have listenned to Warners on this one.

They wanted '7' to be the lead single, and he insisted on SexyMF (which did very poorly in comparison) and My Name is Prince only marginally better.


I love this album. I can't listen to it from beginning to end anymore (I can't do that with many of his albums in the 90s), but it's still one of my favorite Prince albums just by the sheer number of funky songs and the grab bag of musical styles. Prince was showing off on this album, and I love it when he shows off, even when it's excessive.


Songs I like:

Continental
Damn U
7
God Created Woman
3 Chains of Gold
The Max
Melt With U
The Flow (yes, I even like that )



It was such a relief to hear the album after D&P (which I did not like).

Released: June 30, 1992



My Name Is Prince

Prince and the New Power Generation
(I wanna be your lover) (Partyup) (Controversy) (Prince)
(I wanna be your lover) (Partyup) (Controversy)
(I wanna be your lover) (Partyup) (Controversy) (Prince)
(I wanna be your lover) (Partyup) (Controversy)

My name is Prince and I am funky
My name is Prince, the one and only
I did not come 2 funk around
Till I get your daughter, I won't leave this town
In the beginning (funky) God made the sea
But on the 7th day He made me
He was tryin' 2 rest y'all when He heard the sound
Sound like a guitar cold gettin' down
I tried 2 bust a high note, but I bust a string
My God was worried until he heard me sing

My name is Prince and I am funky
My name is Prince, the one and only
Hurt me!
(Do that, do that somebody) {x8}
Hurt me!

My name is Prince and I am funky
When it come 2 funk, I am a junkie
I know from righteous, I know from sin
I got 2 sides and they both friends
Don't try 2 clock 'em, they're much 2 fast
If U try 2 stop 'em, they'll kick that ass
Without a pistol, without a gun
When U hear my music, U be havin' fun
That's when I gotcha, that's when U mine
2 tell the truth, tell me what's my line?

My name is Prince and I am funky (U can't stop Prince)
My name is Prince, the one and only (U can't stop Prince)
Hurt me!
(Do that, do that somebody) {x4}
Funky fresh 4 the 90's (Prince)

My name is Prince, I don't wanna be King
Cuz I've seen the top and it's just a dream
Big cars and women and fancy clothes
Will save your face but it won't save your soul
I'm here 2 tell U that there's a better way
Would our Lord be happy if He came 2day?
I ain't sayin' I'm better, no better than U, huh
But if U want 2 play with me, U better learn the rules (Ow!)

My name is Prince and I am funky (U can't stop Prince)
My name is Prince, the one and only (U can't stop Prince)
I did not come 2 funk around (U can't stop Prince)
Till I get your daughter, I won't leave this town
I won't leave this town {x2}
I won't leave this, leave this, leave this…

My name is Prince and I am funky (U can't stop Prince)
My name is Prince the one and only (U can't stop Prince)
Funky fresh 4 the 90's
(Do that, do that somebody) {x4}
Hurt me!

The funkier I be, the funkier I get, ooh shit
Lickety split on the lyric, a new jack in the pulpit
Watch it deacon, your track is leakin'
What is this U're seekin'?
The syncopated rhymes are at their peak when…
U jumped on my D.I.C.K.
That's the one thing I don't play
The jock strap was 2 big 4 U anyway
U're just a simpleton
I'll bust U like a pimple, son
My star is 2 bright, boy
I'll sink U like the ship Poseidon Adventure
U're bumpin' dentures 2 be cocksure
There must be more coming from your mouth than manure
So with a flow and a spray, I say hey
U must become a Prince before U're King anyway

(Do that, do that somebody) {x2}

It's time I get ig-ig-ig-ig-ig-ig-ignorant
Def be the beat that I'm rockin'
Yo, so come get a hit
And put your thinking cap on
U've been forewarned
I call upon the inner forces I've got brewin' in my cauldron
That means my nugget, sometimes I'm rugged
The style I possess be havin' the other brothers buggin'
And this is 4 those who oppose
And propose 2 overexpose, disclose
Pose a threat 2 my brother
Like any other man makin' a stand
I'll be damned if I let U play this hand
I'm the blackjack dealer and the cards are stacked
What do U expect 2 win when U're used 2 playing craps?
Yeah, let's get ig'nant in this mutha, hmm

(Do that, do that somebody) {x2}

It's gettin' tricky, that means a sticky situation
2 resurrect a groove with feeling and give it this much affection
Passion flows who knows what lurks in the gallows of my mind
I put my foot in the ass of Jim Crow
12 inches of non-stop soul
I'm on a roll - yo P, it's time 4 the show
So do that, do that somebody
Wave your hands in the air, this is a motherfuckin' party
While U're layin' back, I'm on the attack
Paddywhack - give yourself a bone
This is my house and I'm prone
2 layin' some chrome upside some motherfucker's dome
And I'm out

My name is Prince and I am funky
My name is Prince, the one and only

My name is Prince {x10}

© 1992 Controversy Music - ASCAP


** Anyone with screen pics from the video?






0-+>
[Edited 1/25/10 11:34am]
[Edited 2/18/10 6:18am]

I've always viewed the Symbol Album as pt. 2 in a trilogy (D&P, , and The Gold Experience) with COME as a collection of b-sides if you will.



Prince's muse at the time was confusing, inspirational, and downright amazing. I LOOOOOVE the Prince of the early 90's.

I don't there will ever be a musician that's made me really, really excited about music the way he did. He was amazing then.

As much as I hate Tony M. on D&P, I have to admit I like him on this album.

zaza said:

Dude, I seriously think he tore up the mic on "The Flow". I don't care what anybody says,... that shit was hot.

0-+>
[Edited 1/22/10 6:46am]

TheVoid said:

I have to agree. This type of funk on this album suits him better.

zaza said:

You agree with me


Isn't that hot? I think you think it is... just a little bit?

TheVoid said:

It's time I get ig-ig-ig-ig-ig-ig-ignorant

zaza said:

lawd !!!!

ACT I TOUR (1993)

BAND: Michael B. (Drums) Levi Seacer, Jr. (Guitar) Sonny T. (Bass) Mr. Hayes, Tommy Barbarella (Keyboards) Steve Strand, Michael B. Nelson, Kathy J., Brian Gallagher y Dave Jensen AKA The Hornheadz (Brass) Mayte, Tony M., Kirky J. y Damon Dickson AKA The Game Boyz (Vocals & Dancing)

8, 9 Mar - Fort Lauderdale (USA) - Sunrise Musical Theater
11, 12 Mar - Atlanta (USA) - Fox Theater
12 Mar (AM) - Atlanta (USA) - Turtle Rhythm & Views
15, 16 Mar - Fairfax (USA) - Patriot Center
17 Mar - Washington (USA) - Warner Theater
19 Mar - Richmond (USA) - The Mosque
21, 22 Mar - Worcester (USA) - The Aud
24, 25, 26 Mar - New York (USA) - Radio City Music Hall
27 Mar (AM) - New York (USA) - Club USA
27 Mar - New York (USA) - Apollo Theater (Benefit concert)
29 Mar - Montreal (CAN) - Le Forum
30 Mar - Toronto (CAN) - Maple Leaf Gardens
1, 2 Apr - Detroit (USA) - Fox Theater
4, 5, 6 Apr - Chicago (USA) - Chicago Theater
6 Apr (AM) - Chicago (USA) - Cabaret Metro
10, 11 Apr - San Francisco (USA) - Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
12 Apr (AM)San Francisco (USA) - DNA Lounge
15, 16, 17 Apr - Los Angeles (USA) - Universal Amphitheater
17 Apr (AM) - Los Angeles (USA) - Glam Slam West

REVIEWS 1 Positive 1 Negative


0{+>
PRINCE AND THE N.P.G.
Paisley Park


HIS NAME IS PRINCE, and he is funky -- funkier, in fact, than he's been in ages. Through the first dozen or so songs on 0{+>, Prince and the N.P.G. offer a balance between rhythmic insistence and instrumental showmanship that at its best recalls the glory days of James Brown and the JB's.

Granted, it doesn't hurt that most of the songs concern Prince's favorite subject -- sex. But what makes the material kick isn't the way "The Continental" climaxes with his female lead's lubricious reply to the musical question "How U wanna be done?" No, what puts the album over is that Prince and his crew back those words with music that's just as physical as the lyrics are suggestive. "Sexy M.F.," for example, is a wonderfully hyped-up take on Seventies funk, all jabbing brass and jangling guitar, while "My Name Is Prince" boasts a drum-driven pulse so potent it makes moving to the beat involuntary.

Even better, Prince maintains the music's intensity no matter how he changes the beat. He effortlessly shifts from the jovial reggae of "Blue Light" to the techno thump of "I Wanna Melt With U" and slides from the semi-industrial grind of "The Continental" into the lithe, string-cushioned balladry of "Damn U"; rarely has his protean musicality been more pleasurable.

Had he stopped there, 0{+> would have been an uncomplicated delight -- even with its indecipherable title. But Prince, apparently convinced that he's as great a moralist as he is a musician, spends the last seven songs wrestling with sex, stardom, sacrifice and salvation -- the same hodgepodge that made Sign o' the Times so incomprehensible.

A pity, because the music on these songs -- like "The Flow," with its jazzy trombone break, or the richly textured ensemble work on "3 Chains o' Gold" -- ranks among the album's finest. But as usual, ambition gets the better of him, and Prince ends up turning what might have been simple fun into a high-concept muddle.

-- J.D. CONSIDINE

ROLLING STONE, NOVEMBER 26TH, 1992

(RS 644)





-----
Minneapolis Star-Tribune
October 11, 1992
Prince Album Is A Royal Disappointment

For his first album under his new king-sized contract with Warner Bros. Records, Prince has put together what he describes as a "rock soap opera."

Musically this soap features regal references to a King (as in Nat Cole), a Queen (as in the British rock group led by the late Freddie Mercury) and a Duke (as in Ellington). But mostly it's Prince trying to establish himself as the king of hip-hop.

The "libretto" of this long-winded, 16-song, nearly 80-minute album, due in stores Tuesday, is about as flimsy as the plots of Prince's films "Graffiti Bridge" and "Under the Cherry Moon." The opera chronicles Prince courting a 16-year-old princess from Cairo, Egypt.

The album - the only title given is a stylized insignia merging the symbols for man and woman - is, in a word, uneventful.

The Minneapolis rock star reportedly will reveal the name of the title symbol in the 16th and final music video he'll make for this project. In the meantime, let's call the album "Love."

"Love" lacks the made-for-radio savoir faire of last year's best-selling "Diamonds and Pearls," the ambition of 1987's "Sign o' the Times" and 1984's "Purple Rain" (the latter arguably his best two albums), the focus of the double-disc soundtrack to 1990's "Graffiti Bridge" and the inventiveness of Prince's early albums. Above all, "Love" sounds like a PG-13, hip-hop-oriented sequel to "The Black Album," Prince's boldly sexual album from 1987, which was never released but was widely bootlegged.

"Love" is the prolific Prince's most derivative-sounding album. The opening "My Name Is Prince, " his current single, is teeming with the hip-hop attitude of self-importance spouted by rappers for the past 10 years. Raps - some by Prince, others by Tony M. of the New Power Generation - crop up unexpectedly in several songs. Prince used to be hip; now he's just another hip-hopper.

In the past, Prince was one of popular music's most tantalizing impressionists, assimilating musical ideas from various sources and putting his own stamp on new material. But here, he blatantly borrows from Queen on the silly, bombastic "3 Chains o' Gold"; he does a bad Billy Joel impression on "The Morning Papers," and he explores the beat-jazz pop of Rickie Lee Jones on "Love 2 the 9's" before getting carried away with a rap.

Admirably, Prince evokes Ellington at the end of "And God Created Woman" and in the varied orchestration of "Sexy MF," the controversial, insinuating, jazz-funk track that reportedly will appear in X- and PG-rated versions in two different editions of this album.

Other derivative numbers provide some of the most satisfying moments on "Love." "Damn U," a classic sophisticated jazz-pop ballad, is pure Nat King Cole. "I Wanna Melt with You," a nasty dance-groove workout, sounds as if it was done by an updated Time, the group Prince started around Morris Day.

"Love" has the potential to be a funky R&B party album with "Melt," "My Name Is Prince, " "Sexy MF" and "The Max" certain to keep people dancing. It also includes some of Prince's typically remarkable ballads, including the pretty "Sweet Baby" and "Damn U."

The album showcases the self-indulgent side of Prince, who even essays reggae for the first time on record with "Blue Light," a soulful vocal number. Prince's most indulgent selection, the closing "Sacrifice of Victor," may be the album's quintessential piece. It begins with Kirstie Alley, playing a journalist, on the telephone trying to interview Prince about his widely reported affair with a young princess of Cairo. Alley wants him to the tell the truth, but he confounds her with mysticism and then churns out a furious funk (George Clinton meets James Brown at Paisley Park) that finds Prince singing about school integration, brotherhood and the importance of education, as preached to him by his real-life surrogate mother, longtime Minneapolis activist and social worker Bernadette Anderson.

When all is said and done, Prince's new album is a king-sized disappointment.

great album, with perfect singles,

My Name Is Prince,
Sexy MF, (Great choice for the leading single, imo)
Love 2 The 9's,
Morning Papers
7
And God Created Woman,
The Sacrifice Of Victor.

^ These alone are good enough to make a brilliant album,

the only song I really don't like is Blue Light.

LOVE this album...it's among my favorite Prince albums (only behind Batman, Gold, and Emancipation). Also agree "7" should've been the lead single, though Sexy MF is an awesome song, the Sexy Mutha version is just kinda silly...
The whole sequence from Damn U through 7, btw, is brilliant.
=0P

This album got me through beauty college. I've always loved that album. With my recent Tony M. edits, where I pretty much removed him from songs like "My Name Is Prince", "Sexy M.F.", "Love 2 The 9's", "The Flow" (and took the ending off "The Continental"), the album is even strong, and almost "new" again in some ways, to me.

In retrospect, I think the first single should have been The Continental.

It's not the best song on the CD, but it had that pop appeal that would have catered to a wider audience.

This CD doesn't get the props it deserves.

My Name is Prince, Sexy MF, Love 2 the 9's, The Morning Papers... all fantastic!

The Max is hot... Blue Light... Damn U is cool...

God Created Woman could have also been an R&B radio hit.

But radio was changing. Enter GRUNGE.

(If you notice, Prince is even wearing a flannel shirt in one of the videos.)

Had this album come a few years earlier... maybe even prior to Diamonds and Pearls... I truly believe it would have had MASSIVE success.

This is a handful of albums that told a complete story from beginning to the end. I've appreciated the work done on this album as I've gotten older and studied music more in depth. Bravo

MantuaPharoah said:

D&P was too "lite" for me overall. I do love a lot more. "Sexy MF" was a horrible first single (sometimes it's almost Prince wanting to self-destruct by releasing weak ass first singles). For me, singles should have been:

Love 2 The 9's
The Max
Damn U (a stronger 3rd single and overall ballad than "Sweet Baby")
7
The Morning Papers

Having the first single be "Love 2 The 9's" would have given the whole idea of the album a much different vibe. (Listen to the album starting with that song, and ignoring MNIP and Sexy MF....the whole album seems different). "the Max" brings it out of the R&B/Pop first single and lays down some fun and funk. Then bring on the ballad, then an interesting 4th single with "7", and finish with another mid-tempo rock jam with "...Papers". I think that's all that would be needed. Include outtakes on the b-sides, and have great remixes for "The Max" and "Love 2 the 9's". Have a longer, orchestral version of "Damn U", and a "live studio" type cut (like he did with "Willing & Able" on the DUP Video Collection) of "The Morning Papers". The album is very underrated and often over shadowed with the confusion around the symbol and his eventual name change. It was the end of an era for Prince, but yet musically the beginning of another. It fully ended his reign as the Purple Rain king, and fully began his reign as and a funkier, angrier man. His music was set to flourish again creatively.

Not a bad album in my opinion

best songs are:
My Name Is Prince
Love 2 The 9's
The Continental
and
Damn U

Good album. "And God Created Woman" is fantasic!

I've been listening to "The Morning Papers" a lot lately too.

Bree8016 said:

Two excellent songs.

was the 1st Prince album I ever bought, it's very special to me. I must be the only cat that like's Tony M's rap on the album, then again, I love East Coast Hip Hop and that's where my love of Emceein' came from. Don't ask me to chose between my Hip Hop and Prince, LoL ...

One of his most complete albums, start to finish. I love this era. 0+>, Come, Gold, Beautiful Experience, The Undertaker, Exodus.....Lots of great, creative stuff in there.

I loved this album, went off it and have grown to love it again. It was a coming out record for me. I was 16 and my brother was on a radio dj course (He was totally straight and 19) and he met a gay guy called David who was as camp as they came. Him and my brother had a great friendship (My brother has always been really positive around gay people). Anyway this guy came on to my brother and incredibly my brother did not react badly (He said no) and they still were friends. Anyway I knew this guy was gay first as he was a huge Prince fan, and picked up I was too (Into Prince and gay). He managed to be the first person to get a copy of Symbol and loant it to me to tape, so I could have a copy until I could afford the CD. He would come over a lot to study with my brother, but kept coming to see me and we would just talk about Prince. So the record held great memories for me.
Earlier when Sexy MF came out, my mother tried to stop me from buying it, as the news service complained about it, and it was in the media here as "Negro music has gone too far" - New Zealand is an intensely racist country towards black people, but has improved since 92. It was the same year Delthafunkeehomospaien (Mistabobdobalina fame) was cavity searched for drugs both times (Entering and leaving New Zealand) as it was thought as a Black rapper he was obviously a junkie. We had a conservative government at the time.

zaza said:

He was great on record -- better here than D&P, but I don't think he was bad on D&P either. Prince had a cool way of presenting the band as a family/funk mob on these two albums, and having a rapper play the aggressive/protective force in the band who could say things that were further out there than Prince wanted to say himself worked. Remember also in '92 there were rap albums and non-rap albums, but few funk artists just using rap as an element. That was pretty creative of Prince.

The problem with Tony M is that he just sucked live. I can't really understand how his style could work so well in the studio and be so bad on stage.

This album was the beginning of my second big phase of becoming a fan, and Act I the first time I saw him live. I played this one way too much back in the day, so in a sense I'm just slightly tired of it (at least up until "7").

But my knowledge of this album served me well. I started dating a woman in 2002 who thought it was cool when I sang and air-guitared the first five or six songs note for note. I don't think I can recommend this as a seduction technique -- men should note that playing air guitar probably isn't putting your best foot forward -- but in this case it worked well: our five-year anniversary and counting.

Damn U
Damn U, U're so fine
Seems 2 happen 2 me each and every time we make love
I can't hold back
It's like having a hundred million little heart attacks
Damn U
Baby, U're so fine

Damn this kooky love affair
All I ever wanna do is play in your hair
2 people crazy in love
Into one another like a hand in a glove
Damn this kooky love affair

(Damn U)

Like animals just born 2 breed
Come 2 think about cha, baby, U're my only need
I'm on fire till U come and put me out
All I'm trying 2 say is that my psychedelic shouts
When U damn me
Damn U
When I'm in your arms it's all that I can do
When we're makin' love, I can't hold back
It's like having a hundred million little heart attacks
Damn U
Baby, U're so fine

Damn U
Baby, U're so fine

© 1992 Controversy Music - ASCAP

actress Troy Beyer
Sexy M.F.

In a word or 2, it's U I wanna do
No, not cha body, your mind U fool

CHORUS:
Come here baby, yeah
U sexy motherfucker

We're all alone in a villa on the Riviera
That's in France on the south side in case U cared
Out of all yo' friends, I wanna be the closest
That's why I tell U things so U'll be the mostest
When it comes 2 life, 2 be this man's wife
U got 2 be well educated on the subject of fights
I mean prevention of
In other words it's R.E.A.L. meaning of this thing called love
Are U up on this?
If so, then U can get up off a hug and a kiss

CHORUS {x2}

We need 2 talk about things, tell me what cha do
Tell me what cha eat, I might cook 4 U
See, it really don't matter cuz it's all about me and U
Ain't no one else around
I'm even with the blindfold, gagged and bound
I don't mind - see, this ain't about sex
It's all about love being in charge of this life and the next
Why all the cosmic talk?
I just want U smarter than I'll ever be when we take that walk

CHORUS {x2}

Horns, stand up please
I like it, I like it

U seem perplexed I haven't taken U yet
Can't U see I'm harder than a man could get?
I got wet dreams comin' out of my ears
I get hard if the wind blows your cologne near me
But I can take it cuz I want the whole 9
This ain't about the body, it's about the mind

CHORUS {x2}

Tommy Barbarella in the house
Scrub the dishes
Come here Tommy, yeah
Sexy, sexy, sexy, sexy
Levi, Levi, fly
Move man, get… let's move, shit
I like it, I like it

Sexy motherfucker shakin' that ass, shakin' that ass, shakin' that ass {repeat in BG}

Guard your folks who date your daughter
The sexy motherfucker's so fine, I'll drink her bath water
A long-legged 5-foot-8 packin' an ass as tight as a grape
I wanted 2 spit my game but said 2 myself, "Hmm, just conversate" (Yeah)
Cuz I'm usually quite the calm one (Come on)
U never found me out prowlin', boy, I'm just havin' fun
But I had 2 change my state of mind 4 this behind
I bet if U throw that ass in the air, it would turn into sunshine

Sexy motherfucker shakin' that ass, shakin' that ass, shakin' that ass {x5}
(It makes 4 one sexy motherfucker up in this place)

U sexy motherfucker {repeat till end}

© 1992 Controversy Music - ASCAP