Happy birthday Newpower Soul!

Yes, everyone's favorite album turns 6 years old today, June 30. And sometimes this young album acts like a six-year-old. Running around, breaking things, thinking it can rap with its cartoon artwork.

Looking back on it with the benefit of hindsight, it's just a playful album. At the time, when it was the latest thing we had from Prince, I pretty much hated it, except for Come On, which stuck in my head for years. The same day the album came out I met the woman who is now my wife, and this wasn't a great introduction to Prince for her (I'm hoping the Boston concert in August will finally turn her around).

Memories of picking up this album? How has your view of this album changed over the last 6 years?

6 years? that's funny, it doesn't feel a minute over 60.

Why Thanku

Pleaaase stop with all these album b-days, u make me feel like an old bitch ! 6 years, wow ! i remember the day i bought it, i was in a weiiird mood that day, but i looooove the album. One day people will acknowledge it IS a great funk album.

Yeah, & "Come On" has been dancing in my head 4 years too... particularly the live groove from "beautiful strange".

?

Anxiety said:

come now Anx, NPS brings fond memories 2 me. I was in attendance 4 the release party/show at The Key Club and what a nite. Also, this was the album that made me realize that I was addicted 2 Prince.
One nite, a few weeks after it's release, me and my wife were talking (while NPS was playing) and she told me that I was 2 into Prince! I told her she was wrong but she continued 2 argue her point. After discussing it for a while, the cd had ended and both of us would not let up. It got 2 the point that we began 2 get mad at each other. Just then, the hidden track began 2 play. I had not heard it up 2 that point and all of a sudden my attention was focused on the jam I was hearing and a million miles from my wife's words. Goodness! Thats when I knew it, I was addicted!
KLICK

I think it has been 5 3/4 years since I have listened to it. Just a really low moment in the man's career...nothing that really stands the test of time. They should have sold the Chaka Khan, Larry Graham, and Prince CD as a 3 for 1 deal. Actually they should have just given the CDs out as decorative coasters. The animated Larry Graham picture on the front of his CD still gives me nightmares.

This was the first Prince album I didn't buy when it was released (I was initially under the impression that it wasn't really a "Prince" album). Finally, about six months ago, I saw it at a used store for $5 - yes $5 - and decided that, as a completionist, I needed to own it.

I listened to the album three times in a row, trying to find something - anything - redeeming about it. Nope. I let it sit overnight, then gave it another shot. Ummm, nope, still nothing. In fact, I think it was making my ears bleed. I was so horrified by that album, that I specifically went out of my way to return it to the store that very next day, less than 24 hours after purchase. I think they gave me $1 in credit.

It was so awful, that I couldn't have it in my possession - even as a Prince completionist. But it wasn't enough of a statement to simply throw it away. No, I had to drive across town, and pathetically ask for $1 in store credit. And be happy to get it, just so long as I didn't have to see it in my CD rack.

God, that album sucks. And please don't say that I didn't give it enough time to grow on me. It just sucks. No two ways about it.

darmstro said:

Congrats on freeing yourself from the bonds of "Prince fan completionism." I am, however, perfectly happy to have the disease.

Keith/Kacey

In honor of NPS

I really like the album. I really don't know whats wrong with it. I tell fans I like that album and they don't say anything.
NPS, Come on, Until ur n my Arms, Wasted Kisses, the ONE I think are great
"This is another JAM OF THE YEAR you think it aint but it is"

I use fans because I think only Fanatics would use FAMS

it hasn't aged very well. In fact, mine is covered in dust and the only marks on it are where I put a cold drink on it to use it as a coaster.

Didn't like it then. Don't like it now.

Did like it then. Still like it now.

is it just me, or does anyone agree that Chaka's and Larry's albums are the strongest of the 3? he hadn't had any protege albums in years, and when he did, sounded like he was spreading himself too thing, and put the least amount of thought/effort/talent into his own. maybe he should have gone on and done that Doug E. Fresh album... it would probably make NPS look a lot better than it does... and it probably would be, because that Push It Up and Funky Music dreck would be banished to another disc.

Come on / the one / wasted kisses are good

Newpower Soul

Newpower Soul
Mad Sex
Until U're In My Arms Again
When U Love Somebody
Shoo-Bed-Ooh
Push It Up
Freaks On This Side
Come On
The One
( Like) Funky Music
Wasted Kisses

"Until U're In My Arms Again" and "When U Love Somebody" are the ONLY two tracks I like on this album. This is the worst album he did in the 90s too much damn hip hop!

6 already???

I LOVE this CD...Very funky, very Danceable...Put it on at a party and watch
the dance floor!

This album in better than TRC, Goldnigga, C-note, Xpectation, and NEWS. IF you considerall of the instrumentals albums. NPS is still better than most of that stinky hot garbage that is on the radio today.

Re-design the tacky artwork and cut the tracklisting to:

Newpower Soul
Mad Sex
Shoo-Bed-Ooh
Push It Up
Come On
The One
Wasted Kisses

and U've got urself a killer EP.

Come On and Wasted Kisses are the outstanding tracks.

Mad Sex is marred by that awful sounding vocal, but it, When U Love Somebody and The One are so-so/acceptable/okay/good.

The rest of the album: WHY?!
[This message was edited Sat Jul 10 19:22:24 2004 by scififilmnerd]

vainandy said:

If you don't like The One, you ain't sexy

2 be honest;I had totaly forgotten NPS!
But now some of U mention songs like Come On,Freaks on this side,
When U love somebody,The One and Funky Music...well,I do have some good
memories about the album and concert-the tour He didn´t play any hits.
Not so bad after all...

Paisley4u said:

no hits? in Chicago, he played Purple Rain andNothing Compares 2 U... just off the top of my head.

GrayKing said:

You´re right,the tour without hits was the one be4 Gold Xperience came out,right???

CalhounSq said:

There's absolutely nothing sexy about The One. Well, maybe live.

The One (like Pheremone, If I Was Ur Girlfriend, Purple Rain and When 2 R in love) will always have a place in my top 10 P songs - pure classic.... and that video, damn... mayte bashers need to view it - incredibly beautiful

I remember the day this came out very well. I bought this one AND the "Time Capsule" album from the B-52s. I spoke to my then girlfriend on the phone then helped my folks paint the house.