Is it just me, or do you think The Gold Experience album is overrated? I know some Prince fans think it's his best album in the '90s, if not one of his albums ever, but I just can't agree with that. I would choose the 0+> and Emancipation albums over it; and I even listen to Come and NewPowerSoul albums (which I used to hate) more than I listen to The Gold Experience album. I hate the segues, for one, and I felt it was an attempt by Prince to rekindle his Purple Rain days (in terms of the type of music) but I don't think he succeeded. There are a couple of cuts in the album that I like but I just can't fathom how others could say it's his best '90s output. Enlighten me, please???

It's just you.

My attempt to enlighten you

The Gold Experience is one of my favorite Prince albums.To me, it is the Purple Rain of the 90's. Like Purple Rain, and Sign O the Times, it has every element that makes a great Prince album.

The Gold experience is full of deep funk tracks to get the ass movin'(Pussy Control, Now, Billy Jack Bitch). It is has get straight out rock numbers (Endorphine Machine, Dolphin, 319.) It has great ballads (Most Beautiful Girl in the World, I hate U, Shhhh.) Also, It has the grand scaled anthem to close it -GOLD.

This album is Prince perfectly straddling the line between commercial sounding/pop stuff and out there innovative sounding stuff. Just like he did on Purple Rain, Sign O the Times, and to some extent 1999.

If anyone asked me to give them a Prince album as an example of what he is all about-after Purple Rain and Sign O the Times I'd give them the Gold Experience.

Just one person's opinion.

The Gold Experience is a very good album in my opinion.

BUT..it could have been GREAT...

There a couple of crap songs that bring it down a little
i.e We March , 319

Endorphin Machine sounds so much better when he uses the guitar (as in the live version) as oppose to what he used 4 the official album..(dont know what instrument it was but it wasnt guitar)..still a good track though.

AND HOW COULD I FORGET...the non-inclusion of Days of Wild!!

Best album of the 90's ? - One of the better ones, along with 0(+> and Emancipation.

What? Are you kidding? Let's just focus on one song. Listen to Gold. The best way is with headphones on. Pay attention to that solo near the end. That is worth the price of the album. And there's plenty else to look at as well. But just listen to that song. Empty your mind, open your heart!

Dan said:

Hi Dan,

perhaps We March wasn't written with you in mind. That song has been very healing for a certain segment of the Prince population.
And 319 is cute and silly and kinda funky, but I'd never call it crap. But you are entitled to your opinion.

overrated??? That joint Billy Jack Bitch is on there! I just listened to it today, and the horns at the end are SMOKING!!!

I respect your opinion Rainbow Child but I can't agree. That's one of my favorite albums. I wouldn't say of the 90's becuase, I don't categorize his music like that. But I Love the album, I agree with the previous posts, listen to the song itself "Gold" along with some underrated smashes like; Hate U, Shhh, Billy Jack Bitch, Dolphin etc.
I understand where you're coming from, I thought New Power Soul and ATWIAD were hard to listen to, but I listened to them again, and again anyway. Prince music grows on you, that's a fact. I love those albums now.
Lata
Blue

I love the Gold Experience...
As has been said, it has a little of everything; Funk, Rock, Ballads, etc. Definitely one of my favourite Prince / albums ever. I have to admit I'm one of those in the 'Sign O The Times' camp, but this album comes a close second. I have to say that after the Gold Experience, I found Emancipation a little disappointing. I was looking forward to a triple album of Prince songs, but when it arrived I found it a bit 'samey' (I prefer Prince's more eclectic works). If there was one stage in Prince's career where he really had enough varied and killer tracks to fill a triple album, then the Gold period was it. Imagine if instead of releasing Come, The Gold Experience, & Chaos And Disorder, he had released a killer triple album using the best cuts from each, plus tracks like Acknowledge Me, Days Of Wild & Ripopgodazippa, Now that would've been something.

It's not just you.

Don't get me wrong, TGE is FAR from one of my least favorite Prince/NPG/TAFKAP/etc. albums, but it's far from one of my favorites, either.

On the positive side, I think it's one of the most coherent albums Prince threw on the wall during the '90s, both in terms of listenability and also in terms of quality. Even the weakest tracks on TGE have more substance than, say, "Jughead" or "Strollin'", whether it be musically or lyrically. Also, "Pussy Control" and "Billy Jack Bitch" are, to me, classic examples of Prince party tunes.

BUT, the album does get bogged down in Prince's notorious attempts at creating a "concept". Did we really need the NPG Operator? I don't think so - not any more than we needed Kirstie Alley on the Symbol album (what was THAT about, anyway??).

Also, it always feels to me that he's into a new "live" sound on this record that was still a novelty to him at the time it was recorded, and the sound - the bombastic crescendos at the end, the sustained notes at the beginning, the overall bar-band immediacy of the sound on so many of those songs...well, it's great that he went that way, but I always wanna yell at my stereo, "okay, Prince, we get it! Rock the Linn for a song or two, why don'tcha??" It's a good sound he has on TGE - it just gets a bit SAMEY to me after a while.

And even though "We March" might have been written with strictly a certain segment of Prince's audience in mind, there are more uplifting songs about empowerment in the world. "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves" may not speak specifically to ME as a male, but I dug the song all the same when it came out, cuz it was a good tune and Annie & ReRe rocked it, and it was fun to listen to at the time.

Another example is "Animal Kingdom" - as a long-time vegetarian, I was happy to hear a song by Prince celebrating his veganism...but when I heard it, I was less than uplifted. It's an okay song - a bit daft, though, and not really something I'd play while I'm sauteeing my tofu in wok oil.

So just because the lyrics of a song aren't "supposed" to be "for" you, it doesn't mean you still can't listen to it with a critical ear, regardless of whether or not you're its "intended audience".

Just sayin'. Soapbox moment over.

I guess I can understand the hubbub over TGE, but I don't share in the enthusiasm. I think Come is a far more interesting album, and I'm also an unapologetic fan of Chaos & Disorder. Neither are as polished as TGE, but both have more freaky little nooks and crannies to explore, which I guess is a big reason I've always been so into Prince's music.

Dang it has DOLPHIN, P_CNOTROL, Endorphinmachine, Billy Jack Bitch, I Hate U . DANG this mutha is prettty baad!!!

I think GOLD EXPERIENCE is the last ABOVE GROUND album that a mass of people dug. It was also his first real release as "SYMBOL MAN" He lost a bunch of fans cuz WB put out COME and the cover spooked folks into thinking PRINCE had died. TGE was fresh and colorful and actually had a big pop chart hit with MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL. I haven't played it in a while, but I will now that you jogged my memory bank.

You're not alone, RainbowChild. I NEVER listen to TGE. I thought is sucked when I bought it. Prince just needs to quit with the segues. I hated P Control. I thought it was plain stupid and then I went to a club and it was playing and everyone (non-Prince fans I assume) were dancing. I couldn't believe it. I think his best album of the 90's was Come. Just goes to show how everyone's tastes differ.

I think the only problem (if I can call it that) with TGE is that the final product that was released was not quite what Prince intended, because he refused to give Warner Bros. the "true" final product. But my perception is that Prince so thoroughly enjoyed performing the songs from TGE that the tought of not releasing it in any form was too heavy a burden to bear.

I think with Prince, we tend to get a sense of how much he likes his music based on how much of it he likes to perform live. I realize there will always be certain songs that will never sound good in a live setting, but I think a good rule of thumb is Prince's eagerness to play the songs live is good indication of how proud he is of the work he has created. I also realize that around the time of TGE, Prince was still in protest a lot with Warner Bros, so he probably refused to support his back catalog of music at the time. But as far as TGE is concerned, I think there was something about performing that material that he really, really enjoyed - which points to the fact that he was really proud of it. So in that regard, I don't think TGE has ever been overrated.

calldapplwondery83 said:

lol ... the "horns at the end" are Tommy B on the Keys!
Still a good song tho! TGE is a very fine and enjoyable album. My wife goes with the best of 90's thing. I like Come & Chaos & Disorder quite a bit. They are on the creepier side of Prince where TGE like stated above is along the middle of things. Also, if I were to nit pick a bit, the production on TGE could be a little more "raw". It's a beefy sounding album. anyone else?

chewymusic said:

Well... not exactly. The horns at the end of Billy Jack Bitch may have been sampled. But those are actual horn licks from the Hornheads a.k.a NPG Hornz. They actually have a cd with various wicked horn riffs and the "New Dehli Inn" horn riff from their album is exactly what is being played at the end of BJB.

Overall yes the album is overrated. But there are some great songs on it. Get rid of the stuff like NOW, P Control, and replace them with better songs from that era.

I think the Gold Experience was UNDERATED! I'm not saying I liked every cut but it was pretty good. I would have left off shy and added Hide the Bone,The video version of NOW, and especially Days of Wild!
I like Come okay except for the title track itself. I prefer the one in the video with Nona Gaye or even remixed like 18 & Over. Oh yeah and add Acknowledge Me to either Come or TGE.

Gold experience=Shiznicks

TRC=Overrated

I likewise find the high opinions of TGE expressed on this site unfathomable. The album is not so bad as to provoke strong reactions, but when you read every day on the org just how wonderful it is, you can't help but be positively amazed.

Someone in a post above said that- put simply- TGE contained everything you would expect from a good Prince album. As a starting point, I would say that for me it is quite the opposite- Gold lacks the vitality, the genius, the moments of wonderment and brilliance that the best Prince albums (SOTT, Lovesexy and yes- TRC among others) always exhibit and evoke. The arrangements are on the whole uninspired in comparison to his usual form, to the point where it is almost like listening to a prince impostor. You can appreciate the songs on the surface, but nothing deeper than that draws you in and demands repeated and more nuanced listening.

There are many songs that I enjoy- P Control, Now, BJB and Gold - but they never take me to the peaks that some other albums can, where I feel like this guy must be the greatest ever recording artist.

Partly, I think the truth of the matter is that rock is a musical style that, when he attempts it, renders Prince a mere mortal. His genius does not thrive in this idiom. There is nothing distinctively princely about generic songs like shy, dolphin and 319. Endorphinmachine is almost cringe-worthy: the combination of poppy, bouncy melody with rock guitar bordering on the heavy bears a frightening resemblance to that shocker of shocking bands Queen. A far better inclusion would have been Interactive, one of Prince's better rock-oriented moments and a song that allows the Prince's rhythmic funk to surface in its backbeat.

I will preface my next comments with the following: I am not against live drumming in the slightest. Yet it must be said that Michael B plunders the fuck out of those things, and when combined with the keyboard blasts in songs like SHH and Eye Hate U, the result can be grating. In the case of Shhh I think it destroys one of the most promising tracks on the album. The Most Beautiful Girl is a good ballad but the single version is ten times better.

Not surprisingly, I tend to agree that Come is a far more interesting album. The title track alone is worth more than the whole of Gold. And I do think Prince was recording some good stuff around that time. Ripopgodazippa, Acknowledge Me, Days Of Wild and Interactive are all better than anything on Gold. But that's one of the great things about Prince: sometimes he doesn't officially release his best work. Crystal Ball, anyone?

rainbowchild said:

Yes, it's overrated. But it's not his worst album by any means. Tho, I wouldn't rank it in the top 5 of Prince albums.

Imo,the 'Love Symbol' album is UNDERRATED! I prefer that CD to almost everything else he did in the 90s.

DavidEye said:

~UNDERRATED~-in best symbol album voice.....

I dig it...but 2 each there own...If P was happy with his product at the end of the day...thats all that matters~

It's just you! Sheesh!

I agree with DavidEye and Rainbowchild: TGE overrated, Symbol album underrated.

They're both overproduced, but Symbol is probably his most diverse album other than SOTT. I actually C it as hsi real Hits album. I think he went back and tried 2 create a rannge of songs which could've fitted into each of his preceding albums.

TGE was the 1st Prince album since ATWIAD that I didn't buy immediately. I was nonplussed about I Hate U, altho I liked Dolphin, and I already had The Beautiful Experience. Thet were the only songs I had heard. When I bought it, I was not overly enthusiastic. There were some great tracks, but something in the production grated on me (I'm still not sure what).

I put it aside, and then started listening to it again after a friend started raving about it. This time I really got into it and 4 a whiler it didn't leave my stereo. I think that it reflects a really creative period and that loads of energy, but something doesn't entirely work for me.
I agree with the comments that it's essentially "live" material - endorphinemachine became one of my favourite songs only after getting it on a live recording. I also agree that this is his real attempt to recreate Purple Rain, in which case he should have done what he did there and left some of the songs semi-live (as he did on Crystal Ball where they should have been 100% live).

An Australian reviewer once suggested (I think in a review of D&P) that Prince should work with an external producer, not because he is not a briliantly talented producer and arranger himself, but because he could do with an objective voice to tell him what to leave out! He tends to leave in superfluous tracks and to overburden the production when it could have been more sparse. (Prince is obviously aware of this weakness because he tried to split the roles in Rave - what a disaster that was!).

Sorry 4 the long post!

Pce

It's a good consistent cd filled with great tracks and shows off the NPG as a unit to great effect. However, personally speaking , when put into context against his other works TGE didn't show us anything new or anything that he hadn't done with ease before. But i still love it and it play loud and often, especially 'Now'.

good to see the symbol album getting some credit - i thought that was one of his very best - he seemed to be creating a really good, lively sound and the album was consistent and interesting.

as for gold - i thought a good album, and the last of what i consider to be his real run of form...his decline, in my opinion, started soon after.

yeah, days of wild should have been on there, but pussy control, endorphin machine and gold more than make up.

gold has to be one of the very best songs he has ever recorded - strong, powerful and packing a strong emotional punch.

The Gold Experience is one of LIL MAN's greatest achievements. The whole CD was excellent, the CD cover, the packaging(complete with those awesome liner notes), the photos inside. Plus, this recording showcased LIL MAN's skills as an elite guitarist to great effect. This album is one of his greatest!!!!! With the right marketing and promotion, this recording could have really went far.

* Brother 9/15 aka CR3

oh, i *hate* TGE. i can hardly listen to it. someone already made the point that it is exactly *not* what a prince album should sound like, and i agree. it's stodgy, bloated, and turgid. it weighs on me so heavily.

i'm glad to see someone else doesn't like michael b's drumming much, either. i hated his drumming from the first... it is so overblown and earthbound, where prince's music should be skippy and playful and dynamic. compare the intro/outro of "shhh.." to the intro/outro of "take me with u". a similar type of effect is attempted in each song- with wildly different results.

michael b and the npg= LUMBERJACKS. prince couldn't fly with such a band. of course, it's his fault as bandleader- these are his decisions, and his mistakes (as i see it). coupled with the sad fact that his time of greatest songwriting had by this point, sadly passed... tho i live in (ever-decreasing) hope of a real return to form.

i find TGE ugly and big and tiring, it really does drain me...

best album of the '90s? i'd say "come", i came to this conclusion just this morning and it took me by surprise. "come" definitely has more to offer than at first glance. "space" is a deceptively great track; "letitgo" is also excellent.

i've been knocking TGE for years, i can never understand why people are so into it. if you are into it, fine. but it's nice to know there's a few on my side too.

tiger2 said:

Well find a new hobby will ya? That's some dumb shit. I bet you're one of those middle aged folk who's been moaning ever since Diamonds & Pearls.

Come on, FIGHT!!!