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THE GOLD EXPERIENCE I've asked this before but didn't get the answer... what happened with "THE GOLD EXPERIENCE." I'm in love with the entire album, I don't know why it didn't sell. My favorites are PUSSY CONTROL, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE WORLD, DOLPHIN, and GOLD.
Does anyone know it's sales, did it go at least gold? This was too good to not be promoted. | |
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Prince and WB happened to it. I take it you haven't heard the earlier version(s) floating around? Then, you'd really be upset. Final product was grossly overproduced; probably became so when P realized that WB wasn't going to promote the album as he wanted. | |
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Actually, I do believe that this album has been certified gold for 500,000 in sales.
This is the story as I remember it...Prince finished "Come" and "TGE" and had planned to release each. Contractual problems arose and the release of "TGE" was put on hold for quite some time. Prince even performed "Dolphin" on David Letterman, and Letterman introduced him by saying "He's here to perform a song off his album, 'The Gold Experience,' which is scheduled to never be released. Well, it only makes since that he'd be here promoting it then. Ladies and gentlemen, Prince!" (slight paraphrase) TGE was eventually released by WB as part of Prince's exit strategy from his contract, which included the eventual release of the Black Album, The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale, and Chaos and Disorder. By the time the album was released, however, there was little to no promotion for it. In the public eye, Prince was acting strange and had lost his luster, to say the least. The average music fan didn't know what the heck was going on. Combine that with the fact that the only single from TGE to get serious airplay, "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World," was released somewhere around a year before the album came out, and you can fill in the blanks regarding the album's sales success. In fact, Prince re-recorded TMBGITW for TGE so that he would independently maintain ownership rights to the version of the song that was released as a single around a year earlier. TGE was probably the longest-rumored Prince album to actually see the light of day, although the released version difffers greatly from original incarnations, which were in circulation among traders long before the official album release. That's my recollection...I'm sure others can add to this (or make corrections). [Edited 1/23/05 19:54pm] [Edited 1/24/05 18:59pm] Check out The Mountains and the Sea, a Prince podcast by yours truly and my wife. More info at https://www.facebook.com/TMATSPodcast/ |
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Doozer said: TGE was probably the longest-rumored Prince album to actually see the light of day, although the released version difffers greatly from original incarnations, which were in circulation among traders long before the official album release. That's my recollection...I'm sure others can add to this (or make corrections). [Edited 1/23/05 19:54pm] Any information (links, etc.) that discuss the differences between what was released and the original recordings? | |
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Doozer said: Actually, I do believe that this album has been certified gold for 500,000 in sales.
This is the story as I remember itThat's my recollection...I'm sure others can add to this (or make corrections). [Edited 1/23/05 19:54pm] Big ups to you, Doozer. You're the type of orger that makes me so glad I joined. There's always a few people with the low-down and you're typically one of them.  Come here, babe.. yeah... | |
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altavista said: Doozer said: Actually, I do believe that this album has been certified gold for 500,000 in sales.
This is the story as I remember itThat's my recollection...I'm sure others can add to this (or make corrections). [Edited 1/23/05 19:54pm] Big ups to you, Doozer. You're the type of orger that makes me so glad I joined. There's always a few people with the low-down and you're typically one of them. The Gold Experience has been certified gold (though the certification is for items shipped to retailers, not sold to consumers. | |
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Octavius said: Prince and WB happened to it. I take it you haven't heard the earlier version(s) floating around? Then, you'd really be upset. Final product was grossly overproduced; probably became so when P realized that WB wasn't going to promote the album as he wanted.
I don't think it sounds grossly overproduced. It sounds perfectly fine to me with the sheen that it was given. I mean it is called 'The Gold Experience' after all. Making it sound rougher like say 'Chaos And Disorder' wouldn't have been right. | |
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RipHer2Shreds said: altavista said: Big ups to you, Doozer. You're the type of orger that makes me so glad I joined. There's always a few people with the low-down and you're typically one of them. The Gold Experience has been certified gold (though the certification is for items shipped to retailers, not sold to consumers. It was also Prince's last U.S top 10 album (#6) before 'Musicology'. | |
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sextonseven said: Octavius said: Prince and WB happened to it. I take it you haven't heard the earlier version(s) floating around? Then, you'd really be upset. Final product was grossly overproduced; probably became so when P realized that WB wasn't going to promote the album as he wanted.
I don't think it sounds grossly overproduced. It sounds perfectly fine to me with the sheen that it was given. I mean it is called 'The Gold Experience' after all. Making it sound rougher like say 'Chaos And Disorder' wouldn't have been right. Man, I totally agree. I don't get what ppl's problem is with Gold Experience sounding so slick. I think it makes it sound really rich like it should. Like you said, it really wouldn't make sense for it to sound like Dirty Mind or The Black Album. Gold Experience is meant to sound loud like a live band at work, musically rich like the title suggests, and reaffirm Prince's musical ingenuity. In my opinion, it did that wonderfully. It's a very special album. [Edited 1/23/05 21:47pm] The world is a comedy for those who think and a tragedy for those who feel.
"You still wanna take me to prison...just because I won't trade humanity for patriotism." | |
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Octavius said: Prince and WB happened to it. I take it you haven't heard the earlier version(s) floating around? Then, you'd really be upset.
I agree. The album was just all right in its released configuration, but it had the potential at one point to be much better. I remember reading an interview Prince did for Vibe magazine prior to the release of TGE (Come was in the can, but had not yet been released either). The tracklisting mentioned during the course of that interview was very different (and better) than the version of TGE that was ultimately released. | |
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i believe the single Gold was the last Uk released single to do well for Prince.
Number 10 i think it got 2. im probably wrong though.  Fuck the funk - it's time to ditch the worn-out Vegas horns fills, pick up the geee-tar and finally ROCK THE MUTHA-FUCKER!! He hinted at this on Chaos, now it's time to step up and fully DELIVER!!
KrystleEyes 22/03/05 | |
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mariahj said: I've asked this before but didn't get the answer... what happened with "THE GOLD EXPERIENCE." I'm in love with the entire album, I don't know why it didn't sell. My favorites are PUSSY CONTROL, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE WORLD, DOLPHIN, and GOLD.
Does anyone know it's sales, did it go at least gold? This was too good to not be promoted. wow, u dig dolphin? thats kinda cool...the only part of that one i can get n2 is the chorus..319 and i hate u r THE shit tho! Yesterday is dead...tomorrow hasnt arrived yet....i have just ONE day...
...And i'm gonna be groovy in it! | |
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In addition to what's already been said, I'll just chip in and say that The Gold Experience had as much commercial potential as either Diamonds & Pearls or Musicology.
The release was so delayed due to Prince dicking about with Warners that by the time you did get your hands on the official product, the material had passed it's sell by-date, most of it had been circulating for at least a year, if not 2 before it's eventual release. Add to this the rather flacid release promotion - singles with no (or late) videos, the whole SLAVE thing, and Prince's lack of enthusiasm for an album he'd pushed so hard for a release for 2 years. The promotion ended after 'Gold' the single was released and it was goodbye TGE. A BIG waste of potential there, but hey-oh, at least it DID get released. | |
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Doozer said: In fact, Prince re-recorded TMBGITW for TGE so that he would independently maintain ownership rights to the version of the song that was released as a single around a year earlier.
Really? I thought it was the same version. They must be very similar then!  | |
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But really, TGE is in fact one of his most commercial albums, if not the most commercial!
It hardly contains any experimenting or "odd" stuff, neither musically nor production-wise. It has a nice, well-balanced mixture of styles without pushing it too far in any direction. It's a solid, well crafted soul/rock-album, with several potential hits. If only Prince and WB had been able to cooperate at this time, with the right promotion I think this album could have been really big! | |
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Doozer said: Actually, I do believe that this album has been certified gold for 500,000 in sales.
This is the story as I remember it...Prince finished "Come" and "TGE" and had planned to release each. Contractural problems arose and the release of "TGE" was put on hold for quite some time. Prince even performed "Dolphin" on David Letterman, and Letterman introduced him by saying "He's here to perform a song off his album, 'The Gold Experience,' which is scheduled to never be released. Well, it only makes since that he'd be here promoting it then. Ladies and gentlemen, Prince!" (slight paraphrase) TGE was eventually released by WB as part of Prince's exit strategy from his contract, which included the eventual release of the Black Album, The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale, and Chaos and Disorder. By the time the album was released, however, there was little to no promotion for it. In the public eye, Prince was acting strange and had lost his luster, to say the least. The average music fan didn't know what the heck was going on. Combine that with the fact that the only single from TGE to get serious airplay, "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World," was released somewhere around a year before the album came out, and you can fill in the blanks regarding the album's sales success. In fact, Prince re-recorded TMBGITW for TGE so that he would independently maintain ownership rights to the version of the song that was released as a single around a year earlier. TGE was probably the longest-rumored Prince album to actually see the light of day, although the released version difffers greatly from original incarnations, which were in circulation among traders long before the official album release. That's my recollection...I'm sure others can add to this (or make corrections). [Edited 1/23/05 19:54pm] Spot on, Doozer! And I can only imagine how well tGE would have done had it enjoyed (a) the kind of promotion afforded Musicology, and (b) it had kept its original tracklisting with no production changes (that annoying-ass cowbell in Endorphine Machine, for instance). | |
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I personally love TGE
Smooches;) | |
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RealMusician said: Doozer said: In fact, Prince re-recorded TMBGITW for TGE so that he would independently maintain ownership rights to the version of the song that was released as a single around a year earlier.
Really? I thought it was the same version. They must be very similar then! | |
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RealMusician said: Doozer said: In fact, Prince re-recorded TMBGITW for TGE so that he would independently maintain ownership rights to the version of the song that was released as a single around a year earlier.
Really? I thought it was the same version. They must be very similar then! No offense, but are you losing your hearing? One's a great pop song, the other is full of annoyingly loud sound effects in the background all throughout. The world is a comedy for those who think and a tragedy for those who feel.
"You still wanna take me to prison...just because I won't trade humanity for patriotism." | |
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TGE was a good LP. If It had more exposure It Would have been a smash. Its better than 'Come' thats 4sure. "Thinking like the Keys on Prince's piano, we'll be just fine" | |
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PurpleKnight said: RealMusician said: Really? I thought it was the same version. They must be very similar then! No offense, but are you losing your hearing? One's a great pop song, the other is full of annoyingly loud sound effects in the background all throughout. Isn't the single version the one that's on "The Beautiful Experience"? I always assumed it was the same as on the TGE album...I haven't heard them in a while though, so maybe I should go check... | |
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altavista said: Doozer said: Actually, I do believe that this album has been certified gold for 500,000 in sales.
This is the story as I remember itThat's my recollection...I'm sure others can add to this (or make corrections). [Edited 1/23/05 19:54pm] Big ups to you, Doozer. You're the type of orger that makes me so glad I joined. There's always a few people with the low-down and you're typically one of them. 
I'm no BorisFishPaw or langebleu, but I've been a follower for two decades and like to think I know a good story or two. Check out The Mountains and the Sea, a Prince podcast by yours truly and my wife. More info at https://www.facebook.com/TMATSPodcast/ |
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RealMusician said: PurpleKnight said: No offense, but are you losing your hearing? One's a great pop song, the other is full of annoyingly loud sound effects in the background all throughout. Isn't the single version the one that's on "The Beautiful Experience"? I always assumed it was the same as on the TGE album...I haven't heard them in a while though, so maybe I should go check... The single version found on "The Beautiful Experience" and the version found on the album are quite different. Check out The Mountains and the Sea, a Prince podcast by yours truly and my wife. More info at https://www.facebook.com/TMATSPodcast/ |
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Oooo...an ammendment to my first post. I just remember that on Letterman, when Prince performed "Dolphin," throughout the show leading up to the performance, Letterman had a cardboard cutout of the 0(+> symbol. Every time he referred to Prince, he just held the symbol up. At one point, Letterman went to refer to Prince, held up the symbol and there was an extra curl on the symbol. Dave tore it off and told Paul that it was "a typo."
 Check out The Mountains and the Sea, a Prince podcast by yours truly and my wife. More info at https://www.facebook.com/TMATSPodcast/ |
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PurpleKnight said: RealMusician said: Really? I thought it was the same version. They must be very similar then! No offense, but are you losing your hearing? One's a great pop song, the other is full of annoyingly loud sound effects in the background all throughout. Doozer said: RealMusician said: Isn't the single version the one that's on "The Beautiful Experience"? I always assumed it was the same as on the TGE album...I haven't heard them in a while though, so maybe I should go check... The single version found on "The Beautiful Experience" and the version found on the album are quite different. OK, now I've checked it out. I realize they are in fact different versions, but I really don't think they're that different! And I wouldn't say that the album version is a re-recording, I think it's more of a remix. The basic instrumental tracks seem to be the same as the single version, and also most of the vocals. My guess is that they just rearranged the song a little bit, did some more overdubs (the TGE booklet says "additional keyboards and arrangements by Ricky P" and "additional guitar by James Behringer"), and most importantly: did a new mix, which is much brighter and "glossier" in the album version. I'd say that's the most significant difference between the two versions - the mixing. Plus the fact that the album version has some breaks added to the 2nd verse and a different outro, that's quite obvious of course. | |
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Some of the instrumentation (i.e. synth patches) used on the album version are different as well as the overall mix is "lubed" with more reverb. Plus, "The Gold Experience" was one of the very first albums that was mastered with today's "drive it to the zero" -technique, basically meaning that the extra amount of brightness is really just a result of distortion from driving the original material on too hot levels to the limiter. It's a pitiful technique and I'm saddened (yes, saddened) that Prince was one of the first artists ever to adopt it. | |
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PurpleKnight said: RealMusician said: Really? I thought it was the same version. They must be very similar then! No offense, but are you losing your hearing? One's a great pop song, the other is full of annoyingly loud sound effects in the background all throughout. Isn't it just a remix though? It doesn't sound re-recorded. | |
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Some great tracks on it but I wish he'd have stripped back the production and allowed the songs to breathe. I'd give it  . | |
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The Gold Experience is his best album from the 90s in my opinion!
The only thing I don't like about it is the song "We March"! I would have replaced it with "Interactive" or "Days Of Wild" or "Acknowledge Me" or "Ripopgodazippa"...  | |
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Lodger said: The Gold Experience is his best album from the 90s in my opinion!
The only thing I don't like about it is the song "We March"! I would have replaced it with "Interactive" or "Days Of Wild" or "Acknowledge Me" or "Ripopgodazippa"... Days Of Wild.  | |
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