How did he produce one different than the other? I was wondering because The Gold Experience has such a full sound and I can't recall another Prince album that sounds that big and loud. I was thinking maybe he did some special computer trick type stuff to get it to sound like that but when listening to Emancipation its clear he used a lot of computer stuff also but it still doesn't sound like TGE so I was wondering if both sound more like studio wizardry than a live band playing so much then why do they sound so different?

Anyone got any thoughts on it?

Love2tha9s said:

You're right, most of the production on Emancipation is pretty bland and generic, but that's one of the minor flaws of the album. TGE is one of his last real "studio sounding" productions with him using more live instruments instead of the synthesizer stuff. It's probably because he went on his own label, NPG Records, which is an independent label and if you listen to most of the material he has done over there up to Musicology, it doesn't sound too real. It sounds pretty cheap, but never crappy.

I remember BorisFishpaw once explaining on her how TGE was meant to sound like a 'live' album (or recorded live), which is why none of the tracks fade out, they end abruptly or segue.

Remember, although they were released in consecutive years, some of TGE dates back to 1993, where Emancipation is largely from 95/96, so Prince had moved on from that idea as he always does.

I think Emancipation was really going for that R&B sound of R.Kelly and the like who were around at the time. It's a shame because so many of the songs would benefit greatly from a more interesting, less generic production. The drums and percussion are so soul-less and flat - compared to the hard-hitting, striking, Linn of old, Emancipation sounds very two dimensional.

//
[Edited 8/23/05 0:38am]

Well the G.E obviously has better production (one of princes best). But emancipation's production really isnt as bad as alot of people say it is. But still, i do think it could have sounded better had he used more live drums.

Studio tricks? Well, if live drums and reverberation are considered studio tricks then I guess... Yeah, it has a lot to do with Michael Bland's drumming, but also Prince's singing is a bit different too. On "Emancipation" he's nowhere nearly as aggressive as on "Interactive" or even on "Shhh!". The TGE era is the closest thing he ever did to sounding like "Purple Rain" again. Also the synth sounds are wider, more multi-tracked on TGE on "Emancipation" he ventured into VA synths and used them in a more "thinner" way.

Well, "Emancipation" does have a few TGE/C&D sounding cuts on it as well, mainly "Saviour" and "One Of Us" (I think he might have added the synth line later to make it sound more like the rest of the stuff on the album). I'd consider "Sleep Around" to sound more like the earlier stuff as well.

Emancipation has great production, it just lacks the dynamics of TGE, mostly because of TGE's drums & guitar solos.

We March, P Control, 319, Shy wouldn't sound out of place on Emancipation, and Savior sounds like TGE.

Actually though, I just listened to Shy and there was an annoying hissing on the vocals I never noticed before. Maybe it's my car stereo.

It's weird how "comeback albums" like Emancipation, Rave, & Musicology are pretty flat sounding. Maybe because of an attempt to be like 1999's DIY philosophy.

The Gold Experience was deliberately produced to sound different to previous
'Prince' albums, and set apart from the typical 'Prince' sound. He also
made it sound loud and live, the idea being that the album would flow like
listening to a live performance. Which is also why all the songs on the album
end rather than fade out, just like they would live (this is one of the reasons
why TMBGITW is different to the single version, and P. Control was remixed).

Emancipation was supposed to sound like a contemporary R&B album of the time,
and was a deliberate attempt (unsuccessfully IMO) to be more 'commercial'.

Can we think of many better CONtemporary R&B albums released at the time of Emancipation?

love

Anji said:

Yes!
My turds splashing in the toilet bowl.
Sounds better to me than anything on that god awful mess.

Anji said:

Let me guesse...with all of your bad spelling and over-use of the worrd "Con"-You want us to think that you are Prince,right,right?did I win??
Aww-He isn't Prince!just another sad guy behind a keyboard living in a fantasy.sad.

WendyMelvoin said:

eye like Wendy, not u

love

.
[Edited 8/23/05 14:12pm]

eye also liked Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite

love

Enough with the cryptic talk,junior-been there,done that.
Talk like a man.

Novabreaker said:

Sleep Around to me sounds like Prince doing Disco but I like it.

PurpleKnight said:

Anji is Indian,not very Princelike...
Gig is up.

WendyMelvoin said:

What does that CONstitute?
Do u need 2 b talked 2 like that?

love

I need You to stop talking.

PurpleKnight said:

Has Prince ever nfluenced u?
Don't b sad if he has.

love

Anji said:

I see your point here, but you go way too far with the way you copy his way of spelling and pretend to know inside info about his career.

the gold experience

OU812

Princebonics are fun!!!!!

WendyMelvoin said:

WendyMelvoin said:

What a low thing to say. What are u 10? Obviously u really don't respect Prince. U may like some of his music, but u don't respect the man. That's a shame. I wouldn't speak of anyone work in those terms whether I liked the work or not. The words we use reveal our hearts. What's in your heart?

Anji said:

Keep up the good work Anji. I appreciate your words and thoughts. A lot of folks on this site get a kick out of tearing things down. Whether its Prince's music or a fellow orger. U on the other hand are very thoughtful. And I agree with u on Emancipatation. Many on this site don't like R&B and therefore are almost certain to have a bias against the CD.

I Iike The GoId Experience better cuz of certian songs. Hate U, Shhh.

Aaliyah put out a killer album that year.