I know that this song has been discussed many times before but it's just great! Beautiful music that makes you think of what is important in life, even if you're not a very religious person.

Is the song part of any of his albums or just a single?

It's on Emancipation (1996). I love this song too, especially the guitar work.

VenusBlingBling said:

It is on the album "Emancipation" (a 3-CD set). I highly recommend to you to get a copy of it (as you may guess by my username), although "The Holy River" is not representative of the overall sound of the album. You can get a copy of "Emancipation" rather cheap these days - don't know about Amazon, but just look on e-bay or in your local record store.
[Edited 2/18/06 8:02am]

Sorry, posted simultaneously.

Ok, thanks for the info! I guess you Emancipationlover really like the CD but I've just heard so much bad reviews ...Hmm...Even if it's cheap is it worth the money? Anyone else's opinion of the CD?

You can find it brand new most places for surprisingly cheap - I've seen it as low as $6.99, which is absolutely crazy for 3 discs worth.

As for the album itself, as a whole it's really inconsistent, but it has a lot of gems on it. Definitely worth having, but it takes time to digest because there's just so much material to get through.

Disc 1: 4/10 (only song I really like is White Mansion)
Disc 2: 8/10 (slower and softer, but beautiful all the way)
Disc 3: 8/10 (tons of variety and it has an edge missing from the other discs)

Overall, I'd give it a 7/10, but it's definitely worth your time.

its the album we most discuss on this website, not sure whether its because there's so many tracks, or because there is so much variety or what, i must admit i play it very often especially during the day in my bar when the sun's out and i'm feeling good

I utterly despise this Prince album I'm afraid. I felt cheated by it as before its release he claimed it was the album he was "born to make." When I listened to it I heard three CDs of cheesy R&B-lite, rap-lite, techno-lite... nothing uniquely "Prince" whatsoever. With this album he seemed to be trying to follow trends but he was way behind with each and every one. Only two tracks stood out for me: "Slave" (dark, funky, skeletal) and "The Holy River" (nothing short of lush). The fact that the album is always in the sale in HMV (chain of record shops if you're not in the UK) for about £2.99 speaks volumes. And to think I paid £19.99 for it on the day it came out. Now where's my receipt...?

You know when I was sixteen I accidently fell upon the NPG filming one of the sceanes from this video. It was downtown St. Paul and I belive when you see Mayte running up the steps but she wasn't wearing that outfit in the video when I saw her. She was wearing a very bright short blue dress. I saw Mayte, and let me tell you...if you thought she was beautiful in her photographs....she is SO amazing in real life. And you could just tell she was a very sweet wonderful woman.

I saw Sonny T, Tommy Barbarella, Michael B chatting it up. I got the feeling that Michael B would be a blast to hang out with.

I rememeber feeling annoyed that day because I hopped over the the Union Depot to get lunch on our little break from school and there was like a three ring circus going on! I look over and I'm like...."They look so framiliar....OMG!NPG is in the house!"


Then a bodygaurd came over and was like "Hi!"

"HI! OMG look! That's Prince's wife!!!! That's MAYTE!!!!!"

"Yes it is."
He said. He seemed ammused that there was this sixteen year old girl like crazy starstruck.

Suddenly I realised they were filming something here so I guess I quickly decided that I'd better find lunch somewhere eles that day. I didn't wanna waste any more of his time so I said "Well goodbye!" I skipped out of there. I was so elated that whole day. Mayte was like my IDOL!!!! Too bad I didn't catch a glimpse of Mr. Nelson...I didn't even know if he was there to tell you the truth...but I remember thinking....wherever Mayte is I'm sure Prince is

i almost thought this was about the java chatroom on the black & purple org back in the day...

Krystal666 said:

What an experience!... I was 10 when that video was made but despite my young age I would have loved to be at that place at that time!
My very first Prince video experience was SexyMF. I was 6 years old but i still found it so cool. Don't think my mother knew/knows that

Well, thank you for all those helpful lines! I listened a little to Emancipation through amazon and I think I'm gonna by it 'cause it did sound good and sounded quite different compared to P's other albums!

this may be my all time favorite Prince song, and I have about 98% of everything released and unreleased, I love the video I think the Emancipation look was his coolest look

The Holy River 1 of my fav's from Emancipation.

1 of his BEST. GO GET IT AND NJOY

VenusBlingBling said:

Your very welcome! Yes it was such a great day. In the early spring too. I was so excited seeing Mayte!!! I felt like my head was gonna pop off with excitement. I love Mayte!!!

Was a little disapointed that I didn't see Prince. But oh well...maybe one day!

But yes you should get Emancipation. I love this album. At the time I was crazy, crazy about the Gold experience...it was so eclectic and rock 'n roll. Emancipation was more mid ninties R&B sounding. Which is fine. But lately I much prefer Emancipation to Gold Experince. I don't know why. There are alot of beautiful, romantic songs on that album. No doubt because it was inspired by the beautiful Mayte! I guess in comparison Gold Experience, even thought it is majorly funky and I love that it does sound really angry.