Right now i am listen to Emancipation. My first conclusion, way too much (uninspired) filler, my second, when brought back to a single album it would be one of his best albums from the 90's, and third, there are some songs on it that, when released as a single, could have had the potential to become big hits.

I am thinking of the following songs:

Damned if i do: very catchy, mixing pop and latin sounds, the buena vista social club and ricky martin were popular around that time, and i guess this song could have appealed to many non-prince fanatics if it was released as a single.

Saviour: an anthem like pop-rock song, building up to a big crescendo, it could have scored by people who arent a big Prince-fan, but very much like Purple Rain (i know many of those peeps). With a good video it could have been a big hit, i think.

New World: also very catchy, mixing house, pop and a gospel-like melody, this kind of poppy dance music was very popular around that time, this song could have benefitted from that when it had been released as a single.

What do you think? Maybe other songs on that CD-set that should have been released as a single?

I am forgetting one song by the way:

Style: catchy, poppy soul-funk with cocky, but humorous, lyrics. When edited (its a bit too long for the radio-format) and a funny video (Prince portraying a pimp-like charicature, with a sense of irony, subtly taking the piss of pimp-like rappers) it could have been a hit, i think

Youre right, Purple Knight. When i look back at the nineties, Prince always scored hits with every album upto "the symbol album", after that it became hit and miss often.

Looking back at the albums that became after that, he (or WB) maybe should have released the following songs:

Come:
Letitgo was the right choice, most catchy song on the CD. i cant think of any other good singles from that album, maybe 'Dark' as a quite sober, heartfelt ballad. But i guess that would be a minor hit.

Black album:
I think 'superfunkycalifragisexi' could have become a novelty-hit, a crazy kind of song that somehow appeals to people, just like the cute-and-paste single Batdance did before.

Gold Experience:
I think Billy Jack Bitch really could have become a real hit. It was the song from the CD mostly played by radio DJ's and it was played a lot in dance-clubs around that time.

Chaos and Disorder:
Into the light is one of the best ballads Prince ever recorded IMO, with really spinechilling background vocals from Rosie Gaines. The main problem, it seems like an edit and is therefore way too short. Had it been released as a full song it could have become a new Prince-anthem i believe.

Emancipation:
I cant help it, i found another potential 'hit' Sleep Around could, just like New World, have been a big dance hit.

New Power Soul:
Skip... i really cant find a big hit one this record.

Crystall Ball / The truth:
Maybe Hide the Bone could have been a hit. Its typically subversive in its lyrics and funky as hell. The title track of The truth could have been a minor novelty hit, i think, i could see the people think: Hey, Prince goes unpluged, while he is always so bombastic and theatrical.

Old friends for sale:
I think 'Five women' could have done well. Maybe not a major hit, but i think that is has a 'mature', earnest sound, that people not generally think of when it comes to Prince (i have noticed many non Prince-fans ofter consider him as too theatratical and silly). Money doesnt matter tonight, which also is more sober and earnest song, was a big hit in my home-country, The Netherlands, also among non Prince-fans, so i think Five Women could have done well.

Rave unto the joy fantastic:
For me 'I love you, but i dont trust you anymore' has written 'evergreen' all over hit, just like 'How come you dont call me anymore', which became a big hit for Alicia Keys, it has a kind of simpleness and timeless, and the sort of universal lyrics (ex)lovers all over the world could relate to (in that way it reminds me also of Nothing compares to you, which is covered many times).

I think if the record company hadn't folded Emancipation would have produced some pretty decent cd singles. You are right - any remixes, extended versions & b-sides are lost opportunities now - never to be seen except in fans dreams.

Damned If Eye Do
Joint 2 Joint
Face Down (needed better marketing)
The Human Body (dance market)
In This Bed Eye Scream
The Love We Make

thedoorkeeper said:

It is strange that so much couldve been released--remixes , the video lp, singles.

However, again, he has said he doent release singles for the marketing as much for the message he wants to give.

"Sleep Around" could have been enormous.

Riverpoet31 said:

I still happen to like Emancipation but those songs you mentioned are the ones I don´t like....Saviour is kinda OK but I don´t see a hit potential, it sounds way too clean and bombastic and I don´t know what kind of audience would go and buy that as a single, especially in ´96 .

Damned If I Do is probably one of his corniest songs ever, I have tried listening to it a couple of times, but it is one of those songs I can´t stand, period.

New World is a good b-side at best.

That´s the mystery about Emancipation.....on every thread about it, folks will come up with different suggestions for "could have should have would have" been a hit single.

Personally , I really like Right Back Here In My Arms, Dreamin About U, yes, even that cover of Betcha By Golly Wow ( but shouldn´t have been released as the first single) and I liked The Love We Make.

But hit single ? I don´t know...Right Back Here In My Arms could have been a huge RnB hit, I guess. People liked it when DJ Brother Jules played an advance copy of it on KMOJ.

Moonbeam said:

Totally agree.
I also think Style and my Computer would have worked on radio.

I also thought Betcha by Golly was a piece of overproduced soppy crap and should never have been a single. Unfortunately after TMBGITW, Prince thought that was the style that would chart.

Moonbeam said:

probably should have been the first single anyway.

my two fav songs from the album, funny enough, don't seem like
good single choices for me: "White Mansion" and "My Computer".
they're exquisite imo but they lack radioplay or hit potential
i guess.

Damned if i do = corny? I disagree, its very catchy, bordering on cheese, but staying on the good side, and therefore very uplifting.

Next to that it has a splendid hornarrangement that would make the Afro Cuban All Stars jealous.

"Sleep Around" would have been an excellent first single.The song is catchy and infectious.With a slick video and good promotion,it could have been a huge dance/club hit.That's exactly what Prince needed after a string of ballads and slow jams as singles ("I Hate U","TMBGITW","Pink Cashmere",etc).

Follow-up singles should have been "Emale","Sex In The Summer" and "Soul Sanctuary".These are strong,well-written songs that I could see getting alot of radio airplay.

It made absolutely no sense to release "Betcha By Golly Wow" as a single.Not only has this song been covered to death by many other artists,but Prince's cover version isn't even that good.

Controversy said:

I couldn't agree more.It baffles me why he would choose that as the first single.

PurpleKnight said:

I think a lot of people still don't realize how good an album The Gold Experience is.

Love2tha9s said:

Agreed. It's classic Prince.

SoulAlive said:

I defintely agree! I play Emale, Sex in the Summer, and Soul Sanctuary every time.
Somebody's somebody could have been an adult contemporary hit. Joint to Joint a reallly great single edited down to the first third of the song (you know the song sounds like 3 songs in one)
Savior probably not a great single, but maybe a strong b side ballad. I really like this song, Prince's vocals are really showcased here in my opinion

PurpleKnight said:

I can't help but feel a little bit sad when I listen to The Gold Experience because the album was BEGGING to be a hit. Those song choices above along with these songs:

Billy Jack Bitch (clubs would have had this on blast and I could see a hot remix with this one)
P Control (they could have found clever ways to censor the curse words)
Shy (I could see a story type of video with Prince being the narrator)

The album would have been bigger than Diamonds and Pearls, there is no doubt in my mind.

With Emancipation, that CD should have been huge too. My choices would be:

Sleep Around (it was BEGGING to be a 1st single)
Soul Sanctuary (quiet storm radio would be on this like white on rice)
New World
Style
The Love We Make
In This Bed I Scream
Face Down

Even with this being a 3 CD set, with the right releases, this CD would have been huge too, even with all the filler on it. Thinking of what could have been with those 2 CD's make me sad as hell. It's a damn shame.
[Edited 11/23/06 17:07pm]

PurpleKnight said:

I agree with as far as hit potential but I believe that Prince has used a different strategy as far as single selection. He has tried to present his different musical sides without picking obvious and easy singles. This is true throughout his career (If I Was Your Girlfriend an obvious example). Great hits that could have been:

I Feel For You
Bambi
When You Were Mine
Private Joy
Something in the Water (Maybe too quirky)
Adore
Girls and Boys
How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore
Erotic City
She's Always in My Hair

Just to name a few.

Sleep around
In this bed i scream
Savior (R&B)

prodigalfan said:

"Emale" has a laid-back,mesmerizing groove,along with that West Coast/Dr.Dre-styled synth line.I bet R&B radio would have made this song into a smash back in 1997.

"Sex In The Summer" is insanely catchy,and I could see this song being a big pop/R&B hit in the spring/summer of 1997.Can you imagine the remix possibilities?

"Soul Sanctuary" is a lovely slow track.Probably would have made some noise on R&B and adult contemporary stations.

The Love We Make, fo' sho'...

If God Was One Of Us...

Sleep Around? Was that a single? I no he per4med it on Oprah....

Da, da, da...Friend Lover Sister Mother Wife

and why, oh why Get Yo Groove On wasn't all over the place is beyond me, that song is t-i-g-h-t!

jdcxc said:

girls and boys was a single in europe wasn´t it?

Emancipation was originally intended to produce many singles, but due to the
collapse of EMI Capitol, the whole thing kinda fell through.

Both "Face Down" and "Sleep Around" were lined up for release as singles
("Face Down" even got as far as having promos made). The plan was to release
up to 6 or 7 singles from the album and promote it for a good 2 year run,
along with a world tour.