No doubt this has been covered a hundred times before, but hey, I'm rarely on this site. OK, there are 2 parts to my question:

1) I really like the unwieldy total parts of 'Emancipation'. But if we could streamline it into one disc instead of three, how should we go about it? If you refuse to do this on moral grounds, do you think each disc needs to stand as it is in order to be true to Prince's vision?

2) Since he was apparently intending an 'emancipation' from Warners and a big commercial comeback, would the whole thing have lived up to his expectations if he had streamlined it into one all-killer, no-filler disc? (I'm not begrudging Prince -- or anyone -- their right to release a three-disc album; I'm just posing the question hypothetically.)

You know, I personally think it would've been a great double album. Three discs are still overblown to me. The second disc is the one that really mattered anyway!

I think Emancipation would've been stronger as a single album. I made a compilation that Ithink works...

Slave
Right back here in my arms
Somebody’s somebody
Face Down
Damned if I do
Dreamin’ about you
Joint 2 Joint
Holy River
She gave her angels
In this bed I scream
The love we make
Emancipation

There are other songs on the album that I like but I feel that these work best as a whole.
[Edited 3/9/08 23:17pm]

Thanks xpertluva... I should have mentioned that 'White Mansion' is my favorite song on the whole set, but anyway I'm gonna spend some time with the tracks you like that I'm not so familiar with.

I think maybe I like Emancipation more as a slow-jam, R & B sort of listen, while you may prefer the more upbeat stuff. It's amazing how much meat there is on its bones...

I like all 3 discs

we certainly would've lost some gems if he had streamlined it
plus, i like what most people call "filler" if for nothing more than the fun of it
i wish he had gone the full 80-minutes on each disc

Snap said:

You've got a good point. I certainly find myself diggin' a lot of songs that other people aren't into. So just give all of it to us and let us pick our favorites.

xpertluva said:

btw, i found your 1-disc compilation interesting
you obviously put some thought into it
good pairings of songs

xpertluva said:

good list but that's on Crystal Ball

[Edited 3/10/08 3:15am]

i sensed some desperation in Prince's release of this.
i don't think ever before did he include so many cover
versions. yes, he respected the writers and all, but it
was almost like, okay - if my tunes don't sock it 2 'em,
atleast the covers will (for commercial purposes). i'm
not sure

He should've cut it down. That way, we could've had an Emancipation bootleg.

xpertluva said:

Not even "Sex in the summer?"

I Love all three discs...The "Emancipation.." Title, Theme...Feeling...is such a spiritual release...not just the freedom from the discipline of the music business...I don't think that Prince could have made his point without them all...It is obvious that not only in a beautiful and talented way...Prince has something to say about love."

I like all 3 discs.


It's true that the album is a bit glossy, and the drums aren't all that impressive, but the songs for the most part are top rate tunes. I dislike 6 of the songs (including most of the covers), but 6 songs out of 36 means that I like the other 30 right? (yes, that was a rhetorical question )

Sure, I was hoping for 3 hours of the Gold Experience

But as an artistic undertaking, I think it's pretty impressive. I mean, it was 3 hours of new material. The ballads are among his best ever.

Prince, truly in love, is an awe inspiring song writer.

Highy underrated album.


I can never get it right on the first try edit
[Edited 3/10/08 6:06am]

Imago said:

sorry bout that previous post..

but disc 2 together with la,la means i love u + my computer would probably be the best album of Prince...

highly underrated..love, sister, mother, wife and saviour are my favorites...!

luv4u said:

i agree ..i wouldn't change a thing about any of them and i love the fact that it takes 3 hours 2 get through. not many artists can complete 36 tracks in 5 years ..yet alone in 1996 gave us 48 tracks (including c & d)

Take off Mr.Happy and Da Da Da and it's sheer perfection.Love it!

I like the album as well.
There are some phenomenal songs:
Sleep around
Dreaming about you
...just too many to mention...

I tried doing a single disc version of Emancipation when it first came out and was convinced the whole thing was WAY too long. But I was always adding songs and taking off others. As the years have gone by, I now think its a great set of songs. There are still some clunkers here and there (Betcha By Golly Wow, We Gets Up, Mr Happy) but I like most of it. Its best keeping it the way it is.