Actually, I have an idea: why don´t we all come up with our 12 song tracklists for this album?

MartyMcFly said:

Actually, I have an idea: why don´t we all come up with our 12 song tracklists for this album?

nooo emancipation is a masterpiece you can't dismantle it!

This quite often comes up and I don't think you are alone. A lot like it. A lot can't get over the "plastic production" and hold Kirk Johnson as producer in the same high esteem as they do Larry Graham as mentor, or Tony M as rapper.

I loved it at the time, would probably skip a few tracks now but as Marty suggest above, most fans could probably calmly pick 12 or so standout tracks from this set.

Mine would be (in no particular order)

In This Bed I Scream

Face Down

My Computer

The Holy River

Somebody's Somebody

White Mansion

Soul Sanctuary

Dreamin About U

The Love We Make

Joint 2 Joint

Friend Lover Sister Mother Wife

Sleep Around

Overall its a great album, but what let it down was its size. It takes 3 hours to listen to the whole thing, and theres no unified style, all the songs seem to cover every genre Prince has tried and whilst it sounds like genius, too many genres in one album comes across sounding disjointed and confused, slow jams next to rock, hardcore rap next to anodyne pop covers.

Also the size suggests that it was self indulgent and Prince really did throw in the filler amongst the killer. Also it came at a time when he was trying to prove to the whole world how great he was. It was too ambitious and I think thats what silenced it after 2 singles. As you know the record company promoting it went broke at the same time, the Holy River dropped. Had it survived, it may have been a bigger hit and push the project further. Prince got double platinum on it at the release as he shipped 700k copies which counted each as 3 CD's hence 2.1 million, but I read in many sources it only sold about 450k of those sets and the rest were returns. Its a shame as there were many true classics on that album like this bakers dozen (In no order)

1. The Holy River

2. In this bed eye scream

3. Eye can't make u love me

4. Sex in the summer

5. The love we make

6. Emancipation (The song)

7. White Mansion

8. One Kiss at a Time

9. One of Us

10. Soul Sanctuary

11. Damned if eye do

12. Somebodys Somebody

13. Right back here in my arms

Also good

1. New World

2. Style

3. My computer

4. Get yo groove on

5. We gets up

6. Style

7. Slave

8. New World

9. Betcha by golly wow

10. Dreaming about you

11. Courtin Time

12. Curious child

13. Jam of the year

Fair to mediocre

The rest

Dreadful

Face Down

Da Da Da

Mr Happy

Friend, Sister, Mother whatever its called

[Edited 6/3/10 4:29am]

Emancipation is a great album.

I like disc 3 the best.

General consensus is that it would have been better if it was trimmed down to 2 or even 1 disc.

But that is the sort of thing that Prince was angry with Warner's about (albeit 1 of many things).

Emancipation is a great artistic statement and should be seen as such.

If you think it is too long at 3 hours, then try listening to a disc a day, or every two days. It makes it easier to swallow.

[Edited 6/3/10 6:31am]

There just needed to be some editing on it, and some trimming. The 60-minutes per disk gimmick is cheap and didn't really need to exist. Two CDs would hold 160 minutes of music. 60x3=180. If he just cut a few unneeded songs , only 20 minutes worth, he could have fit everything onto only two disks. It definitely would have been a stronger set that way.

Also, it's been mentioned recently, and mostly agreeded upon, that his use of a drum machine on the album, versus a live drummer, really hindered the sound and feel of the album. There was a coldness, and a dryness, to the album. Some songs screamed for a real drum (Courtin' Time, Damned If I Do, White Mansion, Joint 2 Joint), but they suffered for not having it.

It's still a good set, but it's limited in a lot of ways.

I love Emancipation! I became a Prince fan in the summer of 1996 with the Chaos and Disorder album and I was extremely excited for Emancipation. When it was released I played the shit out of it and I think it is probably the Prince (or o(+>) album that I have listened to the most, all three hours of it. I wouldn't necessarily say that it is his best album but for me it is my favourite. I don't get why people say it should have been shorter. For me it is perfect as it is. Besides, peoples opinions vary wildly as to what the 12 best songs are so if it was cut back to a single disc a lot of people's favourite songs would have been cut. I guess that Lotusflow3r came close but I would love to see Prince try something like this again. Frankly, I'm a little disappointed that he hasn't attempted a four disc/four hour set of all new material.

ernestsewell said:

Also, it's been mentioned recently, and mostly agreeded upon, that his use of a drum machine on the album, versus a live drummer, really hindered the sound and feel of the album. There was a coldness, and a dryness, to the album. Some songs screamed for a real drum (Courtin' Time, Damned If I Do, White Mansion, Joint 2 Joint), but they suffered for not having it.

I never understood that argument. I guess it's a valid point since a lot of folks bring it up but I just don't get why the lack of live drums hurts this album any more than any other Prince album. Since almost the beginning (Controversy?) Prince has used drum machines. I think that an album like 1999, as great as it is, suffers more than Emancipation due to a lack of live drums. It's too bad that so few of the songs from Emancipation have been performed live, maybe then I could hear what kind of a difference live drums would make to the album.

PurpleDiamond2009 said:

i've been listening to this album more alot lately since i never really gave his late 80s-90s work too much attention and so far i have to say that this is a really great album a masterpiece i don't understand why this album is disliked by so many fans it's a very R&Bish album and with me being a huge fan of R&B music this is like the best I have heard so far my favorite song is Joint 2 Joint(LOL @ the Captian Crunch eating ) ok I'm probably in the minority here but anyone agree? anyone?

I think EMANCIPATION is good but you have to wade through too much to get to the excellent song..it woulda been better as 1 disc. It coulda been a classic parred to one disc...

Here's my favs from the 3 cd set:

SOMEBODYS SOMEBODY

GET YO GROOVE ON

COURTIN TIME

DAMNED IF I DO

IN THIS BED I SCREAM

SEX IN THE SUMMER

ONE KISS AT A TIME

SOUL SANCTUARY

CURIOUS CHILD

DREAMIN ABOUT U

HOLY RIVER

LETS HAVE A BABY

SAVIOUR

FRIEND LOVER SISTER MOTHER WIFE

SLAVE

NEW WORLD

LOVE WE MAKE

SLEEP AROUND

the rest of the album was fluff

Emancipation is like a gentle roller coaster ride. It's got its ups and downs but mostly ups. It's a good album but it would've benefited from some trimming. As a double album it would've retained the sustained quality for the fans, a testament to his diversity. As a single album it would've been more commercial. In one way I would've preferred a double disc. In another way, a brilliant single disc for the casual listener was perhaps the thing Prince needed the most in the late 90s.

rialb said:

I love Emancipation! I became a Prince fan in the summer of 1996 with the Chaos and Disorder album and I was extremely excited for Emancipation. When it was released I played the shit out of it and I think it is probably the Prince (or o(+>) album that I have listened to the most, all three hours of it. I wouldn't necessarily say that it is his best album but for me it is my favourite. I don't get why people say it should have been shorter. For me it is perfect as it is. Besides, peoples opinions vary wildly as to what the 12 best songs are so if it was cut back to a single disc a lot of people's favourite songs would have been cut. I guess that Lotusflow3r came close but I would love to see Prince try something like this again. Frankly, I'm a little disappointed that he hasn't attempted a four disc/four hour set of all new material.

well said!!! i luved it as well,an' still listen to it.there was a time 4 a very long while when i would put on disc 2 at night to soothe me 2 sleep.it is very calming 4 me.

1kelle said:

rialb said:

I love Emancipation! I became a Prince fan in the summer of 1996 with the Chaos and Disorder album and I was extremely excited for Emancipation. When it was released I played the shit out of it and I think it is probably the Prince (or o(+>) album that I have listened to the most, all three hours of it. I wouldn't necessarily say that it is his best album but for me it is my favourite. I don't get why people say it should have been shorter. For me it is perfect as it is. Besides, peoples opinions vary wildly as to what the 12 best songs are so if it was cut back to a single disc a lot of people's favourite songs would have been cut. I guess that Lotusflow3r came close but I would love to see Prince try something like this again. Frankly, I'm a little disappointed that he hasn't attempted a four disc/four hour set of all new material.

well said!!! i luved it as well,an' still listen to it.there was a time 4 a very long while when i would put on disc 2 at night to soothe me 2 sleep.it is very calming 4 me.

your avatar

Over all I love Emancipation except for Da da daa.

PurpleDiamond2009 said:

i've been listening to this album more alot lately since i never really gave his late 80s-90s work too much attention and so far i have to say that this is a really great album a masterpiece i don't understand why this album is disliked by so many fans it's a very R&Bish album and with me being a huge fan of R&B music this is like the best I have heard so far my favorite song is Joint 2 Joint(LOL @ the Captian Crunch eating ) ok I'm probably in the minority here but anyone agree? anyone?

At least the first two minutes of Joint 2 Joint absolutely floor me. The rest is alright and it is one of my fav's too. My list:

Courtin Time

We Gets Up

White Mansion

I Can't Make U Love Me

In This Bed I Scream

One Kiss at a Time

Emale

Curious Child

J2J

Holy River

New World

Human Body

Face Down

Style

Sleep Around

One of Us

The Love We Make

Might be more than one disc but whatever.

Personal Note: this is my 100th post. Yay me!

the title track and courtin time- can we please abort these songs from the universe

Christopher said:

the title track and courtin time- can we please abort these songs from the universe

hey Chris, the bassline in Emancipation is funky as hell...not one of my faves but I can listen to it if only for that

KeithyT said:

Christopher said:

the title track and courtin time- can we please abort these songs from the universe

hey Chris, the bassline in Emancipation is funky as hell...not one of my faves but I can listen to it if only for that

i dunno i just always felt for a title track it was more like filler.

Christopher said:

KeithyT said:

hey Chris, the bassline in Emancipation is funky as hell...not one of my faves but I can listen to it if only for that

i dunno i just always felt for a title track it was more like filler.

rialb said:

I never understood that argument. I guess it's a valid point since a lot of folks bring it up but I just don't get why the lack of live drums hurts this album any more than any other Prince album. Since almost the beginning (Controversy?) Prince has used drum machines. I think that an album like 1999, as great as it is, suffers more than Emancipation due to a lack of live drums. It's too bad that so few of the songs from Emancipation have been performed live, maybe then I could hear what kind of a difference live drums would make to the album.

Well, let's be fair on the time table there - Controversy wasn't the beginning. He's used drum machines a lot, but not always. Remember, he went through some "band" oriented sounding times as well. Lovesexy, Graffiti Bridge, Diamonds & Pearls, , Come, Exodus, The Gold Experience all tended to favor live drums opposed to the Linn.

If you think about good songs like "Damned If I Do", "White Mansion", "Right Back Here In My Arms", "Jam Of the Year", etc etc. They're good, but they sound cold, or closed off. Now imagine them with a band, and a more open and rich sound. It'd have been a whole different record. Of course some songs benefit more from a drum machine, mainly disk 3 - because it tends to be more dance oriented type songs - almost club-by type stuff in some regards.

A perfect example: "Somebody's Somebody". Decent enough song, right? Now, go listen to the "Live Studio Mix", which was the band in the studio, running through the song without the aid of a drum machine. THAT is the difference that shows how the album suffered from a dry and cold drum machine. I mean, it's almost criminal that "Courtin' Time" doesn't have a live drum on it! It's a damn big band song!

1999 seems to be fitting to have a drum machine. A lot of the song themes are very cold and mechanical anyway. "Automatic", "Delirious", "Something In The Water", "All The Critics...". They're all very impersonal in some ways. It's robotic, and very futuristic; the messages are very detached and passé. That's not a bad thing. But the Linn lends to that feel and idealism. Whereas on Emancipation, you have songs of a warm nature lyrically, yet the very dry and impersonal drum arrangements (or lack thereof) battle against that. The songs almost become a war of which is more important, the arrangement or the lyrics, opposed to everything working together. It gives the whole album a hurried feel. He'd been working on the songs for a while, before his WB thing finally expired, but he still had his band around, the old and new NPG, and could have easily utilized them. The glory of albums like The Gold Experience or is that a lot of it was the band just playing the song, albeit with some overdubs later. That richness shines through and makes those albums glorious for one's inner ear duties. In comparison, Emancipation hangs on the ear lobe like a pair of Dollar Tree clip ons.

I still like the album. (Yes, I did my own edits on this album too.) It's just lacking a bit. Trim 20 minutes off of it, put it on two CDs, and have live drums on the majority of the tracks. Fuck, that would have been a masterpiece.

ernestsewell said:

rialb said:

I never understood that argument. I guess it's a valid point since a lot of folks bring it up but I just don't get why the lack of live drums hurts this album any more than any other Prince album. Since almost the beginning (Controversy?) Prince has used drum machines. I think that an album like 1999, as great as it is, suffers more than Emancipation due to a lack of live drums. It's too bad that so few of the songs from Emancipation have been performed live, maybe then I could hear what kind of a difference live drums would make to the album.

Well, let's be fair on the time table there - Controversy wasn't the beginning. He's used drum machines a lot, but not always. Remember, he went through some "band" oriented sounding times as well. Lovesexy, Graffiti Bridge, Diamonds & Pearls, , Come, Exodus, The Gold Experience all tended to favor live drums opposed to the Linn.

If you think about good songs like "Damned If I Do", "White Mansion", "Right Back Here In My Arms", "Jam Of the Year", etc etc. They're good, but they sound cold, or closed off. Now imagine them with a band, and a more open and rich sound. It'd have been a whole different record. Of course some songs benefit more from a drum machine, mainly disk 3 - because it tends to be more dance oriented type songs - almost club-by type stuff in some regards.

A perfect example: "Somebody's Somebody". Decent enough song, right? Now, go listen to the "Live Studio Mix", which was the band in the studio, running through the song without the aid of a drum machine. THAT is the difference that shows how the album suffered from a dry and cold drum machine. I mean, it's almost criminal that "Courtin' Time" doesn't have a live drum on it! It's a damn big band song!

1999 seems to be fitting to have a drum machine. A lot of the song themes are very cold and mechanical anyway. "Automatic", "Delirious", "Something In The Water", "All The Critics...". They're all very impersonal in some ways. It's robotic, and very futuristic; the messages are very detached and passé. That's not a bad thing. But the Linn lends to that feel and idealism. Whereas on Emancipation, you have songs of a warm nature lyrically, yet the very dry and impersonal drum arrangements (or lack thereof) battle against that. The songs almost become a war of which is more important, the arrangement or the lyrics, opposed to everything working together. It gives the whole album a hurried feel. He'd been working on the songs for a while, before his WB thing finally expired, but he still had his band around, the old and new NPG, and could have easily utilized them. The glory of albums like The Gold Experience or is that a lot of it was the band just playing the song, albeit with some overdubs later. That richness shines through and makes those albums glorious for one's inner ear duties. In comparison, Emancipation hangs on the ear lobe like a pair of Dollar Tree clip ons.

I still like the album. (Yes, I did my own edits on this album too.) It's just lacking a bit. Trim 20 minutes off of it, put it on two CDs, and have live drums on the majority of the tracks. Fuck, that would have been a masterpiece.

Of course we are not going to agree on which songs we all love/wish were trimmed off.

But other than that, this really says it all. If you don't hear (or should I say feel), a GINORMOUS difference between the two versions of Somebody's Somebody than this post won't resonate with you. For me the album version of Somebody's Somebody is simply a good song that I enjoy. The live in studio version is heavenly.

If more songs had that live feel, this album would have been the same; elevated from a good album to something absolutely magnificent.

i love this album. music personified. shame the lable never surported it

PurpleDiamond2009 said:

i've been listening to this album more alot lately since i never really gave his late 80s-90s work too much attention and so far i have to say that this is a really great album a masterpiece i don't understand why this album is disliked by so many fans it's a very R&Bish album and with me being a huge fan of R&B music this is like the best I have heard so far my favorite song is Joint 2 Joint(LOL @ the Captian Crunch eating ) ok I'm probably in the minority here but anyone agree? anyone?

Yep ... I love the Emancipation album also. It was my first album when I realized the power of R&B and Slow Jams. Before I heard this album you couldn't get me NEAR R&B or a Slow Jam for that matter. Since my first listen to this album, I find it a BRILLIANT musical experience.

I don't trust Prince fans who say they don't like Emancipation...There's just too much diversity musical wise to even make that statement.You are bound to like something given that there are 1000 songs on there...lol.....And yeah, I've heard the standard "the sound is plastic" argument, which I can respect...but only up to a point...There are some GREAT songwriting moments here....To me, it's one of the only projects in the '90s that can stand next to his '80s work...

Yeah...it's that good...

[Edited 6/4/10 12:36pm]

MartyMcFly said:

Christopher said:

i dunno i just always felt for a title track it was more like filler.

the song sucks okay?

It is a great album-my third fav Prince album behind Prince and Diamonds and Pearls-every time I listen to Emancipation I love it even more

kpowers said:

Over all I love Emancipation except for Da da daa.

great track, princes best rap/hip-hop work ...its so not prince....thats why it works:-D

I love this album/CD. I don't mind the length, I wish he would do more projects like this.

millwall said:

i love this album. music personified. shame the lable never surported it

Uhhhh...Emancipation marked his first independent release after WB (hence the title). Why would they support it?

Taken from the "A Celebration" threads from a few months back.

A CELEBRATION: EMANCIPATION

Continuing on the One Album a Day discussion of Prince's music, we arrive at the epic Emancipation. Initially I thought to do this as a one disc per day review - but to do so will rob the ability to compare and contrast and listen to this as Prince intended. So read on if you dare, lol.

EMANCIPATION

DISC I

The year was 1996 and word that a triple disc from was on it’s way. Press interviews at the time talked how he was calling this the album “I was born to make”. With his contract with Warners well and truly over (save from them pumping out repackaged greatest hits and old tunes like new) this was the first official released on NPG Records alone. He was an artist finally free to do what he wanted, release a disc how he wanted (3 sides, 12 songs per disc and one hour each), and do things his way.

I can remember rushing home to hear this cd and somewhere along the line seeing him on Oprah performing cuts from it (Sleep Around in particular) and being interviewed. It felt like he was ready to be the musician the last few years had perhaps stifled him from being.

So with much anticipation and optimism I put in each disc, and quickly listened to between 5 – 10 seconds of each song. A quick sampling of every track before popping disc one in and sitting back to truly listen.

With its teasing intro Jam of the Year had me guessing, what was it going to be like? Then with a wooooo the laid back groove hit with that accompanying horn and piano melody. Accustomed to hard-hitting openers, JOTY was cruisier. I always pictured this as the top down, volume up cruise the oceans winding roads car song that made me long for a convertible. The fluttering flute took me back to Gett Off and that can’t be a bad thing now can it. And the strong vocals of Rosie made me wonder if this had been a sleeper from an earlier album. With an obvious reference to Mayte and her pregnancy this song had an optimistic feel to it, a lightness that had been missing from some of the previous albums work. A great start, but what next….

With that infectious beat and sliding synth line, Right Back Here In My Arms had me from the get go. That bubbling bass synth that plods along in the verses (and let’s face it the song is really all verses) this song of longing was funky in a truly purple fashion.

When Somebody’s Somebody burst from my speakers I was thinking “man this is a string of solid openers” and once again he had me. With a sway with the music vibe SS was a pure delight to listen to. Everything that makes a great song was there, a beautiful melody, vocal hooks, an identifiable emotion, and those layered vocals. I love how Prince’s resolve increases with every passing chorus. How smooth is that guitar solo near the end? Just when you thought this was the quintessential version of this the LiveStudio version released as a b-side to Holy River took it to another level.

Stepping it up a notch, Get Your Groove on is more up-tempo than the preceding songs. Almost reinventing the 70s “shake your groove thang-esque” songs there is a definite party vibe at work here. Vocals delivered with joy, and a melody line in the higher register this song wants twinkling lights and flowing drinks and a few good friends.

With a throwback to Delirious, Courtin’ Time is a playful little ditty. Once again showing he can do any style of music, the song sticks out a little too much to the rest of the groove on this disc, and unfortunately feels a bit throwaway to me, perhaps why it’s the shortest track on the collection.

What can one say about Betcha By Golly Wow! when the man himself calls it “maybe the prettiest melody ever written” who am I to argue. And pretty is the word that sums it up best. There is a joy and innocence in this song that in lesser hands could have easily drifted into schmaltzy but here it all sounds cool. So serene.

Countering the prettiness of BBGW, We Gets Up brings the funk. The most up-tempo track on the first disc it’s the party in full swing tune of the set. Funny thing is, I listen to this and think that it might have been more a The Time song than a track.

My favourite song on disc 1, White Mansion is all dreams (realised). With its groove along vibe, effects and spiralling synth lines this was a song that was a focus point for me as I was starting to think about my future, leaving childhood behind and starting to build a career. And now several years later it still has the same appeal it held then. I would have loved to see how this one played live. And I loved the self referencing lines that drew attention to what this whole was about “sell my publishing rights? What a laugh. I don’t know Bo but I do know math”.

Damned if Eye Do with its classic rock structure feels a little undercooked and dare I say it simplistic. It’s the kind of song that reminded me of Terence Trent D’arby doing Prince.

When a song as beautifully crafted as Bonnie Raitt's I Can’t Make You Love Me plays you feel the emotion that is poured into it. And knowing a beautiful melody when he hears one doesn’t mess with the arrangement or try to reinvent it, he just pours out his heart and takes it on as his own. One of the most heartfelt songs every written. And one of the most amazing covers he has done.

To go from ICMYLM to Mr Happy was a weird choice. But once the initial shock to the system past I found myself drawn into this almost dark party jam – something about the delivery of “I will take care of you” always came across as menacing to me, and I loved that. Maybe it was the crazed almost twisted circus like synth line. Scrap D’s rap with reference to Eye Hate U and Ice Cube sample this song is on point.

In This Bed I Scream – dedicated to Wendy & Lisa and Susannah, there is a nostalgic feel to this song that is enticing. With lines like “how did we every lose communication?” you could almost feel the olive branch being offered. Here is a man facing up to his decisions of the past, and looking for a fresh start. This song is in the stratosphere of cool. A blend of old and new. Of past and future. This has White Mansion and Somebody’s Somebody tied for the song of disc 1.

DISC II

As I popped in disc 2 I wasn’t sure if this was a continuation, or a new start. The more I listen to the collection I feel the album was broken up into 3 distinct sets. And whilst I admire the brilliance of the collection, I wonder if there was just too much music to listen to. Would things have been different if instead of a 3 disc set, it was a 3 disc collection released one disc at a time every 4 months in year, giving people the chance to absorb the strength of each disc.

As it was, when Sex in the Summer hit I smiled. The vocal intro set the cool factor of the song, and the Bernie Warrol meets ultrasound heart beat inspired blipping bass just grounded it in the funk. I looped this song 3 times once and just lay on the floor feeling the sunshine. Roy Ayres would be proud.

One Kiss at a Time… hmmm listening to it now I feel like I haven’t even heard it before. Maybe it’s because of all the discs, the second one was the one that had the most ups and downs for me. I mean the feel of the song is rippling like water, but I remember not thinking too much of the more ballad like songs on the set. And would often fast forward them. Maybe it’s because I felt that the arrangements were familiar.

I once read in an interview that Spike Lee played Soul Sanctuary for 6 hours continuously. And whilst I’m not sure I could go 6 hours, (my limit would be 5:55) the song does have a certain hypnotic quality to it.

Emale – what an awesome song. With it’s sinister stylings, and playfully told story of online seduction, I loved the delivery of www.(rim shot). This is the song that sold disc 2 for me. It’s twisted. It’s brooding. It’s on it’s on it’s on.

Curios Child reminded me too much in its arrangement of Kiss From a Rose from Seal, and thus it never had a chance to recover.

Thankfully pressing >> delivered the sublime Dreamin’ about U a song that always sounds fresh. Reminding me slightly of the SOTT era, this song is the perfect blend of experimental and familiar, and for the record… a killer make out song.

And then Joint 2 Joint hit, and the make out was on! A flirty little song this one, it’s got that cool a$$ prince vocal delivery that just oozes seduction. When the breakdown hits at the 2 minute mark the song warps its way into a new phase. And with each passing progression we go from tap to a plucking bass that works over your speakers to the climax. And what about those last 50 seconds, lol.

The Holy River I know is a lot of people’s favourite song on this set, but I never really got into it that much. I can appreciate the arrangement, and the message, but I just never got into it. Now though, I hear it and hear new things my ears back then maybe weren’t ready for. The song seems joyous were I use to feel it was drab. And the guitar solo at the end now carries me off to that awesome hit quick crescendo.

A prelude to one night alone, Let’s Have A Baby is pure in the zone, vocal and piano working as one, and has that one take feel I just love.

Saviour straight away has that epic rock opera feel. And each time I just wait for it to take me away, and sure enough it does. I remember making a cd once of the epic tracks and this butted up against 3 chains of gold is just too powerful.

The Plan – a snippet from Kamasutra unfortunately didn’t make me long to hear the rest of it.

Friend Lover Sister Mother/Wife seemed a fitting way to end the second disc, as this one seemed the most in love, the most romantic. This is a purple gospel, joyful, passionate and uplifting. One of the most touching songs on the album.

DISC III

Slipping in disc 3, I was greeted with the thumping bass beat of Slave and the spooky low register intro vocals. And I was hooked, and then double hooked at “soooooul”. What I loved about this song was that the lower tones seemed to wallow in sadness and despair but as the song progressed with each verse the tone lifted and lifted to the middle register then to the higher, as if the weight dragging the tone down was being lifted. And with that enmass drum line counter to the chorus, the power just erupted from the speakers. And I loved how the argument of being a slave to a CONtract (ever notice how contracts restrict) is so eloquently put here. “I just want to play the part of someone truly free”. And the last few seconds that have counter the laughter in the left speaker and the sorrow in the right was well worth wearing headphones for.

Whereas in the past the techno dance attempts hadn’t really paid off and felt more like someone playing catch up than pioneering, Brave New World righted all those wrongs. With its bubbling bass line accentuated by bass stabs, its grounded in a funk fused groove. And the return of the classic synth line is here and long overdue. And with silky smooth “love 4 1another” vocals just icing this pound cake you know you wanted a bite. Still sounds as fresh to me today as it did back then.

Continuing the pumping dance feel with The Human Body I was taken back to Batdance and the mixing pot of sounds and melodies that was. The mix of isolation and celebration collide in such wonderful tones here. A true joy to have pounding in my brain. Especially the elongated final passage.

I was never a real fan of Face Down. But listening to it now it doesn’t seem as harsh and gangsta wannabe as I originally dismissed it to be. In fact the delivery of the track in that half spoken half rapped version reminds me of Beck’s Odelay album and the very Prince inspired stuff on Midnight Vultures. I’m gaining a new appreciation for this track now. Ah the joys of rediscovering,

Countering the in your face attack of Face Down is La La-La (Means I love you). It’s a pretty enough song, and what surprised me was that it highlighted how many covers are on here, something I wasn’t expecting, but something that adds a bit more colour to the various discs.

From the opening synth bass line and horns I loved Style. Befitting the subject matter it was a cruisey funk vibe that didn’t try too hard to be anything else but what it is. I loved the lyrically style manifesto being dished here with the little affirmation and inspirational quotes “style is loving yourself til everyone else does too”, “style don’t get drunk on Saturday night and try to dress up every Sunday morning bright”, “style is not biting style when you can’t find the funk” (puffy are you listening). I remember this was my suit up song when I was getting ready for a night out. It just had a self confidence feel that was contagious. Still makes me puff my chest a bit and say “yeah”.

Why wasn’t Sleep Around a single? I mean seriously how slamming is this song. At right in the pocket for that time and space. The subtle house feel and bounce bounce melody and vocal line. Just listening to it now I got my funk face on and grooving in my chair. This was THE $HIT and it should have been a single.

Da Da Da like Face Down were the skippers for me on this disc. And even now I’m not moved by it. Oh well, can’t please everyone all the time.

Now My Computer was a pleaser and still is. With it’s (a the time) techno savvy feel, and stripped back arrangement it seems to really personify the isolation and coldness that the internet offers an escape from. With obvious Kate Bush influence (the treaded vocals are very Cloudbusting) the alternating despair and hope of the verse and chorus arrangement made it immediately enjoyable. And with the plodding groove that transcends into that funky “better life” hook at then end makes it one of the stand outs of the whole set.

With a Love Thy Will Be Done rhythm backing it, One Of Us (the Joan Osborne hit from only a few years earlier) has a live feel to it that seems to fuel it with greater sense of hope and faith (listen to the low mix “we’re gonna play this song” intro at 0:12). I once did a compile that mixed Love Thy Will Be Done – One of Us – The Cross that I use to listen to and it had such a sense of reassurance to it.

The Love We Make is a song filled with lament and loss in the same mould of Purple Rain, and just soars. It’s a beautiful heartfelt song written for Wendy’s brother who unfortunately died from a drug overdose (put down the needle put down the spoon).

Refreshing the funk groove of The Sacrifice of Victor, Emancipation lets a free man rejoice. I remember I use to pump this song LOUD feeling the freedom wash over me. All of us have shackles we should be free of and here was a man who had broken his, and was finally “free to do what I want”. I had wanted more of a build or crescendo to the track – why did I expect a gospel choir? – but as it stands it a song befitting the freedom he had worked hard for.



So was emancipation the big success it should have been? No
Was it the album we had all hoped it would be? I think for the most part yes.
Was it to ambitious a product for most people to get into? Most definitely.
As I mentioned earlier, and I don’t think I am alone, I felt it was too much music obviously for one session. Which meant that for the most part, you skipped through songs, or listened to one disc or two at a time, which robbed you from the intended experience. I still think it might have been wiser to release the discs individually – one every 4 months – to allow people to fully digest the music and enjoy it. No to mention also allow for a constant build. But I’m not the creator of the music, so ultimately you have to leave that ultimate decision to Prince/. He wanted to make a statement. And with this he showed how when you are given complete artist freedom, some truly wonderful moments can arise.


And if you are reading this line – then thank you – I know it was a mammoth post, but to not give Emancipation the due discussion it deserved would be to rob it of its beauty.

So what do you think?

Swa