I disagree with the overall sentiment of the thread here. Dont misunderstand me I have my favortite tracks of this 3 album. But you have to look at this cd from a very specific perspective. If you do you will enjoy it alot more. This is Prince's album for himself. He came out of a very controlling situation according to him leaving Warners and all. So he experimented and tried all sorts of things. He also was very much in love with Mayte at the time. So from a classic point of view this was not a typical Prince album. He felt free of all constraints and expectations and just put out alot of stuff that he wanted to for himself. What I am trying to say is that listen to the whole 3 cds from his perspective. And flow with it. It's a very personal album in every sense. For example listen the song lets make a baby. I think it's one of his most heartfelt songs. Or Mother, Sister, Friend, Lover Wife. It's a journey into devotion. But there are funny songs like White Masion. And in your face songs like Style and Face Down. So I wouldn't edit it to get your best experience from it. I like to listen to Emancipation from Prince's perspective. He had alot on his mind and wanted to express it. I swear if you do listen with an open heart and try to listen from what you want to hear you will enjoy it alot more.

KingSausage said:

These songs are amazing to me:


New Wirld
The Human Boday
Sleep astound

Also check out the unreleased Slave 332 thr system

Lovesex thats my jam

This is what what I remember I like...

Disc 1

1. "Jam of the Year" – 6:09
2. "Right Back Here in My Arms" – 4:43
3. "Somebody's Somebody" – 4:43 (Prince, Brenda Lee Eager, Hilliard Wilson)
4. "Get Yo Groove On" – 6:31
5. "Courtin' Time" – 2:46
6. "Betcha by Golly Wow!" – 3:31 (Thomas Bell, Linda Creed)
7. "We Gets Up" – 4:18
8. "In This Bed I Scream" – 5:40

Disc 2

1. "Sex in the Summer" – 5:57
2. "Soul Sanctuary" – 4:41 (Lyrics: Prince, Sandra St. Victor, T. Hammer)
3. "Emale" – 3:38
4. "Dreamin' About U" – 3:52
5. "Joint 2 Joint" – 7:52
6. "The Holy River" – 6:55

Disc 3

1. "Slave" – 4:51
2. "New World" – 3:43
3. "Face Down" – 3:17
4. "La, La, La Means I Love U" – 3:59 (Bell, William Hart)
5. "Style" – 6:40
6. "Sleep Around" – 7:42
7. "Da, Da, Da" – 5:15

Emancipation holds a special place in my heart. It was released on Thanksgiving week 1996, and I had to spend that week, so I asked my best girl friend to bring it to me. It kept me company and took my mind off the pain I was in. I survived the illness (which I thought was going to take me soon) and was left wondering why I was spared. I listened to The Love We Make, the second last song on disc 3, and I listened to it several times in a row, and just cried my eyes out. I don't think I could ever ask for a better answer. That all said, expect a different sounding Prince album, as he had Kirk Johnson co-produce the album with him, so the sounds are nothing like his "glory days." No, we get something geared for the times, that went double platinum (which was really just 650,000 copies, but because it was a triple disc, the sales were tripled. My favorite tracks on the album:

Courtin' Time

We Gets Up

White Mansion

In This Bed I Scream

Soul Sanctuary

Emale

Joint 2 Joint

Let's Have A Baby

Savior

Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother, Wife

Slave

New World

Style

The Love We Make

Emancipation

Disc 1

1. "Jam of the Year" - This one is good. Nothing great.
2. "Right Back Here in My Arms" I Like it. Unusual song structure.
3. "Somebody's Somebody" My FAVORITE song on the album. On my top 10 Prince songs.
   
4. "Get Yo Groove On" - Meh. I skip it. nothing interesting.
5. "Courtin' Time" I like it. Corny, but I like it.
6. "Betcha By golly wow!' Cover song, but important to Prince and album concept.
   
7. "We Gets Up" - I don't get it. Nothing interesting here.
8. "White Mansion" - Like it alot.
9. "Damned if I Do" - Just ok.
10. "I Can't Make U Love Me" - Cover song. just ok.
    
11. "Mr. Happy" - I dont get this one either. I skip it.
12. "In This Bed I Scream" - Love it. Prince talking about strained relationships, especially about Wendy & Lisa.

Disc 2

1. "Sex in the Summer" - I like it. Beat is based on prince's sons heartbeat.
2. "One Kiss at a Time"- I like it. Mayte love song.
3. "Soul Sanctuary" - Very good. Spiritual
   
4. "Emale" - I like it, but it is odd.
5. "Curious Child" - short, but interesting. might not be for everyone.
6. "Dreamin' About U" - Interesting, but not my favorite. just ok.
7. "Joint 2 Joint" - Album highlight. Listen to it.
8. "The Holy River" - GREAT. I love this song. Prince put a lot of emotion into this one.
9. "Let's Have a Baby" - I like it. About P & Mayte expecting thier baby.
10. "Saviour" - Love it. Spiritual. goes good with Soul Sanctuary
11. "The Plan" - Skip it. Bland instrumental.
12. "Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife" - Prince wedding theme song. just ok.

Disc 3

1. "Slave" - I'm not into it.
2. "New World" - Im not into it.
3. "The Human Body" - I'm not into it.
4. "Face Down" Love it. Prince released it as a single, so he must have liked it alot.
5. "La La La Means I Love U" - Cover song. Just ok.
6. "Style" - Love it.
7. "Sleep Around" - Love it.
8. "Da, Da, Da" - the short Prince rap at the end is good. the rest is meh.
9. "My Computer" - Prince & Kate Bush. Love it. Important song
10. "One of Us" - Cover song, but Prince was truly inspired by this song. I love it.
11. "The Love We Make" - just ok. I think it's supposed to be a big climax to album.
12. "Emancipation" - Title track, but kinda bland. Just ok.

If I had to edit it down to a few important tracks...

1. Somebody's Somebody.

2. White Mansion.

3. In This bed I Scream.

4. Sex In The Summer

5. Soul Sanctuary

6. Joint 2 Joint.

7. The Holy River.

8. Savior.

9. Face Down.

10. Style.

11. Sleep Around.

12. My Computer.

13. One of Us.

Just my opinion though. By the way, I love this album. Anly a few tracks that I skip, and even they arent so bad.

I'm happy listening to the entire 3-disc set (the more the merrier); Though I have probably only listened to all three discs in order, and in succesion, a few times in my life back in '96 when the album was initially released. Mostly I just picked out whatever disc I was feeling at the time to listen to.

.

My advice: don't force yourself to listen to any songs you're not feeling. If you do, you'll experience inner resistence, and then you may associate that discomfort with music you want to learn to enjoy. Listen to what you like; nowhere is it required you have to try to shape your musical tastes to comply with the general consensus of other fans.

.

To help you get into other songs on Emancipation, I might suggest that you A) focus on one disc at a time--maybe for a week or month--and B) play the disc all the way through at least once, every other day or so (or whatever pace and frequency that feels right for you. Take care not to overwhelm yourself) while you focus your mind on an easygoing activity, maybe involving work with your hands, i.e. making dinner, gardening, going through mail, cleaning, shoveling snow, etc.

.

What it comes down to is letting your own senses guide you on what approach you should take with album. Maybe you're just not ready to connect with it yet. It could happen in a week, or never happen at all, but it's your experience so honor it.

.

I don't think anyone here showed love for "Damned If I Do", so I will. This robust, latin-flavoured, rock song is worth a listen. Very catchy and fun with lively energy to get you moving.

(You can thank me later. )

.

N-joy!

[Edited 12/22/14 0:38am]

[Edited 12/22/14 0:40am]

FragileUndertow said:

if anything, this album proved (proves) how long Prince had fallen in less than 10 years...

the album he was born to make? ha! Prince kids himself if he truly thinks this is the album he was born to make and not the whole Dream Factory-Crystal Ball-final SOTT version 86-87 project
now that would have been a 3-DISCS masterpiece

Emancipation, for obvious reasons, has the highest level of BAD filler ever released in a P album...at least NewPowerSoul doesn't overstay its welcome...

JoeTyler said:

vinaysfunk said:

I disagree with the overall sentiment of the thread here. Dont misunderstand me I have my favortite tracks of this 3 album. But you have to look at this cd from a very specific perspective. If you do you will enjoy it alot more. This is Prince's album for himself. He came out of a very controlling situation according to him leaving Warners and all. So he experimented and tried all sorts of things. He also was very much in love with Mayte at the time. So from a classic point of view this was not a typical Prince album. He felt free of all constraints and expectations and just put out alot of stuff that he wanted to for himself. What I am trying to say is that listen to the whole 3 cds from his perspective. And flow with it. It's a very personal album in every sense. For example listen the song lets make a baby. I think it's one of his most heartfelt songs. Or Mother, Sister, Friend, Lover Wife. It's a journey into devotion. But there are funny songs like White Masion. And in your face songs like Style and Face Down. So I wouldn't edit it to get your best experience from it. I like to listen to Emancipation from Prince's perspective. He had alot on his mind and wanted to express it. I swear if you do listen with an open heart and try to listen from what you want to hear you will enjoy it alot more.

You make excellent points and that's actually how I've been trying to listen to it all along, but I think my issue is/was that I was trying to listen to it seriously before I had even really "gotten" the material, ya know?

I complete agree with you though

Bluu said:

I'm happy listening to the entire 3-disc set (the more the merrier); Though I have probably only listened to all three discs in order, and in succesion, a few times in my life back in '96 when the album was initially released. Mostly I just picked out whatever disc I was feeling at the time to listen to.

.

My advice: don't force yourself to listen to any songs you're not feeling. If you do, you'll experience inner resistence, and then you may associate that discomfort with music you want to learn to enjoy. Listen to what you like; nowhere is it required you have to try to shape your musical tastes to comply with the general consensus of other fans.

.

To help you get into other songs on Emancipation, I might suggest that you A) focus on one disc at a time--maybe for a week or month--and B) play the disc all the way through at least once, every other day or so (or whatever pace and frequency that feels right for you. Take care not to overwhelm yourself) while you focus your mind on an easygoing activity, maybe involving work with your hands, i.e. making dinner, gardening, going through mail, cleaning, shoveling snow, etc.

.

What it comes down to is letting your own senses guide you on what approach you should take with album. Maybe you're just not ready to connect with it yet. It could happen in a week, or never happen at all, but it's your experience so honor it.

.

I don't think anyone here showed love for "Damned If I Do", so I will. This robust, latin-flavoured, rock song is worth a listen. Very catchy and fun with lively energy to get you moving.

(You can thank me later. )

.

N-joy!

[Edited 12/22/14 0:38am]

[Edited 12/22/14 0:40am]

Thank you for the excellent advice and suggestions oh wise sensei

I've always found that I tend to connect to albums a lot more when I hear them in conunction with a certain place/feeling.

Like, for instance, there's a lot of albums that just scream "FALL" to me and they come to life in my head more during the waning months of the year, etc.

I love chill music and always love to have a nice, calm atmosphere goin on around me to the point that I adore melancholy, lol, so I think its just a matter of time before I connect with the album.

Anybody whose 'Best of' Emancipation doesn't include the masterpiece, New World, should be taken out and maimed.

jasminejoey said:

jasminejoey said:

KingSausage said:

SoulAlive said:

SuperSoulFighter said:

jasminejoey said:

Anybody whose 'Best of' Emancipation doesn't include the masterpiece, New World, should be taken out and maimed.

Okay, take me out and maim me then because I never liked it.

Me too. it's just ok.

ThomasBjj said:

SuperSoulFighter said:

jasminejoey said: Okay, take me out and maim me then because I never liked it.

Me too. it's just ok.

It's a pity you guys can't hear the unadulterated genius in New World. Give it another listen.

Some songs had to grow on me on these cds. Here are my favorites, those which are highlighted are my ultimate favorites:

1. Jam of the Year" – 6:09 - Perfect for parties (I plan to play this at a costume party I'm hosting)
2. "Right Back Here in My Arms" – 4:43
3. "Somebody's Somebody" – 4:43 (Prince, Brenda Lee Eager, Hilliard Wilson)
6. "Betcha by Golly Wow!" – 3:31 (Thomas Bell, Linda Creed)
8. "White Mansion" – 4:47
10. "I Can't Make U Love Me" – 6:37 (Mike Reid, Allen Shamblin)
11. "Mr. Happy" – 4:46
12. "In This Bed I Scream" – 5:40

Track 11 contains a sample of What Can I Do? (1994) by Ice Cube.

Disc 2

1. "Sex in the Summer" – 5:57
2. "One Kiss at a Time" – 4:41
3. "Soul Sanctuary" – 4:41 (Lyrics: Prince, Sandra St. Victor, T. Hammer)
4. "Emale" – 3:38
5. "Curious Child" – 2:57
6. "Dreamin' About U" – 3:52
7. "Joint 2 Joint" – 7:52
8. "The Holy River" – 6:55
9. "Let's Have a Baby" – 4:07
10. "Saviour" – 5:48
11. "The Plan" – 1:47
12. "Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife" – 7:37

Disc 3

1. "Slave" – 4:51
2. "New World" – 3:43
3. "The Human Body" – 5:42
4. "

1. Jam of the Year" – 6:09
2. "Right Back Here in My Arms" – 4:43
3. "Somebody's Somebody" – 4:43 (Prince, Brenda Lee Eager, Hilliard Wilson)
4. "Get Yo Groove On" – 6:31
5. "Courtin' Time" – 2:46
6. "Betcha by Golly Wow!" – 3:31 (Thomas Bell, Linda Creed)
7. "We Gets Up" – 4:18
8. "White Mansion" – 4:47
9. "Damned if I Do" – 5:21
10. "I Can't Make U Love Me" – 6:37 (Mike Reid, Allen Shamblin)
11. "Mr. Happy" – 4:46
12. "In This Bed I Scream" – 5:40

Track 11 contains a sample of What Can I Do? (1994) by Ice Cube.

Disc 2

1. "Sex in the Summer" – 5:57
2. "One Kiss at a Time" – 4:41
3. "Soul Sanctuary" – 4:41 (Lyrics: Prince, Sandra St. Victor, T. Hammer)
4. "Emale" – 3:38
5. "Curious Child" – 2:57
6. "Dreamin' About U" – 3:52
7. "Joint 2 Joint" – 7:52
8. "The Holy River" – 6:55
9. "Let's Have a Baby" – 4:07
10. "Saviour" – 5:48
11. "The Plan" – 1:47
12. "Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife" – 7:37

Disc 3

1. "Slave" – 4:51
2. "New World" – 3:43
3. "The Human Body" – 5:42
4. "Face Down" – 3:17 - my sister LOVES this song, it's okay to me
5. "La, La, La Means I Love U" – 3:59 (Bell, William Hart)
6. "Style" – 6:40 - the ending is HILARIOUS, u must listen to it just for the ending
9. "My Computer" – 4:37
10. "One of Us" – 5:19 (Eric Bazilian)
11. "The Love We Make" – 4:39

I had just landed at Heathrow in December 96, coming home for xmas after being cut off from the real world for a few years. I had a quick look in HMV on my way out of the terminal and an orange CD cover with the symbol caught my eye. Fucking ay! A new TRIPLE Prince album! I grabbed it and was walking to the check out when I saw another CD cover in blue/grey with the symbol on it - C&D. What? two new albums? Fucking ay ay!

Got home and put on Emancipation.... skip... skip... skip... skip. Oh dear, what is this crap? Then put on C&D. That was more like it. It had more energy, better songs and stayed on repeat for most of the xmas holiday.

To this day I find Emancipation extremely dull. There are some good songs on it, but as a whole listening experience it is boring. Sometimes I try and get into it thinking I might have missed something, but no, still boring.

C&D gets slammed quite a lot on the org and gets the "contractual filler" label a lot. But I think it is a great album and very solid. Dare I say it, I like it much better than Come.

SoulAlive said:

KingSausage said:

Usually it's hard to choose tracks to cut from a Prince album. With Emancipation it's like grab the cleavers, gentlemen. Make sure they're sharp.

I think 3 CDs of new music from *any* artist is too much to digest.There is bound to be some filler on such a massive project like this.Out of these 36 tracks,there's only about a dozen songs that I really truly like.

there wasn't any filler on either Crystal Ball (the '80s version, I mean) or Dream Factory, or SOTT...

Emancipation is all about Face Down and New World to me. Disc 3 is by far the best disc, just replace Style, One Of Us and Da Da Da with In This Bed Eye Scream, The Holy River and Joint 2 Joint and you have one of his best 90s albums imo.

1. Slave

2. New World

3. The Human Body

4. La La La Means I Love U

5. Face Down

6. Joint 2 Joint

7. Sleep Around

8. In This Bed Eye Scream

9. My Computer

10. The Holy River

11. The Love We Make

12. Emancipation

^^ All killer, no filler.

JoeTyler said:

MattyJam said:

Rebeljuice said:

I had just landed at Heathrow in December 96, coming home for xmas after being cut off from the real world for a few years. I had a quick look in HMV on my way out of the terminal and an orange CD cover with the symbol caught my eye. Fucking ay! A new TRIPLE Prince album! I grabbed it and was walking to the check out when I saw another CD cover in blue/grey with the symbol on it - C&D. What? two new albums? Fucking ay ay!

Got home and put on Emancipation.... skip... skip... skip... skip. Oh dear, what is this crap? Then put on C&D. That was more like it. It had more energy, better songs and stayed on repeat for most of the xmas holiday.

To this day I find Emancipation extremely dull. There are some good songs on it, but as a whole listening experience it is boring. Sometimes I try and get into it thinking I might have missed something, but no, still boring.

C&D gets slammed quite a lot on the org and gets the "contractual filler" label a lot. But I think it is a great album and very solid. Dare I say it, I like it much better than Come.

I agree with a lot of this. The Emancipation plastic production after the Chaos/Come/Gold sound is really flat and a bad change of direction IMO. A good example is Saviour, which has that great 95 Sonny T/Michael B NPG sound and sounds almost out of place compared to most of the dull tracks on there. I often wonder how much better songs like Damned If I Do and Emancipation would be if he kept that version of the NPG on board and avoided that boring plastic RnB sound.

Dude or Dudet, Emancipation is a cool release. Like any other Prince release, it needs to grow on you. Just put some headphones on and click play. Did you know every CD is an hour long? Who remember's this?

If you still can't get into it, I suggest you get a hold of the remixes that came out of Emancipation. Face Down Money Mix, Somebody's Somebody Ultra Fantasy Remix or Live studio, too hot!