After reading many of the comments on the org concerning the album
Emancipation I have been taken aback at the great negativity and disregard
that has been heaped upon this work. There is a contingent of orgers who
seem to loath this album out of all proportion to its actual musical
accomplishments or lack there of. Unlike several of his albums that seem to
get a bad rap based on the perception that they were more obligations than
genuinely well crafted works (C & D, Vault) or were fun toss-aways (NPS) E
was definitely a work that Prince felt would make a grand statement. It
represented his first work post warner brothers and he wanted it make a big
splash.

While the album got generally good reviews almost all the critics were in
agreement that the album could have been whittled down to make a better
album. I observed at the time however that each critic seemed to have a
different idea of which were the essential cuts that would comprise the
"better" collection. Therein lies the first clue to why this album has a
problem with the org community. The following ideas I believe outline why
this work is much maligned here.

1) Length : 36 songs spread out over 3 cds for a total length of 3 hours is
really too much music for almost any person to absorb and be able to retain
a coherent theme. This is more a limitation of the human mind then a
reflection on the actual music. When people have a hard time comprehending
something it is easier to dismiss it in totality. Therefore you get the "it
sucked" type of comment. I think it is a contradiction to assume that a
talent you hold in high regard could produce a 36 song album that "sucks"
while at the same time believe this same individual is a genius. I would
argue that what ever element it is that we perceive as genius in Prince
exists to some degree in all his work. How could it not? Certainly it would
exist over the course of 36 songs. To simply dismiss the entire work out of
hand is almost to dismiss Prince as a talent.

2) Production: Many complain about the production techniques used in this
work. I argue that production mirrors to some extent the "current"
production techniques of the day, specifically modern RnB. Prince probably
wanted to compete with the sound of the day on his terms. In other words I
can do what u do but do it better. While this production may not appeal to
most orgers, Prince was playing to a larger audience. He was trying to get
in the door so to speak. As important as production techniques are to song
craft they are only a part of the story. The genius of Prince lies outside
of just the musical tools that he uses at any particular moment in time.
There is no consistent "sound" that stretches over the years and genres that
Prince has tackled. A rose is still a rose no matter the name or in this
case the production used.

3) RnB: Many here seem to hold RnB in relative contempt when compared to
Rock or Pop. A great majority of Prince's white fans didn't get on the band
wagon until Prince veered into a more Pop Rock direction with Purple Rain.
Therefore they may view the Purple Rain Prince as the "authentic" Prince,
when in actuality Prince's base music and beginnings are rooted in a RnB
framework. E is steeped in RnB & Pop with hardly any rock oriented material
(exception "One of us").

4) Cover songs: For the first time Prince took up space on an album with
the work of other artists. Many seem to feel shortchanged by this.
Particularly since two of the songs were RnB classics and a third was given
a new soul spin (see the reaction to "Every day is a winding road" for more
evidence of the cover backlash).

Now let's take a look at some of the actual songs contained in E and see
what's there.

Slave - The driving consistent thud of the beat as well as the intermittent
darker deeper pounding beat serve as a musical metaphor for the whip of the
overseer or the drumbeat of the gavel in a slave ship galley (think
Ben-Hur). Interestingly the repeating motif of a candle burning seems to
represent the slow wearing down of a soul that is being constricted. Three
times Prince returns to the candle theme each time alternating the word
structure of the motif. In other words each way he turns he is still trapped
by a controlling force slowly destroying his spirit. Outwardly people assume
he should be happy while inwardly he feels alone and bound. Interestingly
the first song on disc 3 is 'Slave' and the last is 'Emancipation'.

New World - Like Nortradomus Prince always looks forward (see "the future" ,
"2020", "2045 radical Man") As we enter a more and more mechanized world
full of new devices, new drugs, and new lifestyles will we lose our
humanity? Within a hyper-mechanized musical landscape full of beeps and
blips Prince posits that as long as we hang on to the concept of love
(giving and receiving) we has humans will endure any change around us.

White Mansion - This is a wonderful little slice of autobiography. Both an
insight into the beginnings of an incredible musical career and a thoughtful
reckoning on the aftermath of achieving a dream. There is a beautiful
melancholy that pervades this song. "they all want to do me, but am I really
happy".

Courtin time - A kiss & a smile. A one man band swingin a little old time
jazz. Why? because he can and see no limitations in music genres and his own
abilities. Love those dazzling harmonies. What's better than prince singing?
Three or more princes singing together. As much as this song is put down, it
is really this kind of thing that separates Prince must the rest.

Damned if I Do - Pop on steroids. Love the evolution from pop to a Brazilian
swing.

I can't make u love me - Pure soul music. Heartbreak as seduction. This is
a brilliant spin on a brilliant song. I wonder if he remade it because of
his connection to Bonnie Raitt. If I remember the story right before she
made her comeback she had kind of fell on hard times and Prince told her he
wanted to work on some material with her. I think they started but it never
was completed. Maybe there is something in the vault.

Savior - Love love love this song. So heartfelt and impassioned. The lyrics
blow me away. Some say it is overproduced. I say it is overflowing with
emotion boiling over like a volcano. I can't hear it without thinking about
the love of my own life. This is absolute classic Prince. Majestic and
transcendent. I cant' even classify what genre of music this belongs too.
It's pop and soul and classical all rolled together. Its Prince. Like the
rest of disc 2, if Mayte ever doubt that she was loved well the answer is
here.

FLMSMW - A romantic lullaby. The slow build up is like a passionate
lovemaking session. That final scream is soul shattering. Only prince can
scream like that. There is so much passion exhibited here. He is almost
desperate to convey this love. If u can't feel this check your pulse.

Let's have a baby - A voice and a piano. When's the last time u heard a male
musician yearn for a child? This is poignant stuff, soul bearing. Made even
more so since the tragedy of Prince's lost son.

Curious Child - a beautiful classical waltz. This is song as mystery. Who
among us hasn't had a memory of a brief forbidden love. This little song
floats in like a dream then floats way like a cherished memory.

Joint to Joint - Sex me, Yeah safe. If someone asks u why Prince is special
give them this joint. It's a hip-hop, cocktail jazz, tone poem, comic
sketch, tap-dancing, sweet gypsy moaning composition. More musical ideas
here than most artists can muster in an entire album.

Holy River - This is soul music period. Maybe even a documentation of
Prince's religious conversion. Many times people find God out of a sense of
despair. It's a longing that has present in Prince a long time.

One kiss at a time - Why do women love him? Listen and learn. It's the
intimacy stupid.

Face Down - What happens when a great musician does hip-hop? This my
friends. It's what jay-z and tupac can't do. Create compelling music to go
with the lyrics. And for all those that don't agree "Fuck all yall".

Sleep Around - Where's the party? Right here! If this doesn't make u wanna
dance, again check your pulse.

My Computer - loopy and weird social commentary. Love that symphonic
computer music ending.

The love we make - Another classic song. "the only love there is, is the
love we make". Has anyone ever made a truer statement". Think about that the
next time u dish out the negative on the Org.


Ok, sure not every song is a classic, but to dismiss this album is sheer
folly. Way too much here to do that. Hopefully as time passes some of the
haters will see the beauty that is there. Peace.

tricky99 said:


I agree with you. I do not think the collection is a classic, and its production is somewhat dated, but there are several good songs on this LP, which could have been a classic if it had been trimmed to 15 songs and promoted better.

My favorite moment on the LP is the last 90 seconds of "My Computer." The flourish at the end is awesome. Prince chants "a better life" over the track a la the Coltrane Quartet on "Acknowledgement."

I never beleive anything I read...I like this album.

my review of emancipation:

there are a lot of shitty songs.

there are many more great songs.

a few of the songs are his worst ever, and several would be close to being his best,
if he hadn't already recorded Purple Rain, Parade, Sign O the Times



In short, Emancipation is worth your time and money

I certainly don't 'hate' Emancipation, there are actually
very few tracks on the album I don't like. I also don't
have a problem with the idea of a 3 CD set. I think the
main reason that Emancipation just doesn't grab me as
much as some of his other albums is the fact that the
album as a whole is quite 'samey', most of it seems to
be 'the same flavor'. Now this wouldn't normally be a
problem, but since the album's 3 hours long, it does
tend to blur a bit.

My own personal opinion is that if Prince wanted to make
a triple album, then it should have been much more
eclectic and showcased every style of music he was
capable of. It should have had at least one really long
and bizarre track like 'Crystal Ball', in short he
should have taken the opportunity to really let rip.

I whole-heartedly agree with you

[btw, this is my 100th post ]

I always considered Emancipation as a brilliant piece of work... much brilliant!!!

What about 'Style'. I can't listen to that joint without smilin.

tried 2 get into it

didn't work

still sux


sowwy

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

u think everything sucks outside of dirty mind

I heard negative things about E. I was even a little uneasy when I bought, but totally suprised at how beutiful it was. The love we make is totally true. love dosnt just appear we have to make it.

tricky99 said:

tell me about it

FirstAvenue said:

not so.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

well mostly true. u are always saying something sucks. It's pretty annoying after awhile. U seem pretty limited when it comes to prince. Like u are in some small dirty mind box or something. I mean i like it too but damn move on its 2003.

Thanks for the thread tricky99. I like Emancipation as is.
I don't want it whittled down for any reason.
Listened to it yesterday(Good Friday) in the car all the way on an hour and a half road trip up and an hour and a half back.
Had me juss a sangin' and finger poppin'...havin' a good ol' time and the drive was that much easier.
I gave a copy of it as a Christmas present this past year in fact. Found it in the record store for like $6.99 and snatched it up immediately.

mistermcgee said:

your welcome, thanks for reading it

tricky99 said:

still not true. i'm one of the more positive orgers 'round here, swinger i am not.


have u read my profile? i'm an enthusiast of the guy, i listen 2 far more than prince. that, and i favor the earlier stuff a bit more than other eras (dm is what got me into the brotha's work, so it holds a special place in my collection)...i have been listenin 2 some of p's newest material but there's some things about it that's either put me off 2 it or i have 2 be in a certain mood 2 listen 2 it. the music's nice and all, but still...certain aspects of p's musical/lyrical approach makes me feel like everything i know/believe in is wrong, sooo...it gets turned off, tuned out and pushed 2 the side.

turnin my ramsey lewis album back on...

I'm still very pleased with Emacipation,disc 3 alone is worth anyones $$$ ,and theres a great 12 track album to be made out of the best of discs 1 and 2.I've never actually listened to it all the way through in one sitting,I always take each disc seperately ,3 really good to excellent hour long albums.

An artist releasing a triple-disc album implies that there are so many crucial tracks to the overall whole that it's justified. It implies that this is a very important and significant album on par with The Wall or something like that.

Then you pop Emancipation in and find out its a whole lot of hit and miss pop songs and sellout fluff. Emancipation is watered down, slicked up Prince. Everything sounds too safe and generic.

If the album had been whittled down to one disc it may have fared well as a simple collection of fun commercial Prince songs. But 3 disks made people think it was important, when it wasnt.

Tricky, you don't start many threads, but everytime you do there is guaranteed meat on its bones.

While I can't say I agree with your opinion of Emancipation in general, I do agree with a lot of what you're saying about the mentality and reasoning (or lack thereof) of some who dismiss it, and that some of the songs on it are very good. Especially disc 2. I haven't listened to this album in ... probably years now. I have to revisit it soon. Thanks for going into it in depth.

Thanks to everyone who replied to my post.

I've always loved Emancipation.

I made a thread similar to this a while back and I was surprised to see that not as many people as I originally thought dislike the CD.

Appreciated the commentary, Tricky! Don't quite agree with your verdict on many of the songs mentioned though.

THe theory that Prince should have included every genre that he has mastered on a triple album is faulty. He most certainly would have drawn the wrath of critics by throwing in everything but the kitchen sink. And considering the limited perception of the average pop music consumer, he would have definitely confused and frustrated them.

Emancipation showed that Prince is one of the greatest popular composers and arrangers in history. If Duke Ellington were a rock star, he would have been Prince. The craft of making real music is what we get from Emancipation. There is nothing wrong with getting it as close to perfect as possible - a trait that Prince is often maligned for.

tricky99 said:

tricky99,good thread,man. E is an underrated record. what
makes people diss it so much is probably the length of it.
5O cuts on 3 cd might have been too much music for people-
even prince fans!

however...i still go back to the cd ...so it must be GOOD.
Your review was pretty interesting...we agree on some and
disagree on others but your opinion is solid.

tunes i DIg da mess outta:
sleep around...(when he did this on Oprah i was saying YEAH!!!) e-male...the groove and the chorus...www..emale..
its on its on its on...hard to resist.

Jam of the year: smooth jazzy groove-killer rosie's backing
vocals and some george benson -ish guitar licks in the mix
by P...

slave...when he does stuff like this it wanna DANCE,man!

joint 2 joint...funny...funky...

one of us...the guitar & his vocal...gospel-rock.

again there's some bad songs on here...but i give him credit
for releasing this when he did...so overall i'd give this
album 3 stars out of 4.

the only 90's album that's better than this one is ONA.
(rainbow children and RAVE are decent. )

Tom said:

The only problem then is what selection of tracks would it be whittled down to for one disc.

This has been discussed before, almost everyone has a different list and therein lies the beauty of the set. My one disc from emancipation changes depending on mood, there is so much good stuff on it. There are some tracks that would never appear on any of my E compilations though, for example Sleep Around, Big White Mansion and Joint to Joint. I just don't like them, but for someone else, they would be ever presents.

Prince probably considered cutting it down to 1 or 2 discs before release and couldn't do it. If he had done, then most people would be clamouring for boots of the unreleased stuff and loving it because it was special and no casual fans could buy it in their local record store. Better to release it and let the people make their own choices.

I am not saying it is his best album but there is more than enough there for it to be bestowed a worthy place in anybodys Prince collection.
[This message was edited Sun Apr 20 19:42:36 PDT 2003 by TheEnglishGent]

I rank this album # 2 in Prince's 1990's catalog.
Many who post on this site look to a magazine,or a website,or the MTV's of the world to tell them that album X was "good" & album Y is "bad".

If the music industry & Prince company at the time BMI would have put the marketing into the album it would have better sales.Thus the album was "bad" because it did not have a top 10 song.

Tricky99 speaking sense as usual. Why Emancipation has come in for so much stick at the moment I know not. Besides NOBODY ever agrees on which songs should have stayed and which should have gone...