0+> N2 the Gold Experience transition...

T-minus 60 seconds and counting

If U're 18 and over, come here
I got something 4 your mind

Prince Is Dead!!

The album cover proclaims "Prince: 1958–1993", indicating that Prince had "died" in 1993, and was reborn under his Love Symbol alias. The church depicted in the background of the record's cover is the Sagrada Família in Barcelona. The outtakes from the photoshoot for the cover of the album were released a year before in The Sacrifice of Victor, Prince's first book.

Released August 16, 1994
Recorded 1991–1994
Paisley Park Studios, Chanbassen, MN; The Record Plant, Los Angeles; Larrabee Sound Studios, Los Angeles

1. Come – 11:13
2. Space – 4:28
3. Pheromone – 5:08
4. Loose! – 3:26
5. Papa – 2:48
6. Race – 4:28
7. Dark – 6:10
8. Solo (Prince/David Henry Hwang) – 3:48
9. Letitgo – 5:32
10. Orgasm – 1:39

Like a strawberry,

chocolate,

fender jazz,

mashed potato fuzztone
All over your thighs

I like 1993-1995 better than 1983-1985. Come, Exodus and Gold are as good as it gets for me. I love the released and unreleased music from that era and the concerts, aftershows and impropmtu performances were awesome. I also love his band from that period. My only criticism for that period is that the side projects were not very good, assuming that we count Exodus as a Prince album. He had a fire a passion during this period and it was relfected in his writing. His guitar playing had gone to another level evidenced by The Undertaker project. There are still some unreleased gems from that era like Love Thy Will Be Done (NPG Version with Prince on vocals).

Lord I might get tired,
But I, I've got 2 keep on (we sacrifice)
Walkin' down this road, (we sacrifice)
Keep on walkin' down this road (joy around the corner)
When I reach my destination (we sacrifice)
My name will be victor

Amen

donnyenglish said:

I like 1993-1995 better than 1983-1985. Come, Exodus and Gold are as good as it gets for me. I love the released and unreleased music from that era and the concerts, aftershows and impropmtu performances were awesome. I also love his band from that period. My only criticism for that period is that the side projects were not very good, assuming that we count Exodus as a Prince album. He had a fire a passion during this period and it was relfected in his writing. His guitar playing had gone to another level evidenced by The Undertaker project. There are still some unreleased gems from that era like Love Thy Will Be Done (NPG Version with Prince on vocals).

lol your post could have stood alone without the comparison to 1983-1985 lol

Prince - Come

Label:Warner Bros. Records

Catalog#:PRO-A-7270

Format:2 × Vinyl, LP, Album, Promo

Country:USA

Released:1994

Genre:Electronic, Funk / Soul

Style: House, Trip Hop, Soul, Funk, Synth-pop

A1 Come

A2 Space

A3 Loose!

B1 Pheromone

B2 Papa

B3 Race

Backing Vocals Additional– Mayte

C1 Dark

C2 Solo

Written-By David Henry Hwang

C3 Letitgo

Backing Vocals [Additional] – Kathleen Bradford

Flute – Eric Leeds

Keyboards [Additional] – Ricky Peterson

C4 Orgasm

D1 Space (Universal Love Remix)

D2 Space (Funky Stuff Remix)

D3 Letitgo (Q.D. III Instrumental Mix)

D4 Letitgo (J. Swift #3 Instrumental)

Horns - New Power Generation Hornz* Mastered By - Chronic FreezeMixed By [Assistant], Engineer [Assistant] - Kimm James, Tom Garneau, Xanex Bess Mixed By, Engineer - Chronic Freeze, Prince, Ray Hahnfeldt, Tom Tucker Performer - Mayte, Michael B.*, Mr. Hayes, Prince, Sonny T., Tommy Barbarella Producer, Arranged By, Written-By, Vocals, Backing Vocals - Prince Programmed By - Airiq Anest

This was an interesting time to be a fan. I was amazed at the amount of bootleg material that came out. Come could have been a really #1 album, but it fell apart, like the Gold Experience. I liked the original version as opposed to the released version of Come.

Prince had a lot going on, Love 4 1 Another, the Beautiful Experience at PP, TGE, and so forth. There were a couple of TV specials.

It seemed like at this point, everything released had a "polish" sound. Not so much raw. I wish I could explain what I am trying to say.

Nonetheless, a great period of many great periods by the Purple One.

OldFriends4Sale said:

donnyenglish said:

I like 1993-1995 better than 1983-1985. Come, Exodus and Gold are as good as it gets for me. I love the released and unreleased music from that era and the concerts, aftershows and impropmtu performances were awesome. I also love his band from that period. My only criticism for that period is that the side projects were not very good, assuming that we count Exodus as a Prince album. He had a fire a passion during this period and it was relfected in his writing. His guitar playing had gone to another level evidenced by The Undertaker project. There are still some unreleased gems from that era like Love Thy Will Be Done (NPG Version with Prince on vocals).

lol your post could have stood alone without the comparison to 1983-1985 lol

Again, I was a fan long before 1984, so my perspective is different than most. I'm not going to dismiss people who like certain eras more than other. For some reason, most people on this site think that it is gospel that 1984-1986 is his best era without any question. I disagree. We all know that Prince disagreed with that notion as well. I think that I'm in good company.

donnyenglish said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

lol your post could have stood alone without the comparison to 1983-1985 lol

Again, I was a fan long before 1984, so my perspective is different than most. I'm not going to dismiss people who like certain eras more than other. For some reason, most people on this site think that it is gospel that 1984-1986 is his best era without any question. I disagree. We all know that Prince disagreed with that notion as well. I think that I'm in good company.

I mean your post was complimentary enough. I try not to compare or put down another era/album etc when I'm reviewing these. There is a saying that goes, 'if you have to put someone/something down to build up someone/something else it might not be that good' You know like some fans have compared AoA to SOTT, say it is better or just as good. Your post outside of the 1983-1985 comparison was solid by itself, as if 1980-1989 didn't happen, I can still receive your review...

donnyenglish said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

lol your post could have stood alone without the comparison to 1983-1985 lol

Again, I was a fan long before 1984, so my perspective is different than most. I'm not going to dismiss people who like certain eras more than other. For some reason, most people on this site think that it is gospel that 1984-1986 is his best era without any question. I disagree. We all know that Prince disagreed with that notion as well. I think that I'm in good company.

Do you listen to an albums title cut first to see if you can get a feel of the album, albums direction?

OldFriends4Sale said:

donnyenglish said:

Again, I was a fan long before 1984, so my perspective is different than most. I'm not going to dismiss people who like certain eras more than other. For some reason, most people on this site think that it is gospel that 1984-1986 is his best era without any question. I disagree. We all know that Prince disagreed with that notion as well. I think that I'm in good company.

Do you listen to an albums title cut first to see if you can get a feel of the album, albums direction?

I listen to it from start to finish. I try not to listen to singles released before the album too many times. There is a feel to all of the material from 1993-1995, but I cannot quite assign a word to describe it other than pissed. I cannot think of another era where he was more pissed off and I liked that side of him. BTW, I only used the comparison to make the point that it is a vastly underrated era and worthy of consideration as one of his best.

COME

If you're 18 and over, come here
I got something 4 your mind
(Come)
You should do that baby
No more will you cry
(Come)
The spirit is calling
Here's a reason why
(Come)
If you had a chance to see the future would you try?
(Come)
If you will, so will I

When I call you up, I want to tell you what to wear
(Come)
Don't be surprised if I tell you to go bare
(Come)
Long as you wash between your soul and through your hair (I'm gonna do it)
(Come)
I'll do my duty there

You should do that baby
No more will you cry
(Come)
The spirit's calling
Here's a reason why
If you had a chance (come) to see the future would you try?
(If you had a chance to see the future would you try?)
(Come)
If you will, so will I
(If you will, so will I)

When I...

When I lay you down I'm gonna tell you what to feel
(Come)
(Don't you) Don't be surprised if I make you my daily meal
(Come)
(Lickin' you inside) Lickin' you inside, outside
(Outside) All sides (All sides), up and down (up and down)
(Come)
With my tongue in the crease, baby I go 'round
When I go down, down, down, (Come) down, down, down, da-da-down

No more will you cry
(Come)
Spirit's calling
Here's a reason why
(Come)
If you had the chance to see the future would you try?
(If you had the chance to see the future would you try?)
(Come)
If you will, so will I
(If you will, so will I)
So will I

You should do that baby
You should do that girl
(Come)
(Come)
You should do that baby
(Come)
(Come)
You should do that girl

When I suck you there
I don't want to hear you scream (Don't want to hear you scream)
(Come)
Don't talk or breathe
Don't cough or sneeze
Oh, just dream, dream, dream
Baby, my tongue's gonna do things that you never seen (Seen)

When I blow that mind baby
(Come)
I'm gonna drive you crazy
(Come)

You should do that girl (No more will you cry)
(Come)
You should do that baby (Here's a reason why)
(Come)
(If you had the chance to see the future would you try?)
{do that girl, do that girl}
(Come)
You should do that baby (If you will, so will I)
(Come on, come on, come on)
(No more will you cry)
(Come)
(Here's a reason why)
(Come)
(If you had the chance to see the future would you try?)
(Come)
(If you will so will I)
Now break it down

Can I suck you baby?
(Come)
Can I fuck you baby?
(Come)
I want to suck you baby
(Come)

Shout it (Come) out
(No more will you cry)
(Come)
(Here's a reason why)
(Come)
And if you had a chance to see the future would you try?
Oh, (Come)
If you will, (So will I) if you will, so will I (So will I)

Like a (Come) splendid, open ended
Celibate friend (No more will you cry), pretending
Not to know (Come) it (know it) when I blow it (blow it)
In your eyes (Here's a reason why)
Like a strawberry (Come), chocolate
Fender jazz, mashed potato, fuzztone (Come)
All over your thighs

Oh baby
That's the only (Come) Come I know
When I'm deep inside that
Yeah, that's the only (Come) time
The only time you go
"Ooh, baby you're so good"
"Ooh, baby you're so good"
Aw, shut up (Come)
This is just so you Come

Come
Come
No more will you cry

It's no wonder there's a puddle there
Holding it in for so long
You know you can let it go
It won't be wrong
(Come)
It's just you and me baby
Tonight and forever more
(Come)
You should do that baby
Fuck it
On the floor
(Come)

Or better yet, why don't you do it on the chair?
(Come)
You should get that shit started
You can change your underwear
(Come)
Yeah, you can always change your underwear
(Come)

It don't mean your rep 'cause you kiss in a restaurant
(Come)
It don't mean your rep just 'cause me tallywhacker suckin' is all you want
(Come)
All it means it that the 1 that Come before me never made you Come
You should do that baby
(Come)

Should do that baby
Come
Do that baby Do that baby
Come
Let me suck you

Don't scream
Don't talk
(Come)
Don't breathe
(Come)
Just lay back
Just lay back
(Come)
Just lay back and dream
Dream (Come)
Dream
Dream (Come)

Oh yeah
(Come)
Oh love
(Come)
Did you Come, Come, Come, Come
(Come)
I want to know
(Come)
(Come)

you should do that baby
(Come)
Oh yes (Oh yes)
Oh yes
Come
You should do that baby
(Do that girl)
(Come)
(Oh yeah)
(Come)

No more, no more (No more will you cry)
Will you cry, cry, cry, cry (Here's a reason why)
If you had the chance
(Come)
(If you had the chance) to see the future would you try?
(Come)
If you will, if you will, so will I
(If you will, so will I)
{Come, come, come}
(Baby)
(Come)
(Come)
When I blow that mind baby
(Come)
I'm gonna drive you crazy
Come
You should do that baby
Come

Prince – lead vocals and various instruments

Brian Gallagher – tenor saxophone
Kathy J. – baritone saxophone
Joseph Robinson – trumpet
Steve Strand – trumpet
Dave Jensen – trumpet
Michael B. Nelson – trombone

donnyenglish said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

Do you listen to an albums title cut first to see if you can get a feel of the album, albums direction?

I listen to it from start to finish. I try not to listen to singles released before the album too many times. There is a feel to all of the material from 1993-1995, but I cannot quite assign a word to describe it other than pissed. I cannot think of another era where he was more pissed off and I liked that side of him. BTW, I only used the comparison to make the point that it is a vastly underrated era and worthy of consideration as one of his best.

I was told by a guy I knew a long time ago that he always checks out the title track first to get a possible sense of the album (it being title that way for a reason) sometimes it makes a difference, sometimes the song titled the album(if there is one) makes no difference.

.

I think Come as the title track, even though I'm not female, beacons you into the album. I think it works as a title track.

.

Yeah I hear you, but that comparison for consideration never really works lol or should I say rarely

Again, it was a good expression of interest for the album

Most of the songs from the Come album were recorded in early 1993 during a highly prolific time for Prince. An early collection of single word-titled tracks included:

"Come"

"Endorphinmachine"

"Space"

"Pheromone"

"Loose!"

"Papa"

"Dark"

"Poem"

It was unknown at this time if these tracks were indeed intended for an album. In late May 1993, Prince's then band member, Mayte Garcia, sent a letter to a Prince fanzine listing the above tracks, plus a few others:

"Interactive"

"Peach"

"Pope"

"Solo"

"Race"

Most of these songs were newly written, except "Peach" (written in 1992), and "Race" (written in 1991 during the Love Symbol Album sessions—it uses a scratching sound effect similar to Love Symbol Album's "The Continental").

donnyenglish said:

rusty1 said:

Endorphinmachine

Basic tracking took place on 2 January 1993 at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota (during the same one-day session that produced Dark, Dolphin and Come).

The song was played live regularly from 1993-5, and fans became familiar with the stripped-down live version (based on the unreleased original version).

When the album was released, many fans expressed frustration that there were significant overdubs, erasing the 'raw' feeling of the original (Endorphinmachine has become a common reference point for fans hearing new material live before hearing a studio version - songs such as Zannalee and Fury were also overdubbed in their released studio versions).

-PrinceVault

This is a standout period for me. I love the music and it was a very exciting time. I saw Prince perform about 50 times during this time, either at Glam Slam or Paisley Park. Tons of new music. I guess people consider this a dark time for Prince because of the Come album cover and the whole "Prince is dead" thing, but that seemed the farthest from what it was to me. Prince was not happy with the contract he had signed, but he was excited about doing things his way. He might not have figured it out at this time, but he was definitely thinking about it. FREE THE MUSIC!

It was a wild era.So much music,but also alot of uncertainties and drama.Remember when we didn't even know if The Gold Experience was gonna be released at all? Prince released a flyer for the album which said 'Release Date: Never!'

rusty1 said:

donnyenglish said:

I like 1993-1995 better than 1983-1985. Come, Exodus and Gold are as good as it gets for me. I love the released and unreleased music from that era and the concerts, aftershows and impropmtu performances were awesome. I also love his band from that period. My only criticism for that period is that the side projects were not very good, assuming that we count Exodus as a Prince album. He had a fire a passion during this period and it was relfected in his writing. His guitar playing had gone to another level evidenced by The Undertaker project. There are still some unreleased gems from that era like Love Thy Will Be Done (NPG Version with Prince on vocals).

83to 85 blows away 93 to 95 there is nothing that comes close to songs such as "Rasberry beret", "when doves cry"etc Prince wouldn't have been a legend without especially his 82 to 87 era

We know (and Prince himself stated many times) that he wrote his muisc based on what he was experiencing in that moment or during that period of time. Really impossible to compare or make an emphatic judgement on what albums or songs were/are better than others, because it's all subjective. BUT....I think it can be realistically deduced - based on fan base, chart numbers, concert attendance etc) that certain periods - like 1983-1985 - indicate an extremely prolific and high quality period of output, and he was connecting with the masses.

*

He was "on top" in the mid eighties - and not just with record sales. He was happy, energetic, in love, in lust, in demand, and a pioneer with his sound and also expanding his sound and style. So, we got PR, ATWIAD and Parade with beautiful and happy songs like (everything on PR), Raspberry Beret, Condition of the Heart, and Mountains.

*

By 1993 he had lost all of the "80's community" that had surrounded him - both personally and professionally, and he seemed to be pissed, lonely, sad, and then developed an F-you attitude about it. So, we got Come and Gold Experience with sad and angry songs like Solo, Dark, Billy Jack Bitch and I Hate U.

*

All that being said.....I LOVE THE COME ALBUM AND MANY SONGS ON GOLD. He had good output during both happy and angry periods. But man, if you put a pic of him performing in the 1984-1986 period next to him on stage in the 1994-1995 period you can really see the change from happy/energetic to angry/more angry

Found this good chunk from Alan Light's Vibe interview with Prince from May 1994:

*

"“SO HOW CAN WE DO AN INTERVIEW THAT’S not like an interview?” asks as he spoons a dollop of jam into his tea. We’re sitting in the Côte Jardin restaurant in Monte Carlo’s historic Hôtel de Paris, overlooking a small garden that overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. He is here to accept an award for Outstanding Contribution to the Pop Industry at the 1994 World Music Awards. I am here at his request, the final step in a full year of putting together his first lengthy conversation with a journalist since 1990."

*

"Those 12 months have been an especially remarkable time for whom some call “the artist formerly known as Prince,” or any number of variations on that theme; others, of course, will always call him Prince, much to his dismay. The year has included—in addition to the controversial name-change that signaled the “retirement” of one of this era’s biggest pop stars and the songs that made him famous – a sales slump and the closing of his Paisley Park Records label. He went through four publicity firms in nine months. But this run of hard times was quickly followed by a triumphant rise with the single “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World,” his biggest hit in several years. And at the end of this particular peculiar period, has emerged with some of the best music he’s ever made – though whether the world will ever be able to hear it is another question, in the hands of managers and lawyers and Warner Bros. Records as they negotiate how or if all this music will be released."

*

Interesting take on what was happening at the time...

Good stuff Violetcrush, I love stuff like this that helps bring us into the energy of the era

While specific recording dates are not known, basic tracking took place in early June 1993 at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota (during the same set of sessions that produced Space, Pope, Strays Of The World, What's My Name, Solo and a reworked version of Race). Rain Ivana's "NPG Operator" intros were likely added in late 1993 or early 1994 as the concept developed. The track was included as the third track on an untitled early-1994 album (likely an early configuration of The Gold Experience). It was then included as the second track on a 11 March 1994 configuration of the Come album (credited to Prince instead of ). Also in March 1994, however, it was included as the second track (first song) on a new configuration of The Gold Experience (the "NPG Operator" segues included on the Interactive CD-ROM game version were tracked separately as the first and third track on this configuration), and the full-length version was then used as the second track (first song) on a May 1994 configuration (with the segues again included as the first and third tracks). It was removed for a Summer 1994 configuration (presumably as it was now released on the Interactive CD-ROM game).

A tape containing an edited version of Interactive and seven other new tracks (a 10-minute version of The Most Beautiful Girl In The World, Days Of Wild, Now, Poem, Acknowledge Me, 319, and Pheromone) as well as the show given at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota on 13 February 1994, am was purchased by some European radio networks. This tape was broadcasted in early March 1994 (by Los 40 Principales in Spain, Radio Veronica and Tros in The Netherlands and DSR3 in the Switzerland).

-pvault

Benefit For KMOJ Radio July 12, 1993 @ Paisley Park

The Steeles
The New Power Generation
1.Guess Who's Knockin'
2.Deuce And Quarter
3.2gether
4.Johnny
5.Goldnigga

Prince & The NPG
1.Let'Go Crazy
2.Kiss
3.Irresisitible Bitch
4.She's Always In My Hair
5.Raspberry Beret
6.The Cross
7.Sign O'The Times
8.Purple Rain
9.Call The Law W/ Eric Leeds
10.House In Order
11.Diamonds And Pearls
12.Strollin'
13.Scandalous
14.Girls And Boys W/ Eric Leeds
15.Peach W/ Eric Leeds
16.Come
17.Endorphinmachine ·

I saw Act II in Paris, both nights, first row, queuing since 9 AM both days. Those are the things you do when you're 16

.

Those 2 nights are my best concert memory ever alongside the 12 hours of George Clinton and P-Funk I got in a 3 nights marathon in an intimate small club in the summer of '95 (I don't remember in which order but one show was 3 hours, another 4 hours, and another 5 hours!!!).