Came across this in an old newsletter from The Prince Family (Vol 2 Issue #20 -- October 1, 1994):

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An OnLine Message from NPG Records

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Welcome 2 the Dawn. Over the past few days, we have received a lot of e-mail with questions from many of U. The following is an attempt answer as many of your questions as possible. If U think of any more, please feel free 2 e-mail us at any time.

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We received a lot of questions pertaining 2 the Gold Album. The Gold Experience is the first full-length CD by . Its current release date is never. In the year 1999, will B free 2 release music any way he chooses. Until then...

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Many of U R wondering why "Love Sign" was never released as a single. Warner Brothers felt that the single would B in direct conflict with 's current WS release, so a "Love Sign" single release was denied...

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...Tour questions? Lots of those. The tour will begin when the Endorphin Machine is purring.

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"What kind of material can we expect from NPG Records?" This will B determined by U, what do U want?

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The next releases on NPG will B: A sexy single by a beautiful and exotic ballerina dancer, who we call "Mayte" of the NPG, entitled "If I Love U 2night." The second release is a powerhouse smash by Margie Cox, our Soul-Provider-In-Waiting. Her single is entitled "Standing at the Altar," which is now taking Europe by storm, These 2 singles R from our first album release, 1-800-NEW-FUNK, the innovative album which showcases all of the fabulous artists on NPG Records.

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Also coming soon is a down-home, back-porch Funk/Jazz Opus by the one and only Madhouse. Accept no substitutes (Can U keep a secret? We hope not: is on the abum! Yes, U heard right! He is cleared as a sideman, so it will B the duty of NPG Records 2 make him the greatest sideman the world has ever known)...Peace and B Wild.

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- NPG Records, America Online (9/16/94)

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[Edited 4/29/20 5:32am]

BartVanHemelen said:

Came across this in an old newsletter from The Prince Family (Vol 2 Issue #20 -- October 1, 1994):

.

An OnLine Message from NPG Records

.

Welcome 2 the Dawn. Over the past few days, we have received a lot of e-mail with questions from many of U. The following is an attempt answer as many of your questions as possible. If U think of any more, please feel free 2 e-mail us at any time.

.

We received a lot of questions pertaining 2 the Gold Album. The Gold Experience is the first full-length CD by . Its current release date is never. In the year 1999, will B free 2 release music any way he chooses. Until then...

.

Many of U R wondering why "Love Sign" was never released as a single. Warner Brothers felt that the single would B in direct conflict with 's current WS release, so a "Love Sign" single release was denied...

.

...Tour questions? Lots of those. The tour will begin when the Endorphin Machine is purring.

.

"What kind of material can we expect from NPG Records?" This will B determined by U, what do U want?

.

The next releases on NPG will B: A sexy single by a beautiful and exotic ballerina dancer, who we call "Mayte" of the NPG, entitled "If I Love U 2night." The second release is a powerhouse smash by Margie Cox, our Soul-Provider-In-Waiting. Her single is entitled "Standing at the Altar," which is now taking Europe by storm, These 2 singles R from our first album release, 1-800-NEW-FUNK, the innovative album which showcases all of the fabulous artists on NPG Records.

.

Also coming soon is a down-home, back-porch Funk/Jazz Opus by the one and only Madhouse. Accept no substitutes (Can U keep a secret? We hope not: is on the abum! Yes, U heard right! He is cleared as a sideman, so it will B the duty of NPG Records 2 make him the greatest sideman the world has ever known)...Peace and B Wild.

.

- NPG Records, America Online (9/16/94)

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[Edited 4/29/20 5:32am]

Those were the days... Thx 4 sharing this. The fact that the 1993 configuration of 24 was never released remains one of my bigest regrets. Of course we soon had it anyway, but it would have made a great addition to the canon. IDK WTF happened that P wouldn't just give it to Edel as planned.

I miss getting these letters. I didn't remember that Standing At The Altar was going to be a lead single. They were correct in referring to it at a smash. It had all the makings of a classic. Too bad it never got a chance.

On a semi-related 1994 note (okay maybe I'm reaching), I was watching the '94 Canal+ performance of Endorphinmachine today, and I noticed his cheek said something else besides the usual "SLAVE." Does anyone remember what it said? It looks like the second word is "IDOL" spelled backwards.

SchlomoThaHomo said:

I miss getting these letters. I didn't remember that Standing At The Altar was going to be a lead single. They were correct in referring to it at a smash. It had all the makings of a classic. Too bad it never got a chance.

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http://www.princevault.co..._The_Altar

databank said:

BartVanHemelen said:

Came across this in an old newsletter from The Prince Family (Vol 2 Issue #20 -- October 1, 1994):

.

.

[Edited 4/29/20 5:32am]

Those were the days... Thx 4 sharing this. The fact that the 1993 configuration of 24 was never released remains one of my bigest regrets. Of course we soon had it anyway, but it would have made a great addition to the canon. IDK WTF happened that P wouldn't just give it to Edel as planned.

.

I wouldn't be surprised if Edel did get it. The Jacob Armen album for instance was part of the package NPG sent them (including artwork). Edel put it out and PP almost lost its shit because that wasn't supposed to happen (according to stories back then). Edel then apparently cancelled further plans.

SchlomoThaHomo said:

I miss getting these letters. I didn't remember that Standing At The Altar was going to be a lead single. They were correct in referring to it at a smash. It had all the makings of a classic. Too bad it never got a chance.

On a semi-related 1994 note (okay maybe I'm reaching), I was watching the '94 Canal+ performance of Endorphinmachine today, and I noticed his cheek said something else besides the usual "SLAVE." Does anyone remember what it said? It looks like the second word is "IDOL" spelled backwards.

My copy is too lo-fi for me to be able to decypher it and confirm, but rumor back then (as confirmed by a google search) was that the tatoo said "Me'Shell is cool" and was a nod at Me'Shell Ndegeocello.

I remember this letter Back in those days,I subscribed to the Prince Family newsletter.It was so much fun to get those newsletters in the mail.Things were so wild in 1994.At one point,there was a letter-writing campaign to get Warner to release 'The Gold Album',as it was called then.

databank said:

BartVanHemelen said:

databank said:

Those were the days... Thx 4 sharing this. The fact that the 1993 configuration of 24 was never released remains one of my bigest regrets. Of course we soon had it anyway, but it would have made a great addition to the canon. IDK WTF happened that P wouldn't just give it to Edel as planned.

.

I wouldn't be surprised if Edel did get it. The Jacob Armen album for instance was part of the package NPG sent them (including artwork). Edel put it out and PP almost lost its shit because that wasn't supposed to happen (according to stories back then). Edel then apparently cancelled further plans.

Yes I remember the Jacob Armen story, and it might have been the reason for the cancellation of further releases indeed. If Allmusic is to be believed, however, Drum Fever was released nearly 4 months before Child Of The Sun (IDK when the Smell My Finger and Voice reissues took place exactly, but possibly after Drum Fever, too), but it's possible Prince only learned about it after COTS was released, or that he decided to go along with COTS because he really wanted it out without delay, then dropped everything else. But most Edel releases were distributed by other indie labels in other territories (even COTS got a confidential US release!!), so if P had really wanted to release 24 it shouldn't have been a problem.

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The same former employee who told that Drum Fever story also gave a list of several Paisley Park albums that were supposed to be rereleased by NPG/Edel after Smell My finger and The Voice. No clue why this never happened but it could all be the result of the Drum Fever fiasco.

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It's very possible Edel had a copy of 24. IDK if true so don't take my word for it, but I've been told that both early Exodus configs and 24 came from a leak at Edel. If true, it might mean they never received the May 1995 configuration since that one never made it to bootleggers. On the other hand that May 1995 config means that even if plans with Edel hadn't been scrapped, the 95 cut is the version we would have gotten (while I wish P had released the original config in late 94, which was likely his plan when he announced it on 1-800 NF then on the press release above).

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So many mysteries...

SchlomoThaHomo said:

True enough. Looks like IDOL to me too. So IDK how the "is cool" rumor started. It was hard to see on these old TV's

SoulAlive said:

I remember this letter Back in those days,I subscribed to the Prince Family newsletter.It was so much fun to get those newsletters in the mail.Things were so wild in 1994.At one point,there was a letter-writing campaign to get Warner to release 'The Gold Album',as it was called then.

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Started in that copy. Below this message there was a call to action, and Diana actually put a gold star on each newsletter at that place. The color of the outer paper also changes from purple to a gold-ish yellow.

databank said:

BartVanHemelen said:

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I wouldn't be surprised if Edel did get it. The Jacob Armen album for instance was part of the package NPG sent them (including artwork). Edel put it out and PP almost lost its shit because that wasn't supposed to happen (according to stories back then). Edel then apparently cancelled further plans.

Yes I remember the Jacob Armen story, and it might have been the reason for the cancellation of further releases indeed. If Allmusic is to be believed, however, Drum Fever was released nearly 4 months before Child Of The Sun

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COTS was a planned release, though, with plenty of promo. The Jacob Armen one just appeared one day. My local record store had ordered copies for all his usual Prince fans clientele. (He once even had somebody purchase a bunch of Gold Nigga copies at the next gig after the Belgian one in order to provide them to his clientele.)

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SchlomoThaHomo said:

"Idol" is plain to see but can anyone else make out the rest of it?

purplethunder3121 said:

SchlomoThaHomo said:

purplethunder3121 said:

"Idol" is plain to see but can anyone else make out the rest of it?

I think it says Me’Shell’s Idol.

I think you're right (just put a mirror up to the pic).

COLD!

Farfunknugin said:

It was in 94 that P had some promotion tied in with Meshell. I remember seeing her live at Bimbos in SF & they played The Beautiful Experience movie before she came on.

Crazy.