The three officially-released NPG albums are here:

https://www.princevault.c...lbums:_NPG

If the owner was suggesting the release occurred 'soon after Prince formed the NPG', then that would potentially indicate it was the first NPG album, Goldnigga.

You also estimate that the album was released between the 'Gett Off' single (July 1991) and the 'Symbol' album (October 1992). 'Goldnigga' was first 'released' in 1993 - although it had an extremely limited release - see under Promotion, here:

https://www.princevault.c...Gold_Nigga

Describing it as 'an import' would first depend upon where he / you are based (I'm guessing US because you refer to a 'record store') although I could imagine a record store owner referring to such a release in this way, simply because they would not be able to order it through their usual distribution channels.

The album does feature instrumentals, but also some songs with lyrics/rap.

The second album, Exodus:

https://www.princevault.c...um:_Exodus

was only released through retail in Europe, Australia and Taiwan, so would be regarded as an import by people based elsewhere. However, it features mostly songs with lyrics and was released in 1995.

`import` AKA b00tleg?

Revolution81 said:

Could be Madhouse 24

Could be, but that one was never released. It was first announced when 1-800 New Funk came out in summer 1994 IIRC, then shelved twice. And I think it only made it to bootlegs in 97 or 98, and in a larger outtakes boxset, not individually (again, IIRC). No promo or in-house copies were even made that I know of, even for the NPG stores, and the source of the leak appears to have been a master that P had sent to Edel in 94 (as well as the 2 early Exodus configs) - or so the rumor goes, but this needs to be confirmed.

.

Langebleu's explainations are (as always) all correct, but neigher GN nor Exodus really fit the description.

.

Udo's remark is also a possibility: back then, record store owners in Europe (at least) referred to bootlegs as imports (they weren't gonna admit to kids that they were selling illegal goods). But then it could be the first Madhouse 24 (the one from 88). Though it was solely Prince and Eric, not the NPG, but that one got its own bootleg (with older Madhouse b-sides/mixes as a bonus) circa 94, of which I had a copy back then. Again not really fitting the description but being a jam with the NPG, The Undertaker also got its first release at about the same time (in low quality at first), I had that, too.

.

It's also possible the store owner was full of shit. Back then, it was not unusual for record store clerks to talk about or tease things that weren't fully accurate, just to impress a kid.

[Edited 9/23/21 4:57am]

Thank you all for the very informative replies, langebleu, yes I am located in the US. Funny enough I still know this record store owner to this day, he still has his shop, I used to buy all my Prince cd's and some imports from him. I will look into those albums you listed.

.

udo, it could be, not sure. I know we had a few record stores that actually had import sections, I remember because those cd's were very expensive

.

Revolution, thank you, didn't know they had a 24.

.

databank, it is possible, I know he was a huge Prince fan also, so he would let me know if he heard new releases coming. As I mentioned before this store actually had an a section for Imports and I would always see what Prince releases were in there.

.

I have a Prince documentary book from Per Nilsen, it covers him all the way from 1958 to the Symbol album, I will look through it and see if it is mentioned.

[Edited 9/23/21 6:24am]

36C22W37H said:

Revolution, thank you, didn't know they had a 24.

'24' was a project under the 'Madhouse' moniker - so instrumental

A first release was planned for 1989:

https://www.princevault.c..._24_(1989)

and then (different tracklisting) for 1993 (with a changed configuration planned for 1995):

https://www.princevault.c..._24_(1994).

the latter involving NPG personnel, so candidates - but all officially unreleased, so not imports (unless, as suggested above, your record store owner may have referred to bootlegs as 'imports').

36C22W37H said:

I have a Prince documentary book from Per Nilsen, it covers him all the way from 1958 to the Symbol album, I will look through it and see if it is mentioned.

I think the version you have of 'Prince - A Documentary' is from 1993:

https://www.princevault.c...931798.jpg

but I couldn't see anything in the back of the book that fits your description.

langebleu said:

36C22W37H said:

Revolution, thank you, didn't know they had a 24.

'24' was a project under the 'Madhouse' moniker - so instrumental

A first release was planned for 1989:

https://www.princevault.c..._24_(1989)

and then (different tracklisting) for 1993 (with a changed configuration planned for 1995):

https://www.princevault.c..._24_(1994).

the latter involving NPG personnel, so candidates - but all officially unreleased, so not imports (unless, as suggested above, your record store owner may have referred to bootlegs as 'imports').

36C22W37H said:

I have a Prince documentary book from Per Nilsen, it covers him all the way from 1958 to the Symbol album, I will look through it and see if it is mentioned.

I think the version you have of 'Prince - A Documentary' is from 1993:

https://www.princevault.c...931798.jpg

but I couldn't see anything in the back of the book that fits your description.

The 24, 1993 version that you linked fits the bill with the band and being the Madhouse albums were mostly instrumentals ( I had 8 on vinyl, lost it). I'm gonna stop by the record store and see if the owner might have a clue, not sure I'll come up with anything. My thinking is if I can't find the info on here, might be a lost cause.

That book you linked is the exact book I have!! I was looking in the back as well today.

.

FragileUndertow, I am not sure on that album, I've heard of it, not very familiar though. I need to educate myself on it.

FragileUndertow said:

There was a rare cd release of Michael B & Sonny T called FUNKY ASS LOOPS around that time

36C22W37H said:

FragileUndertow, I am not sure on that album, I've heard of it, not very familiar though. I need to educate myself on it.

Here are details of the unreleased album, 'The Undertaker' from 1993:

https://www.princevault.c...Undertaker

together with details of the officially released home video of the recording:

https://www.princevault.c...Undertaker

The home video was released in countries other than the USA.

As mentioned above, it comprises versions of songs with lyrics.

JAYJOE said:

There was a rare cd release of Michael B & Sonny T called FUNKY ASS LOOPS around that time

Details of 'Funky-ass loops' from 1995 can be seen here, but this essentially comprises content for sampling use rather than a recording of studio jam instrumentals:

https://www.discogs.com/M...se/8150842

Prince is not believed to have had any involvement in its content's original production, although some was used on 2 songs featured on Chaka Khan's 'Come 2 My House' and at least one of these two songs 'Eye'll Never Be Another Fool' had originally been recorded by Prince in 1995 using the content.

See the credits here:

https://www.princevault.c...other_Fool

and

https://www.princevault.c...itle=Spoon

If it is a few years later than you remember, Kamasutra?

LoveGalore said:

FragileUndertow said:

And copies back in the days were ripped from the video

.

Oh?

They did not save them undertaker CD's from the lacquer death?

JAYJOE said:

There was a rare cd release of Michael B & Sonny T called FUNKY ASS LOOPS around that time

I think that I've seen quite recently in a local wrecka stow for 8/10 €... Is it worth it?

udo said:

JAYJOE said:

There was a rare cd release of Michael B & Sonny T called FUNKY ASS LOOPS around that time

I bought that and it sucked ass!

36C22W37H said:

Thank you all for the very informative replies, langebleu, yes I am located in the US. Funny enough I still know this record store owner to this day, he still has his shop, I used to buy all my Prince cd's and some imports from him. I will look into those albums you listed.

.

udo, it could be, not sure. I know we had a few record stores that actually had import sections, I remember because those cd's were very expensive

.

Revolution, thank you, didn't know they had a 24.

.

databank, it is possible, I know he was a huge Prince fan also, so he would let me know if he heard new releases coming. As I mentioned before this store actually had an a section for Imports and I would always see what Prince releases were in there.

.

I have a Prince documentary book from Per Nilsen, it covers him all the way from 1958 to the Symbol album, I will look through it and see if it is mentioned.

[Edited 9/23/21 6:24am]

It will be faster (and far more comprehensive than this book) to browse my website when it comes to official releases in chronological order.

The Estate/Sony/WB should definitely be looking at getting these 'albums' (back) into circulation ...

Both NPG albums (Goldnigga/ Exodus)

All Madhouse albums including unreleased stuff

The Undertaker

Did I miss anything?

Heard some of that 'funky ass loops' it's awesome! The sound is so crisp and solid. There's rhythm guitar on it Prince, Sonny, or Levi? Would be nice to hear all of it.

steakfinger said:

SantanaMaitreya said:

steakfinger said:

I bought that and it sucked ass!

I don't think it was ever meant as an album that you could sit down and listen to.

Of course not, just like George Clinton's sampling CD's series, this was made for musicians to sample, not for people to listen to.

People can be so , I swear to God

Dandroppedadime said:

Heard some of that 'funky ass loops' it's awesome! The sound is so crisp and solid. There's rhythm guitar on it Prince, Sonny, or Levi? Would be nice to hear all of it.

Prince had nothing to do with it. Guitar is Billy Franze, who played on some Prince stuff in the early 90's and sadly passed last April. https://www.discogs.com/f...se/8150842

I can't figure out how to multi-quote on here lol. So, I asked my record store friend and he doesn't remember what this could have been called (we had this convo back around the Gett Off era, it's been awhile). He did mention that we may never know due to the amount of unreleased music in the Vault. I have a few Prince magazine features over the years I saved, I will have to give them a read. One of them is a pretty lengthy Vibe magazine interview article around the time he changed his name to the symbol, a few pages atleast.

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I did finally listen to The Undertaker (Been sitting on my hard drive for some time now, lol). That is definitely a guitar jam session and I have found some new favorites on that album especially the title track. I also listened to Kamasutra, a lot different then what I expected.

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I will say back when the discussion of an Prince NPG jam session album, I had thoughts of Clockin The Jizz and Sexy MF type tracks, they absolutely killed it on those.

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Thanks for all the responses, suggestions, and info.