MIRvmn said:

I like Emancipation and there's some really good songs on it, especially the ballads. Would love to hear the unreleased songs that didn't make the album

Off the top of my head, I only remember Slave 2 The System, Heart of Stone , Goodbye, I Am the DJ and Journey 2 the Center of Your Heart. Two of them have been released. She Gave Her Angels was also written during the Emancipation era but was excluded from it in order to be used on the unreleased Happy Tears children songs album and later ended up on Crystal Ball.

[Edited 11/20/21 7:15am]

Turning in2 a top album.

Robert Christgau says there is no bad song on the album. Just Jammin loves this one.

Some very good songs on it but i hate the production on the whole project ......with a 80's production this album would have been a Killer !!

Yea, great production, what a bummer.

KoolEaze said:

Phase3 said:

KoolEaze said:

Off the top of my head, I only remember Slave 2 The System, Heart of Stone , Goodbye, I Am the DJ and Journey 2 the Center of Your Heart. Two of them have been released. She Gave Her Angels was also written during the Emancipation era but was excluded from it in order to be used on the unreleased Happy Tears children songs album and later ended up on Crystal Ball.

[Edited 11/20/21 7:15am]

Don't forget "love never has to say goodbye "

Is that a Prince song or a cover? I just looked it up on Princevault and they say it was recorded in 1997 , so after Emancipation had already been released, while other sources say it was recorded during the Emancipation sessions in 1995/96. According to Princevault it was written by Vinnie Barrett, but I can´t find her version . I have just listened to it ( never heard it before) but don´t know much about the song or its origins. Sounds a lot like an old song from the 70s...has a strong Philly vibe to it. I like it.

[Edited 11/20/21 10:04am]

skywalker said:

Well, that was a fast quarter century. One of my all time favorites. No, I would never whittle it down to a single disc. Part of my big love for Emancipation is the sprawlingness of it all. Share your love here!!!

-

.

Completely agree. I only wish the production was different on some tracks.

automatic said:

I'm surprised people like Sleep Around. I find it too long of a song. The funny thing is New World and The Human Body are some of my favorites which others hate. Lol Also the 3rd disc is probably my favorite because it's the most unusual and diverse of the 3.

.- For me, it´s the best part. I really have eargasms with those arrangements, the horns, the wah wah guitar, etc. Love to play it loud. The same thing happens in the end of ´My computer´.

.

IMO, this is the magic of Prince. He was a pop artist, but he had that ´musician´ thing that enhanced the songs

automatic said:

I'm surprised people like "Sleep Around." I find it too long of a song. The funny thing is "New World" and "The Human Body" are some of my favorites which others hate. Lol Also the 3rd disc is probably my favorite because it's the most unusual and diverse of the 3.

Here's the thing about that song, and a few others - they're too long because he was trying to stretch out to that 60 minute mark. I think a lot of disk 1 has tag endings on the song for the mere sake of lengthening the songs. I think "Jam of the Year," "Style," "We Gets Up," "Sleep Around" and ear-numbing shit like "New World" are long for this reason. I believe it takes away from the strength of the song. It's an aural beating of a dead horse.

I took the liberty of editing some of the songs for my own use, taking out the fat, and trimming to what it should be. I did that after I had edited Tony M. out of the songs from Diamonds and Pearls and . I began to realize what the original song was intended to be, and that played into my Emancipation editing. The songs just sound more succinct now.

TrivialPursuit said:

Here's the thing about that song, and a few others - they're too long because he was trying to stretch out to that 60 minute mark. I think a lot of disk 1 has tag endings on the song for the mere sake of lengthening the songs. I think "Jam of the Year," "Style," "We Gets Up," "Sleep Around" and ear-numbing shit like "New World" are long for this reason. I believe it takes away from the strength of the song. It's an aural beating of a dead horse.

I took the liberty of editing some of the songs for my own use, taking out the fat, and trimming to what it should be. I did that after I had edited Tony M. out of the songs from Diamonds and Pearls and . I began to realize what the original song was intended to be, and that played into my Emancipation editing. The songs just sound more succinct now.

.

- It´s amazing how we Prince fans are different. One of the most frustrating things for me in the 2000s is the fact that Prince was releasing short albums/songs, without solos, changes and such. I really loved Prince jamming with himself since ´I am yours´, ´I wanna be your lover´, ´When doves cry´, etc.

.

But one thing is true: if the song is great, it doesnt need these things.

TrivialPursuit said:

automatic said:

I'm surprised people like "Sleep Around." I find it too long of a song. The funny thing is "New World" and "The Human Body" are some of my favorites which others hate. Lol Also the 3rd disc is probably my favorite because it's the most unusual and diverse of the 3.

Here's the thing about that song, and a few others - they're too long because he was trying to stretch out to that 60 minute mark. I think a lot of disk 1 has tag endings on the song for the mere sake of lengthening the songs. I think "Jam of the Year," "Style," "We Gets Up," "Sleep Around" and ear-numbing shit like "New World" are long for this reason. I believe it takes away from the strength of the song. It's an aural beating of a dead horse.

I took the liberty of editing some of the songs for my own use, taking out the fat, and trimming to what it should be. I did that after I had edited Tony M. out of the songs from Diamonds and Pearls and . I began to realize what the original song was intended to be, and that played into my Emancipation editing. The songs just sound more succinct now.

which ones did you edit? be interested to see.

RODSERLING said:

Haven't listenend to this one in probably 15-20 years. I remember there's a lot to like there, but my problem with it was, for the first time ever, there were songs on it I disliked so much that they actually made me angry. And since I typically listen to complete albums, the good just hasn't seemed worth the bad over the years.

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Here's the thing about that song, and a few others - they're too long because he was trying to stretch out to that 60 minute mark. I think a lot of disk 1 has tag endings on the song for the mere sake of lengthening the songs. I think "Jam of the Year," "Style," "We Gets Up," "Sleep Around" and ear-numbing shit like "New World" are long for this reason. I believe it takes away from the strength of the song. It's an aural beating of a dead horse.

I took the liberty of editing some of the songs for my own use, taking out the fat, and trimming to what it should be. I did that after I had edited Tony M. out of the songs from Diamonds and Pearls and . I began to realize what the original song was intended to be, and that played into my Emancipation editing. The songs just sound more succinct now.

which ones did you edit? be interested to see.

It's been a minute, but off the top of my head:

Jam of the Year

White Mansion

Da Da Da

Joint 2 Joint (I think)

Sleep Around

My Computer (the repetition at the end drives me nuts, but it could've stayed as is)

Style

Maybe 1 or 2 others.

SoulAlive said:

RODSERLING said:

SoulAlive said:

“Sleep Around” should have been the first single.It would have done well in the clubs,too.

No way. And could you do better than #1 in airplay like Betcha? But frankly, like I said, I don't know what could have been a strong and appealing first single from that album. I think there was none, same thing for Rave. Facedown and Slave are great, but too underground. No way it could have been hits. Holy River is a great pop ballad, but I hate the idea of beginning a promotion with a low-tempo number.

Right Back Here In My Arms sounded quite catchy. I think it had hit potential.

RODSERLING said:

SoulAlive said:

“Sleep Around” should have been the first single.It would have done well in the clubs,too.

No way. And could you do better than #1 in airplay like Betcha? But frankly, like I said, I don't know what could have been a strong and appealing first single from that album. I think there was none, same thing for Rave. Facedown and Slave are great, but too underground. No way it could have been hits. Holy River is a great pop ballad, but I hate the idea of beginning a promotion with a low-tempo number.

"Sleep Around" is a strong,danceable uptempo track.It absolutely would have done well as the first single.Imagine a cool video and remixes for the clubs.

"Betcha By Golly Wow" is a good remake,but a poor single choice.

SoulAlive said:

RODSERLING said:

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

RODSERLING said:

Danceable, really? What kind of dance is that? The Sleeping Dance?

As danceable as George Michael in the mid to late 90s

.

And George was very successful with this house music.

But, let´s be honest. A triple album is something very hard to promote.

.

[Edited 11/22/21 16:05pm]

it didnt have any big obvious standdout hits or singles

but it is very consistent overalll

i appreciate the mellower vibe more now than at the time

its prince accepting his age

I know this album gets talked about a lot. Probably because of the hype, the sheer volume, the name change, the incident with Amir...a lot of reasons.

I still like it and think there's a lot to enjoy. The ballads (of which I'm usually not a fan) on disc 2 in particular are fantastic. If you dig through it, there's a lot of gold to be mined here and some really terrific songwriting. When it came out, I was thrilled to to have 3 full CD's to dig into for the first time ever and I liked the book that came with it too (not sure how I wound up with one). Not the CD sleeve but like a music program I think it was. Pretty sure I still have it.

It's a minority opinion but I think that "Right Back Here in My Arms" was the best candidate for a lead single here, for a variety if reasons.

herb4 said:

I know this album gets talked about a lot. Probably because of the hype, the sheer volume, the name change, the incident with Amir...a lot of reasons.

I still like it and think there's a lot to enjoy. The ballads (of which I'm usually not a fan) on disc 2 in particular are fantastic. If you dig through it, there's a lot of gold to be mined here and some really terrific songwriting. When it came out, I was thrilled to to have 3 full CD's to dig into for the first time ever and I liked the book that came with it too (not sure how I wound up with one). Not the CD sleeve but like a music program I think it was. Pretty sure I still have it.

It's a minority opinion but I think that "Right Back Here in My Arms" was the best candidate for a lead single here, for a variety if reasons.

I have that program/booklet! It showed up in the mail back when Emancipation came out. I didn't order it and have no idea who sent it. I remember asking a few friends if they sent it as a gift. No one ever fessed up. Its a great book with beautiful pics, but its still a mystery who sent it.

Poplife88 said:

herb4 said:

I know this album gets talked about a lot. Probably because of the hype, the sheer volume, the name change, the incident with Amir...a lot of reasons.

I still like it and think there's a lot to enjoy. The ballads (of which I'm usually not a fan) on disc 2 in particular are fantastic. If you dig through it, there's a lot of gold to be mined here and some really terrific songwriting. When it came out, I was thrilled to to have 3 full CD's to dig into for the first time ever and I liked the book that came with it too (not sure how I wound up with one). Not the CD sleeve but like a music program I think it was. Pretty sure I still have it.

It's a minority opinion but I think that "Right Back Here in My Arms" was the best candidate for a lead single here, for a variety if reasons.

I have that program/booklet! It showed up in the mail back when Emancipation came out. I didn't order it and have no idea who sent it. I remember asking a few friends if they sent it as a gift. No one ever fessed up. Its a great book with beautiful pics, but its still a mystery who sent it.

Prince had a shit-ton of those sitting around Paisley. He was giving them away with every purchase at the Paisley yard sale. I think I had 3 at one point. I'd love to think he sent the rest off to fans.

RODSERLING said:

I hate the idea of beginning a promotion with a low-tempo number.

i got bad news for ya

herb4 said:

I know this album gets talked about a lot. Probably because of the hype, the sheer volume, the name change, the incident with Amir...a lot of reasons.

I still like it and think there's a lot to enjoy. The ballads (of which I'm usually not a fan) on disc 2 in particular are fantastic. If you dig through it, there's a lot of gold to be mined here and some really terrific songwriting. When it came out, I was thrilled to to have 3 full CD's to dig into for the first time ever and I liked the book that came with it too (not sure how I wound up with one). Not the CD sleeve but like a music program I think it was. Pretty sure I still have it.

It's a minority opinion but I think that "Right Back Here in My Arms" was the best candidate for a lead single here, for a variety if reasons.

Totally agree with you. There are some songs on the album that are probably better, but I think that song was quite catchy and had the biggest hit potential. It was the song that got the most positive reaction from non-fans and casual fans when I made them listen to it. The same goes for I Hate U off of the Gold Experience. I think we could speculate for days on how Prince´s career could´ve been more successful in the mid to late 90s if he had opted for different single releases.