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#TheGoldExperience25
The Gold Experience is not just my favourite Prince album it’s my GREATEST album period.
This week I’m celebrating 25 years since the release of this masterpiece and will be doing a series of tweets and threads in celebration of its greatness.
Let’s go!
The Gold Experience is not just my favourite Prince album it’s my GREATEST album period.
This week I’m celebrating 25 years since the release of this masterpiece and will be doing a series of tweets and threads in celebration of its greatness.
Let’s go!
The album is a funky mesh of brash pop, fuzzy rockers, huge ballads, and futuristic funk. It sounds garish and expensive, textured and thumping, yet organic. An old-fashioned musician’s album that moves to a sci-fi swing.
Early Promo Poster
Early Promo Poster
The main bulk of the album was recorded between Sept 93 - March 94, around the same time material was being recorded for the Come album, The Glam Slam Ulysses and a potential Broadway Project.
It would be a ‘golden’ fruitful period of recordings for Prince
Warner Bros Press Kit
It would be a ‘golden’ fruitful period of recordings for Prince
Warner Bros Press Kit
Here virtuoso drummer and former member of the NPG Michael B talks about how Prince had become disillusioned with Warner Bros at pre-owning his music even though he hadn’t recorded it yet.
They wanted The Gold Experience even before he finished recording the complete album.
They wanted The Gold Experience even before he finished recording the complete album.
The original cover design was supposed to be in shiny foil but for some reason during the mass production of the album design it was given the standard glossy photo paper that’s was standard for CD releases at the time.
Here in the Sunday Show interview from 1995 you can see it.
Here in the Sunday Show interview from 1995 you can see it.
The eventual releases of the album were;
CD with Gold Sticker
Tape with Gold Sticker
Vinyl 2 LP set with Gold Sticker
Limited Edition Gold Vinyl 2 LP Set with Gold sticker liner notes on the reverse.
CD with Gold Sticker
Tape with Gold Sticker
Vinyl 2 LP set with Gold Sticker
Limited Edition Gold Vinyl 2 LP Set with Gold sticker liner notes on the reverse.
The track-listing went through numerous changes (which I’ll discuss later in the week) but the 12 tracks we were blessed with are first rate and incredibly first rate.
1. P Control (Rehearsal at Paisley Park)
1. P Control (Rehearsal at Paisley Park)
2. Endorphinmachine (Demo Version)
This early version it seems featured no keyboards and was just Drums, Bass and P kicking ass on guitar!
This early version it seems featured no keyboards and was just Drums, Bass and P kicking ass on guitar!
3. Shhh (live version taken from The Live Experience Tour)
My first ever tour and one that is forever imprinted on my purple brain, watching Mayte throughout the show and especially during this song was something this young hot blooded teen would never forget!
My first ever tour and one that is forever imprinted on my purple brain, watching Mayte throughout the show and especially during this song was something this young hot blooded teen would never forget!
4. We March (snippets from the performances of Emamcipation at the NAACP Awards and the Brit Awards)
A duet with Nona Gaye and a song more relevant today then it was 25 years ago, maybe a funkier cousin to Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’ and the reason he had Nona Gaye join him.
A duet with Nona Gaye and a song more relevant today then it was 25 years ago, maybe a funkier cousin to Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’ and the reason he had Nona Gaye join him.
5. The Most Beautiful Girl In The World (Mustang Mix)
Prince recorded this remix video for the U.K. music show Top of the Pops after they refused to show the video for Endorphinmachine (both videos use the same set and outfits)
Prince recorded this remix video for the U.K. music show Top of the Pops after they refused to show the video for Endorphinmachine (both videos use the same set and outfits)
6. Dolphin (Live in the David Letterman Show)
Dolphin was the first ever video to be broadcasted on the new music channel VH-1 Europe in 1994, there’s footage of Prince at the event in London pushing a giant button to star the broadcast (I kid you not!)
Dolphin was the first ever video to be broadcasted on the new music channel VH-1 Europe in 1994, there’s footage of Prince at the event in London pushing a giant button to star the broadcast (I kid you not!)
7. Now (taken from The Beautiful Experience TV special 1994)
This song is soooo Underrated and too many fans have been sleeping on it, play this in a club at a high decibel and watch everyone lose their freaking mind!
This song is soooo Underrated and too many fans have been sleeping on it, play this in a club at a high decibel and watch everyone lose their freaking mind!
8. 319 (live at the Miami Glam Slam in 1994)
Probably one of two reasons (the other being Ripopgodazippa) to watch the Paul Verhoeven directed cult classic Showgirls.
Warner Bros licensed the songs to only be used in the film and not to be released on physical soundtrack
Probably one of two reasons (the other being Ripopgodazippa) to watch the Paul Verhoeven directed cult classic Showgirls.
Warner Bros licensed the songs to only be used in the film and not to be released on physical soundtrack
9. Shy (Early Demon Version)
What do you get if you mix acoustic indie music with the lyrical punch of RNB/hip hop?
Well you get this fantastic little ditty that only Prince could have concocted.
What do you get if you mix acoustic indie music with the lyrical punch of RNB/hip hop?
Well you get this fantastic little ditty that only Prince could have concocted.
10. Billy Jack Bitch (Live at the Miami Glam Slam)
Probably the funkiest track on the whole album and one that was meant for a certain Minneapolis journalist who wouldn’t pay her purple respects, oh and @LennyKravitz screams backing vocals
Probably the funkiest track on the whole album and one that was meant for a certain Minneapolis journalist who wouldn’t pay her purple respects, oh and @LennyKravitz screams backing vocals
11. Eye Hate U (live at the American Music Awards 1995)
Inspired by @carmenelectra
P was such a pimp he had Nona Gaye give him the award, Carmen Elecktra dance behind him and Mayte dance with him all. on. stage.
PIMP
Inspired by @carmenelectra
P was such a pimp he had Nona Gaye give him the award, Carmen Elecktra dance behind him and Mayte dance with him all. on. stage.
PIMP
12. Gold (Live on the Live Experience Tour)
Prince decision to leave his old self behind & begin a new journey forward is symbolised in this incredible anthem, unfairly compared to Purple Rain this is arguably one of his greatest album closers ever, one that leaves you in tears.
Prince decision to leave his old self behind & begin a new journey forward is symbolised in this incredible anthem, unfairly compared to Purple Rain this is arguably one of his greatest album closers ever, one that leaves you in tears.
Prince accepts award for Best International Male at the Brit Awards 1995
“Prince, best?
The Gold Experience better.
In concert, perfectly free.
On record, Slave.
Get Wild,
Come,
Peace
“
“Prince, best?
The Gold Experience better.
In concert, perfectly free.
On record, Slave.
Get Wild,
Come,
Peace
“
Tomorrow we’ll delve deep into some of the unreleased tracks that were supposed to be on the album and the various different configurations of The Gold Experience.
#TheGoldExperience25
#TheGoldExperience25
