Emancipation (album)

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Emancipation
Studio album by Prince
Released	November 19, 1996
Recorded	1995–1996
Genre	Pop, Rock, Funk
Length	180:00
Label	NPG Records
Producer(s)	Prince
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Robert Christgau (A-) link
Prince chronology
Chaos and Disorder (1996)	Emancipation (1996)	Crystal Ball (1998)

Emancipation is a 1996 triple-CD album by Prince (then known as ). The title refers to Prince's freedom from his contract with Warner Bros. Records, with whom he had a contentious relationship. The album was Prince's third to be released that year (along with Chaos and Disorder and Girl 6), making 1996 one of the most prolific years for material released by Prince.

Contents 1 Album format 2 Song descriptions 3 Response 4 Track listing 4.1 Disc I 4.2 Disc II 4.3 Disc III 5 Singles and Hot 100 positions 6 External link

[edit] Album format

Emancipation is somewhat of a concept album; it consists of three discs, each containing 12 songs and being exactly one hour in length. Much symbolism surrounds the album as presented by Prince online, in interviews and in the linear notes. The number of songs, discs and length has a connection with the Egyptian pyramids. There was also a connection with the moniker, with Prince explaining that this was the "album he was born to make". The lengthy linear notes are filled with quotes and hidden messages, along with images illustrating the songs and overall album concepts. For some time before the album's release, Prince had often been seen in public with the word "slave" written in makeup on his face, referring to his contract with Warner Bros. On most of the album, Prince was seen without the word, except on the aptly titled "Slave".

[edit] Song descriptions

[edit] Response

The album received many mixed reviews by both critics and fans, the majority feeling that it would have been a better album had Prince shortened it to either a single disc or even 2 discs ^{[attribution needed]}. Also, many fans were disappointed in the singles that were chosen ^{[attribution needed]}. In the U.S., the album debuted at #11. Though not a major seller, it did sell over 500,000 copies, and being three discs, it was qualified to being certified double platinum (the RIAA certifies based on amount shipped rather than sold). Also, the resulting "Love 4 One Another Tour" and the "Jam of the Year Tour" were major successes, resulting in a minor comeback for Prince, after years of slim sales.

[edit] Track listing

[edit] Disc I

1. "Jam of the Year" – 6:09
2. "Right Back Here In My Arms" – 4:43
3. "Somebody's Somebody" – 4:43
4. "Get Yo Groove On" – 6:31
5. "Courtin' Time" – 2:46
6. "Betcha by Golly Wow!" – 3:31
7. "We Gets Up" – 4:18
8. "White Mansion" – 4:47
9. "Damned if Do" – 5:21
10. " Can't Make U Love Me" – 6:37
11. "Mr. Happy – 4:46
12. "In This Bed Scream" – 5:40

[edit] Disc II

1. "Sex In the Summer" – 5:57
2. "One Kiss at a Time" – 4:41
3. "Soul Sanctuary" – 4:41
4. "Emale" – 3:38
5. "Curious Child" – 2:57
6. "Dreamin' About U" – 3:52
7. "Joint 2 Joint" – 7:52
8. "The Holy River" – 6:55
9. "Let's Have a Baby" – 4:07
10. "Saviour" – 5:48
11. "The Plan" – 1:47
12. "Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife" – 7:37

[edit] Disc III

1. "Slave" – 4:51
2. "New World" – 3:43
3. "The Human Body" – 5:42
4. "Face Down" – 3:17
5. "La, La, La Means Love U" – 3:59
6. "Style" – 6:40
7. "Sleep Around" – 7:42
8. "Da, Da, Da" – 5:15
9. "My Computer" – 4:37
10. "One of Us" – 5:19
11. "The Love We Make" – 4:39
12. "Emancipation" – 4:12

[edit] Singles and Hot 100 positions

• "Betcha by Golly Wow!" (#84 U.S., #10 R&B, #11 UK, #20 Australia)

1. "Betcha by Golly Wow!"
2. "Right Back Here In My Arms"

• "The Holy River" (CD 1) (#31 US)

1. "The Holy River (Radio Edit)"
2. "Somebody's Somebody (Edit)"
3. "Somebody's Somebody (Live Studio Mix)"
4. "Somebody's Somebody (Ultrafantasy Edit)"

• "The Holy River" (CD 2) (#31 US)

1. "The Holy River"
2. "The Most Beautiful Girl In the World (Mustang Mix)"
3. "Somebody's Somebody (Edit)"
4. "On Sale Now!"

[edit] External link

Emancipation lyrics

v • d • e Prince
Studio albums (non-soundtrack)
For You • Prince • Dirty Mind • Controversy • 1999 • Around the World in a Day • Sign 'O' the Times • Lovesexy • Diamonds and Pearls • (Love Symbol) • Come • The Black Album • The Gold Experience • Chaos and Disorder • Emancipation • The Truth • Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic • The Rainbow Children • One Nite Alone... • Musicology • 3121
Soundtracks
Purple Rain • Parade • Batman • Graffiti Bridge • Girl 6 • "Song of the Heart"
Live albums
One Nite Alone... Live!
Instrumental albums
Kamasutra • Xpectation • N.E.W.S
Internet albums
Xpectation • The Chocolate Invasion • The Slaughterhouse
Hits collections and compilations
The Hits/The B-Sides • Crystal Ball • The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale • The Very Best of Prince • Ultimate
EPs
The Beautiful Experience • 1999: The New Master
Films
Purple Rain • Under the Cherry Moon • Sign 'O' the Times • Graffiti Bridge
Related articles
The Revolution • New Power Generation • The Time • Madhouse • Vanity 6 • Apollonia 6 • Mazarati • Unreleased Prince projects
Top 10 singles (U.S. Hot 100)
"Little Red Corvette" • "Delirious" • "When Doves Cry" • "Let's Go Crazy" • "Purple Rain" • "I Would Die 4 U" • "Raspberry Beret" • "Pop Life" • "Kiss" • "Sign 'O' the Times" • "U Got the Look" • "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" • "Alphabet St." • "Batdance" • "Thieves In the Temple" • "Cream" • "Diamonds and Pearls" • "7" • "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World"