Originals (Prince album)

Last updated
Originals
Prince - Originals.png
Demo album by
Prince
ReleasedJune 7, 2019 (2019-06-07)
Recorded1981–1985, 1991
Length63:49
Label
Producer Prince
Prince chronology
Piano and a Microphone 1983
(2018)		Originals
(2019)		 Welcome 2 America
(2021)

Originals is a posthumous demo album by American musician Prince, released through Warner Records on June 7, 2019 (on what would have been Prince's 61st birthday), exclusively through Tidal, with a wide release following on June 21, 2019. [1] It compiles the original demo versions of songs Prince wrote and gave to other artists. All except for Prince's recording of "Nothing Compares 2 U", which was first officially released in 2018, were previously unreleased. [2] The demo album was met with widespread critical acclaim, and debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200, as well as the top 10 in Belgium, Hungary, Portugal, and Switzerland.

Contents

Background

The songs were written and the demos recorded from the early 1980s to the early 1990s, [3] but a specific emphasis was placed on those recorded between 1981 and 1985 due to the size of Prince's unreleased archive. [1] Troy Carter, a music manager and entertainment adviser to Prince's estate, selected the tracks, with some input from Jay-Z, who "pushed" for Prince's demo for Martika's 1991 single "Love... Thy Will Be Done" to be included. [1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 88/100 [4]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Paste 8.6/10 [6]
Pitchfork 9.5/10 [7]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [9]
Entertainment Weekly A− [10]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]

Originals was met with widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic, the album received an average score of 88, based on 17 reviews. [12]

Rebecca Bengal of Pitchfork awarded the album a "Best New Reissue" tag and said that "Hearing Prince sing these songs that he gave to other performers brings you close to the pulse of his artistry: transgressive, funky, sexy, a testament to his genius even in the form of demos." [7] Wyndham Wallace of Classic Pop wrote that "the slow unveiling of Prince's private recordings remains suitably seductive, if – true to form – wilfully unpredictable," noting that the record's "greatest revelation is how few artists strayed far from the Prince template of these Originals." [13] Adam Mattera in Echoes wrote "fans can debate amongst themselves whether Morris Day’s pimp loverboy croon tops Prince’s coquettish Valentino vocal approach to the creamy slow jam "Gigolos Get Lonely Too", but what’s in no doubt is the virtuosity of the talent that tossed out these funk diamonds and pop pearls with abandon through the 80s into the mid 90s."

Track listing

All tracks are written by Prince, except where noted.

Originals track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Original artistLength
1."Sex Shooter"  Apollonia 6 3:06
2."Jungle Love"Prince, Morris Day, Jesse Johnson The Time 3:04
3."Manic Monday"  The Bangles 2:51
4."Noon Rendezvous"Prince, Sheila E. Sheila E.3:00
5."Make-Up"  Vanity 6 2:27
6."100 MPH"  Mazarati 3:30
7."You're My Love"  Kenny Rogers 4:24
8."Holly Rock"Prince, Sheila E.Sheila E.6:38
9."Baby, You're a Trip"  Jill Jones 5:51
10."The Glamorous Life" Sheila E.4:12
11."Gigolos Get Lonely Too" The Time4:41
12."Love... Thy Will Be Done"Prince, Martika Martika4:07
13."Dear Michaelangelo"Prince, Sheila E.Sheila E.5:22
14."Wouldn't You Love to Love Me?"  Taja Sevelle 5:56
15."Nothing Compares 2 U"  The Family 4:40
Total length:63:49
Japanese and Target editions bonus track
No.TitleLength
16."Nothing Compares 2 U" (Cinematic Mix)4:24

Charts

Release history

Release history and formats for Originals
RegionRelease dateVersionFormat
Various [3] June 7, 2019Standard (Tidal only) Streaming
June 21, 2019Standard (other retailers)
July 19, 2019
  • Standard
  • limited deluxe
  • LP
  • 2LP+CD

Related Research Articles

<i>Come Away with Me</i> 2002 studio album by Norah Jones

Come Away with Me is the debut studio album by American recording artist Norah Jones, released on February 26, 2002, by Blue Note Records. Recording sessions took place at Sorcerer Sound Studio in New York City and Allaire Studios in Shokan, New York.

<i>Anthology 2</i> 1996 compilation album by the Beatles

Anthology 2 is a compilation album by the Beatles, released on 18 March 1996 by Apple Records as part of The Beatles Anthology series. It features rarities, outtakes and live performances from the 1965 sessions for Help! to the sessions just prior to their trip to India in February 1968. It is the second in a trilogy of albums with Anthology 1 and Anthology 3, all of which tie in with the televised special The Beatles Anthology. The opening track is "Real Love", the second of the two recordings that reunited the Beatles for the first time since the band's break-up. Like its predecessor, the album topped the Billboard 200 album chart and has been certified 4× Platinum by the RIAA.

<i>Paint the Sky with Stars</i> 1997 greatest hits album by Enya

Paint the Sky with Stars: The Best of Enya is the first greatest hits album by Irish singer, songwriter and musician Enya, released on 1997 by WEA. Following her worldwide promotional tour in support of her previous album The Memory of Trees (1995), Enya began selecting tracks for a compilation album in early 1997, as her recording contract with WEA permitted her to do so. The album contains songs from her debut album Enya (1987) to The Memory of Trees (1995) and two new tracks, "Paint the Sky with Stars" and "Only If...".

<i>With the Lights Out</i> 2004 compilation box set by Nirvana

With the Lights Out is a box set by the American rock band Nirvana, released on November 23, 2004. It contains three CDs and one DVD of previously rare or unreleased material, including B-sides, demos, and rehearsal and live recordings. The title comes from the lyrics of Nirvana's 1991 single "Smells Like Teen Spirit". The box set was planned for release in 2001, but was delayed by a legal battle with Courtney Love, the widow of Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain. As of 2016, With the Lights Out had sold 546,000 copies in the US.

<i>Talkie Walkie</i> 2004 studio album by Air

Talkie Walkie is the third studio album by French electronic music duo Air, released on 26 January 2004 by Virgin Records. "Alone in Kyoto" was included on the soundtrack to the 2003 film Lost in Translation, and "Run" was used in both the Veronica Mars episode "Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner" and the 2004 French film Lila Says. "Talkie-walkie" means walkie-talkie in French.

<i>Daniel Powter</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Daniel Powter

Daniel Powter is the second studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Daniel Powter, released on July 26, 2005, in Canada and on April 11, 2006, in the United States. The album debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 with 89,213 copies sold that week. As of July 12, 2006, Daniel Powter has sold 464,136 copies in the U.S. The album debuted on the Japanese Oricon charts at number 242. However, the album slowly climbed the charts and eventually peaked at number four. The album eventually became the eighteenth best-selling album of 2006 in Japan with 584,000 copies sold and was the highest-ranked Western album on the year-end chart. The album was certified gold in the U.S. on May 24, 2006.

<i>D-Sides</i> 2007 compilation album by Gorillaz

D-Sides is a 2007 compilation album by the British virtual band Gorillaz. The album contains B-sides and remixes from singles and bonus tracks for the band's second studio album Demon Days, as well as previously unreleased tracks recorded during the same sessions. It was released on 19 November 2007 in the UK and on 20 November in the United States and is available in standard and deluxe editions. The Japanese deluxe edition includes three extra tracks, plus the video for 'Rockit'. D-Sides performed similarly to its 2002 predecessor, G-Sides, reaching No. 63 on the UK Albums Chart, while it reached No. 166 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

<i>Michael Jacksons This Is It</i> (album) 2009 soundtrack album by Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson's This Is It is a posthumous two-disc soundtrack album by American singer Michael Jackson. Released by MJJ Music on October 26, 2009, This Is It features previously released music, as well as six previously unreleased recordings by Jackson. This Is It was released to coincide with the theatrical release of Michael Jackson's This Is It, a concert film documenting Jackson's rehearsals for the This Is It concert series at the O2 Arena in London. This Is It is the sixth album to be released by Sony and Motown/Universal since Jackson's death on June 25, 2009.

<i>Time Flies... 1994–2009</i> 2010 greatest hits album by Oasis

Time Flies... 1994–2009 is a compilation album by English rock band Oasis. Released on 14 June 2010 by Big Brother Recordings, the album contains all 27 UK singles released by the band between 1994 and 2009, including "Whatever" and "Lord Don't Slow Me Down", which had previously never appeared on an Oasis studio album. "Sunday Morning Call" is not listed anywhere on the artwork but appears as a hidden track on track 14 of the second disc.

<i>Halcyon Digest</i> Album by Deerhunter

Halcyon Digest is the fifth studio album by American indie rock band Deerhunter. It was released September 27, 2010 to universal critical acclaim. It was the band's first album distributed solely by 4AD worldwide The album was produced by the band and Ben H. Allen, and was recorded at Chase Park Transduction studios in Athens, Georgia with engineer David Barbe. The final track, "He Would Have Laughed" was recorded separately by Bradford Cox at Notown Sound in Marietta, Georgia and is a tribute to Jay Reatard.

<i>Prince and the Revolution: Live</i> 1985 video by Prince and The Revolution

Prince and the Revolution: Live is a live concert video by Prince and the Revolution. Released after the Purple Rain Tour was complete, the video is a recording of the March 30, 1985 concert at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. The concert was also broadcast live throughout Europe as the final act of the 15th "Rock Night", an all-night show of four concerts staged by West German public broadcaster Westdeutscher Rundfunk as part of its Rockpalast series that was simulcast by the Eurovision network of European TV stations.

<i>4Ever</i> (album) 2016 greatest hits album by Prince

4Ever, also known as Prince 4Ever, is a greatest hits album by American recording artist Prince, released on November 22, 2016, by NPG Records and Warner Bros. Records. It is the first Prince release following the musician's death on April 21, 2016.

<i>Slowdive</i> (album) 2017 studio album by Slowdive

Slowdive is the fourth studio album by English rock band Slowdive. It was released on 5 May 2017 by the record label Dead Oceans. It was Slowdive's first studio album in 22 years, following Pygmalion (1995). It was also the band's first album since Souvlaki (1993) to feature the drummer Simon Scott as a member.

<i>OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017</i> 2017 compilation by Radiohead

OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017 is a reissue of the 1997 album OK Computer by the English rock band Radiohead. It was released in June 2017, the album's 20th anniversary, following the 2016 acquisition of Radiohead's back catalogue by XL Recordings from EMI.

<i>The Now Now</i> 2018 studio album by Gorillaz

The Now Now is the sixth studio album recorded by the British virtual band Gorillaz, released on 29 June 2018 via Parlophone and Warner Bros. Records. Recording for the album began in late 2017 – according to Gorillaz co-creator Damon Albarn, it was recorded quickly so the band would have new material to play at future concerts.

<i>Piano and a Microphone 1983</i> 2018 demo album by Prince

Piano and a Microphone 1983 is a posthumously released demo album by Prince, released on CD, vinyl, and digital formats on September 21, 2018. It is the first album released by the Prince estate consisting solely of material from his archive, the Vault.

<i>Bohemian Rhapsody</i> (soundtrack) Soundtrack from the 2018 film, Bohemian Rhapsody

Bohemian Rhapsody: The Original Soundtrack is the soundtrack album to the Queen biographical film of the same name. The soundtrack features many of the band's songs and unreleased recordings including tracks from their legendary concert at Live Aid in 1985. The soundtrack was released by Hollywood Records and Virgin EMI Records on 19 October 2018, on CD, cassette and digital formats. The soundtrack was later released on 8 February 2019, as a vinyl double album specially cut at Abbey Road Studios. A limited and much sought after double picture disc edition of the album, as well as a 7" coloured single featuring the original "Bohemian Rhapsody"/"I'm in Love with My Car" pairing, was also released on Record Store Day, 13 April 2019. The disc artwork takes its inspiration from the photography of Denis O'Regan. In November 2019, the soundtrack received an American Music Award for Top Soundtrack.

<i>Delta</i> (Mumford & Sons album) 2018 studio album by Mumford & Sons

Delta is the fourth studio album by British folk rock band Mumford & Sons. It was released on 16 November 2018 through Gentlemen of the Road, Island Records and Glassnote. The album was recorded at The Church Studios in London with producer Paul Epworth. The album was supported by three singles, "Guiding Light", "Beloved", and "Woman", and managed to reach number one on the US Billboard 200 and number two on the UK Albums Chart. Delta was their last album with guitarist and banjoist Winston Marshall before his departure in 2021.

<i>BTS World: Original Soundtrack</i> 2019 mobile game soundtrack album by various artists

BTS World: Original Soundtrack is the soundtrack album for the Netmarble mobile game of the same name. Released on June 28, 2019, two days after the mobile game's release, the album features four singles by South Korean boy band BTS and instrumentals from the game. Its release was preceded by the singles "Dream Glow", "A Brand New Day" and "All Night". On June 26, the song "Heartbeat" was revealed in the game after its release. The album debuted atop the Gaon Album Chart and their first #1 in Spain. Also, it became the first K-pop soundtrack to debut on the Billboard Top Soundtracks chart.

<i>Welcome 2 America</i> 2021 studio album by Prince

Welcome 2 America is the 40th studio album by American musician Prince. It was posthumously released through NPG Records on July 30, 2021. Recorded in March 2010 before the Welcome 2 America Tour, it is the first full previously unreleased studio album of Prince material to be released posthumously.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Edwards, Gavin (May 29, 2019). "Next Out of Prince's Vaults: The Hits He Gave Away". The New York Times . Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  2. ↑ Breihan, Tom (April 25, 2019). "Prince 'Originals' Album Coming In June: See The Tracklist". Stereogum . Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  3. 1 2 Schatz, Lake (April 25, 2019). "New Prince album, Originals, to feature previously unreleased demos". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Originals by Prince Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic . Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  5. ↑ Erlewine, Thomas. Review: Originals Allmusic. Retrieved 2020-07-30
  6. ↑ "Prince: Originals Album Review". Paste .
  7. 1 2 Bengal, Rebecca (June 7, 2019). "Prince: Originals Album Review". Pitchfork . Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Prince: Originals review – his hits, his way". The Guardian. June 21, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Prince – 'Prince: Originals' review". June 13, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Prince's 'Originals' is a unique look into the late artist's songwriting prowess". EW.com.
  11. ↑ Hermes, Will (June 5, 2019). "Prince's 'Originals' Gathers Blueprints of His Handed-Off Hits".
  12. ↑ Originals by Prince , retrieved 2020-05-05
  13. ↑ Wallace, Wyndham (June 2019). "Reviews". Classic Pop (53): 81.
  14. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Prince – Originals". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Prince – Originals" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Prince – Originals" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Prince – Originals" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Prince Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Prince – Originals" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Prince – Originals". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  21. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Prince – Originals" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2019. 27. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
  23. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Prince". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Prince – Originals". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  25. ↑ "Originals on Billboard Japan Hot Albums". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2019-07-01" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  27. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Prince – Originals". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  28. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  29. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Prince – Originals". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  30. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Prince – Originals". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  31. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Prince – Originals". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  32. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  33. ↑ "Prince Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  34. ↑ "Prince Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  35. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2019". Ultratop. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.