Emancipation [Explicit Lyrics, Import]

Prince | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 19, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Explicit Lyrics, Import
• Label: NPG Records
• ASIN: B000002UJC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (105 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,269 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #28 in Music > Imports > Pop

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Jam Of The Year

2. Right Back Here In My Arms

3. Somebody's Somebody

4. Get Yo Groove On

5. Courtin' Time

6. Betcha By Golly Wow

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Sex In The Summer

2. One Kiss At A Time

3. Soul Sanctuary

4. Emale

5. Curious Child

6. Dreamin' About U

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Slave

2. New World

3. The Human Body

4. Face Down

5. La, La, La Means I Love You

6. Style

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

As long as the stalemate between Prince "Symbol" Nelson and Warner persisted, there was no way to tell who was right: were the vaunted unreleased tracks inferior efforts, better left in the can, or, were they great songs, unwisely repressed? Now that the impasse has been broken--Nelson has left Warner and started his own label, NPG--the answer is clear. Nelson's first post-Warner release, "Emancipation," offers three full hours of music on 3 CDs, and none of it seems extraneous. Instead, every disc contains some of the catchiest melodies and most danceable rhythms of Nelson's career. It's as if a dam had cracked and a flood of pent-up creativity had been unleashed. --Geoffrey Himes

Product Description

Prince's first album after leaving Warner Brothers. Originally released in 1996, this three CD set runs exactly three hours which easily makes it one of the longest albums of all-new original material ever released by a popular artist. Standard triple jewelcase.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A flawlessly performed masterpiece October 27, 1999

By MilesAndTrane

Format:Audio CD

Those of you expecting the old Prince will be disappointed. While I agree this album marks the end of innovation we came to expect from him in the 80's and the beginning of a familiar mixture of funk, rock and R & B, this is nonetheless a masterpiece. Prince would not elect to put out a 3 record set unless he was dropping a bomb on us, and it is. This album is produced, performed and mixed flawlessly, a nasty stew here. The first disc consists mainly of funk and rock with a few surprises jabbed in. Disc 2 is mostly ballads and disc III is a mixture of dance, techno, rap, hip-hop and more funk! Perfection must have been on his mind when he made this. Beautiful ballads and freaky funk; the Beauty and the Beast. Best tracks are "Jam Of The Year," "White Mansion," "Emale," "Dreamin' About U," "Style," and "Sleep Around." Get this if you like traveling in the constellations he creates....

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Purple Genius February 8, 2006

By Robert Bezimienny

Format:Audio CD

Three hours of perfect Prince is hard to believe. Here it is. All the grooves are present. All the funk. The indulgent boudoir ballads. The ambiguous spirituality. Cameos of soul & gospel & rap. If you've ever liked any Prince song, then you're bound to find another favourite on this explosion of creativity.

Of course there's a reason this album is so overwhelming, both in terms of quantity and quality: it represents the best of five years of songwriting. Allegedly in 1991 or so Prince walked into the Warner Bros. offices and dumped five albums' worth of music into their laps, thus fulfilling his 'contractual obligations' for the next five years. He then went home and continued to write songs. Once 'emancipated' from WB, free to form NPG music, he released this treasure trove. Without normal distribution, however, it "only" reached No.11 on the Billboard Album Chart, and spawned only one single. Crazy stuff. There's enough musical genius here for three or four chart-topping albums and a host of singles.

There are DVDs available of Prince's more recent lives shows, featuring consumate musicians, such as Maceo Parker and members of The Family Stone, but none more distinguished than Prince himself - his performances are terrific and showcase his enormous talent. Music is his life. He can play virtually any instrument, sing, write, arrange...dance. What's more, he enjoys himself on stage - and it's hard not to share in it all. The DVDs are ideal complements to this CD set.

I think this is one of his best ever albums, and one of the best pop albums of all time. Having heard almost all his work, this would be my desert island recording. I've wondered why the praise for it has been less than universal and concluded that in a strange sense it is "too good" - there are at least twenty songs that could have been Top 10 hits, and which beg to be treated as 'favourites' - normally, I'd listen to an album and come back to 2 or 3 songs repeatedly - here, that makes for a difficult choice - what's more, since these songs have been starved of airplay they don't bring that welcome nostalgia of a popular hit, no memory of dancing to this or that at a party - it's almost like listening to a great new song for the first time. Also, there's no filler, nor is there a "theme" which allows for half-attentive listening - every four minutes another great tune shouts out and demands to be heard! It's so good that it's almost hard work!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A "must" for loyal Prince fans! December 14, 2004

By WadeL5P

Format:Audio CD

"Emancipation" has to be one of the best under-rated Prince CD's - ever! I think that is actually better than "Musicology" and they're definitely some major gems on this album. I think that it was overshadowed by his temporary name-change status and his contract battle with Warner Brothers. One day, this album is going to be considered a classic and a major collectable item. This production is solid, several "would be" hits, and good music - using live instruments. This album found Prince in a space to create and release whatever his purple heart desired! There are three hours of pure Prince. He's got something for everybody - gospel, old school, hip-hop, rock, house, and even electronica. You may want to visit "Jam of the Year", "Right Back Her in My Arms", "Betcha by Golly, Wow", La- La Means I Love You", "Sleep Around", "In this Bed I Scream", "I cant' make you love me", "Joint 2 Joint", and "Holy River." I think that both old and new school Prince fans will appreciate this "must" for their collection. A major treat - three solid hours of non-stop Prince!