Prince & The New Power Generation - Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition

Prince - Diamonds And Pearls - CD rereleases (store.prince.com)

Prince & The New Power Generation – Diamonds And Pearls – CD rereleases

Albumdata

Artist	Prince & The New Power Generation
Album	Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition
Year of release	2023

Rating

Introduction

After years of rumors, August 24, 2023, was the day it was finally announced that Diamonds And Pearls would be re-released. The first tastes of what was to come were the outtake Alice Through The Looking Glass and Insatiable (Early Mix – Full Version), published that very same day. On September 7 Cream (Take 2) was released, on September 28 followed by the outtake Get Blue and Live 4 Love (Early Version). October 11 saw the release of the full live album Live At Glam Slam, on October 20 followed by the release of Daddy Pop (12″ Mix) and the outtake Darkside.

The list of 33 songs that weren’t released before (placed on 3 Vault cd’s) contained 8 different versions of already existing songs. 8 quickly turned into 9 (The Last Dance (Bang Pow Zoom And The Whole Nine) proved to be a precursor to Jughead). 12 songs had been released by other artists. So, the number 33 is actually 12. A large number I already owned on bootleg. Is that unfortunate? No, not at all. To hear and own a song like Schoolyard in perfect quality has great worth.

Prince & The New Power Generation – Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition

October 27, 2023

Finally the day arrives: the release of Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition. A somewhat mixed feeling, as the regular album Diamonds And Pearls isn’t exactly part of Prince favorites. This also goes for many of the outtakes and the 1992 Diamonds And Pearls Tour.

Review

But, to be fair, this is a great release, filled with superb photos, great liner notes (including ones by the incomparable Chuck D) and a number of interesting, at time genius, previously unreleased material. And that’s what the release is really about. I bought the Super Deluxe Edition, consisting of 7 CD’s and 1 Blu Ray. Discs 3, 4 and 5 contain the material I was waiting for.

Songs like Schoolyard, Open Book, Letter 4 Miles were already familiar, but still are a great addition to the box as they sound amazing. Of the songs that were new to me, Darkside (with glorious guitar work), Blood On The Sheets and the blues I Pledge Allegiance To Your Love stand out.

In general, the superb production of Diamonds And Pearls shines through. That can be applied to many of the unreleased material as well.

Diamonds And Pearls Tour

Concerts

And then there are the live recordings. The Live At Glam Slam, 1992 is essentially a dress rehearsal for the upcoming Diamonds And Perals tour. The songs The Sacrifice Of Victor and Sexy M.F. are part of the setlist. Both songs wouldn’t be released before October 1992, when they appeared on the O(+> album. Prince and band are tight, hungry and highly motivated.

Conclusion

A nice release. A must-have for Prince aficionados. But, for me this release once again proves that Prince didn’t make his best material between 1990 and 1993. Luckily, the exceptions were there. The set does contain at least one (possibly 2) cd’s worth of essential Prince music.

Songs

CD 1: Diamonds And Pearls

All songs written by Prince And The New Power Generation.

Prince & The New Power Generation – Diamonds And Pearls

Thunder
Daddy Pop
Diamonds And Pearls
Cream
Strollin’
Willing And Able
Gett Off
Walk Don’t Walk
Jughead
Money Don’t Matter 2 Night
Push
Insatiable
Live 4 Love

CD 2: Single Mixes & Edits

All songs written by Prince And The New Power Generation.

Gett Off (Damn Near 10 Min.)
Gett Off (Houstyle)
Violet The Organ Grinder
Gangster Glam
Horny Pony
Cream (N.P.G. Mix)
Things Have Gotta Change (Tony M Rap)
Do Your Dance (KC’s Remix)
Insatiable (Edit)
Diamonds And Pearls (Edit)
Money Don’t Matter 2 Night (Edit)
Call The Law
Willing And Able (Edit)
Willing And Able (Video Version)
Thunder (DJ Fade)

CD 3: Vault I