The New Power Generation (with Prince) and the story of the fantastic Exodus

The New Power Generation 1995

This shit is dedicated to the memory of His Royal Badness
I know his name, that motherfuckin’ Prince
Rest in peace nigga!

Introduction

The period following the release of the compilation The Hits / The B-Sides and the name change from Prince to was exciting, chaotic and genius. In between the public feuds that delivered the Come and The Gold Experience albums, the second album by The New Power Generation was released. This is the story of Exodus.

Content

This article continues where the articles about Prince’s name change , the (route to) the releases of Come and The Gold Experience and the Ultimate Live Experience tour ended:

• Prince and the name change
• Prince releases the fine Come (and nobody seems to care)
• At long last Prince’s The Gold Experience is released!
• Prince 1995 Ultimate Live Experience in Holland

It’s highly recommended to read those stories first. This article uses two sub articles:

• The Artist Formerly Known As Prince – A Sunday Show Special
• The New Power Generation – Exodus – The reviews

It will be referenced in this article as well.

A new name and new music

While the fight between and Warner Bros. kept on escalating, was going through an extremely fertile period. Song after song after song was written, recorded, attached to a project and stored in the Paisley Park Vault.

It was apparent as well that had left the meager 1990-1992 years behind him. The name change from Prince to had seemingly reignited the prolific and innovative fires. On March 6, 1994, the first proof was delivered with the radio broadcast of the Beautiful Experience concert, alongside new studio songs. A truly phenomenal concert recording and exciting, innovative new music. Prince (as ) could still do it and how! A fine introduction to what would ultimately turn into the albums Come and The Gold Experience.

Paisley Park exterior

May 15, 1994

Of course it still wasn’t enough for . On May 15, 1994, the backing band musicians were playing a (musical) game in the studio:

… and then Prince walks in and says “What’s happening?” (…) I’m like “Dude, they’re trying to trick each other off the beat.” I said “We should just be making this a record right now.” He walked to the phone right behind him. He calls in the studio head. We had a studio engineer called Ray Hahnfeldt. He calls Ray and says “Can you get some tape in studio A and have them move all the gear in?”, just like that, “Then we will make a record.”

Morris Hayes, Peach and Black Podcast, December 6, 2017

And it truly was that easy. On that day the foundations for the songs Get Wild, New Power Soul, The Exodus Has Begun, Hallucination Rain, Slave 2 The System, Count The Days and It Takes 3 were put to tape; 5 of them would end up on an entirely new album.

Tora Tora?

Segues

In the 1990s so-called segues, also known as skits, were frequently used, particularly on hip-hop productions. Prince/ utilized them as well, as evidenced on the album. He recorded a lot of them for the Exodus album, with the purpose of contextualizing the album and its songs in a broader story.

Configurations

Early June 1994 the first configuration for the new album was assembled, On June 19, 1994, followed by a second:

• npg bum rush the ship
• The Exodus Has Begun
• npg operator
• Get Wild
• sonny turns the t.v. off
• Count The Days
• d.j. gets jumped
• New Power Soul
• d.j. seduces sonny
• It Takes 3
• gettin’ the soup ready
• Hallucination Rain
• spooky soup

The segues were all shown in lower captions. With the exception of Slave 2 The System all May 15, 1994, recordings were used.

The New Power Generation – Exodus – Earlier configurations

Apparently wasn’t satisfied yet. More recordings were done and on December 2, 1994, a third album configuration was put together:

• npg operator
• Get Wild
• Slave/Acknowledge Me
• Superhero
• count segue
• Count The Days
• sonny segue
• dj gets jumped
• New Power Soul
• Mad
• Love, Thy Will Be Done
• Funky
• Proud Mary
• npg bum rush the ship segue
• The Exodus Has Begun
• Funky Design

And still it wasn’t done. All songs added to the December 2, 1994, configuration didn’t end up on Exodus. Following a small number of changes (overdubs, hiding previously recorded sounds, maybe samples that couldn’t be used?) and recording even more new songs the album was ready to go in early 1995.

Soundtrack – Prêt-A-Porter

Prêt-A-Porter (Ready To Wear)

On December 6, 1994, the soundtrack to the movie Prêt-A-Porter was released which consisted of songs by Salt-N-Pepa, Janet Jackson, The Rolling Stones, Terence Trent D’Arby and U2 and more, including a song from the Exodus sessions. Get Wild was the 13th song on the soundtrack.

The New Power Generation – Goldnigga

The New Power Generation

The stand-alone use of the name of The New Power Generation was first used on the Goldnigga release in 1993, which was primarily geared towards rap and hip-hop. The group was made up of the musicians playing as backup musicians on the Diamonds And Pearls and albums. The band was marketed as a vehicle for rapper Tony M. However, at the time of the album’s release Tony M. had already left the band. Prince’s influence wasn’t credited, despite him being clearly audible.

Two years later The New Power Generation had been stripped down to just 5 musicians. The backing band was once again presented as an autonomous entity. This time bass player and singer Sonny T. was used as the band’s leader. The group was accompanied by the mysterious Tora Tora. It didn’t take long to realize that Tora Tora was a pseudonym for . His voice was easily distinguishable on the vocals and the many segues.

New Power Generation – Exodus

Exodus

On March 27, 1995, the album Exodus was released in Europe, Australia and Taiwan. Distribution duties were handled by Edel. The album has never been released in the US.

On March 29, 1995, just 3 days after had played his unforgettable Dutch shows at Den Bosch and the Amsterdam Paradiso during his The Ultimate Live Experience tour, I had the album in my possession. Get Wild was the only song stemming from the Exodus album that was a steady part of the The Ultimate Live Experience setlist.

Promotion

Promotional activities for Exodus was limited to the UK. On March 15, 1995, the band played Get Wild live on the pop show Top Of The Pops and on April 5, 1995, they played Get Wild and Count The Days on music show The White Room. On April 7, 1995, the band (including Tora Tora) presented a radio show entitled WNPG Radio on BBC Radio 1. During the 26 minute show music off Exodus, the upcoming Mayte album and the, not yet released, album The Gold Experience were played.

The Artist Formerly Known As Prince – A Sunday Show

On March 12, 1995, the BBC documentary The Artist Formerly Known As Prince – A Sunday Show Special was broadcast. American model, actress, writer and tv-personality Veronica Webb interviewed The New Power Generation and special guest in his role as The New Power Generation band member Tora Tora. was allowed to be interviewed, but wouldn’t respond to any questions directly. It provided some utterly bizarre footage. As if the name change from Prince to hadn’t already damaged his image enough around that time, this stage play was even more harmful.

Read the sub article The Artist Formerly Known As Prince – A Sunday Show Special and see for yourself how almost buries his career and legacy. Even though time has been forgiving, especially since Prince/ has been proven to be 100% right in his struggle against the illegitimate ownership of his music and name, the images are barely comprehensible.

N.B./
was ‘unrecognizable’ as Tora Tora because he obscured his face with a see-through scarf at all promotional outings.

The New Power Generation – Exodus – Singles

Singles

Three singles were culled from the album:

• Get Wild, released on March 25, 1995
• The Good Life, released on June 13, 1995, in the US, even though the album wasn’t available in the US, and on August 7, 1995 in the UK
• Count The Days, released on September 25, 1995

The New Power Generation – Exodus – CD

Songs

All songs written by , Sonny T., Michael B., Mr. Hayes and Tommy Barbarella, credited to The New Power Generation.

NPG Operator Intro

segue

This album also frequently addressed the argument between and Warner Bros. The album opens with a phone conversation:

New Power Generation
Is this Paisley Park?
No, this is not that record company, this is N.P.G. Records
Are you conducting a talent search?
Yes, that’s true, we are conducting a worldwide talent search
What are you looking for?
What are we looking for?
Yes
Well, first and foremost, you have to get free
Free?
You know, when it comes time to download your work into your fans’ computers, you can’t have any other contractual obligations
Ahh
Second of all, you have to get smart
Wait a minute
The more substantial your education, the more substantial your income in the new city
Really?
And thirdly and above all
What?
In the face of all adversity, you must be able to…

© 1995 The New Power Generation

Get Wild Perfume

Get Wild

Part of the first Exodus recording session on May 15, 1994. The song was part of the Prêt-A-Porter (Ready To Wear) soundtrack. With The Good Life the only song off the Exodus album to be officially released in the US.

The song itself is a funk anthem containing a lot of energy and power. It serves a a great introduction to this funk filled album.

Get Wild was the first single off the album to be released.

N.B.:
In 1995 launched a perfume called Get Wild. It was available for purchase at the Glam Slam clubs and in the NPG retail stores. There are indications the perfume sold reasonably well.

Segue & DJ Gets Jumped

segues

Two skits in a row. The New Power Generation are on their way to a club, where the DJ plays the then unreleased Prince And The Revolution song Dream Factory. While yelling Don’t y’all wanna hear some real music? the DJ is molested (?) and the music is turned off.

New Power Soul

Part of the first Exodus recording session on May 15, 1994. Instead of the phenomenal Dream Factory the band recommends this song as ‘real music’. It’s a somewhat uniform and uneventful instrumental song. It’s not bad, but it doesn’t come close to the brilliance of Dream Factory.

This song represents the second time the term New Power Soul was used on a Prince/ album. It was introduced on the 1988 Lovesexy album.

DJ Seduces Sonny & Segue

segues

Two annoying segues, where the DJ apologizes (for being molested??) and Sonny T. shoots his tv.

The New Power Generation ft Tora Tora – Count The Days (Live at The White Room)

Count The Days

Early May 1994 this song was recorded as a solo song, a few days later followed by a band recording during the first Exodus recording session on May 15, 1994. Very nice ballad, that blends mellow music with violence in lines like Here’s a motherfucker that I gotta blow away. The song can be interpreted as the countdown to independence (from record companies?). Nice detail is the ‘shout-out’ to Maze: Like Frankie Beverly without Maze.

Count The Days was the third single to be released.

The Good Life

Recorded in December 1994/January 1995. Pure pop. A bit too light for this album, but in itself it’s okay: To the place in everyone’s future / The good life, one day we’ll know.

The Good Life was released as the album’s second single.

Cherry, Cherry

Recorded in December 1994/January 1995. The song resembles Count The Days, in the sense that it combines heavy lyrics with a ballad. Sixties/Motown/doo-wop feel opposite a story about a woman with great problems.

Cherry, Cherry
Every night I ask the Lord why? Oh why?
Cherry, Cherry
Another victim of a suicide (Why oh why?)

© 1995 The New Power Generation

Suicide isn’t a subject that’s often used in Prince/ songs. The word is used in the lyrics to just 4 songs, and this one is the only one in which the act is actually committed.

According to the unsurpassed Prince Vault the lyrics are about a girl Prince and Sonny T. knew from their childhood years. The real name of Cherry in the song is Rozanda. It’s likely that this refers to TLC’s Rozonda Thomas aka “Chili”.

Segue

segue

The New Power Generation – Exodus ad – Trouw 03/30/1995

Return Of The Bump Squad

Recorded in December 1994/January 1995, containing saxophone contributions by Eric Leeds. Prince goes Parliament/Funkadelic. A gloriously funky song that calls for the listener to take care of (his) business:

Bow down motherfucker, surrender your rod
Nothin’ can save you unless His name is God
U better get your house in order, it’s gettin’ late
The return of the bump squad is comin’ your way

© 1995 The New Power Generation

The religious theme is complete when Sonny T. starts reciting the bible after remarking Y’all hold that groove for a while while I pull out the good book.

Mashed Potato Girl Intro & Segue

segues

A rather funny skit that takes place on the television in the background, where tells the story of ‘mashed potato girl’. He curses every other sentence, which he would deeply regret within the next couple of years.

Big Fun

Recorded in December 1994/January 1995. A song about sex: You and me should get together doin’ it on the one / We could have big fun. Funky and a bit sleazy over a lazy beat. Great!

New Power Day & Segue

segues

Another skit taking place on the television, meant to be funny, but outstays its welcome as it’s almost 4 minutes long. Another example of the heavy cursing.

The New Power Generation – Exodus ad – Oor #8 04/22/1995

Hallucination Rain

Part of the first Exodus recording session on May 15, 1994. Psychedelia à la early Funkadelic. Sonny T. has eaten some strange soup and seems to be under the influence of a hallucinating drug. The song itself follows the ebb and flow of a drug trip and keeps on building as it gets wilder and more intense.

This is gonna be the good one
The one that makes all the books
This is gonna be the only chance we get to redeem ourselves
I’ll confess if you do, but here’s the hook
Are you ready?

Pain, pain – sweet laceration
Pain, pain – hallucination rain
Pain, pain – sweet laceration
Pain, pain – hallucination rain

© 1995 The New Power Generation

Great song with alienating distorted guitar (and violin).

NPG Bum Rush The Ship

segue

NPG meet Star Wars? Bad guys want to take over earth using The Endorphin Machine? Does NPG save earth?

The New Power Generation – The Exodus Has Begun – Promo CD single

The Exodus Has Begun

Part of the first Exodus recording session on May 15, 1994. A funk anthem spanning over 10 minutes. A great Parliament/Funkadelic vehicle, musically as well as lyrically. George Clinton gets a genuine name check: And like George said / Get satisfied / Let’s get satisfied, let’s get satisfied. The earth ends up getting saved by the NPG.

Long live the New Power!
Have mercy
Generation after generation, the soul will never die
The exodus has begun
Long live the New Power!
Have mercy
We don’t cry, we don’t die, we just multiply

© 1995 The New Power Generation

Superior funk song. Prince/ seldomly sounded funkier than on this song, which ends up in a glorious orgy of sound, swing, choirs and musical themes. The only downside are the terrible scratches, which were a late addition. Probably added due to the use of samples that couldn’t/wouldn’t be cleared?

Outro

segue

Sonny T. wakes from a dream. Was Exodus nothing more than a dream?

The New Power Generation – Exodus – Promotional sticker

Musicians

All vocals and instruments performed by as Tora Tora (the album cover credits “Double Bass, Vox and Other Shit” to him), helped by:

• Sonny T. – lead and background vocals, bass
• Michael B. – drums, vocals
• Tommy Barbarella – piano, Purpleaxxe™, vocals
• Mr. Hayes – organ, synths, vocals
• Mayte – background vocals, “Spanish vibe and hallucinations”
• New Power Generation Hornz (Michael B. Nelson, Kathy Jensen, Dave Jensen, Brian Gallagher, Steve Strand – horns on Get Wild, New Power Soul, The Exodus Has Begun
• Eric Leeds – saxophone and flute on The Good Life, Return Of The Bump Squad, Big Fun
• Mike Scott – guitar on Cherry, Cherry
• Eric Bradford, James McGregor, Kathleen Bradford, Michael Bradford – background vocals on Return Of The Bump Squad
• Denis Boder – electric violin on Hallucination Rain
• The Steeles (Jevetta Steele, Jearlyn Steele, JD Steele, Fred Steele) – background vocals on The Exodus Has Begun
• Brother Jules – scratches on The Exodus Has Begun
• Levi Seacer, Jr., Kimm James – vocals on The Exodus Has Begun
• Rain Ivana (Mayte) – “NPG Operator”

Reception

The album was well received by the press, especially in Holland, where the album was reviewed in many publications. It’s a clear indication of the fact that Prince/ was still considered to be a huge name and musical force in The Netherlands at that time. Of all the reviews compiled for this article there’s only one in English. Main quotes from the reviews can be found below.

It’s an unexpected pleasant surprise to find Prince in such a playful mood again.
(Algemeen Dagblad, 04/07/1995)

He’s an odd duck, but it’s a musical pleasure to follow him on his many detours.
(Tubantia, 04/07/1995)

Exodus is a very tolerable Prince-record.
(Het Parool, 04/20/1995)

What remains isn’t a very original, but highly infectious and commercial CD with glorious Prince funk and retro-soul, which is definitely worth checking out.
(OOR 8, 04/22/1995)

Like his recent concerts, the album offers a syrupy ballad here and there, but at its core it contains exciting, energetic funk.
(De Limburger, 04/1995)

Exodus is a strong CD that can swing your sweat out from start to finish.
(Hitkrant, 04/1995)

It makes ‘Exodus’ a record that contains 50/50 great funk, but also offers weak stuffing.
(Humo, 04/1995, Belgium)

Exodus is a genuine Prince-records: filled with thumping, danceable funk, great grooves and some ballads.
(Muziek en Beeld, 04/1995)

De cd is unmistakably funky, but it’s not like before, quirky, extravagant.
(Stage, 04/1995)

The rest of ‘Exodus’ is rather average, but an average Prince-cd still doesn’t equate a bad cd.
(Twentse Courant, 04/1995)

Exodus is filled with uncut funk in multiple variants that sizzles from the first to the last minute.
(CJP ladder, de Volkskrant, 05/11/1995)

‘Exodus’ has become a true funk record, which is dominated by George Clinton-like songs referencing everything that’s ever had anything to do with funk and soul.
(Gemerts Nieuwsblad, 05/26/1995)

This makes the wait for The Gold Experience a whole lot more pleasant.
(Aktueel, 05/1995)

Listen and enjoy.
(Alles Op 10, 05/1995)

The cd is perfect, whenever you want to listen to music that doesn’t reach 130 Bpm.
(Extrema, 05/1995)

The New Power Generation, ex-Prince’s backing band, gets stuck in mediocre, at times even corny funk.
(Gazet van Antwerpen, 05/1995, Belgium)

He [Prince] has done it all before, and better.
(Music Maker, 05/1995)

If this is the music he wants to make, his record company should be glad to see the back of the saucy little tyke.
(Time Out, 05/1995, UK)

In short, an album that goes in multiple directions: everybody compiles their own selection. Because we will buy it regardless.
(Update, 05/1995)

It’s horny, swinging, funky as hell and yet not Prince?
(Veronica Magazine, 05/1995)

Using the moniker NPG (New Power Generation), The Artist Formerly Known As Prince ànd his band do it [the concerts] all over again.
(Viva, 05/1995)

Prince is a creative vulcano.
(Yes, 05/1995)

This Exodus is a fine record, an album released by the band New Power Generation.
(Brabants Pers, 06/1995)

…, but this CD isn’t really innovative.
(Spotlight, 06/1995)

‘Exodus’ is no more than an average Prince-record, which makes you lament the heyday of ‘Sign o’ the times’.
(Trouw, 06/1995)

Prince is dead, long live… whoever!
(Avantgrade, 07/1995)

In short, the man formerly known as Prince hits it hard again.
(Raab Karcher, 07-1995)

Prince or not: this is pure bliss.
(Nieuwe Revu, 1995)

The full reviews are available in the sub article The New Power Generation – Exodus – The reviews.

Sales

The album made it in the charts in just four countries: Belgium, The Netherlands, the UK and Switzerland. Sales weren’t huge anywhere.

Exodus has been made available in limited editions only. The album has never been released in the US and hasn’t been available in physical formats after the first pressings. It’s not available on online streaming services (with the exception of Tidal).

The New Power Generation – Exodus ad – The Continental #08 April 1995

Review

The sales numbers don’t reflect the album, not by a long shot. Yes, the segues are too many, too long and annoying after 2 turns and yes, the album does contain 2 lesser songs, but when it’s good it’s truly magnificent.

, let’s be honest here, as Exodus is essentially a album, sounds inspired and extremely funky. Exodus is Prince’s ultimate p-funk album. Songs like Get Wild, Return Of The Bump Squad, Hallucination Rain and The Exodus Has Begun are among the best Prince/ ever recorded and released.

In closing

What’s your take on Exodus? Let me know!

N.B.:
Even though Exodus is a Prince/ album, I still count it as a satellite act album. Contrary to the third album by The New Power Generation, Newpower Soul, presented himself as a different character on Exodus, while he explicitly credited Prince/ on Newpower Soul.

Thank you

Update d.d. 03/29/2025: Edgar Kruize (author of the great book PRINCE: The Dutch Experience) has provided me with a ton of extra reviews: 20 extra Dutch review, 2 Belgian and (yes) 1 English. I am sincerely grateful.

Video
This story contains an accompanying video. Click on the following link to see it: Video: The New Power Generation (with Prince) and the story of the fantastic Exodus.

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