Emancipation is the nineteenth studio album by American recording artist Prince. It was released on November 19, 1996 by NPG Records and EMI Records. The title refers to Prince's freedom from his contract with Warner Bros. Records after 18 years, with which he had a contentious relationship. The album was Prince's third to be released that year, which made 1996 one of the most prolific years for material released by Prince.
Overview
Emancipation is something of a concept album, celebrating his release from Warner Bros. as well as his marriage to Mayte Garcia, who became his wife on Valentine's Day earlier that year. With his newfound freedom, Prince experimented more openly with varying genres, including house and blues. Prince also freely commented on his fame and dealings with Warner Bros. while also returning slightly to the "computer" theme he explored a decade earlier. "Jam of the Year" is the opening song on the album. It features Prince, singing in his falsetto range, and Rosie Gaines on backing vocals. It later became the name of the tour for the album, and a live version of the song was released as part of a single called "NYC Live" in 1997. Prince wrote several songs and ballads dedicated to his wife, Mayte Garcia, and his unborn child, most of which appear on the second disc of the album. The child, born in October 1996, suffered from Pfeiffer syndrome type 2, a rare skull disease, and died shortly after birth. A recording of the child's heartbeat is featured as part of the percussion of "Sex in the Summer." "My Computer" is a collaboration with British art pop musician Kate Bush, featuring lyrics examining the burgeoning online dating scene and its implications on how romantic relationships can develop in the internet age. Prince previously collaborated with Bush on the song "Why Should I Love You", released on Bush's 1993 album The Red Shoes. Emancipation marked the first album in Prince's career to include cover versions of songs written by other songwriters; Prince claimed that he had wanted to cover songs in the past, but was advised against it by Warner Bros. Four such covers appeared on the album: "Betcha by Golly Wow!", "I Can't Make You Love Me", "La-La " retitled "La, La, La Means ? Love U", and "One of Us". Notably, Prince changed the chorus of "One of Us" from "What if God was one of us / Just a slob like one of us" to "...Just a slave like one of us". The album is notable for its format: it consists of three discs, each containing 12 songs with exactly 60 minutes per disc. Prince insinuated to the press at the time that the number of songs, discs and length of the album had a connection with the Egyptians and Egyptian pyramids.
Response
In the United States, the album debuted at number 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. Emancipation is the fourth-best-selling triple album ever in the United States. The subsequent Jam of the Year Tour was a major success, resulting in a significant comeback for Prince, after the commercial and critical disappointment of Chaos and Disorder from earlier that year.
Track listing
All tracks written by Prince, except where noted. Notes:
Every use of the pronoun "I" throughout the song titles and liner notes is actually represented by a stylized "?" symbol. This symbol is commonly transliterated as "Eye" amongst Prince fans, as "? No" and "I Wish U Heaven" both appeared on Lovesexy.
"Mr. Happy" contains a sample of "What Can I Do?" by Ice Cube.
"Style" contains a sample of "Atomic Dog" by George Clinton.
"Sleep Around" contains a sample of "Squib Cakes" by Tower of Power.
