Newpower Soul

BMG

Funk owned and creatively grown.

Released under the credit of The New Power Generation, Newpower Soul is therefore not officially a ‘Prince‘ album. His involvement with this album is credited under the name “The Artist Formally Known As Prince (Prince love symbol) – all musical instruments and tantrums” plus he is prominently and solely featured on the cover. Recorded at Paisley Park Studios between May 1997 and February 1998, Newpower Soul is a de facto Prince album and must be regarded as such.

Newpower Soul was released as a stand-alone CD through BMG, due to Prince’s friendship with the label’s then owner Clive Davis. It was also available for purchase through his merchandise website 1800newfunk.com as a 3-disk slipcase set under the name New Power Pak, which included Chaka Khan’s Come 2 My House and Larry Graham’s GCS2000.

The song Wasted Kisses is notable in that it contains a sample of a heart monitor flat-lining and is therefore believed to reference Prince and Mayte’s son Amir, who tragically died from complications days after his birth. Prince promoted Newpower Soul on tour and despite it being credited solely to the New Power Generation, fared well in the charts – peaking at number 22 in Billboard’s top 200 and 8 in its R&B chart.

Prince | Newpower Soul — Photography by Steve Parke

The New Power Generation

Vocals/Guitar: The Artist Formally Known As Prince
Programming: Kirk Johnson
Rhythm Guitar: Mike Scott
Keyboards: Morris Hayes
Bass Guitar: Rhonda Smith
Vocals: Marva King
Horns: The Hornheadz

Data

Production

The Artist Formally Known As Prince

Label

NPG Records

Distribution

BMG

Cover/Design

Steve Parke

Released

22 years, 9 months ago on 30 June 1998

Running Time

59:54

US Chart Peak

UK Chart Peak

Orig. Format

Tracklist

Newpower Soul (5:01)
Mad Sex (5:13)
Until U're In My Arms Again (4:47)
When U Love Somebody (5:56)
Shoo-Bed-Ooh (3:24)
Push It Up [feat. Doug E. Fresh and Larry Graham] (5:28)
Freaks On This Side (5:42)
Come On [feat. Chaka Khan] (5:59) ¹
The One (7:05)
(Eye Like) Funky Music [feat. Doug E. Fresh] (4:32)
Silent (0:44)
Wasted Kisses (3:07) ²

¹ Released as a single.
² Hidden track (#49).

Singles from Newpower Soul

Come On

NPG Records

Released

16 October 1998

US Chart Peak

UK Chart Peak

Formats

Come On [Doug E. Fresh Mix] (4:57)
Come On [Remix] (8:14)
Come On [Album Edit] (4:30)
Come On [Hypermix] (7:58)
Come On [Latenitemix] (4:10)
Come On [Acapella] (3:27)

Come On

NPG Records

Released

9 November 1998

US Chart Peak

Ineligible

UK Chart Peak

Ineligible

Format

Come On [Doug E. Fresh Mix] (4:57)
Come On [Remix] (8:14)
Come On [Album Edit] (4:30)
Come On [Hypermix] (7:58)
Come On [Latenitemix] (4:10)
Come On [Acapella] (3:27)
The One [Remix] [feat. Marva King] (7:09)

Supporting tour

Jam of the Year

1997/8

Love 4 One Another Charities Tour (USA & Canada)
35 shows from 7 January to 29 June, 1997
Jam Of The Year (USA & Canada)
65 shows from 12 July 1997 to 22 January 1998
Newpower Soul Tour (Europe)
17 shows from 30 April to 28 August, 1998
Newpower Festival (USA & Europe)
15 shows from 23 September to 28 December, 1998

Newpower Soul – review

Prince had not been this funky since Dirty Mind, and why did it have to take so long! With Mad Sex and Push It Up, it’s business as usual for his Purple Badness’s favourite subject again, although from this point forward swearing would be off bounds for Prince. Technically Newpower Soul is an NPG, not a ‘Prince/Prince love symbol‘ album, but with his photo on the cover and the Prince sound throughout every track it’s no secret whose album Newpower Soul is. In subsequent years Prince became more blues brother than funk soul brother and it’s easy to forget just how funky Prince can be at the drop of a hat, and thankfully proof of that comes back with a vengeance on this collection. Newpower Soul is a woefully overlooked album which punches well above its weight. The best tracks are When U Love Somebody, the moody Shoo-Bed-Ooh, playful Mad Sex and the rousing Push It Up, only slowing down the proceedings for Until U’re In My Arms Again and the classy The One. Freaks On This Side takes a couple of listens but when you let it in it becomes the song on the album you’ll play the loudest. It is Rhonda’s bass that elevates Newpower Soul with Come On and will be your most played track on the album (the remixes pack even greater punch). Be sure not to miss the bonus track Wasted Kisses, which rounds off a much unappreciated but extremely solid album. Prince may have sworn off swearing but he is still able to muster plenty of attitude.