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Vault Series Vol 1
NPG Records
PosthumousThe debt of the ones before us must be paid
The annual Celebration hosted by The Prince Estate in memorandum of Prince since his death in 2016, its 2023 event was staged from 8 to 11 June to mark the week that would have seen Prince’s 65th birthday.
On the final day of Celebration 2023, organisers handed out to attendees a USB key shaped in the appearance of a cassette. This USB held two MP3s of previously unreleased tracks; All A Share Together Now and a reworking of 7 remixed in E-Flat. What intrigued fans most, was the labelling on the insert on the cassette encasing the USB, titled Vault Series Vol 1 – an implication the item was inaugurating a run of releases of Prince’s horde of unreleased recordings.
The choice of the songs was questioned in fan circles as the tracks are completely unconnected. The oldest 7, was mixed two years after the December 1990 creation of the original song which appeared on Prince and the New Power Generation’s 1992 Love Symbol Album. The E-Flat version of the track was remixed at Paisley Park Studios on 9 August 1992, creating an entirely new version of the song complete with alternate vocal tracking. Striking a lower key tone, the track was possibly considered for the 7 single’s accompanying EP but was rejected.
The funky All A Share Together Now dates from 4 September 2006 and is likewise recorded at Paisley Park Studios. The song was created between the releases of the albums 3121 and Planet Earth and not intended for a specific project. Tying in with the theme of Celebration 2023, the number 7 (the years since Prince’s passing), both tracks received wider release on digital streaming platforms on 7 July 2023 (7/7, 2+0+2+3=7).
Vault Series Vol 1 was marred in controversy, being the first original release by The Prince Estate under the new management since taking over the running on 29 July 2022 at the completion of a six-year legal process to settle Prince’s probate. Disgruntled fans viewed the release of just two tracks as slim pickings from the wealth of material that could otherwise have been released. A gripe was also raised with the audio quality of the MP3s on the USB issue, which the Estate acknowledged was inferior when confirming the sound would be improved for the commercial release. It left many wondering why that process was not done prior to the issue of the USB less than a month earlier and doubting the organisation of the Estate’s management. It is understood the sound audio quality was reduced on the USB version to prevent illegal duplication.
![7 [E-Flat Version] | All A Share Together Now](https://goldiesparade.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/allasharetogether.jpg)
Performers
- Vocals / all Instr
- Prince
Data
- Producer
- Prince
- Label
- NPG Records
- Distribution
- NPG Records
- Cover/Design
- Tora Borealis
- Released
- 1 year ago on 7 July 2023
- Running Time
- 8:48
- US Chart Peak
- Did not chart
- UK Chart Peak
- Did not chart
- Orig. Format
-
Tracklist
- All A Share Together Now (3:46)
- 7 [E-Flat Version] (5:02)
Vault Series Vol 1 – review
The future looked bright when Prince’s sister walked from the courtroom for the final time, clad in purple to declare “We’re going to bring his original music out.” The six-year legal battle was exhausting but with its close the management of the Estate passed to the control of Prince’s lawful heirs. Used to an lively release schedule when in the hands of a bank, once the family took the helm, The Prince Estate plunged into a deafening silence. Milestone anniversaries slipped by, as did the rumours, and hope of an announcement coinciding with the Celebration – yet nothing came. Alarming news of infighting confirmed fears that all was not well behind the scenes; a rift between the family and the lawyers they appointed to head the Estate’s running. Talk of deluxe editions were answered with a showering of Prince branded hoodies, bed linen and incense candles, whilst the Estate appeared perplexingly ignorant of the mountain of unreleased music and footage at its disposal. The pall of dismay, waiting hopelessly for just any hint from purple HQ’s posts starved social media accounts. The excuse later proffered was that “set up” takes time. Estate 1.0 release schedule 2019-2022 suggest this is nonsense, so why was Estate 2.0 in such a drab state of affairs? The set up being alluded to is the strange situation The Estate finds itself, contracting two competing record labels to distribute the same releases: Sony Legacy the US and Warner Records worldwide. One long year later, drops two MP3s. A random, if meagre, break in the clouds albeit with neither relation or thought. Of them, All A Share Together Now is the better; a pleasing up-tempo Biblical themed track from 2006 in the jazzy style of Prettyman. The other is an alternate version of the 1992 hit 7 Prince reworked in E-Flat in 1992. Striking a darker tone opposed to the album version’s upbeat positivity, 7 [E-Flat Version] closes with added bass licks. Let us pray Prince Estate have more substantial plans in store in the near future.
Vault Series Vol 1 is rated 3 out of 5 by Goldies Parade.

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