Madhouse 16

Warner Bros. Records

16 is the second album of Prince’s jazz side-project named Madhouse, which was recorded at Paisley Park Studios between 30 July and 2 August 1987 right after the shooting of the Sign O’ The Times movie. It was preceded by Madhouse 8 and by the release of Madhouse’s second album the musicians contributing to the project broadened to include Sheila E, Levi Seacer and Matt Fink.

This follow up album continues the tradition begun by the first album, to name tracks numerically and so begins where the previous eight track debut album left off, thereby containing tracks Nine to Sixteen, the last of which giving the name of the album: 16. Prince’s involvement on the Madhouse 16 is credited under the pseudonym John Lewis.

Madhouse 24

A third Madhouse album was conceived in 1988, and following convention of previous Madhouse releases the third album was to be named 24. Prince co-wrote the material with Eric Leeds, but the work was rejected by Warner Brothers in 1989 and was given to Leeds to re-work and evolve into his debut solo album and was released via Prince’s Paisley Park label in 1991 under the name Times Squared – Prince again co-writing and performing almost every track for the album. The third Madhouse album was revived with the recording of new material on 7 July 1993 and was intended for release in 1994/5 – however, unknown reasons saw Prince cancel the project. 17 was to be the only track from 24 to be released in its original form – appearing in 1994 in the compilation album 1-800 NEW FUNK.