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Prince spent the latter half of the '80s courting the pop audience, and by the time of Graffiti Bridge, he had lost much of his R&B fan base. As a response, he formed the New Power Generation and recorded Diamonds and Pearls, his first record to reconnect with the urban audience since 1999, as well as his first to acknowledge the hip-hop revolution. Although he still has a problem with rap -- "Jughead" is simply embarrassing -- he manages to skillfully reinvent himself as an urban soulman without sacrificing his musical innovation. The New Power Generation is a more skilled band than the Revolution, and they are able to make Prince's funk jazzier, particularly on "Willing and Able," the breezy "Strollin'" and "Walk Don't Walk." It's clear that these subtly textured songs are where his heart is at, but the songs designed to win back his audience -- the slamming dancefloor rallying cry "Gett Off," the sexy T. Rex groove "Cream," the extraordinary Philly soul of the neglected masterpiece "Money Don't Matter 2 Night," and the drippy mainstream ballad "Diamonds and Pearls" -- are all terrific pop singles. However, much of the rest of Diamonds and Pearls is comprised of middling funk and R&B that sounds less like inspired workouts than stylistic exercises. Even with such weak moments, Diamonds and Pearls is a fine record, even though it's only marginally better than Lovesexy and Graffiti Bridge.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Levi Seacer, Jr., Producer, Guitar, Background Vocal - Tommy Barbarella, Producer, Keyboards, Sampler - Rosie Gaines, Producer, Organ, Sampler, Background Vocal - Prince, Producer, Arranger, All Instruments, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Prince & The New Power Generation, Composer, Lyricist, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer - Michael Bland, Producer, Drums - Steve Noonan, Engineer - KIRK JOHNSON, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal - Michael Koppelman, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Brian Poer, Engineer - The New Power Generation, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Lloyd Thompson, Producer, Bass Guitar, Background Vocal - Tony Mosley, Producer, Background Vocal - Damon Dickson, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal
(P) 1991 NPG Records, Inc. under exclusive license to Legacy Recordings
Levi Seacer, Jr., Producer, Guitar, Background Vocal - Tommy Barbarella, Producer, Keyboards, Sampler - Rosie Gaines, Producer, Organ, Sampler, Background Vocal - Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, All Instruments, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Prince & The New Power Generation, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer - Keith Cohen, Mixing Engineer - Michael Bland, Producer, Drums - KIRK JOHNSON, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal - Michael Koppelman, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer - Elisa Fiorillo, Vocal - Tim Penn, Engineer - The New Power Generation, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Lloyd Thompson, Producer, Bass Guitar, Background Vocal - Tony Mosley, Producer - Damon Dickson, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal
(P) 1991 NPG Records, Inc. under exclusive license to Legacy Recordings
Levi Seacer, Jr., Producer, Guitar, Background Vocal - Tommy Barbarella, Producer, Engineer, Keyboards - Rosie Gaines, Producer, Organ, Sampler, Background Vocal - Prince, Producer, Arranger, All Instruments, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Prince & The New Power Generation, Composer, Lyricist, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer - Michael Bland, Producer, Drums - KIRK JOHNSON, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal - Michael Koppelman, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Tim Penn, Producer - The New Power Generation, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Lloyd Thompson, Producer, Bass Guitar, Background Vocal - Tony Mosley, Producer, Background Vocal - Damon Dickson, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal
(P) 1991 NPG Records, Inc. under exclusive license to Legacy Recordings
Levi Seacer, Jr., Producer, Guitar, Background Vocal - Tommy Barbarella, Producer, Keyboards, Sampler - Rosie Gaines, Producer, Organ, Sampler, Background Vocal - Prince, Producer, Arranger, All Instruments, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Prince & The New Power Generation, Composer, Lyricist, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer - Keith Cohen, Mixing Engineer - Michael Bland, Producer, Drums - KIRK JOHNSON, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal - Michael Koppelman, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer - Tim Penn, Engineer - The New Power Generation, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Lloyd Thompson, Producer, Bass Guitar, Background Vocal - Tony Mosley, Producer, Background Vocal - Damon Dickson, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal
(P) 1991 NPG Records, Inc. under exclusive license to Legacy Recordings
Levi Seacer, Jr., Producer, Guitar, Background Vocal - Tommy Barbarella, Producer, Keyboards, Sampler - Rosie Gaines, Producer, Organ, Sampler, Background Vocal - Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, All Instruments, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Prince & The New Power Generation, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer - Michael Bland, Producer, Drums - KIRK JOHNSON, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal - Michael Koppelman, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Matt Larson, Recording Engineer - The New Power Generation, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Lloyd Thompson, Producer, Bass Guitar, Background Vocal - Tony Mosley, Producer, Background Vocal - Damon Dickson, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal
(P) 1991 NPG Records, Inc. under exclusive license to Legacy Recordings
Jevetta Steele, Vocal - Levi Seacer, Jr., Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Guitar, Background Vocal - Tommy Barbarella, Producer, Keyboards, Sampler - Rosie Gaines, Producer, Organ, Sampler, Background Vocal - Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, All Instruments, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Prince & The New Power Generation, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Michael Bland, Producer, Drums - KIRK JOHNSON, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal - Michael Koppelman, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer - Matt Larson, Recording Engineer - Tim Penn, Engineer - J.D. Steele, Vocal - Fred Steele, Vocal - Jearlyn Steele, Vocal - The New Power Generation, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Lloyd Thompson, Producer, Bass Guitar, Background Vocal - Tony Mosley, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Background Vocal - Damon Dickson, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal - Janice V. Steele, Vocal
(P) 1991 NPG Records, Inc. under exclusive license to Legacy Recordings
Levi Seacer, Jr., Producer - Tommy Barbarella, Producer - Rosie Gaines, Producer - Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Prince & The New Power Generation, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Bland, Producer - KIRK JOHNSON, Producer - Eric Leeds, Flute - The New Power Generation, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Lloyd Thompson, Producer - Tony Mosley, Producer - Damon Dickson, Producer
(P) 1991 NPG Records, Inc. under exclusive license to Legacy Recordings
Levi Seacer, Jr., Producer, Guitar, Background Vocal - Tommy Barbarella, Producer, Keyboards, Mixing Engineer, Sampler - Rosie Gaines, Producer, Organ, Sampler, Background Vocal - Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, All Instruments, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Prince & The New Power Generation, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer - Michael Bland, Producer, Drums - KIRK JOHNSON, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal - Michael Koppelman, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Elisa Fiorillo, Vocal - The New Power Generation, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Lloyd Thompson, Producer, Bass Guitar, Background Vocal - Tony Mosley, Producer, Background Vocal - Damon Dickson, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal
(P) 1991 NPG Records, Inc. under exclusive license to Legacy Recordings
Levi Seacer, Jr., Producer, Guitar, Background Vocal - Tommy Barbarella, Producer, Keyboards, Sampler - Rosie Gaines, Producer, Organ, Sampler, Background Vocal - Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, All Instruments, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Prince & The New Power Generation, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer - Michael Bland, Producer, Drums - Steve Noonan, Engineer - KIRK JOHNSON, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal - Michael Koppelman, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Brian Poer, Engineer - The New Power Generation, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Lloyd Thompson, Producer, Bass Guitar, Background Vocal - Tony Mosley, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Background Vocal - Damon Dickson, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal
(P) 1991 NPG Records, Inc. under exclusive license to Legacy Recordings
Levi Seacer, Jr., Producer, Guitar, Background Vocal - Tommy Barbarella, Producer, Keyboards, Sampler - Rosie Gaines, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Organ, Sampler, Background Vocal - Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, All Instruments, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Prince & The New Power Generation, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer - Michael Bland, Producer, Drums - KIRK JOHNSON, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal - Michael Koppelman, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Matt Larson, Recording Engineer - Tim Penn, Engineer - The New Power Generation, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Lloyd Thompson, Producer, Bass Guitar, Background Vocal - Tony Mosley, Producer, Background Vocal - Damon Dickson, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal
(P) 1991 NPG Records, Inc. under exclusive license to Legacy Recordings
Levi Seacer, Jr., Producer, Guitar, Background Vocal - Tommy Barbarella, Producer, Keyboards, Sampler - Rosie Gaines, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Organ, Sampler, Background Vocal - Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, All Instruments, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Prince & The New Power Generation, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer - Michael Bland, Producer, Drums - Steve Noonan, Engineer - KIRK JOHNSON, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal - Michael Koppelman, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer - Brian Poer, Engineer - The New Power Generation, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - David Friedlander, Engineer - Lloyd Thompson, Producer, Bass Guitar, Background Vocal - Tony Mosley, Producer, Background Vocal - Damon Dickson, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal
(P) 1991 NPG Records, Inc. under exclusive license to Legacy Recordings
Levi Seacer, Jr., Producer, Guitar, Background Vocal - Tommy Barbarella, Producer, Keyboards, Sampler - Rosie Gaines, Producer, Organ, Sampler, Background Vocal - Prince, Producer, Arranger, All Instruments, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Prince & The New Power Generation, Composer, Lyricist, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer - Sylvia Massy, Engineer - Michael Bland, Producer, Drums - Steve Noonan, Engineer - KIRK JOHNSON, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal - Michael Koppelman, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Brian Poer, Engineer - The New Power Generation, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Lloyd Thompson, Producer, Bass Guitar, Background Vocal - Tony Mosley, Producer, Background Vocal - Damon Dickson, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal
(P) 1991 NPG Records, Inc. under exclusive license to Legacy Recordings
Levi Seacer, Jr., Producer, Guitar, Background Vocal - Tommy Barbarella, Producer, Keyboards, Sampler - Rosie Gaines, Producer, Organ, Sampler, Background Vocal - Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, All Instruments, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Prince & The New Power Generation, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer - Michael Bland, Producer, Drums - KIRK JOHNSON, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal - Michael Koppelman, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer - Tim Penn, Engineer - Brian Poer, Engineer - The New Power Generation, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Lloyd Thompson, Producer, Bass Guitar, Background Vocal - Tony Mosley, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Background Vocal - Damon Dickson, Producer, Percussion, Background Vocal
(P) 1991 NPG Records, Inc. under exclusive license to Legacy Recordings
Album review
Prince spent the latter half of the '80s courting the pop audience, and by the time of Graffiti Bridge, he had lost much of his R&B fan base. As a response, he formed the New Power Generation and recorded Diamonds and Pearls, his first record to reconnect with the urban audience since 1999, as well as his first to acknowledge the hip-hop revolution. Although he still has a problem with rap -- "Jughead" is simply embarrassing -- he manages to skillfully reinvent himself as an urban soulman without sacrificing his musical innovation. The New Power Generation is a more skilled band than the Revolution, and they are able to make Prince's funk jazzier, particularly on "Willing and Able," the breezy "Strollin'" and "Walk Don't Walk." It's clear that these subtly textured songs are where his heart is at, but the songs designed to win back his audience -- the slamming dancefloor rallying cry "Gett Off," the sexy T. Rex groove "Cream," the extraordinary Philly soul of the neglected masterpiece "Money Don't Matter 2 Night," and the drippy mainstream ballad "Diamonds and Pearls" -- are all terrific pop singles. However, much of the rest of Diamonds and Pearls is comprised of middling funk and R&B that sounds less like inspired workouts than stylistic exercises. Even with such weak moments, Diamonds and Pearls is a fine record, even though it's only marginally better than Lovesexy and Graffiti Bridge.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 01:05:36
- Main artists: Prince NPG
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Legacy Recordings
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B Funk
(P) 1991 NPG Records, Inc. under exclusive license to Legacy Recordings
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