Prince’s first fully independent release after leaving Warner Bros., Emancipation is a 3‑hour, 36‑track celebration of artistic freedom, marriage, spirituality, and rebirth. Issued as a triple‑CD and triple‑cassette on November 19, 1996, it stands as the longest and most ambitious album of his career.

Originally intended for an anonymous 1987 release, The Black Album was withdrawn by Prince at the last moment after what he described as a spiritual awakening. Its destruction created the most infamous bootleg in pop history, finally resurfacing in 1994 as a limited, title‑less, artist‑less official release.

“Partyman” was released on September 15, 1989 as the second single from Batman, Prince’s eleventh album and the soundtrack to Tim Burton’s blockbuster film. Arriving two months after the album, the single continued the hugely successful commercial tie‑in between Prince and the Batman franchise.

A stripped‑back Lovesexy groove that became Prince’s first CD‑era single — SUMMARY "Alphabet St." was launched as the lead single from Prince's tenth album, Lovesexy, debuting three weeks ahead of the album in the US and four weeks prior in the UK. Released globally, the single came in a clear sleeve adorned with a stylized sticker instead of conventional artwork—a design strategy also used for the subsequent single "Glam Slam." The release holds historical significance as t

The song features vocals from Sheena Easton and percussion from Sheila E., though neither is credited on the single sleeve. Prince also credited himself as “Camille” for additional vocals, continuing the gender‑bending persona introduced earlier in the album sessions.

“Paisley Park” was released on May 24 1985 as the second single from Around The World In A Day, though in the UK, Europe, and Australia it functioned as the lead single from the album. It arrived five weeks after the album’s release — on the very same day Prince recorded “Hello” in the studio.