💿 Dial M‑A‑C‑E‑O – Album: Apr. 2000
- GlamSlamEscape
- Apr 11, 2000
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
A landmark release in Maceo Parker’s catalogue, Dial M‑A‑C‑E‑O arrived on March 23 2000 (Japan) and April 11 2000 worldwide, as a collaborative, cross‑genre project enriched by Prince’s direct musical involvement. Featuring instrumental versions of “The Greatest Romance Ever Sold” and “Baby Knows” built from Prince’s original backing tracks, the album stands as a rare intersection of Parker’s jazz‑funk mastery and Prince’s late‑’90s creative universe.
🟣 The Story
Released worldwide in April 2000 (with Japan receiving the album three weeks earlier), Dial M‑A‑C‑E‑O captures a moment of creative exchange between Maceo Parker and Prince. Their collaboration began after Ani DiFranco’s 3 July 1999 concert at Midway Stadium, where Prince invited DiFranco and Parker to Paisley Park. DiFranco added guitar to “Love U, But Don’t Trust U Anymore,” while Parker contributed saxophone to “Prettyman.”
Prince later sent Parker the basic tracks for “The Greatest Romance Ever Sold” and “Baby Knows,” which Parker re‑imagined as instrumental pieces. His saxophone overdubs were likely recorded in September 1999 at Dan’s House Of Love in New York. The album also features contributions from Ani DiFranco, James Taylor, and Greg Boyer, who would later join Prince’s band.
Although no commercial singles were released, “The Greatest Romance Ever Sold” circulated as a promotional CD around the album’s launch. The album charted modestly but steadily across the USA and Europe, reflecting Parker’s enduring appeal and the project’s cross‑genre reach.
🟣 Format: CD Album
Label:
ESC Records / Cream Records / What Are Records? / Victor / Acqua Records
Catalogue Number:
[Varies by region — see Variants]
Released:
March 23, 2000 (Japan) and April 11, 2000 worldwide
Edition Type:
Standard CD Album
Disc Count:
1
🟣 Track List — CD 1
Dial M A C E O
Rabbits In The Pea Patch
My Baby Loves You
I’ve Got Work To Do
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold — 5:38
Black Widow
Coin Toss
Simply Tooley
Latin Like
The Closer I Get To You
My Love
Homeboy
Baby Knows — 3:20 (hidden bonus track)
🟣 Writing Credits
• Prince (as ) — “The Greatest Romance Ever Sold,” “Baby Knows”
🟣 Production Credits
• Produced by: Prince (as )
• Recording Engineer: Prince (as )
• Additional Recording: Paul Mitchell, Marcus Miller (on “The Greatest Romance Ever Sold”)
• Additional Engineering: Kevin Brennan (on “Baby Knows”)
• Recording Engineer: Hans‑Martin Buff
• Mastering: Greg Calbi (Sterling Sound, NYC)
• Executive Producers: Natasha Maddison, Joachim Becker, Rob Gordon
• Photography: Holger Keifel
• Cover Concept & Design: Joachim Oster, Niko Plaitakis
🟣 Key Highlights
• Contains two Prince‑related tracks using Prince’s original backing tracks
• “Baby Knows” appears as an uncredited hidden bonus track
• Features contributions from Ani DiFranco, James Taylor, and Greg Boyer
• Prince and Parker’s collaboration grew directly from a 1999 Paisley Park session
• Reached multiple jazz charts across the USA and Europe
🟣 Personnel
• Maceo Parker — alto saxophone, flute
• Prince (as ) — all other instruments and vocals (except where noted)
• Sheryl Crow — vocals and harmonica on “Baby Knows”
• Michael B. — drums on “Baby Knows”
🟣 Variants
• CD Album — ESC Records – ESC 03665‑2 — Germany — 2000
• CD Album — Cream Records – JMS 18714‑2 — France — 2000
• CD Album — What Are Records? – WARPO3818 — USA — 2000
• CD Album — Victor – VICP 60988 — Japan — 2000
• CD Album — Acqua Records – AQ 036 — Argentina — 2000
• CD Album — Acqua Records – AQ 036 — Spain — 2004
• CD Album — ESC Records – ESC 03665‑2 — Germany — Reissue — 2000
• LP Album — ESC Records – ESC 03665‑1 — Germany — 2000
• Cassette — Cream Records – JMS18714‑4 — USA — 2000
🟣 Chart Performance
USA
Billboard Jazz Albums — Peak: #44 — 3 weeks
Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums — Peak: #25 — 1 week
Europe
France Top Albums — Peak: #63 — 3 weeks
Germany Offizielle Top 100 — Peak: #45 — 7 weeks
Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade — Peak: #57 — 7 weeks
🟣 Context & Notes
• Prince provided the original backing tracks for the two Prince‑related songs
• “Baby Knows” appears as a hidden, uncredited track
• Parker’s sax overdubs likely recorded September 1999
• Album includes contributions from future NPG member Greg Boyer
• Japanese release preceded the worldwide release by three weeks
🟣 Related Material
Additional material connected to this entry is listed in the tag index at the foot of the page.
🟣 Mini‑Timeline
✦ 3 July 1999 — Prince meets Ani DiFranco & Maceo Parker at Midway Stadium
✦ Sept 1999 — Parker records sax overdubs in New York
✦ April 2000 — Dial M‑A‑C‑E‑O released worldwide
🟣 Glam Flashback
A late‑night Paisley spark becomes a full‑blown jazz‑funk detour — Prince’s grooves reborn through Maceo’s horn.
🟣 Sources
Discogs, Billboard, Prince Vault, Official Charts Company, archival documentation.
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