Larry Graham & Graham Central Station (September 25, 2012)– Raise Up Released(US) : September 20, 2012 (France)

GlamSlamEscape

Sep 25, 2012

3 min read

Raise Up is the ninth studio album by Larry Graham & Graham Central Station and was released in September 2012. The album marked the group's return after more than thirteen years since their previous studio release, GCS 2000. It was also the second Larry Graham and Graham Central Station project to feature contributions from Prince, although the earlier collaboration had been issued solely under the Graham Central Station name.

Prince contributed to three tracks on the album: "Raise Up", "Shoulda Coulda Woulda" and "Movin'". These appearances connected the project to the long-standing musical relationship between Larry Graham and Prince. Released through Moosicus Records, the album combined new material with updated versions of songs that had originally appeared in the Graham Central Station catalogue.

RECORDING

The exact recording dates for "Raise Up", "Shoulda Coulda Woulda" and "Movin'" have not been confirmed. It remains unclear whether any elements originated during the 1997-98 recording period that produced GCS 2000. The three Prince-associated tracks were at least partially recorded at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota.

Additional recording locations credited for the project include The G-Station in Chanhassen, Minnesota, and Studio de l’Hacienda in Tarare, France. These facilities were used during the development and completion of the album.

TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES

• GCS Drumline — Opening track included on both the CD and LP editions.

• Throw-N-Down The Funk — Featured as one of the album's early tracks.

• It's Alright (The New Master) — Newly recorded version of a previously released Graham Central Station song.

• Raise Up — Features Prince and was selected as the album's sole promotional single in Europe.

• Shoulda Coulda Woulda — Features Prince and includes musical contributions from both artists.

• Welcome 2 Our World — Included on both CD and LP editions.

• It Ain't No Fun To Me (The New Master) — Revisited version of an earlier Graham Central Station recording.

• Higher Ground — New recording of the Stevie Wonder composition.

• No Way — Featured on both album formats.

• Hold You Close — Included on both CD and LP editions.

• Movin' — Features Prince and additional vocal and instrumental contributors.

• Now Do-U-Wanta-Dance (The New Master) — Updated recording of the earlier Graham Central Station track.

• One Day — Features Raphael Saadiq and concludes the album.

RELEASE HISTORY

The album was first released in France on September 20, 2012, followed by its United States release on September 25, 2012. It appeared more than thirteen years after GCS 2000, making it the group's first studio album of new material in over a decade.

Promotion was limited to a single European promotional release of "Raise Up". No commercial single was issued from the album.

PRODUCTION

Produced by: Larry Graham

Executive Producers: Quentin Geerinckx, Joachim Becker

Label: Moosicus Record

PERSONNEL

Larry Graham — lead vocals, bass guitar on "Raise Up" and "Shoulda Coulda Woulda"; lead vocals, electronic drums, bass guitar, guitar and keyboards on "Movin'"

Prince — drums, guitar, keyboards and background vocals on "Raise Up" and "Shoulda Coulda Woulda"; guitar on "Movin'"

James McKinney — vocoder on "Raise Up"; vocals on "Movin'"

Brian Braziel — drums on "Movin'"

Ashling Cole — vocals on "Movin'"

David Council — keyboards and vocals on "Movin'"

Wilton Rab — vocals on "Movin'"

Támar Davis — vocals on "Movin'"

Chance Howard — vocals on "Movin'"

RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE

Artist	Album	Label	Country	Catalogue	Date	Format
Larry Graham & Graham Central Station	Raise Up	Moosicus Records	France	M 1202-1	September 20, 2012	LP x2
Larry Graham & Graham Central Station	Raise Up	Moosicus Records	USA	7930183372-2	September 25, 2012	CD

TRACKLIST TABLE (ALL FORMATS)

Format	Catalogue	Tracklisting
CD	7930183372-2	1. GCS Drumline 2. Throw-N-Down The Funk 3. It's Alright (The New Master) 4. Raise Up (featuring Prince) 5. Shoulda Coulda Woulda (featuring Prince) 6. Welcome 2 Our World 7. It Ain't No Fun To Me (The New Master) 8. Higher Ground 9. No Way 10. Hold You Close 11. Movin' (featuring Prince) 12. Now Do-U-Wanta-Dance (The New Master) 13. One Day (featuring Raphael Saadiq)
LP x2	M 1202-1	Side 1: GCS Drumline; Throw-N-Down The Funk; It's Alright (The New Master); Raise Up (featuring Prince) Side 2: Shoulda Coulda Woulda (featuring Prince); Welcome 2 Our World; It Ain't No Fun To Me (The New Master); Higher Ground Side 3: No Way; Hold You Close; Movin' (featuring Prince) Side 4: Now Do-U-Wanta-Dance (The New Master); One Day (featuring Raphael Saadiq)

SOURCES Prince Vault, Sleevographia2, Discogs.

All single artwork, photographs, logos, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.