November 19th 1996: Emancipation

Emancipation “the album he was born 2 make” is released.

3 hours of Love, Sex and Liberty Three CD’s each with 12 tracks and each a total of 60 minutes long. This precision was inspired by O{+>’s studies of ancient Egypt, numerology, the pyramids and their correlation to heavenly constellations ☮️

"Emancipation" is the nineteenth full-length studio album by Prince, and his third album released under the name . It marks the first release after the conclusion of his contract with Warner Bros., which ended less than a week before this album's release. Notably, it is Prince's first triple album, released globally in November 1996, a mere four months following "Chaos and Disorder."

Prince began recording songs for the album in January 1995, and the work continued until October 1996. "Somebody’s Somebody," "Courtin’ Time," "The Plan," and "New World" are the only tracks known to have been recorded earlier. An album titled "New World" was compiled at some point in 1995, and many of the songs were also considered for "Emancipation." It is not entirely clear whether Prince viewed these two albums as separate projects or simply two names for the same project. For clarity, information about "Emancipation" (including its early configurations) is listed here, while details regarding "New World" are on that album's page.

Three preliminary configurations from early 1995, July 1995, and an unspecified date in 1995 are documented, though all were single-disc sets and are considered works-in-progress. Michael B. notes that the concept of releasing a triple album arose when Prince observed the sales accounting method for double albums by SoundScan, as seen with Michael Jackson's album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I, released in June 1995, where a 2-CD set counted as two copies sold. On September 20, 1995, at a Paisley Park Studios concert in Chanhassen, MN, Prince declared that Dallas Austin would co-produce his forthcoming album, humorously titled "Emancipation: 52 songs, 80 dollars. Save your money!" Although Austin's collaboration in the studio with Prince is unverified, and the stated number of songs (52) likely jestful, it suggested that Prince was contemplating an expansion beyond a single-disc format.

The album was primarily a solo endeavor, yet it featured tracks that marked Prince's evolution from the 1993-1995 iteration of The New Power Generation, which included Michael B., Sonny T., Tommy Barbarella, and Mr. Hayes, to the revamped 1996 lineup with Kirk Johnson, Rhonda Smith, Kat Dyson, Mr. Hayes, and Eric Leeds.

The album also marks Prince's first instance of including cover versions of other artists' songs, with the first commercial single, "Betcha By Golly Wow!", being a cover. Since "Emancipation," he has sporadically featured covers in his albums. Notably, each of the three CDs in the album comprises 12 tracks, totaling exactly 60 minutes. Prince has stated in interviews that this precise structure was influenced by his research into Egypt, specifically the construction of the pyramids and their alignment with the constellations, which he believed conveyed a message from the Egyptians about the origins of civilization.

The album featured two singles released for commercial sale, "Betcha By Golly Wow!" and "The Holy River." Additionally, eleven months before the album's release, the single "Slave" was distributed as a cassette at a show in Paisley Park Studios to attendees.

Following the album's release, promotional singles such as "Somebody's Somebody," "Face Down," and "Can't Make U Love Me" were made available. However, EMI Records' bankruptcy during the album's promotional period halted all further promotion. Prince, known as , independently released a live single titled "NYC," which included live performances of "Jam Of The Year" and "Face Down."

Prince (as ) toured extensively to promote the album through the Love 4 One Another Charities Tour and the Jam Of The Year World Tour. Although the tours primarily featured past hits, a few songs from Emancipation were played regularly. Prince (as ) also made numerous television appearances and media interviews to support the album, proclaiming it as "the album I was born to make."

The album achieved number 11 on the Billboard 200 and number 6 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums Chart. It was certified double platinum by the RIAA in the USA on February 7, 1997, reflecting sales of 666,666 three-disc sets.

CD Disc 1:

Jam Of The Year (6:09)

Right Back Here In My Arms (4:33) 1

Somebody’s Somebody (4:43) 2

Get Yo Groove On (6:31)

Courtin’ Time (2:46)

Betcha By Golly Wow! (3:30) 3

We Gets Up (4:17)

White Mansion (4:47)

Damned If Do (5:20)

Can’t Make U Love Me (6:37) 4

Mr. Happy (4:46) 5

In This Bed Scream (5:40)

Disc 2:

Sex In The Summer (5:56)

One Kiss At A Time (4:40)

Soul Sanctuary (4:41) 6

Emale (3:37)

Curious Child (2:57)

Dreamin’ About U (3:52)

Joint 2 Joint (7:51) 1

The Holy River (6:55)

Let’s Have A Baby (4:07)

Saviour (5:48)

The Plan (1:46)

Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife (7:37)

Disc 3:

Slave (4:51)

New World (3:42)

The Human Body (5:41)

Face Down (3:16) 1

La, La, La Means Love U (3:58) 7

Style (6:40) 8

Sleep Around (7:41) 9

Da, Da, Da (5:15) 10

My Computer (4:36)

One Of Us (5:19) 11

The Love We Make (4:38)

Emancipation (4:12)