Prince 0(+>(September 25/26 1995) The Gold Experience
- GlamSlamEscape
- Sep 25, 1995
- 4 min read
Updated: 59 minutes ago
The Gold Experience is Prince’s seventeenth studio album and the first released under his new unpronounceable symbol name. Issued in September 1995, it blends funk, rock, and soul with the signature New Power Generation sound.
The album contains high‑energy funk‑rock pieces, sensual ballads, and conceptual NPG Operator segues. It includes “The Most Beautiful Girl In The World” along with singles such as “Hate U” and “Gold.”
Side one
• P. Control — 5:59
• NPG Operator — 0:10
• Endorphinmachine — 4:06
• Shhh — 7:16
Side two
• We March — 4:49
• NPG Operator — 0:16
• The Most Beautiful Girl In The World — 4:25
• Dolphin — 4:59
Side three
• NPG Operator — 0:18
• Now — 4:30
• NPG Operator — 0:31
• 319 — 3:05
• NPG Operator — 0:10
• Shy — 5:04
• Billy Jack Bitch — 5:32
Side four
• Hate U — 5:54
• NPG Operator — 0:44
• Gold — 7:23
ALBUM DETAILS
Released: September 25, 1995 (UK) / September 26, 1995 (USA)
Recorded: 1993–1994
Labels: NPG Records / Warner Bros. Records
Producer: O(+>
Chronology:
The Versace Experience:
Prelude 2 Gold (1995)
The Gold Experience (1995)
Girl 6 (1996)
PACKAGING
Double vinyl with single sleeve. Gold‑themed artwork and photography. Includes NPG Operator segues linking tracks conceptually.
RECEPTION
The Gold Experience sold 500,000 copies in the United States and reached number six on the Billboard 200. Critics responded positively. Melody Maker described it as Prince’s strongest work in years.
Vibe considered it his best since Sign o’ the Times. The Village Voice highlighted its renewed energy, noting “Shhh” and “319” for their intensity. Some reviewers felt the album revisited earlier ideas, while others praised its blend of stripped‑down funk and delicate ballads. The album placed 30th in the Pazz & Jop poll for 1995. Several listeners speculated that “Billy Jack Bitch” referenced a Minneapolis columnist known as CJ, though Prince denied this.
THE GOLD EXPERIENCE (US PROMO 2×LP GOLD TRANSLUCENT)
US PROMO LP DETAILS
Artist: The Artist (O(+>)
Title: The Gold Experience
Label: Warner Bros. Records / NPG Records — PRO‑A‑7835
Country: US
Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Album, Numbered, Promo, Gold Translucent
Released: 1995
US PROMO LP TRACKLIST
A1 — P Control — 5:59
A2 — NPG Operator #1 — 0:12
A3 — Endorphinmachine — 4:07
A4 — Shhh — 7:18
A5 — We March — 4:49
B1 — NPG Operator #2 — 0:18
B2 — The Most Beautiful Girl In The World — 4:25
B3 — Dolphin — 4:59
B4 — NPG Operator #3 — 0:20
B5 — Now — 4:30
B6 — NPG Operator #4 — 0:31
B7 — 319 — 3:05
C1 — NPG Operator #5 — 0:10
C2 — Shy — 5:04
C3 — Billy Jack Bitch — 5:32
C4 — I Hate U — 5:54
C5 — NPG Operator #6 — 0:45
C6 — Gold — 7:23
I HATE U (THE REMIXES)
D1 — I Hate U (Extended Remix) — 6:17
D2 — I Hate U (Album Version) — 6:08
D3 — I Hate U (Quiet Night Mix) — 3:56
D4 — I Hate U (Single Version With Guitar Solo) — 4:25
D5 — I Hate U (Single Version Without Guitar Solo) — 3:48
1995 CD RELEASE
• P. Control — 5:59
• NPG Operator — 0:10
• Endorphinmachine — 4:06
• Shhh — 7:16
• We March — 4:49
• NPG Operator — 0:16
• The Most Beautiful Girl In The World — 4:25
• Dolphin — 4:59
• Now — 4:30
• 319 — 3:05
• Shy — 5:04
• Billy Jack Bitch — 5:32
• Hate U — 5:54 • Gold — 7:23
CHARTS
USA — Billboard 200 — 6
USA — Top R&B Albums — 2
USA — Billboard 200 (re‑entry) — 47 USA — Billboard Vinyl Albums — 47
USA — Top Album Sales — 25
Belgium — Ultratop Flanders — 15 Germany — MusikWoche Top 100 — 24 Netherlands — Album Top 100 — 3
UK — UK Albums Chart — 4
PERSONNEL
Prince (as ) All vocals and instruments (except where noted)
Additional musicians
Mayte — background and spoken vocals Rain Ivana — NPG Operator voice
Michael B. — drums
Sonny T. — bass guitar; co‑lead vocals Tommy Barbarella — keyboards
Morris Hayes — keyboards
Ricky Peterson — additional keyboards Nona Gaye — co‑lead vocals
Kirk Johnson — drum programming James Behringer — additional guitar
NPG Hornz — horns
Lenny Kravitz — background vocals (uncredited)
TECHNICAL
Prince (as ) — production; arrangement; mixing; engineering; art direction
Ricky Peterson — co‑production and arrangement
Kirk Johnson — additional programming and production
Chronic Freeze — mixing Ray Hahnfeldt — mixing
Steve Durkee — mixing
Tom Tucker — mixing
Brian Gardner — mastering
CERTIFICATIONS
USA — Gold — 500,000 UK — Silver — 100,000
SINGLES FROM THE GOLD EXPERIENCE
Singles released
The Most Beautiful Girl In The World
Germany - NPG-60157
A Side
The Most Beautiful Girl In The World (4:07)
B Side
Beautiful (Edit 3:57)
Hate U
CD single (5") - UK - 9362 43574-2 WO315CD
Hate U (7" Edit W/o Guitar 3:50)
Hate U (Album Edit 4:26)
Hate U (Quiet Night Mix 3:55)
Hate U (Extended Remix 6:17)
Hate U (Album Version 6:08)
Gold
CD single - Japan - WPCR-449
Gold (Edit 4:43)
Rock 'N' Roll Is Alive ! (And It Lives In Minneapolis) (Non-Album LP 4:34)
I Hate U (Extended Remix 6:17)
P. Control (promo only)
Promo CD single - USA
Pussy Control
319
Endorphinmachine (Japan promo only)
Promo CD single - Japan - PCS-186
Endorphinmachine (3:55)
SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts, Prince Vault, Sleeveographia2
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