Prince and the New Power Generation: "Love Symbol" Album (1992)

Prince and the New Power Generation’s Love Symbol Album, was released in the UK on October 5, 1992, on Warner Bros. Records / Paisley Park (catalogue: WX 490 for vinyl, 9362-45037-2 for explicit CD, and a variant for clean CD edition).

This ambitious 18-track album, officially untitled but known as Love Symbol due to Prince’s adoption of an unpronounceable symbol as his name, blended funk, rock, pop, and hip-hop with a loose narrative about a princess and a journalist. Produced, arranged, and largely performed by Prince with the New Power Generation, it reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart, showcasing their genre-defying brilliance. The CD was issued in both explicit and clean versions, with the latter featuring edited tracks like a censored "Sexy M.F." (backmasked profanities and no parental advisory label) for broader accessibility.

Album Overview

Release Details:

Label: Warner Bros. / Paisley Park (UK).

Formats: Double vinyl LP, CD (explicit and clean editions), cassette (detailed below with track listings).

℗ & ©: 1992 NPG Records, Inc. Recorded at Paisley Park Studios, Minnesota, with additional work at Ocean Way, Los Angeles, 1991–1992. Matrix numbers (e.g., WX 490 A-1 for vinyl) confirm authenticity.

UK Release Formats and Track Listings

The Love Symbol Album was issued in the UK in three formats, each maintaining the same 18-track sequence but split differently due to medium constraints. The CD had explicit and clean editions, with the clean version editing profanities (e.g., in "My Name Is Prince" and "Sexy M.F.") via backmasking and lacking the parental advisory label:

Double Vinyl LP (Catalogue: WX 490):

Side A:

My Name Is Prince (6:39)

Sexy M.F. (5:25)

Love 2 the 9’s (5:46)

Side B:

The Morning Papers (4:02)

The Max (4:31)

Segue (0:21)

Blue Light (4:38)

I Wanna Melt with U (3:50)

Sweet Baby (4:01)

Side C:

The Continental (5:31)

Damn U (4:25)

Arrogance (1:35)

The Flow (2:26)

Side D:

7 (5:09)

And God Created Woman (3:18)

3 Chains o’ Gold (6:03)

Segue (1:30)

The Sacrifice of Victor (5:41)

Packaging: 33⅓ RPM, stereo, in a gatefold sleeve with a symbol-shaped die-cut window and lyric insert. Some pressings included a hype sticker promoting singles like “Sexy M.F.”

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Compact Disc (CD) (Catalogue: 9362-45037-2 for explicit; clean edition variant lacks parental advisory and has edited tracks):

Single Disc (Explicit Edition):

My Name Is Prince (6:39)

Sexy M.F. (5:25)

Love 2 the 9’s (5:46)

The Morning Papers (4:02)

The Max (4:31)

Segue (0:21)

Blue Light (4:38)

I Wanna Melt with U (3:50)

Sweet Baby (4:01)

The Continental (5:31)

Damn U (4:25)

Arrogance (1:35)

The Flow (2:26)

7 (5:09)

And God Created Woman (3:18)

3 Chains o’ Gold (6:03)

Segue (1:30)

The Sacrifice of Victor (5:41)

Single Disc (Clean Edition): Same tracklist, but with edits to conceal curses in early tracks (e.g., backmasked profanities in "My Name Is Prince" and "Sexy M.F."). Recognizable by no parental advisory label and transparent mold rings on the CD.

Packaging: CD in a jewel case with a fold-out booklet containing lyrics, symbol artwork, and credits. Clean editions often have altered front inserts (e.g., no band credit on the panel).

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Cassette (Catalogue: 9362-45037-4):

Side A:

My Name Is Prince (6:39)

Sexy M.F. (5:25)

Love 2 the 9’s (5:46)

The Morning Papers (4:02)

The Max (4:31)

Segue (0:21)

Blue Light (4:38)

I Wanna Melt with U (3:50)

Sweet Baby (4:01)

Side B:

The Continental (5:31)

Damn U (4:25)

Arrogance (1:35)

The Flow (2:26)

7 (5:09)

And God Created Woman (3:18)

3 Chains o’ Gold (6:03)

Segue (1:30)

The Sacrifice of Victor (5:41)

Packaging: Double-play cassette in a standard case with a fold-out J-card featuring lyrics and credits, designed for portable listening. Explicit version; clean cassette variants are rare but follow the CD edits.

Production and Context

Produced, composed, and arranged by Prince, with the New Power Generation—Tony M. (rap), Levi Seacer Jr. (guitar), Sonny T. (bass), Michael Bland (drums), Tommy Barbarella (keyboards), and Rosie Gaines (vocals)—the album featured guests like Kirstie Alley (as reporter Vanessa Bartholomew in segues) and Carmen Electra. The loose concept, a romance in a fictional Middle Eastern city, blended funk grooves (“Sexy M.F.”), pop ballads (“The Morning Papers”), and spiritual anthems (“7”). Released during Prince’s dispute with Warner Bros. and his name change to the symbol, it followed Diamonds and Pearls (1991) and stood out in a scene dominated by grunge and hip-hop.

Chart Performance

Love Symbol Album was a global hit:

UK: No. 1 (Official Albums Chart, 1 week), charting for 32 weeks, certified Gold (100,000 copies sold).

US: No. 5 (Billboard 200), certified Platinum (1 million copies sold).

Australia: No. 1 (ARIA Charts), certified Platinum.

Canada: No. 5, certified Gold.

Germany: No. 5.

Netherlands: No. 6.

Switzerland: No. 3.

New Zealand: No. 4.

Austria: No. 3.

Sweden: No. 10.

France: No. 14.Singles like “My Name Is Prince” (UK No. 7, US No. 36), “Sexy M.F.” (UK No. 4, US No. 66), “7” (UK No. 27, US No. 7), and “The Morning Papers” (UK No. 52, US No. 44) drove sales, despite “Sexy M.F.”’s lyrical controversy.

Legacy and Collectibility

Hailed as a ‘90s classic, Love Symbol Album blends Prince’s funk mastery with narrative ambition, influencing artists from D’Angelo to OutKast. Its iconic gatefold with symbol die-cut is a collector’s highlight. Original UK vinyls fetch £50–£200 on Discogs, with first pressings (lyric insert, die-cut sleeve) commanding premiums—verify matrix numbers. Explicit CDs (£5–£20) are common, while clean editions (£10–£30) are distinguished by edits and packaging differences. Cassettes (£5–£15) are collectible in mint condition. Remastered versions (1992, 2020 reissues) and Spotify streams preserve the album’s vibrant analog sound.

This album is a dazzling showcase of Prince and the New Power Generation’s genius—a must-have for collectors.

Do you have Love Symbol in vinyl, CD, or cassette? Which track keeps your turntable grooving? Share in the comments!