Prince (July 8, 1995) The Versace Experience (Prelude 2 Gold)

Release Date: July 8, 1995

(promotional cassette)

Label: NPG Records / Warner Bros.

A rare promotional cassette compilation given to attendees of the Versace collection at Paris Fashion Week over three consecutive days starting July 8, 1995. It served primarily as promotion for Prince’s upcoming album The Gold Experience, while also featuring tracks from other planned projects.

1995 Original Release

Only 300 copies were produced. The cassette included remixed and edited tracks specifically for this release, with many featuring overdubbed vocals saying “Versace” or “The Versace Experience.” It drew from The Gold Experience, the New Power Generation’s Exodus, Madhouse’s unreleased 24, and The NPG Orchestra’s Kamasutra (released in 1997). Artwork for a CD version was prepared but it is unlikely any CD promos were pressed.

2019 Reissues

Re-released for Record Store Day on April 13, 2019 (limited edition cassettes) and worldwide on all formats on September 13, 2019 alongside Chaos and Disorder and Emancipation. A special purple edition (1,000 copies) was sold at Electric Fetus. This became Prince’s ninth compilation album and his sixth posthumous release. The 2019 editions were released in conjunction with Sony’s Legacy Recordings.

Promotion & Chart Performance Preceded by digital singles: “Pussy Control (Club Mix Edit)” (August 23, 2019) and “Rootie Kazootie (Edit)” (September 6, 2019).

The compilation reached No. 2 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 170 on the Billboard 200.

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