Prince (June 30 / July 29 2003) N.E.W.S. - Album

N.E.W.S. is Prince’s twenty-seventh studio album and his second fully instrumental release in succession. It consists of four 14-minute tracks named after the cardinal directions, forming a continuous jazz-funk exploration.

RELEASE DETAILS

Artist: Prince

Label: NPG Records

Catalogue: n/a (club) / 85337 70712-8 (retail)

Format: CD (Compass-style folding card case)

Country: Worldwide

Released: June 30, 2003 (NPG Music Club) / July 29, 2003 (retail)

Genre: Jazz, Funk, Instrumental

Length: 56:00

CONTEXT & NOTES

A bold, improvisational instrumental album recorded in a single day at Paisley Park. Each track represents a direction (North, East, West, South), creating a conceptual “journey” with tight band interplay and extended grooves.

THE STORY

Following the jazz-leaning Xpectation, N.E.W.S. continued Prince’s instrumental explorations. It was primarily a club-exclusive release with limited retail distribution. The packaging opens like a compass, reflecting the album’s theme. Prince performed at the 2004 Grammys around this period, helping reintroduce him to a wider audience.

TRACK LISTING (2003 Original CD)

Side / Track

1. North — 14:00

2. East — 14:00

3. West — 14:00

4. South — 14:00

Total Length: 56:00

PERSONNEL Musicians Prince — guitar, Fender Rhodes, digital keyboards, percussion

ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS AND BACKGROUND

• John Blackwell — drums

• Renato Neto — piano and synthesizers

• Rhonda Smith — acoustic and electric bass

• Eric Leeds — tenor and baritone saxophone

Production

• Prince — producer, arranger, mixer, package design

• Jess Sutcliffe — engineer

• Joseph Lepinski, Takumi — musical technicians

• Jeremy Gavin — package design

PACKAGING HIGHLIGHTS

• Unique folding card case designed to mimic a compass (opens on all four sides)

• Striking Earth-from-space cover with “n.e.w.s.” title

• Includes enhanced CD content with the message “He causes 2 become”

CHARTS

• Germany: Top 100 Album-Chart | 11 Aug. 2003 | 93 | 2 weeks

• The Netherlands: Album Top 100 | 23 Aug. 2003 | 83 | 2 weeks

SOURCES Album liner notes, official discography, Discogs, 45cat, Official Charts, Wikipedia, Prince Vault.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE All album 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