PRINCE (October 23, 1990) – "New Power Generation" b/w "New Power Generation Part II" Format: 7" Single: US
"New Power Generation" was released as a US 7-inch single on October 23, 1990, approximately two months after the release of Graffiti Bridge. It was the third single from the album in the United States, while its place within the European campaign differed because releases by Mavis Staples and Tevin Campbell were also drawn from the project.
The standard single paired "New Power Generation" with "New Power Generation Part II". The campaign subsequently expanded considerably through maxi-single editions containing a collection of additional recordings and remixes based around "New Power Generation".
Several of these pieces received individual titles, effectively expanding the single into a much larger companion project. The resulting material included "N.P.G. (Funky Weapon Remix)", "T.C.'s Rap", "Brother With A Purpose", "Get Off", "The Lubricated Lady" and "Loveleft, Loveright".
RECORDING
The standard 7-inch featured "New Power Generation" at 3:39 backed with "New Power Generation Part II" at 2:57.
Much more material was prepared for the maxi-single campaign. Several of the additional tracks developed the musical foundation of "New Power Generation" into separate pieces, an approach Prince would subsequently revisit with later maxi-single projects.
Two earlier proposed maxi-single configurations were also assembled during October 1990 before the final configuration was established.
STYLE & THEMES
The standard single presented "New Power Generation" as a concise 3:39 recording, while the maxi-single took a much broader approach.
Rather than simply repeating the same song through conventional remixes, the expanded release developed its musical framework into individually titled pieces featuring additional performers and contrasting arrangements.
This created a release that functioned both as a single and as a wider collection of interconnected recordings.
TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES
• New Power Generation — The 3:39 A-side of the standard 7-inch and cassette single.
• New Power Generation Part II — A 2:57 companion recording used as the standard B-side.
• N.P.G. (Funky Weapon Remix) — A 5:01 remix forming part of the expanded maxi-single programme.
• T.C.'s Rap — A 3:11 recording featuring T.C. Ellis.
• Brother With A Purpose — A 4:18 recording featuring Tony Mosley.
• Get Off — A 4:41 non-album recording included on the maxi-single.
• The Lubricated Lady — A 2:39 non-album recording.
• Loveleft, Loveright — A 5:00 non-album recording included within the extended sequence.
• Melody Cool (Extended Remix) — A 6:04 Mavis Staples recording included on selected international configurations.
RELEASE HISTORY
"New Power Generation" was issued in the United Kingdom on October 22, 1990, followed by the American 7-inch release on October 23, 1990.
This Chronicle focuses specifically on the October 23 US 7-inch release, issued under catalogue number 7-19525. All other supplied releases and formats are treated below as variants.
The original American single featured "New Power Generation" backed with "New Power Generation Part II". A US cassette used the same two-track configuration.
The American maxi-single followed on November 29, 1990. Its considerably expanded programme featured six predominantly non-album tracks connected to the "New Power Generation" project.
Internationally, formats included 7-inch and 12-inch vinyl, cassette, maxi-cassette, picture disc and CD. A Japanese CD edition followed on March 25, 1991.
CHARTS & CERTIFICATIONS
AMERICA
USA: Billboard Hot 100 — Entry: November 3, 1990 — Peak: 64 — Weeks: 5
USA: Billboard Hot R&B Singles — Entry: November 3, 1990 — Peak: 27 — Weeks: 11
EUROPE
Belgium: Ultratop Flanders — Entry: November 24, 1990 — Peak: 42 — Weeks: 5
Ireland: IRMA Singles Chart — Entry: November 8, 1990 — Peak: 11 — Weeks: 2
Netherlands: Dutch Top 40 — Entry: November 17, 1990 — Peak: 21 — Weeks: 5
UK: Gallup Singles Chart — Entry: November 10, 1990 — Peak: 26 — Weeks: 4
PERSONNEL
Prince — performer
T.C. Ellis — featured performer on "T.C.'s Rap"
Tony Mosley — featured performer on "Brother With A Purpose"
Mavis Staples — performer on "Melody Cool (Extended Remix)"
PRODUCTION
Labels: Warner Bros. / Paisley Park Records
NOTES
This Chronicle specifically commemorates the October 23, 1990 US 7-inch release. All other supplied editions are documented as variants.
"New Power Generation" was released approximately two months after Graffiti Bridge.
The regular 7-inch and cassette formats paired "New Power Generation" with "New Power Generation Part II".
The later maxi-single substantially expanded the project through several individually titled recordings developed around the musical foundation of "New Power Generation".
Two earlier maxi-single sequences were assembled during October 1990 but were not commercially issued in those configurations. One proposed sequence included additional material such as "My Tree", "A Positive Place", "Play", "Oobey Doop" and "Heaven Is Keeping Score". A second configuration rearranged the material and incorporated alternate versions of some of these recordings.
A handwritten Prince track list corresponding to one of the early configurations omitted "Heaven Is Keeping Score".
On some editions, the ending of "The Lubricated Lady" is indexed as the beginning of "Loveleft, Loveright".
The single was not issued digitally.
RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE
Artist | Title | Label | Country | Catalogue | Date | Format |
Prince | New Power Generation / New Power Generation Part II | Warner Bros. / Paisley Park | USA | 7-19525 | October 23, 1990 | 7" Single |
Prince | New Power Generation / New Power Generation Part II | Warner Bros. / Paisley Park | USA | 4-19525 | 1990 | Cassette Single |
Prince | New Power Generation Maxi-Single | Warner Bros. / Paisley Park | USA | 0-21783 | November 29, 1990 | 12" Maxi-Single |
Prince | New Power Generation Maxi-Single | Warner Bros. / Paisley Park | USA | 4-21783 | November 29, 1990 | Cassette Maxi-Single |
Prince | New Power Generation Maxi-Single | Warner Bros. / Paisley Park | USA | 9 21783-2 | November 29, 1990 | 5" CD Maxi-Single |
Prince | New Power Generation | Warner Bros. / Paisley Park | USA | PRO-A-4515 | 1990 | Promo 12" |
Prince | N.P.G. (Funky Weapon Remix) | Warner Bros. / Paisley Park | USA | PRO-A-4578 | 1990 | Promo 12" |
Prince | New Power Generation | Warner Bros. / Paisley Park | USA | PRO-CD-4515 | 1990 | Promo CD |
Prince | N.P.G. (Funky Weapon Remix) | Warner Bros. / Paisley Park | USA | PRO-CD-4578 | 1990 | Promo CD |
INTERNATIONAL VARIANTS | ||||||
Prince | New Power Generation / New Power Generation Part II | Warner Bros. / Paisley Park | UK | W9525 | October 22, 1990 | 7" Single |
Prince | New Power Generation / New Power Generation Part II | Warner Bros. / Paisley Park | UK | W9525C | 1990 | Cassette Single |
Prince | New Power Generation | Warner Bros. / Paisley Park | UK | W9525T | 1990 | 12" Single |
Prince | New Power Generation | Warner Bros. / Paisley Park | UK | W9525TP | 1990 | 12" Picture Disc |
Prince | New Power Generation | Warner Bros. / Paisley Park | UK | W9525CD | 1990 | 5" CD |
Prince | New Power Generation / New Power Generation Part II | Warner Bros. / Paisley Park | Germany | 5439-19525-7 | 1990 | 7" Single |
Prince | New Power Generation | Warner Bros. / Paisley Park | Germany | 7599-21801-0 | 1990 | 12" Single |
Prince | New Power Generation Maxi-Single | Warner Bros. / Paisley Park | Germany | 7599-21783-1 | 1990 | 12" Maxi-Single |
Prince | New Power Generation | Warner Bros. / Paisley Park | Germany | 7599-21801-2 | 1990 | 5" CD |
Prince | New Power Generation / New Power Generation Part II | Warner Bros. / Paisley Park | Australia | MX306045-6 | 1990 | 7" Single |
Prince | New Power Generation | Warner Bros. / Paisley Park | Australia | MX306085-6 | 1990 | 12" Single |
Prince | New Power Generation / New Power Generation Part II | Warner Bros. / Paisley Park | Japan | WPDP-6259 | March 25, 1991 | 3" CD |
TRACKLIST TABLE (ALL FORMATS)
Format | Catalogue | Tracklisting |
US 7" Single | 7-19525 | A. New Power Generation (3:39) B. New Power Generation Part II (2:57) |
US Cassette Single | 4-19525 | A. New Power Generation (3:39) B. New Power Generation Part II (2:57) |
US Maxi 12" | 0-21783 | A1. N.P.G. (Funky Weapon Remix) (5:01) A2. T.C.'s Rap (3:11) A3. Brother With A Purpose (4:18) B1. Get Off (4:41) B2. The Lubricated Lady (2:39) B3. Loveleft, Loveright (5:00) |
US Maxi Cassette | 4-21783 | A1. N.P.G. (Funky Weapon Remix) (5:01) A2. T.C.'s Rap (3:11) A3. Brother With A Purpose (4:18) B1. Get Off (4:41) B2. The Lubricated Lady (2:39) B3. Loveleft, Loveright (5:00) |
US Maxi CD | 9 21783-2 | 1. N.P.G. (Funky Weapon Remix) (5:01) 2. T.C.'s Rap (3:11) 3. Brother With A Purpose (4:18) 4. Get Off (4:41) 5. The Lubricated Lady (2:39) 6. Loveleft, Loveright (5:00) |
US Promo 12" | PRO-A-4515 | A. New Power Generation (3:39) B. New Power Generation (3:39) |
US Promo 12" | PRO-A-4578 | A. N.P.G. (Funky Weapon Remix) (5:06) B. N.P.G. (Funky Weapon Remix) (5:06) |
US Promo CD | PRO-CD-4515 | 1. New Power Generation (3:39) 2. New Power Generation Part II (2:57) |
US Promo CD | PRO-CD-4578 | 1. N.P.G. (Funky Weapon Remix) (5:01) |
UK 7" Single | W9525 | A. New Power Generation (3:39) B. New Power Generation Part II (2:57) |
UK Cassette | W9525C | A. New Power Generation (3:39) B. New Power Generation Part II (2:57) |
UK 12" Single | W9525T | A1. New Power Generation (3:39) B1. New Power Generation Part II (2:57) B2. Melody Cool (Extended Remix) (6:04) |
UK Picture Disc | W9525TP | A1. New Power Generation (3:39) B1. New Power Generation Part II (2:57) B2. Melody Cool (Extended Remix) (6:04) |
Germany 12" | 7599-21801-0 | A1. New Power Generation (3:39) B1. New Power Generation Part II (2:57) B2. Melody Cool (Extended Remix) (6:04) |
German Maxi 12" | 7599-21783-1 | A1. N.P.G. (Funky Weapon Remix) (5:01) A2. T.C.'s Rap (3:11) A3. Brother With A Purpose (4:18) B1. Get Off (4:41) B2. The Lubricated Lady (2:39) B3. Loveleft, Loveright (5:00) |
UK / German 5" CD | W9525CD / 7599-21801-2 | 1. New Power Generation (3:39) 2. New Power Generation Part II (2:57) 3. Melody Cool (Extended Remix) (6:04) |
Japan 3" CD | WPDP-6259 | 1. New Power Generation (3:39) 2. New Power Generation Part II (2:57) |
SOURCES Prince Vault, Discogs, sleevographia2.
All single artwork, photographs, labels, 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.
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