The Rainbow Children Album: 2001

A Jehovah Jazz-Funk Apocalypse

released worldwide starting November 20, 2001 (US vinyl exclusive), on NPG Records/Redline Entertainment. This concept-driven jazz-funk masterpiece — was Prince's Jehovah’s Witness-influenced album — featured live band grooves, Hornheadz horns, Najee’s sax/flute, Larry Graham bass, and a spoken narrative about the “Banished Ones.” Originally vinyl-only in the US (CD/cassette US and elsewhere), with a hidden reprise of “Last December” after silence. First official worldwide vinyl until the 2020 crystal-clear reissue. A polarising, brilliant return to live instrumentation. The US vinyl edition featured a yellow hype sticker on the shrink wrap: The controversial new album from Prince includes a 16-page booklet, measuring 11.4 x 11.4 inches (29 x 29 cm), with a track listing from

chapter one to chapter fourteen, along with lyrics and credits.

Earlier in the year, it was also made available through Prince's website. This marked the first album released outside the NPG Music Club under the name Prince again, after he had switched back to his original stage name from his symbolic moniker a year prior.

The album appears to reference the Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs , But also weaving in metaphors from Egyptian monotheism and New Age ideas like the Akashic records, illustrating Prince was not blinkered in the view on faith.

Album Overview

Release Details

Label: NPG Records / Redline Entertainment.

Formats: 2×LP (2001 US only), CD, cassette (Indonesia 2001), 2×LP reissue crystal clear (2020).

℗ & ©: 2001 NPG Records, Inc.

Recorded/Mixed at Paisley Park Studios. Mastered by Brian Gardner (Bernie Grundman Mastering).

Track Listing

Vinyl Album

Side A

Rainbow Children (10:03)

Muse 2 The Pharaoh (4:21)

Digital Garden (4:07)

Side B

The Work Pt. 1 (4:28)

Everywhere (2:54)

The Sensual Everafter (2:58)

Mellow (4:24)

Side C

1+1+1 Is 3 (5:17)

Deconstruction (1:59)

Wedding Feast (0:54)

She Loves Me 4 Me (2:49)

Family Name (8:17)

Side D

The Everlasting Now (8:18)

Last December (7:57)

(no audio) (1:00)

Last December (Reprise) (0:38) – unlisted

Credits:

Backing Vocals [Backing Vox] – Femi Jiya, Kip Blackshire, Milenia, Mr. Hayes

Bass [Bazz] – Mr. Larry Graham Jr.* (tracks: B1, D2)

Design [Design By] – Jeremy Gavin

Drums [Drumz] – John Blackwell

Edited By [Pro Tools Editing By] – Joe Lepinski

Horns [Group Hornz] – Hornheadz*

Illustration – C'Babi

Instruments [All Other Instruments-Digital Or Otherwise], Lead Vocals [Lead And Co-Lead Vox], Percussion, Effects [Sound FX] – Prince

Lacquer Cut By – SPG II*

Mastered By – Brian Gardner

Mastered By [Assisted By] – Joe Lepinski

Producer – Prince

Recorded By, Mixed By – Femi Jiya, Prince

Soprano Saxophone [Soprano Sax Appeal], Flute – Najee

CD Album

Rainbow Children [10:03]

Muse 2 The Pharaoh [4:21]

Digital Garden [4:07]

The Work Pt. 1 [4:28]

Everywhere [2:54]

The Sensual Everafter [2:58]

Mellow [4:24]

1+1+1 Is 3 [5:17]

Deconstruction [1:59]

Wedding Feast [0:54]

She Loves Me 4 Me [2:49]

Family Name [8:17]

The Everlasting Now [8:18]

Last December [7:57]

(no audio) [0:20]

(no audio) [0:08]

Last December (Reprise) [0:38]

Cassette Album

Side A

Rainbow Children (10:03)

Muse 2 The Pharaoh (4:21)

Digital Garden (4:07)

The Work Pt. 1 (4:28)

Everywhere (2:54)

The Sensual Everafter (2:58)

Mellow (4:24)

Side B

1+1+1 Is 3 (5:17)

Deconstruction (1:59)

Wedding Feast (0:54)

She Loves Me 4 Me (2:49)

Family Name (8:17)

The Everlasting Now (8:18)

Last December (7:57)

Last December (Reprise) (0:38)

Reissues & Global Variants (all supplied)

2×LP, Album – NPG/Redline 70004 – US – 2001

CD, Album, Digipak – NPG/Redline 70004-2 – US – 2001

CD, Album, Digipak – NPG/Redline 3081502 – France – 2001

CD, Album, Digipak – NPG/Shock CTX149CD – Australia – 2001

CD, Album, Promo – Shock none – Australia – 2001

CD, Album, Digipak – NPG JMCD-1054 – Hong Kong – 2001

CD, Album, Reissue, Digipak – NPG 70004-2 / 3081482 – France – 2002

CD, Album, Stereo, Digipak – NPG VICP-61736 – Japan – 2002

CD, Album, Digipak with Slipcase – NPG MVP61736 – Taiwan – 2002

CD, Album, Digipak – NPG SMJJCD-3 – South Korea – 2002

CD, Album, Promo, Stereo, Digipak – NPG VICP-61736 – Japan – 2002

Cassette, Album – PT. Aquarius Musikindo P5436 / JVC 286 – Indonesia – 2001

2×LP, Deluxe Ltd Crystal Clear + slipmat – The Prince Estate 1 – Europe – 2020

2×LP, Ltd Crystal Clear – The Prince Estate 19075918041S1 – US – 2020

2×LP, Ltd Crystal Clear – The Prince Estate SIJP 98~9 – Japan – 2020

Singles Released

The Work Pt. 1 b/w U Make My Sun Shine (2001, NPG promo only)

She Loves Me 4 Me (promo only)

Last December (Japan promo only)

Album Chart Performance

America

USA (The Billboard 200): 109 (2 weeks) – entry 8 Dec. 2001

USA (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums): 33 (7 weeks) – entry 8 Dec. 2001

USA (Independent Albums): 4 (17 weeks) – entry 8 Dec. 2001

Europe

France (SNEP Top Album 200): 78 (9 weeks) – entry 2 Nov. 2002

Asia

Japan (ORICON 洋楽アルバム World Albums): 17 (4 weeks) – entry 6 Feb. 2002

Production and Context

Produced, arranged, all instruments (except noted), lead/co-lead vocals, percussion, FX by Prince. Drums: John Blackwell. Bass on B1/D2: Larry Graham. Horns: Hornheadz. Sax/flute: Najee. Backing vox: Kip Blackshire, Milenia, Mr. Hayes, Femi Jiya. Recorded/mixed by Prince & Femi Jiya at Paisley Park. First album reflecting Prince’s Jehovah’s Witness faith, with narrative about spiritual awakening and the “Banished Ones.”

Legacy and Collectibility

The Rainbow Children is Prince’s bold, divisive jazz-funk Jehovah masterpiece. Original 2001 US 2×LP (only vinyl country) fetches £80–£200 on eBay/Discogs, CD £10–£25, Indonesian cassette £30–£60, 2020 crystal-clear 2×LP £50–£100. Verify catalogue 70004.

Streams on Spotify/Tidal preserve the live-band fire. This album is a must-have for deep-cut Prince fans and jazz-funk collectors.

Do you have The Rainbow Children in your collection? Are you in the Digital Garden or with the Banished Ones? Share in the comments!

Sources

Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including Prince Vault, Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts Company, Billboard Chart History and YouTube