Tevin Campbell (October 26, 1993) – I’m Ready CD/CTC
Released on October 26, 1993, I’m Ready was the second studio album by Tevin Campbell. Issued through Qwest Records and Warner Bros., the album ran for 49:10 and included four songs written and produced by Prince under the credit Paisley Park.
Prince’s contributions were “The Halls Of Desire,” “Uncle Sam,” “Paris 1798430” and “Shhh.” Although Prince’s involvement represented only part of the finished album, the four recordings formed a distinctive group within the project and connected I’m Ready directly with Prince’s creative work of the early 1990s.
RELEASE DETAILS
Artist: Tevin Campbell
Title: I’m Ready
Release Date: October 26, 1993
Format: CD / Cassette
Running Time: 49:10
Labels: Qwest Records / Warner Bros.
Studios: Olympic Studios, London / Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, Minnesota
PRINCE CONNECTION
Prince wrote and produced four songs included on I’m Ready, using the pseudonym Paisley Park for the songwriting and production credits.
The four Prince compositions were:
The Halls Of Desire
Uncle Sam
Paris 1798430
Shhh
Prince also performed the majority of the instrumental and background-vocal parts on the Prince-related recordings, with additional musicians contributing to individual tracks.
The finished album therefore combined Tevin Campbell’s lead vocals with a substantial body of Prince-created material while also incorporating work by other writers and producers.
SESSIONS & COMPILING
At one stage Prince was considered as a possible producer for the entire album. Instead, Tevin Campbell and executive producer Quincy Jones also worked with other producers, including Babyface and Narada Michael Walden.
Prince recorded seven songs during September 1992 for possible inclusion on Campbell’s album:
The Halls Of Desire
Uncle Sam
Paris 1798430
Shhh
Down
The P
Holly Don’t Care
Four were ultimately retained for I’m Ready:
The Halls Of Desire
Uncle Sam
Paris 1798430
Shhh
The remaining three followed different paths.
Holly Don’t Care was subsequently reworked by Mayte for Child Of The Sun.
Down and The P remained unreleased.
Shhh would later return to Prince’s own catalogue when Prince reclaimed the composition and released a Prince recording on The Gold Experience.
THE FOUR PRINCE COMPOSITIONS
THE HALLS OF DESIRE
“The Halls Of Desire” runs for 4:36 and was written by Prince under the Paisley Park credit.
The recording includes contributions from Michael B. on drums, Sonny T. on bass, Tommy Barbarella on keyboards, Kathleen Johnson on background vocals, Eric Leeds on saxophone and Kirk Johnson on percussion.
William “DJ” Graves contributed scratching.
UNCLE SAM
“Uncle Sam” runs for 3:57.
Prince wrote the song under the Paisley Park credit, while the rap was written by Paula Sherield.
Kathleen Johnson contributed background vocals, and Kirk Johnson supplied additional production.
PARIS 1798430
“Paris 1798430” runs for 3:37.
Alongside Prince, the recording features additional horn contributions associated with Michael B. Nelson, Kathy Jensen, Dave Jensen, Brian Gallagher and Steve Strand.
The track also incorporates sampled material connected with Eric Leeds and sampled string arrangements by Clare Fischer.
CONTEXT AND NOTES
I’m Ready represents one of Prince’s substantial outside production and songwriting projects from the early 1990s.
Although plans apparently existed for Prince to take a much larger production role, the finished album ultimately combined Prince’s material with work from several other producers.
The four Prince compositions nevertheless formed a clearly identifiable strand within the finished record, reinforced through Prince’s Paisley Park production credit and extensive instrumental involvement.
“Shhh” is especially notable in retrospect because Prince subsequently reclaimed the composition and released a Prince version on The Gold Experience.
The album’s commercial performance was considerable, reaching No. 18 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart and No. 3 on the Billboard R&B Albums chart, before receiving double-platinum certification in the United States.
SHHH
“Shhh” runs for 4:55.
Michael B. contributed drums, Sonny T. bass and Tommy Barbarella keyboards, with Kathleen Johnson supplying background vocals.
The recording also incorporates sampled string arrangements by Clare Fischer.
The song became especially significant within the Prince catalogue when Prince later recorded and released a version on The Gold Experience.
PRINCE-RELATED PERSONNEL
Tevin Campbell – Lead vocals
Prince – All instruments and background vocals except where noted; producer as Paisley Park
Michael B. – Drums on “The Halls Of Desire” and “Shhh”
Sonny T. – Bass guitar on “The Halls Of Desire” and “Shhh”
Tommy Barbarella – Keyboards on “The Halls Of Desire” and “Shhh”
Kathleen Johnson – Background vocals on “The Halls Of Desire,” “Uncle Sam” and “Shhh”
Eric Leeds – Saxophone on “The Halls Of Desire”; sampled contribution on “Paris 1798430”
Atlanta Bliss – Trumpet credit associated with the sessions
Kirk Johnson – Percussion on “The Halls Of Desire”; additional production on “Uncle Sam”
William “DJ” Graves – Scratching on “The Halls Of Desire” and possible uncredited contribution to “Paris 1798430”
Michael B. Nelson – Trombone on “Paris 1798430”
Kathy Jensen – Baritone saxophone on “Paris 1798430”
Dave Jensen – Trumpet on “Paris 1798430”
Brian Gallagher – Tenor saxophone on “Paris 1798430”
Steve Strand – Trumpet on “Paris 1798430”
Clare Fischer – Sampled string arrangements on “Paris 1798430” and “Shhh”
PRODUCTION
Prince produced the four Prince compositions under the name Paisley Park.
Kirk Johnson supplied additional production on “Uncle Sam.”
Steve Noonan worked as engineer on “The Halls Of Desire,” “Uncle Sam” and “Paris 1798430” at Paisley Park Studios, and on “Shhh” at Olympic Studios in London.
Eric Anest engineered “The Halls Of Desire,” “Uncle Sam” and “Paris 1798430” at Paisley Park Studios.
Tom Garneau engineered “The Halls Of Desire” and “Paris 1798430” at Paisley Park Studios.
Ray Hannfeldt engineered “The Halls Of Desire” and contributed additional recording to “Shhh.”
Michael Brauer was mix engineer at Quad Studios in New York City.
CHARTS & CERTIFICATIONS
I’m Ready entered the U.S. charts on November 13, 1993.
SINGLES
Six singles were released from the album. Among the releases directly connected with Prince’s contributions were:
Shhh – Promotional release
I’m Ready – Australian edition backed with “Shhh” and “Tell Me What You Want Me To Do”
The Halls Of Desire – Backed with “I’m Ready” and “Always In My Heart”
Don’t Say Goodbye Girl – Included “The Halls Of Desire”
Chart | Peak Position | Weeks |
Billboard Top Pop Albums | No. 18 | 49 |
Billboard R&B Albums | No. 3 | 58 |
The album subsequently received a series of RIAA certifications:
Date | Certification |
January 12, 1994 | Gold – 500,000 |
February 10, 1994 | Platinum – 1 million |
September 8, 1994 | 2× Platinum – 2 million |
TRACKLIST
No. | Track | Prince Connection |
1 | Can We Talk | |
2 | Don’t Say Goodbye Girl | |
3 | Interlude | |
4 | The Halls Of Desire – 4:36 | Written and produced by Prince as Paisley Park |
5 | I’m Ready | |
6 | What Do I Say | |
7 | Uncle Sam – 3:57 | Written and produced by Prince as Paisley Park; rap by Paula Sherield |
8 | Interlude | |
9 | Paris 1798430 – 3:37 | Written and produced by Prince as Paisley Park |
10 | Always In My Heart | |
11 | Interlude | |
12 | Shhh – 4:55 | Written and produced by Prince as Paisley Park |
13 | Brown Eyed Girl | |
14 | Infant Child |
CASSETTE TRACKLIST
SIDE ONE | SIDE TWO |
Can We Talk | Uncle Sam |
Don’t Say Goodbye Girl | Interlude |
Interlude | Paris 1798430 |
The Halls Of Desire | Always In My Heart |
I’m Ready | Interlude |
What Do I Say | Shhh |
Brown Eyed Girl | |
Infant Child |
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