✦ The Vault… Old Friends 4 Sale – Album: Feb. 2024

Prince’s 1999 vault collection returns on 180g vinyl — a soulful, intimate window into his 1990s studio archives

✦ SUMMARY

Released on 23 February 2024 in the US and Europe by NPG Records / Legacy (catalogue: 19439935971 / R1 726005), this remastered 180g vinyl edition of The Vault… Old Friends 4 Sale brings Prince’s 1999 archival album back into circulation. Compiled from 1990s vault recordings, the album blends funk, soul, R&B and experimental textures, offering a rare look at Prince’s creative world during his most independent and prolific decade.

Featuring standout tracks such as The Rest of My Life, She Spoke 2 Me, 5 Women and the emotional title track Old Friends 4 Sale, the album showcases Prince’s storytelling, musicianship and stylistic range. The 2024 reissue restores the album with improved clarity and premium packaging.

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✦ HIGHLIGHTS

• Released 23 February 2024 (US & Europe)

• 180g vinyl reissue

• Remastered from the original 1990s vault recordings

• Catalogue numbers: 19439935971 / R1 726005

• Features contributions from Levi Seacer Jr., Michael B., Mr. Hayes, Sheila E., Sonny T., Tommy Barbarella and more

• Art direction and collage by Parke; photography by Claude Gassian

• Originally released in 1999

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✦ TRACKLISTING

Side A

The Rest of My Life

It’s About That Walk

She Spoke 2 Me

5 Women

Side B

When the Lights Go Down

My Little Pill

There Is Lonely

Old Friends 4 Sale

Sarah

Extraordinary

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✦ PRODUCTION & CONTEXT

Recorded at Paisley Park Studios, Sunset Sound, Studio Davout and Warner‑Pioneer Studio.

Remastered for the 2024 vinyl edition.

Features a wide range of collaborators from Prince’s 1990s musical circle.

The Vault… Old Friends 4 Sale was originally released in 1999 as part of Prince’s final contractual obligations to Warner Bros. The material, however, spans years of vault activity — intimate ballads, jazz‑inflected grooves, stripped‑back R&B and deeply personal songwriting. The 2024 reissue brings renewed attention to this overlooked gem.

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✦ VARIANTS

LP — 180g Reissue

NPG Records R1 726005 / Warner Records 603497828432 — Europe — 2024

LP — Standard Reissue

NPG Records 19439935971 / Legacy 19439935971 — US — 2024

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✦ LEGACY

The Vault… Old Friends 4 Sale is one of Prince’s most emotionally resonant archival releases — a collection of songs that reveal vulnerability, humour, heartbreak and musical sophistication. The 2024 vinyl reissue gives these tracks the analog warmth they deserve, reaffirming the album’s place as a key document of Prince’s 1990s artistry.

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✦ PRINCE 1999 MINI‑TIMELINE — THE VAULT ERA

✦ Early 1990s

Prince records extensively at Paisley Park, generating hundreds of unreleased tracks across genres.

✦ 1994–1996

Prince battles with Warner Bros., leading to a surge of independent releases and vault activity.

✦ 1999

The Vault… Old Friends 4 Sale is released, compiling previously unreleased material from the decade.

✦ 2000s

Prince continues to revisit and refine vault recordings for future projects.

✦ 2024

The album receives a remastered 180g vinyl reissue, bringing renewed attention to its emotional depth and musical range.

This era captures Prince at his most prolific — fiercely independent, endlessly creative and unafraid to experiment.

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✦ GLAM FLASHBACK — THE VAULT (1999 ORIGINAL) VS. THE VAULT (2024 VINYL REISSUE)

✦ 1999 Original Release

• Mixed reception due to contractual context

• Emotional, introspective songwriting

• Tracks spanning years of vault sessions

• CD‑era mastering with late‑’90s compression

✦ 2024 Vinyl Reissue

• Warmer, more dynamic remaster

• Premium 180g pressing

• Renewed appreciation for the album’s depth

• Highlights the sophistication of Prince’s 1990s work

Together, they reveal how time has reshaped the album’s reputation — from a contractual curiosity to a cherished vault treasure.

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✦ SOURCES

Personal archive knowledge

Prince Vault

Discogs

45cat

AllMusic

Rate Your Music

Wikipedia

BBC Official Charts Company

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