Various Artists (August 12, 1994) – 1‑800 New Funk Album Release Worldwide

1‑800 New Funk is a compilation of music largely written and produced by Prince, recorded by other Paisley Park Records / NPG Records artists. Some tracks had been released previously, but most were previously‑unreleased and did not subsequently appear on other releases, although the booklet showed images that may have been intended as album covers for each artist.

Other than George Clinton’s contribution Hollywood, all songs contained either writing or other musical input from Prince, and the album included a new track by Prince (as ), Love Sign, credited as a duet by “Nona Gaye and ”, with Nona Gaye listed as the main artist due to Prince’s disputes with Warner Bros. about releasing his music independently.

Prince supported the album with a video and TV performance of Love Sign, and the album was advertised with a full‑page Billboard magazine advertisement mimicking Warner Bros.’ advertisement for Come (released three days later).

Side one  

• MPLS — Written by Prince

(credited to Sonny T.) — 4:26

• Hollywood — George Clinton

• Love Sign — Written by O(+>— 4:31

• If ♥ U 2night — Written by O(+> — 4:19

• Color — Written by O(+> — 4:20

Album Details

Released: 12 July 1994 (Early signing session) / 12 August 1994 (Worldwide release) Recorded: Studios: Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA; Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Side two  

• 2gether — Written by Prince (credited to the New Power Generation) — 5:07

• Standing At The Altar — Written by O(+> — 3:54

• You Will Be Moved — Written by Prince — 4:11

• 17 — Written by O(+>, Eric Leeds, Michael Bland, Sonny Thompson & Levi Seacer, Jr. — 5:23

• A Woman’s Gotta Have It — Written by Bobby Womack, Linda Womack & Darryl Carter — 4:30

• MPLS Reprise — Written by Prince (credited to Sonny T.) — 0:48

1994 CD Release

• MPLS — 4:26 • Hollywood

• Love Sign — 4:31

• If ♥ U 2night — 4:19

• Color — 4:20

• 2gether — 5:07

• Standing At The Altar — 3:54

• You Will Be Moved — 4:11

• 17 — 5:23

• A Woman’s Gotta Have It — 4:30

• MPLS Reprise — 0:48

Bonus tracks (Japan Edition)  

• Standing At The Altar (Extended Version) — 5:59

• The Most Beautiful Girl In The World (Sax Mix) — 4:29

• The Most Beautiful Boy In The World — 4:34

Personnel (Full Track‑Specific Credits)

Sonny T.   Co‑lead vocals & bass on MPLS and MPLS Reprise; bass & background vocals on 2gether; bass on 17 and A Woman’s Gotta Have It

Jana Anderson   Co‑lead vocals on MPLS and MPLS Reprise

Prince (as )   All other instruments on MPLS, MPLS Reprise, 2gether, The Most Beautiful Girl In The World (Sax Mix), The Most Beautiful Boy In The World; all vocals & instruments on Love Sign; background vocals on If ♥ U 2night, Color, Standing At The Altar; keyboards on 17

Morris Hayes   Keyboards, background vocals on MPLS & MPLS Reprise; keyboards on 2gether & Standing At The Altar

Billy Franze   Guitar (unconfirmed) on MPLS & MPLS Reprise; guitar on If ♥ U 2night & You Will Be Moved

The Steeles (Jevetta, Fred, JD, Jearlyn)   Background vocals on MPLS, You Will Be Moved, MPLS Reprise; vocals on Color

Nona Gaye   Co‑lead vocals on Love Sign; lead vocals on A Woman’s Gotta Have It

Paul Peterson   Bass on Love Sign & You Will Be Moved

Ricky Peterson   Keyboards on Love Sign, A Woman’s Gotta Have It, The Most Beautiful Girl In The World (Sax Mix), The Most Beautiful Boy In The World; all instruments on If ♥ U 2night; organ & keyboards on You Will Be Moved

New Power Generation   “Featuring…” (unidentified musicians) on Love Sign, Color, Standing At The Altar, A Woman’s Gotta Have It

Mayte   Lead & background vocals on If ♥ U 2night & The Most Beautiful Boy In The World

Kathleen Bradford   Background vocals on If ♥ U 2night

Statik   Drum programming on If ♥ U 2night

Kirk Johnson   Unidentified instruments on Color; background vocals on 2gether; percussion on You Will Be Moved

Tony M.   Lead vocals on 2gether

Michael B.   Drums on 2gether & 17

Levi Seacer, Jr.   Guitar on 2gether, Standing At The Altar, You Will Be Moved, 17

Damon Dickson   Background vocals on 2gether

Tommy Barbarella   Piano on 2gether

Horn section (uncredited)   Michael B. Nelson, Kathy Jensen, Dave Jensen, Brian Gallagher, Steve Strand — horns on 2gether

Margie Cox   Lead & background vocals on Standing At The Altar

Jackie Robinson   Bass on Standing At The Altar

Eric Leeds   Saxophone on Standing At The Altar & 17

Rosie Gaines / Greg Sain   Background vocals on Standing At The Altar

Mavis Staples   Vocals on You Will Be Moved

David Barry / Pops Staples   Guitar & backing vocals on You Will Be Moved

Ken Holmen   Saxophone on A Woman’s Gotta Have It

James Behringer   Additional guitar on The Most Beautiful Girl In The World (Sax Mix) & The Most Beautiful Boy In The World

Technical

• Ray Hahnfeldt — recording & mixing

• Chronic Freeze — recording & mixing

• Razor Boy — editor

• Ricky Peterson — producer

• Brian Poer — recording

• Femi Jiya — recording

• Heidi Hanschu — recording

• Tom Tucker — mixing & recording

• Tom Garneau — recording

• Kirk Johnson — producer on Color

• Steve Durkee — recording

• Morris Hayes — co‑producer

• Greg Sain — co‑producer

• Steve Noonan — recording & mixing

• Michael Koppelman — recording

• Simon Harris — extended version engineering • Dave Kent — recording

• Fred Harrington — recording

• Juli Knapp‑Winge — project manager

• Lizz Luce — art direction / design

• J C Munson — art direction / design

• Nicole Nodland — photography

• Debbie McGuan — design

• Scott Morgan — photo

• Jeff Katz — photo

• John Ragel — photo

• Richard Litt — photo

Charts

USA Billboard R&B Albums Chart — No. 45 (9 weeks)

Singles from 1‑800 New Funk

2gether —

Released 1993

MPLS —

Limited release

If ♥ U 2night — Limited release (1994) / Re‑released Europe (1995)

Love Sign — Promo only Standing At The Altar — Commercial single

SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts, Prince Vault, Sleeveographia2

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