Newpower Soul
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| Newpower Soul | ||
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| Studio album by New Power Generation | ||
| Released | June 30, 1998 | |
| Recorded | Paisley Park Studios | |
| Genre | Pop, Rock, Funk | |
| Length | ??? | |
| Label | NPG Records | |
| Producer(s) |  |
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| Professional reviews | ||
|---|---|---|
| New Power Generation chronology | ||
| Exodus (1995) |
Newpower Soul (1998) |
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Newpower Soul is a 1998 album by the New Power Generation, but is de facto a Prince (then known as ) album.
The album title has had a long history in the Prince world. In 1988, "New Power Soul" was a lyric in the Lovesexy top ten hit, "Alphabet St." and was also part of the album art (written in the form of an arrow. A year later, the smash hit "Batdance" also had a segment repeating "Power Soul". This was sampled later on Carmen Electra's debut album (which was primarily written by Prince). In 1995, The New Power Generation's second album, Exodus contained a mostly instrumental track with the title "New Power Soul" and a spoken outtake from the album prompted the listener to await the next NPG album, Newpower Soul. "New Power" was contracted to "Newpower" for the later album and song. Indeed, the whole concept is most likely related to the New Power Generation, which was also mentioned back on Lovesexy.
Prior to the album's release, Prince had alienated a considerable size of his most loyal fan base with the Crystal Ball ordering fiasco and the album sold relatively poorly despite promotional efforts. Many of the reviews for the album were, at best, mediocre. Prince himself may not have been completely confident in the tracks, opting to release it under the NPG moniker rather than as an official album from Prince/, though he did not mask his involvement in the album as he had with the previous NPG releases.
Except for a few tracks, the album is highly derivative of previous efforts. The title track reuses the music from "Big Fun", an Exodus track. "Push It Up" is little more than a remix of the 1996 Emancipation track, "Jam of the Year". "Mad Sex" is nothing new for Prince, relying on his tested formula of sexual innuendo. "(I Like) Funky Music", "Push It Up" and "Freaks On This Side" all use a sampled chorus of audience chants that quickly outstay their welcome. "Until U're In My Arms Again" and "When U Love Somebody" are saccharine-sweet numbers with no real substance. Also, most of these tracks contains a bad combination of stale production from NPG percussionist Kirk Johnson and out of date rapping and beat boxing from over-the-hill rapper, Doug E. Fresh. Indeed, the album is currently the last from the New Power Generation, as their own entity.
Despite the negative reviews, the album is noted by fans for a few key tracks such as "The One", "Come On" and the bonus hidden track "Wasted Kisses".
[edit] Track listing
- "Newpower Soul"
- "Mad Sex"
- "Until U're In My Arms Again"
- "When U Love Somebody"
- "Shoo-Bed-Ooh"
- "Push It Up"
- "Freaks On This Side"
- "Come On"
- "The One"
- "(I Like) Funky Music"
11.– 48. (silent tracks)
49. "Wasted Kisses" (hidden track)
[edit] Singles and Hot 100 positions
- "Come On"
- "Come On" (Doug E. Fresh Mix)
- "Come On" (Remix)
- "Come On" (Album Edit)
- "Come On" (Hypermix)
- "Come On" (Latenitemix)
- "Come On" (Acapella)
- "The One" (Remix) only available on 1-800-NEW-FUNK maxi-single
