The Gold Experience
Studio album by
Prince
ReleasedSeptember 26, 1995
RecordedJanuary 1993; September 1993 – July 1994
GenreFunk rock[1]
Length65:04
LabelWarner Bros., NPG
ProducerPrince
Prince chronology
The Versace Experience: Prelude 2 Gold
(1995)		 The Gold Experience
(1995)		 Girl 6
(1996)
Singles from The Gold Experience
  1. "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World"
    Released: February 24, 1994
  2. "I Hate U"
    Released: September 12, 1995
  3. "Gold"
    Released: November 30, 1995

The Gold Experience is the seventeenth studio album by American singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Prince. It was credited to his stage name at the time, an unpronounceable symbol (shown on the album cover), also known as the "Love Symbol".

The album was produced entirely by Prince and released on September 26, 1995, by NPG Records and Warner Bros. Records. The album charted at number 6 on the Billboard 200 and number 2 on the Top R&B Albums.[2] The singles "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World", "I Hate U", and "Gold" charted on the Billboard Hot 100 at numbers 3, 12, and 88 respectively.[2]

On June 18, 2022, The Gold Experience was reissued for Record Store Day 2022. The reissue on vinyl is a replica of the original translucent gold expanded, limited promo album from 1995.[3] The day prior, the album's CD version was rereleased. This marked the first time the complete album had been reissued following the legal battle over "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World".

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Blender[5]
Entertainment WeeklyAβˆ’[6]
The Guardian[7]
Los Angeles Times[8]
NME7/10[9]
Pitchfork8.1/10[10]
Q[11]
Rolling Stone[12]
The Village VoiceA[13]

The Gold Experience sold 500,000 copies in the United States and peaked at number six on the Billboard 200, failing to meet the record label's commercial expectations. According to biographer Jason Draper, it may have undersold because Prince was losing touch with younger listeners and also because his contractual dispute with Warner Bros. Records overshadowed the album's promotion, which he had done well before it was released.[14]

Nonetheless, The Gold Experience was a success with critics.[14] Melody Maker called it Prince's best record in years,[15] while Vibe said it was his best since Sign o' the Times in 1987.[16] In The Village Voice, Robert Christgau wrote that it showcased not only the unbridled artistry displayed on his other records but also "a renewal. It's as sex-obsessed as ever, only with more juiceβ€”'Shhh' and '319' especially pack the kind of porno jolt sexy music rarely gets near and hard music never does."[13] He believed its best songs, specifically "Endorphinmachine" and "P Control", "funk and rock as outrageously and originally as anything he's ever recorded".[17] Jon Pareles was less enthusiastic in The New York Times, finding most of the songs to be minor successes and calling it "a proficient album, not a startling one; most of its songs are variations and retreads of previous Prince efforts."[18]

The Gold Experience was voted the 30th best album of 1995 in the Pazz & Jop, an annual poll of American critics published by The Village Voice.[19] Christgau, the poll's supervisor, ranked it 10th best in his own year-end list.[20] In a retrospective review, Keith Harris from Blender cited The Gold Experience as the best album Prince recorded in the 1990s, "a mix of newly stripped-down funk and delicate balladry that reasserts his dynamic range".[5]

Several people speculated that the song "Billy Jack Bitch" was written about a Minneapolis Star Tribune gossip columnist known as "CJ".[21][22][23] Prince denied the song was about the columnist when CJ herself interviewed him.[24]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Prince, except where noted

The Gold Experience track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."P Control[25]" (originally titled "Pussy Control"[26]) 5:59
2."NPG Operator" 0:10
3."Endorphinmachine" 4:07
4."Shhh" 7:18
5."We March"
4:49
6."NPG Operator" 0:16
7."The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" 4:25
8."Dolphin" 4:59
9."NPG Operator" 0:18
10."Now" 4:30
11."NPG Operator" 0:31
12."319" 3:05
13."NPG Operator" 0:10
14."Shy" 5:04
15."Billy Jack Bitch"
  • Prince
  • Michael B. Nelson
5:32
16."I Hate U" 5:54
17."NPG Operator" 0:44
18."Gold" 7:23
Special vinyl edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
19."I Hate U" (extended remix)6:17
20."I Hate U" (LP version)6:08
21."I Hate U" (quiet night mix)3:56
22."I Hate U" (single version with guitar solo)4:25
23."I Hate U" (single version without guitar solo)3:48

Notes

  • Every use of the pronoun "I" throughout the song titles and liner notes is represented by a stylized "πŸ‘" symbol. This symbol is commonly transliterated as "Eye" amongst Prince fans, as "πŸ‘ No" and "I Wish U Heaven" both appeared on Lovesexy.

Personnel

  • Prince – lead vocals and various instruments
  • Tommy Barbarella, Mr. Hayes – keyboards (3, 4, 8, 12, 15, 16, 18)
  • Sonny T. – bass (3, 4, 8, 12, 15, 16, 18), backing vocals (5)
  • Michael Bland aka "Michael B." – drums (3, 4, 8, 12, 15, 16, 18)
  • Ricky Peterson – additional keyboards (5, 7, 12, 16, 18)
  • Kirk Johnson – drum programming (5)
  • James Behringer – additional guitar (7)
  • Brian Gallagher – tenor saxophone (10, 12, 15)
  • Kathy Jensen – baritone saxophone (10, 12, 15)
  • Dave Jensen, Steve Strand – trumpet (10, 12, 15)
  • Michael B. Nelson – trombone (10, 12, 15), horn arrangement (15)
  • Nona Gaye – co-lead vocals (5)
  • Mayte – spoken vocals (1, 5)
  • Rain Ivana (as NPG Operator) – voice (2, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15-18)

Produced by Prince, except: 7, 12, 16, 18, co-produced by Ricky Peterson, and 5, co-produced with Ricky Peterson and Kirk Johnson.

Singles

Another track, "Shhh", charted from The Gold Experience in July 1994; it was not the album version, but rather a live version performed on The Beautiful Experience TV special, which aired in 1994. It received some R&B airplay, causing it to chart and peak at #62 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for The Gold Experience
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[55] Gold 10,000‑
United Kingdom (BPI)[56] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[57] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‑ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ Sullivan, Jim (October 5, 1995). "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince The Gold Experience". The Boston Globe. Calendar section, p. 17. Retrieved July 19, 2013. he releases the long- delayed 'The Gold Experience' and zooms back up to the A-level of funk-rock.
  2. 1 2 "Gold Experience - Prince : Awards". Allmusic. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Prince – The Gold Experience". Record Store Day. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  4. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Gold Experience – Prince". AllMusic. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  5. 1 2 Harris, Keith (June–July 2001). "Prince β€” Every Original CD Reviewed: The Gold Experience". Blender. No. 1. New York. Archived from the original on August 20, 2004. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  6. ↑ Flaherty, Mike (September 29, 1995). "The Gold Experience". Entertainment Weekly. No. 294. New York. ISSN 1049-0434. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  7. ↑ Price, Simon (April 22, 2016). "Prince: every album rated – and ranked". The Guardian. London. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  8. ↑ Coker, Cheo H. (September 24, 1995). "With 'Gold,' Prince Regains His Midas Touch". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. OCLC 3638237. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Prince: The Gold Experience". NME. London. September 23, 1995. p. 49.
  10. ↑ Light, Alan (March 5, 2023). "Prince: The Gold Experience Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  11. ↑ Kelly, Danny (October 1995). "Prince: The Gold Experience". Q. No. 109. London. p. 116.
  12. ↑ Cooper, Carol (November 2, 1995). "The Gold Experience". Rolling Stone. New York. ISSN 0035-791X. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  13. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (November 14, 1995). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  14. 1 2 Draper, Jason (2011). "The Exodus Has Begun". Prince: Chaos, Disorder, and Revolution. Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-1458429414. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  15. ↑ Melody Maker. London: 38. October 14, 1995.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link)
  16. ↑ "Prince - The Gold Experience". Vibe. InterMedia Partners: 131–132. October 1995. ISSN 1070-4701. Retrieved September 16, 2011. …a Prince experience par excellence.
  17. ↑ Christgau, Robert (October 1995). "Oct. 1995: Randy Newman, Prince". Playboy. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  18. ↑ Pareles, Jon (September 17, 1995). "Still Moaning, Still Shimmying". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Pazz & Jop 1995". The Village Voice. 1996. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  20. ↑ Christgau, Robert (1996). "Pazz & Jop 1995: Dean's List". The Village Voice. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  21. ↑ Grove, Lloyd (June 7, 2002). "The Reliable Source β€’ Live Transcript". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  22. ↑ Webster, Nick (April 10, 2004). "From Sex God to Doorstep Bible Basher". The Mirror.
  23. ↑ blackvoices.com
  24. ↑ "About the Artist". ArtworkByCJ.com. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  25. ↑ "Images for The Artist (Formerly Known As Prince) – The Gold Experience". Discogs. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  26. ↑ "The Artist (Formerly Known As Prince) - Pussy Control / 319 (CD) at Discogs". Discogs. August 11, 1995. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  27. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – The Symbol – The Gold Experience". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – The Symbol – The Gold Experience" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  29. ↑ "Ultratop.be – The Symbol – The Gold Experience" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Listen – Danmarks Officielle Hitliste – Udarbejdet af AIM Nielsen for IFPI Danmark – Uge 39". Ekstra Bladet (in Danish). Copenhagen. October 1, 1995.
  31. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Symbol – The Gold Experience" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  32. ↑ "The Symbol: The Gold Experience" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  33. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Symbol – The Gold Experience" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  34. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – The Symbol – The Gold Experience". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  35. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). SΓ³lo Γ©xitos: aΓ±o a aΓ±o, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: FundaciΓ³n Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  36. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – The Symbol – The Gold Experience". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – The Symbol – The Gold Experience". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  38. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  39. ↑ "Prince Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  40. ↑ "Prince Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  41. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Prince". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  42. ↑ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2022-06-27/p/4" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  43. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2022/06/22 ε…¬ι–‹". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  44. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – The Symbol – The Gold Experience". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  45. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  46. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  47. ↑ "{{{artist}}} Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  48. ↑ "Prince Chart History (Top Catalog Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  49. ↑ "Prince Chart History (Vinyl Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  50. ↑ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  51. ↑ "Ultratop.be – The Symbol – The Gold Experience" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  52. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1995". Ultratop. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  53. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1995". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  54. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  55. ↑ "Danish album certifications – Prince – The Gold Experience". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  56. ↑ "British album certifications – Prince – The Gold Experience". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type The Gold Experience in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  57. ↑ "American album certifications – Prince – The Gold Experience". Recording Industry Association of America.
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