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Come (album)

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Come
Studio album by
Prince
ReleasedAugust 16, 1994
Recorded1991, January – May 1993 and March 1994
Studio
Genre
Length48:43
LabelWarner Bros.
45700
ProducerPrince
Prince chronology
The Hits/The B-Sides
(1993) 		Come
(1994) 		The Black Album
(1994)
Singles from Come
  1. "Letitgo"
    Released: August 9, 1994
  2. "Come"
    Released: 1994 (GER Promo)
  3. "Space"
    Released: November 1, 1994
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert Christgau(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)[2]
Knoxville News Sentinel[3]
Mojo(mixed)[4]
Mojo(favorable)[5]
MusicHound1.5/5[6]
NME7/10[7]
Rolling Stone[8]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[9]
Village Voice(unfavorable)[10]

Come is the fifteenth studio album by American recording artist Prince. It was released on August 16, 1994, by Warner Bros. Records. At the time of its release, Prince was in a public dispute with Warner Bros. A lack of promotion from the label and Prince himself resulted in Come under-performing on American record charts, stalling at No. 15, and becoming his first album since Controversy (1981) to not yield any top 10 singles in the US. However, it was more successful overseas, reaching the top 10 across Europe and topping the UK Albums Chart.

The album would be Prince's final Warner Bros. album under his name. For the remainder of his contract with the company, his name would be represented by the unpronounceable "Love Symbol", and he would be referred to in the media as "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince".

Concept evolution

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After Prince's name change to an unpronounceable symbol, he intended to release new songs under that moniker in formats other than albums. He would fulfil his contract to Warner Bros. by delivering unreleased material from his music vault. Prince conceived an "interactive musical experience" called Glam Slam Ulysses—a musical loosely based on Homer's Odyssey. These songs and many others would travel back and forth between different projects, including a planned triple-album called The Dawn. Material from this era later ended up on Come, The Gold Experience and The Beautiful Experience, among other projects.

In late May 1993, Prince's then-band member Mayte Garcia sent a letter to a Prince fanzine listing the tracks "Come", "Endorphinmachine", "Space", "Pheromone", "Loose!", "Papa", "Dark", "Race", "Solo" and "Poem", which all ended up being included in some form on Come. She also included "Interactive", "Peach" and "Pope". Most of these songs were newly written, except "Peach" (written in 1992), and "Race" (written in 1991 during the Love Symbol Album sessions—it uses a scratching sound effect similar to Love Symbol Album's "The Continental").

On March 6, 1994, Prince submitted a tape of eight songs to Dutch radio stations which included the song "Pheromone". Five days later, he submitted the first version of the Come album to Warner Bros. The album consisted of: "Poem", "Interactive", "Endorphinemachine", "Space", "Pheromone", "Loose!", "Papa", "Race", "Dark", "Solo", and "Strays of the World". This version of the album is exactly 45 minutes in length and is known as the Come Test Pressing. The title track was absent. Warner Bros. rejected this version, and asked for the title track along with some other new material, such as the recent hit "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World". Prince went back into the studio and tooled with the title track, creating an 11-minute horn-boosted sexual romp.

With these additions, Warner Bros. agreed to release the album. But Prince decided to change it once again, removing the more rock-oriented tracks "Interactive", "Endorphinemachine", and "Strays of the World." He also broke up "Poem" into segues throughout the album, with the remainder retitled as "Orgasm", and included the newly-written "Letitgo". This final version was submitted to Warner Bros. on the same day as a configuration of The Gold Experience. Prince wanted them to release both albums simultaneously, so the Prince material would compete with the one released under the symbolic moniker in the charts (with the latter having more commercial material). Warner Bros. accepted both albums, but refused to release them both at the same time, fearing the market would have too much Prince material in stock.

Recording

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Most of the songs from the Come album were recorded at Paisley Park Studios and The Record Plant in early 1993 during a highly prolific time for Prince. The guitar sound on "Orgasm" is a sample of a feedback guitar solo from a previous Prince track, "Private Joy" from his 1981 album Controversy. The moaning on "Orgasm" is that of Vanity, recorded in 1983 for the unreleased track "Vibrator." In the liner notes, Vanity is credited as "she knows".

Music and lyrics

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Come is notable for its minimalist and evocative track titles, consisting of single-word descriptors. The album opens with the eleven-minute-plus-long title track, which explores themes of love, desire, and seduction. It features a passionate plea from a lover, urging her to join him in a moment of intimacy and abandon. The second track, "Space," delves into a consuming obsession, likening the intensity of love to the vastness and mystery of the cosmos. (The album version of the song is actually the B-side of the "Space" single, as the A-side was called the "Universal Love Radio Remix" and had completely different lyrics.)[3] The third song, "Pheromone", uses the metaphor of pheromones to convey love's irresistible allure. "Loose!" is a funk-infused song that celebrates freedom, individuality, and the joy of uninhibited expression. In the heartfelt "Papa," "a dramatic recollection from an abused child,"[8] Prince explores themes of anger, love, loss, and forgiveness. The "strutting R&B;/hiphop anthem"[7] "Race" critiques societal divisions and stereotypes about race, emphasizing unity, equality, and the shared humanity that transcends these constructs. The dark and brooding "Dark" delves into themes of loneliness, isolation, and the complexities of human relationships, all in a downbeat gospel[8] style. The next song, "Solo," with its "eerie liturgical ambience, sampled thunder, and moody harp,"[7] embraces self-discovery, independence, and the power of solitude. The mid-tempo "Letitgo" encourages listeners to let go of negative emotions and embrace freedom and self-acceptance; it was described as characteristic of Prince's "seductive rolling funk numbers".[11] The album's final song, the explicit "Orgasm", "comes off as a you-are-there live remote recording of a sexual encounter"[8] — all in just over a minute-and-a-half.

Album cover

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The album cover photo was taken in front of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona. Outtakes from the photoshoot were included in the 1994 book Prince Presents: The Sacrifice of Victor. The cover also proclaims "Prince: 1958–1993", indicating that the "Prince" identity had symbolically died in 1993 and had been reborn under the new Love Symbol alias.

Post-release and reception

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Upon release, Come received little support from Prince, who derided the album as "old material", despite the fact that many of the tracks had been recorded during the same sessions that produced The Gold Experience. Since Prince placed the more up-tempo and commercial material from these sessions on The Gold Experience, the overall tone of Come is somewhat dark and experimental in nature. Despite Prince's apparent marketing neglect, Come performed moderately well, reaching number 15 in the United States, going gold and receiving heavy R&B airplay with the single "Letitgo". In the United Kingdom, the album was a huge hit, debuting at number 1. Prince also released two maxi singles in support of the album.

In 1993, a funkier instrumental version of the song "Pheromone" was used as the theme music for the BET music video program Video LP.

Track listing

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All songs written by Prince, except "Solo", music composed by Prince and lyrics written by David Henry Hwang.

Come track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Come"11:13
2."Space"4:28
3."Pheromone"5:08
4."Loose!"3:26
5."Papa"2:48
6."Race"4:28
7."Dark"6:10
8."Solo"3:48
9."Letitgo"5:32
10."Orgasm"1:39

Promotional vinyl bonus tracks:

  2. "Space" (Universal Love Remix) – 6:10 (singing different lyrics than the album track)
  3. "Space" (Funky Stuff Remix) – 5:42
  4. "Letitgo" (QDIII Instrumental Mix) – 5:00 (retitled "Instrumental" for single release)
  5. "Letitgo" (J-Sw!ft #3 Instrumental) – 5:43 (retitled "(-) Sherm Stick Edit" for single release)

Personnel

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  • Prince – lead vocals and various instruments
  • Tommy Barbarella – keyboards (2, 7)
  • Mr. Hayes – keyboards (2, 7)
  • Sonny T. – bass (2, 5, 7)
  • Michael B. – drums (2, 5, 7)
  • Brian Gallagher – tenor saxophone (1, 6, 7, 9)
  • Kathy J. – baritone saxophone (1, 6, 7, 9)
  • Joseph Robinson – trumpet (1, 6, 7, 9)
  • Steve Strand – trumpet (1, 6, 7, 9)
  • Dave Jensen – trumpet (1, 6, 7, 9)
  • Michael B. Nelson – trombone (1, 6, 7, 9)
  • Ricky Peterson – keyboards (9)
  • Eric Leeds – flute (9)
  • Mayte – backing vocals (6)
  • Kathleen Bradford – backing vocals (9)
  • Jearlyn Steele Battle – "Face the music" looped sample (6)
  • Vanity – vocalizations (10)

Charts

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Singles and Hot 100 chart placings

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Certifications

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Certifications for Come
Region Certification Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[28] Gold 100,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[29] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[30] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[31] Gold 500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Prince: Come" at AllMusic. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Prince". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Campbell, Chuck (August 26, 1994). "Prince Digs Into Vaults, Comes Out With Little". Knoxville News Sentinel.
  4. ^ Hoskyns, Barney (September 1994). "Prince: Come" (paywall). Mojo. Bauer Media Group. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  5. ^ Simmons, Sylvie (1996). "Prince: The Best of the Patchy Years" (free registration required). Mojo. Bauer Media Group. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  6. ^ Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide (2nd ed.). Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. p. 899. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.
  7. ^ a b c "Prince - Come CD Album". CDUniverse.com. Archived from the original on December 17, 2011.
  8. ^ a b c d Moon, Tom (September 8, 1994). "Prince: Come". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. ISSN 0035-791X. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  9. ^ "Prince: Album Guide". rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  10. ^ Cooper, Carol (August 30, 1994). "Prince: Come / 1-800-New-Funk" (paywall). The Village Voice. ISSN 0042-6180. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  11. ^ Jones, Alan (September 3, 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 18. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  12. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Prince – Come". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  13. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Prince – Come" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  14. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Prince – Come" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  15. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Prince". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 204.
  16. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Prince – Come" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  17. ^ "Charts.nz – Prince – Come". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  18. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Prince – Come". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  19. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  20. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Prince – Come". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  21. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Prince – Come". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  22. ^ "Prince | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  23. ^ "Prince Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  24. ^ "Prince Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  25. ^ "Ultratop.be – Prince – Come" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  26. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1994". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  27. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  28. ^ "French album certifications – Prince – Come" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  29. ^ "Spanish album certifications – Prince – Come". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  30. ^ "British album certifications – Prince – Come". British Phonographic Industry.
  31. ^ "American album certifications – Prince – Come". Recording Industry Association of America.
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