Read on Twitter
1994 was quite a busy year for O(+>! Let’s get into what he was getting into! #Prince
(Also special shout out to @ooleef and @mshvan! Y’all are allupin in so much of the things happening this year I’m just going to do a blanket thank you and acknowledgement now as I’ll inevitably miss something you did!)
At the top of the year, a certain special was filmed in support of a certain EP. The special featured a one Nona Gaye. See thread for that Tweet and Watch here : https://twitter.com/darlingnisi/status/1053482231119970304
Choreographer Fatmia Robinson was listed in the credits for this special. She and Prince worked together on and off for quite a while!
The anchor of The Beautiful Experience, The Most Beautiful Girl in the World had quite a few videos to document the different versions of the song...
Of course the one most know :
Mustang Mix (Also shown on Top of the Pops) :
(Probs the same time they shot this one too)
Most Beautiful Girl...Beautiful Mix
Again in case you missed it, we haven’t gotten a Gold Experience reissue because of the legal things surrounding the song : https://www.nme.com/news/music/prince-238-1321081
Here is the part in question here
The Ep itself was released February 1994. Read more about this release and how it came to be via @miss_ethompson’s interview with Bellmark Founder Al Bell https://twitter.com/Miss_EThompson/status/1182765340297781249
Also want to note this from P's 10,000 magazine (Art Directed by @ooleef !) A fund raiser for that happened February 1994.
Other Interesting things that went down in Minneapolis Feb 1994? NBA All Star weekend.
Shout out to that time Shaq performed at the Glam Slam to promote his album and rap career...........
Also shout out to Donnie Simpson…BET again always there behind P! Donnie taped an episode of Video Soul at Glam Slam while he was here as well!
(Again plz trot out your archives of Prince stuff BET! We know y’all got a lot!)
Fast forward to March...a local promo for The Most Beautiful.... Take a look at those accolades!
Next up…SOOOUUULLLLLL train!
P was a guest here in APril! Doing quite a few songs… I will once again acknowledge…Acknowledge Me (the jam that deserves all the props) https://twitter.com/Neo_Manifesto/status/1308487201718784002
P was a guest here in APril! Doing quite a few songs… I will once again acknowledge…Acknowledge Me (the jam that deserves all the props) https://twitter.com/Neo_Manifesto/status/1308487201718784002
And Love Sign with Nona Gaye which also deserves more acknowledgement
Let’s spend a bit more time on Nona actually…
O(+> really was behind her as an artist at this time! She was featured in NPG Magazine
In a commercial on gun control that came on MTV and nem
Had a video with O(+>
Directed by Ice Cube
Some pics from that effort : https://twitter.com/darlingnisi/status/1084304811087015937
And cut some music with O(+> as well! My favorite of which is this version of 1000 X’s O’s (which I prefer to P’s…again sorry not sorry).
Since deluxe editions of albums are giving a lot of time to muses/girlfriends/collaborators …I hope they tap Nona Gaye so she can be officially recognized as part of Prince’s legacy too when they get to this era! Totally overshadowed for sure!
Moving on....
Let’s head over to Europe!
April 30 1994 The NPG Store in London Opens!
At the World Music Awards, they did TMBGITW (I'd put the whole video...but his microphone wasn't on...if you know what I mean)
It WAS on for Nulle Part Ailleurs though!
While we're here...an interview…still being referred to as a mulatto but some deets about how that World Music Awards situation went... https://sites.google.com/site/prninterviews/home/max-july-1994?authuser=0
Birthday time! A one computer game made the scene 7 June 1994. More about it here : http://princeonlinemuseum.com/timeline/symbol-interactive/
3 days Simulcast at his LA, Minneapolis, and Miami Glam Slams…a time when this happened…
And this happened…
What a time!
Also June? The first annual VH1 Fashion awards.
July…Nona is back! Nona also joined him for a fundraiser for the National Kidney Foundation which raised over $25,000...
Then they headed over to do a Fund Raiser for the Dance Theatre of Harlem in New York. Not the most glowing review...critics...hmph...
Lenny Kravitz and Venon Reid joined him on the stage! Check @Hdub3121's blog to read more about what went down! http://www.princerecordings.com/palladium-1994/
While in NYC…a stop over a the Today Show! If you’re sick of evil knocking at your door….You better hold those signs Mayte!
1-800-New-Funk also makes the scene in July! A compilation of written, produced, or supported by O(+> (Has quite a few jams…I especially like Standing at the Alter sung by Margie Cox) Shout out to Tidal as the only streaming service who has this btw.
https://tidal.com/browse/album/61576262
https://tidal.com/browse/album/61576262
August…the Vibe interview by Alan Light Read it here : https://sites.google.com/site/prninterviews/home/vibe-august-1994?authuser=0
This is also the time the Blankman came out! Super Hero, written by Prince and performed by NPG and The Steels is on the soundtrack!
Again cross promotion...Damon Wayans is also in NPG magazine
(Prince's Super Hero was previously done by Earth Wind and Fire on their 1993 Millennium Album) https://song.link/us/i/1146711300
A new book makes the scene, The Sacrifice of Victor! Here’s promo for the gallery exhibit in London
Come also FINALLY makes it to market! No more will we cry! There’s a reason why!
https://album.link/us/i/213035023
https://album.link/us/i/213035023
(My personal favorite form this album is Dark btw…and I love that he kept that song around for years Like here in 2012…)
And here in 2016…
Back to 94 tho…
Nothing to see here. Nothing going between O+> and his label...nothing at all!
"Peace to George Michael. Peace to Aerosmith. Peace to MTV...."
November...the Black album is finally released! My promo copy...
December…Letterman!
Where he promotes an album that will never be released....
While's he's out there, another benefit. This time for Rivington House Until recently, the building had operated as a specialty nursing home for patients with HIV/AIDS.
Here's @Hdub3121 with more on that show! http://www.princerecordings.com/1994-roseland-ballroom-new-york/
Here's @Hdub3121 with more on that show! http://www.princerecordings.com/1994-roseland-ballroom-new-york/
Back at home at O(+>'s Glam Slam nightclub, The National Black Caucus holds a benefit concert for the Historical Black University Scholarship Fund featuring longtime purple collaborators, The Sounds of Blackness
Phew! That was a lot huh? AND we didn't even talk about the music that was being created during this time! A lot of music that wouldn't see the light of day until 1995 or later...
Check out @saintfabio's The Gold Experience for on the ground reports of what was going on during this time.
And this excellent documentary on O(+> and the Battle with WB (fo free)
https://tubitv.com/movies/356407/slave-trade-how-prince-re-made-the-music-business
https://tubitv.com/movies/356407/slave-trade-how-prince-re-made-the-music-business
For the music, here's a playlist of songs that were written in 1994 :
Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2EfIo3zjQLGlm8rmog3jbB
Tidal since they have of his discog (Note all of Kamasutra is there so I just picked a couple to include here) : https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/1294cb76-572d-435c-a4e9-d8c36601dc5b
Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2EfIo3zjQLGlm8rmog3jbB
Tidal since they have of his discog (Note all of Kamasutra is there so I just picked a couple to include here) : https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/1294cb76-572d-435c-a4e9-d8c36601dc5b
