Prince | Official Podcast

Prince’s live show evolved rapidly in the lead-up to the Diamonds And Pearls Tour. NPG members Michael B. Nelson, Mayte Garcia, Damon Dickson, Tony Mosley, Levi Seacer, Sonny Thompson, and Kirk Johnson talk about Prince’s unforgettable live performances.

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It’s impossible to discuss Diamonds And Pearls without mentioning Prince’s co-starring vocalist, Rosie Gaines. Where is she now? You’ll find out with the help of Rosie’s daughter, LaToya Gaines—and hear a special message from Rosie herself. 

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The roots of The New Power Generation extend back to Prince’s childhood growing up in North Minneapolis. Founding NPG members Tony Mosley, Sonny Thompson, Kirk Johnson, Damon Dickson, and Prince’s high school girlfriend Cari Price shed light on what the community meant to Prince. 

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As the ‘80s drew to a close, Prince set his sights on completely redefining his look, sound, and band for the new decade. Musicians Michael Bland, Levi Seacer Jr., Rosie Gaines, Tommy Barbarella, and Sonny Thompson explain how Prince assembled the live band.

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The Story of Diamonds And Pearls details the formation of Prince’s band The New Power Generation and the creation of his chart-topping 1991 album. Host Andrea Swensson is joined by the founding members of the NPG to share vault material and stories from this pivotal era.  A new season of the Official Prince Podcast produced in collaboration with Paisley Park Enterprises, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Records.

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As the pressures of fame mounted for Prince and The Revolution, and Prince longed to pursue new creative projects, the Purple Rain Tour was cut short and supplanted with a historic satellite broadcast concert from Syracuse, New York, which was also released on VHS for fans around the world. Host Andrea Swensson is joined by The Revolution - Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman, BrownMark, Dr. Fink, and Bobby Z - plus saxophonist Eric Leeds, road manager Craig Rice, Prince’s former manager Bob Cavallo, and production designer Roy Bennett.

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Prince wasn’t just well known in 1984. He was red-hot. Host Andrea Swensson welcomes The Revolution and friends for a story about the summer Prince became a household name and the Purple Rain Tour took hold of America. With musicians Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman, BrownMark, Dr. Fink, Bobby Z, and Eric Leeds, manager Bob Cavallo, and production designer Roy Bennett.

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What happens when a successful artist suddenly becomes a global superstar? For Prince, that transformation happened during his momentous Purple Rain Tour, which embarked at a moment when he had the number 1 song, number 1 album, and number 1 film in America. Host Andrea Swensson invites the members of The Revolution—Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman, Bobby “Z” Rivkin, Mark Brown, and Matt “Dr.” Fink—and friends along for a story about the Purple Rain Tour, from the red-hot premiere of Purple Rain to their impressive 98-show tour run, which sold 1.7 million tickets. This two-part podcast series will be your first chance to hear the newly remastered audio from Prince and The Revolution: Live, their historic performance at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York that was broadcast via satellite to millions and released as a Grammy-nominated concert film. The concert has been entirely remixed from the original 2” multitrack master reels by engineer Chris James and remastered by Bernie Grundman, bringing you closer to Prince and The Revolution’s electric performances than ever before.

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The Welcome 2 America Tour brought Prince and his band to several cities for lengthy residencies, including the marathon Twenty One Nite Stand at the L.A. Forum in 2011. Hear exclusive live recordings from the Forum alongside memories from NPG bandmates Morris Hayes, Elisa Fiorillo, Shelby J., and Liv Warfield, Prince's former manager Kiran Sharma, and Ebony Magazine editor Harriette Cole, who Prince recruited to join his Welcome 2 America Tour and spotlight his opening acts.

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Engineer Jason Agel and tech expert Anil Dash join co-hosts Andrea Swensson and Shelby J. to discuss Prince's final work on Welcome 2 America in 2010 and his growing skepticism about selling music and retaining ownership over his work in the digital era, which he references in lyrics throughout the album.

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Prince's longtime music director and keyboardist Morris Hayes joins Andrea Swensson to co-host an episode about the profound and prescient lyrical content on Welcome 2 America, with invaluable additional insights from Prince's former manager Kiran Sharma and his close friend, Dr. Cornel West.

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Prince's trusted vocalist and collaborator Shelby J. joins Andrea Swensson to describe how the songs on Welcome 2 America first took shape at Paisley Park in early 2010. With additional memories from Tal Wilkenfeld, Chris Coleman, Elisa Fiorillo Dease, and Liv Warfield.

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Over the course of four episodes, The Story of Welcome 2 America explores Prince’s creative output in 2010-2011, as the artist recorded his prescient and political album Welcome 2 America and then mysteriously archived it. Rather than releasing new music, he seemed to rededicate himself to the live experience, setting up unique concert residencies in cities around the world on his Welcome 2 America Tour. Host Andrea Swensson and special guest co-hosts Shelby J and Morris Hayes from Prince's legendary band the New Power Generation will take you into the studios of Paisley Park and out onto the road to learn more about this philosophical and forward-thinking period in Prince’s career.

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Prince rings in the New Year of 1988 with his final Sign O' The Times stage show—which included a historic on-stage collaboration with jazz legend Miles Davis. Hear from Duane Tudahl, Karen Krattinger, Cubby Colby, Alan Leeds, Atlanta Bliss, Eric Leeds, Levi Seacer Jr., Dr. Fink, and Cat Glover.

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Prince and his band embark on the European Sign O' The Times Tour, spending several consecutive nights in Holland before returning to Paisley Park to produce the Sign O' The Times film. Hear memories from LeRoy Bennett, Dr. Fink, Atlanta Bliss, Cat Glover, Levi Seacer, Alan Leeds, and Prince fams jooZt Mattheij, Roald Bakker, Pascal Comvalius, Patrick Jordens, Maya Rudolph, and Fred Armisen.

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Prince rings in 1987 by assembling his new band, finishing the artwork for his new album, and beginning intense rehearsals for the Sign O' The Times Tour. With insights from Cat Glover, Levi Seacer Jr., Dr. Fink, Alan Leeds, Jeff Katz, Karen Krattinger, Atlanta Bliss, and Eric Leeds.

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With news of The Revolution's breakup still fresh, Prince returned to Sunset Sound to finish his magnum opus: a sprawling three-disc set called Crystal Ball. Rather than release it, Warner Bros. Records offered a rare critique of his work, requesting that he edit it down. Hear from Warner executive Lenny Waronker, engineers Coke Johnson and Susan Rogers, and professor Daphne A. Brooks.

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At the conclusion of their dazzling, grueling Parade Tour, The Revolution play their final show with Prince. Hear from Lisa Coleman, Wendy Melvoin, Dr. Fink, BrownMark, Eric Leeds, Atlanta Bliss, and Levi Seacer, Jr.

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An earthquake hits the California coastline while Prince is in L.A. recording at Sunset Sound, and has an unexpected influence on his classic song “Sign O’ The Times.” With insights from Warner Bros. Records president Lenny Waronker, engineer Susan Rogers, collaborators Susannah Melvoin, Wendy Melvoin, and Lisa Coleman, and scholars Duane Tudahl and Daphne A. Brooks.

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In the winter of 1985-1986, Prince and his new fiancee Susannah Melvoin moved into a new property on Galpin Blvd. in Chanhassen, Minnesota, jumpstarting a spring and summer of nonstop creativity in Prince’s new home studio. Learn more about this space from Susannah, engineer Susan Rogers, Eric Leeds, and Atlanta Bliss.

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