Incoming transmission from the music biz’s upper echelon of money-making illuminati: in association with Warner Bros. and TIDAL, Prince’s estate (a.k.a. The Prince Estate) will put out a 15-track album titled Originals, bringing to light never-before-released demos of tracks His Royal Badness originally penned for his close protégés and, I don’t know, Kenny Rogers.
Scheduled for an exclusive TIDAL premiere on the artist’s birthday, June 7 (and everywhere else come June 21), the collection will feature Prince’s recordings of such hit bangers as as Sheila E’s “The Glamorous Life” and The Bangles’ “Manic Monday,” the classic Minneapolis funk of The Time’s “Jungle Love” and Mazarati’s “100 Mph,” and of course, “Nothing Compares 2 U.”
We’ve included the full tracklisting at the bottom of this post; but suffice it to say, the record will do a good job of reminding you and me that “for all the time he spent in the spotlight over his four-decade-long career, Prince also worked tirelessly behind the scenes to nurture talent and pen songs for the rising artists he respected.” Amen.
Pre-orders of the 180 gram 2LP and Deluxe (whatever that entitles) CD + 2LP editions are available now. Below, listen to “Baby, You’re a Trip,” recorded in 1987 by Prince’s regular backing singer and on-and-off romantic partner Jill Jones:
Originals tracklisting:
01. Sex Shooter (first recorded by Apollonia 6 in 1984)
02. Jungle Love (The Time, 1984)
03. Manic Monday (The Bangles, 1985)
04. Noon Rendezvous (Sheila E., 1984)
05. Make-Up (Vanity 6, 1982)
06. 100 MPH (Mazarati, 1986)
07. You’re My Love (Kenny Rogers, 1986)
08. Holly Rock (Sheila E., 1985)
09. Baby, You’re a Trip (Jill Jones, 1987)
10. The Glamorous Life (Sheila E., 1984)
11. Gigolos Get Lonely Too (The Time, 1982)
12. Love… Thy Will Be Done (Martika, 1991)
13. Dear Michaelangelo (Sheila E., 1985)
14. Wouldn’t You Love to Love Me? (Taja Sevelle, 1987)
15. Nothing Compares 2 U (The Family, 1985)