Diamonds and Pearls

This article is about the album. For the song, see Diamonds and Pearls (song). For the video album, see Diamonds and Pearls Video Collection. For the Pokémon games, see Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.

Diamonds and Pearls
Studio album by Prince and The New Power Generation
Released	October 1, 1991
Recorded	1989–1991 Paisley Park Studios & London
Genre	R&B, pop, soul, funk, new jack swing
Length	65:45
Label	Paisley Park, Warner Bros.
Producer	Prince
Prince chronology
Graffiti Bridge (1990) Diamonds and Pearls (1991) Love Symbol Album (1992)
International Release
Singles from Diamonds and Pearls
"Gett Off" Released: June 7, 1991 "Cream" Released: September 9 , 1991 "Insatiable" Released: November 4, 1991 "Diamonds and Pearls" Released: November 25, 1991 "Money Don't Matter 2 Night" Released: March 3, 1992 "Thunder" Released: 1992

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Blender	[2]
Robert Christgau	[3]
Entertainment Weekly	(C) [4]
Melody Maker	(favorable) [5]
Mojo	(favorable) [6]
The New York Times	(favorable) [7]
Spin	(favorable) [8]
Trouser Press	(favorable) [9]
Yahoo! Music	(favorable) [10]

Diamonds and Pearls is the thirteenth studio album by American recording artist Prince, released October 1, 1991, on Paisley Park Records and Warner Bros. Records. It is his first album to have The New Power Generation, his backing band at the time, receive co-billing. The album produced several hit singles, including "Gett Off", "Cream", "Money Don't Matter 2 Night", "Insatiable", and the title track. Dancers Lori Werner (then dancing under the stage name of Lori Elle) and Robia LaMorte, known as "Diamond" and "Pearl" respectively, are featured on the holographic cover (re-pressings of the album are non-holographic). Diamond and Pearl also appeared in the music videos for "Cream", "Strollin'", "Gett Off", and the title track, and also participated in Prince's Diamonds and Pearls tour.

Diamonds and Pearls featured a hybrid of music styles, from the funk of "Daddy Pop", "Jughead", and first single "Gett Off", to some of the more mainstream pop/rock songs Prince had recorded in some time, such as "Cream", "Money Don't Matter 2 Night" and the title song. "Willing and Able" was used in a video montage during the closing credits of CBS coverage of Super Bowl XXVI.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Prince and The New Power Generation except where noted. 

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Thunder"		5:45
2.	"Daddy Pop"		5:17
3.	"Diamonds and Pearls"		4:45
4.	"Cream"		4:13
5.	"Strollin'"		3:47
6.	"Willing and Able"	Prince, Levi Seacer, Jr., Tony Mosley	5:00
7.	"Gett Off"		4:31
8.	"Walk Don't Walk"		3:07
9.	"Jughead"	Prince, Tony Mosley, Kirk Johnson	4:57
10.	"Money Don't Matter 2 Night"		4:46
11.	"Push"	Prince, Rosie Gaines	5:53
12.	"Insatiable"		6:39
13.	"Live 4 Love"	Prince, Tony Mosley	6:59

Album evolution

One of the earliest songs that ended up on Diamonds and Pearls was "Live 4 Love", a track from 1989.^[11] The bulk of the material would be composed in 1990, however. A few songs evolved during Prince's Nude Tour in 1990, notably "The Flow", and "Schoolyard". Prince decided to place an emphasis on rap with this album, handing the reins over to Nude Tour dancer, Tony M. An early version of the album from November 1990 ^[12] consisted of the following:

1. "Daddy Pop"
2. "Walk Don't Walk"
3. "Schoolyard"
4. "Strollin'"
5. "Willing and Able"
6. "Diamonds and Pearls"
7. "Insatiable"
8. "Money Don't Matter 2 Night"
9. "Horny Pony"
10. "Live 4 Love"
11. "Something Funky This House Comes"
12. "Call the Law"
13. "The Flow"

Most of these songs went through minor to major revisions before being released, and five of them didn't make the cut at all. However, "Call the Law" would be released as the B-side to "Money Don't Matter 2 Night", and later, on The New Power Generation album, Goldnigga, while "The Flow" would be revised for the Love Symbol Album album. A later version of the album, closer to the actual release date was identical to the official album, but still had "Horny Pony" in the place of "Gett Off", a newly written track which ended up replacing "Horny Pony" at the last minute. In fact, "Horny Pony" still exists on the track listing, written in red over "Gett Off", and is mentioned in the lyrics to "Push".

Personnel

• Prince: vocals, guitars, keyboards, synthesizers, bass, drums, percussion
• Levi Seacer, Jr.: rhythm guitar
• Tommy Barberella: keyboards
• Rosie Gaines: vocals, keyboards
• Sonny T.: bass
• Michael B.: drums
• Kirk Johnson: percussion
• Eric Leeds: flute
• Tony M.: rapping
• Jearlyn Steele Battle, Elisa, Jevetta, J.D. and Fred Steele: backing vocals

Production^[13]

• Arranged & Produced & Prince & The New Power Generation
• Engineered By Keith "KC" Cohen, David Friedlander, Michael Koppelman, Matt Larson, Sylvia Massy, Steve Noonan, Tim Penn & Brian Poer
• Mixed By Michael Koppelman, Keith Cohen & Tom Garneau
• Mastered By Michael Koppelman
• All Songs Published^[14] By Controversy Music-WB Music, except "Willing & Able" (Controversy Music-WB Music-Michael Anthony Music-Mac Dog Productions), "Jughead" (Controversy Music-WB Music-Mac Dog Music-Kinky J. Music) & "Push" (Controversy Music-WB Music-Mattie Lucille Publishing).

Charts

Chart (1991)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard 200	3
U.S. Billboard R&B Albums	1
UK Albums Chart	2

Chart (1992)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Albums Chart	1

Singles and Hot 100 chart placings

• "Gett Off" maxi-single (#21 US, #6 R&B, #4 UK, #8 AUS)

1. "Gett Off"
2. "Horny Pony"

• "Cream" maxi-single (#1 US, #15 UK, #2 AUS)

1. "Cream"
2. "Horny Pony"

• "Insatiable" (#3 US R&B)

1. "Insatiable"
2. "I Love U in Me"

• "Diamonds and Pearls" maxi-single (#3 US, #1 R&B, #25 UK, #13 AUS)

1. "Diamonds and Pearls"
2. "Q in Doubt"

• "Money Don't Matter 2 Night" maxi-single (#23 US, #14 R&B, #19 UK, #18 AUS)

1. "Money Don't Matter 2 Night"
2. "Call the Law"
3. "Push" (UK)

• "Thunder" maxi-single (#28 UK)

1. "Thunder"
2. "Violet the Organ Grinder"
3. "Gett Off" (Thrust Dub)

See also

• 1991 in music
• List of number-one R&B albums of 1991 (U.S.)

References

1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Prince & the New Power Generation: Diamonds and Pearls > Review" at Allmusic. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
2. ^ Blender review^{[dead link]}
3. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Prince [extended]". robertchristgau.com. http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist2.php?id=1095. Retrieved 15 September 2011. 
4. ^ Browne, David (4 October 1991). "Diamonds and Pearls: Prince". Entertainment Weekly (Time) (#86). ISSN 1049-0434. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,315701,00.html. Retrieved 15 September 2011. 
5. ^ "Diamonds and Pearls (CD)". tower.com. http://www.tower.com/wapi/106708091. Retrieved 15 September 2011. 
6. ^ Simmons, Sylvie (1996). "Prince: The Best of the Patchy Years" (free registration required). Mojo (Bauer Media Group). ISSN 1351-0193. http://www.rocksbackpages.com/article.html?ArticleID=2049. Retrieved 15 September 2011. 
7. ^ Watrous, Peter (1 January 1992). "The Pop Life; Top 12's, or So". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. http://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/01/arts/the-pop-life-top-12-s-or-so-618092.html. Retrieved 15 September 2011. 
8. ^ Poulson-Bryant, Scott (November 1991). "Prince and the New Power Generation: Diamonds and Pearls". Spin (Spin Media). ISSN 0886-3032. http://books.google.com/books?id=BBDgkXRdUXYC&pg=PT106#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 15 September 2011. 
9. ^ Green, Jim; Ira Robbins; Delvin Neugebauer. "Prince". Trouser Press. http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=prince. Retrieved 15 September 2011. 
10. ^ Clay, Jennifer (1 October 1991). "Diamonds and Pearls". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on 22 July 2010. http://ca.music.yahoo.com/read/review/12054085. Retrieved 15 September 2011. 
11. ^ "Prince Songs List (Released & unreleased)". housequake.com. Archived from the original on 25 October 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071025182510/http://www.housequake.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45942. 
12. ^ "The Prince Alternate & W.I.P. Albums List '79 - 2001". prince.org. http://prince.org/msg/7/116565. Retrieved 15 September 2011. 
13. ^ "Diamonds and Pearls > Credits at Allmusic. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
14. ^ "Prince & The New Power Generation - Diamonds And Pearls/ Images". discogs.com. http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=1214649. Retrieved 15 September 2011. 

Preceded by Soul Deep by Jimmy Barnes

Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album January 26 - February 1, 1992

Succeeded by Baby Animals by Baby Animals