1-800-NEW-FUNK is a compilation album by Prince's NPG Records, meant to showcase artists signed to the record label. It was released on July 20, 1994. The title of the album was also a toll-free phone number in North America for customers to purchase Prince-related merchandise.[1] Some tracks are from albums that actually saw release either through Prince's previous label, Paisley Park Records or through NPG Records, while others appear only on this compilation.
| 1-800-NEW-FUNK | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Compilation album by Various artists | |
| Released | July 20, 1994 |
| Genre | New jack swing, hip hop soul |
| Length | 46:08 |
| Label | NPG |
| Producer | Prince |
There were two German releases to this CD; the first release was issued with the reference NPG 6051-2 and is missing artwork from the Steeles album in the liner notes. The second release, reference 0060512NPG, includes an image of the Steeles album cover artwork.
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Performing Artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "MPLS" | Minneapolis | 4:27 |
| 2. | "Hollywood" (From the album Hey Man, Smell My Finger) | George Clinton | 4:33 |
| 3. | "Love Sign" | Nona Gaye and Prince | 4:32 |
| 4. | "If I Love U 2nite" (From the album Child of the Sun) | Mayte | 4:20 |
| 5. | "Color" | The Steeles | 4:20 |
| 6. | "2gether" (From the album Gold Nigga) | The N.P.G. | 5:07 |
| 7. | "Standing at the Altar" | Margie Cox | 3:55 |
| 8. | "You Will be Moved" (From the album The Voice) | Mavis Staples | 4:12 |
| 9. | "17" | Madhouse | 5:24 |
| 10. | "A Woman's Gotta Have It" | Nona Gaye | 4:30 |
| 11. | "MPLS Reprise" | Minneapolis | 0:48 |
| Total length: | 46:08 | ||
Singles
editReviews
editEntertainment Weekly said that as a showcase of Prince's label, Paisley Park Records, the album "amounts to unintentional evidence of why the company failed." They rated the album "C+".[3] The Independent, describing the record as a "stop-gap compilation of Princely offshoots", cited Nona Gaye's contributions as being "of primary interest", saying she "displays a slinky sensitivity without the overt sensuality of her father or her producer".[4]
References
edit- ^ Michael Corcoran, "A man with no name: The formerly named Prince is doing everything he can to avoid becoming a "has-been", The Spokesman-Review, June 14, 1994.
- ^ Jon Bream, "The right combo; After a quarter century, Margaret Cox finally put together her first solo CD." The Star Tribune, April 6, 2003.
- ^ "Music Review: 1-800-New Funk", Entertainment Weekly, August 19, 1994.
- ^ Andy Gill, "Albums: He-Who-Once-Was-Prince and Proteges, 1-800-New-Funk", The Independent, July 28, 1994.