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{{short description|1990 studio album by Prince}}
{{Short description|1990 studio album by Prince}}
{{use mdy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox album
{{Infobox album
| name = Graffiti Bridge
| name = Graffiti Bridge
| type = studio
| type = studio
| longtype = <!-- DISCUSS before removing -->/ [[soundtrack|<span style="background: {{Infobox album/color|soundtrack}}">soundtrack</span>]]
| longtype = <!-- DISCUSS before removing -->/ [[soundtrack]]
| artist = [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] and other artists
| artist = [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] and other artists
| cover = Prince_Graffiti.jpg
| cover = Prince Graffiti.jpg
| alt =
| alt =
| released = August 20, 1990
| released = August 20, 1990
| recorded = 1981–1990
| recorded = 1981–1990
| studio = *[[Paisley Park]], [[Chanhassen, Minnesota|Chanhassen]]
| studio = [[Paisley Park Studios]], Chanhassen, MN; [[Sunset Sound Recorders]], Hollywood, CA; [http://www.lermanet2.com/scientology/mad-hatter-studios.html Mad Hatter Studios], Los Angeles, CA; [[Electric Lady Studios]], New York, NY; [http://www.unitedsounddetroit.com/ United Sound Studio], Detroit, MI, Washington Avenue Warehouse, Edina, MN
*[[Sunset Sound Recorders|Sunset Sound]], Hollywood
| genre = {{flatlist|
*Mad Hatter, Los Angeles
*[[Funk]]
*[[Electric Lady Studios|Electric Lady]], New York City
*[[rock music|rock]]
*United Sound, Detroit
*[[new jack swing]]
*Washington Avenue Warehouse, [[Edina, Minnesota|Edina]]
}}
| genre = *[[Rock music|Rock]]<ref name="RS"/>
*[[funk]]
*[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]
*[[Hip hop music|hip hop]]<ref name="EW"/>
| length = 68:32
| length = 68:32
| label = [[Paisley Park Records|Paisley Park]], [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
| label = [[Paisley Park Records|Paisley Park]], [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
Line 29: Line 33:
| single1 = [[Thieves in the Temple]]
| single1 = [[Thieves in the Temple]]
| single1date = July 17, 1990
| single1date = July 17, 1990
| single2 = [[Round and Round (Tevin Campbell song)|Round and Round]]
| single2 = Melody Cool
| single2date = September 24, 1990
| single2date = August 10, 1990 (US & EU)
| single3 = [[New Power Generation (song)|New Power Generation]]
| single3 = [[Round and Round (Tevin Campbell song)|Round and Round]]
| single3date = October 23, 1990
| single3date = September 24, 1990 (US, CA & EU)
| single4 = Can't Stop This Feeling I Got (Philippines only)
| single4 = [[New Power Generation (song)|New Power Generation]]
| single4date = 1990
| single4date = October 23, 1990
| single5 = Can't Stop This Feeling I Got
| single5date = 1990 (PH)
| single6 = Shake!
| single6date = January 8, 1991
}}
}}
}}
}}


'''''Graffiti Bridge''''' is the twelfth [[studio album]] by American recording artist [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] and is the [[soundtrack album]] to the 1990 [[Graffiti Bridge (film)|film of the same name]]. It was released on August 20, 1990 by [[Paisley Park Records]] and [[Warner Bros. Records]].
'''''Graffiti Bridge''''' is the twelfth [[studio album]] by American recording artist [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] and is the [[soundtrack album]] to the 1990 [[Graffiti Bridge (film)|film of the same name]]. It was released on August 20, 1990, by [[Paisley Park Records]] and [[Warner Bros. Records]].


The album was much better received in sales than the film. It reached number 6 in the United States and was his third consecutive chart-topper (following ''Lovesexy'' and ''Batman'') on the [[UK Albums Chart]].<ref>*Roberts, David (editor). ''[[British Hit Singles & Albums|The Guinness Book of British Hit Albums]]'', p444. Guinness Publishing Ltd. 7th edition (1996). {{ISBN|0-85112-619-7}}</ref> Nearly every song on the record was written by Prince despite the handful of artists performing, including [[Tevin Campbell]], [[Mavis Staples]], and [[The Time (band)|The Time]]. The album produced the hit singles "[[Thieves in the Temple]]" and "[[New Power Generation (song)|New Power Generation]]", an anthem in two parts celebrating Prince's newly created backing band, [[The New Power Generation]]. "Can't Stop This Feeling I Got" was released in the Philippines only. The band would get its first official outing on Prince's next album, ''[[Diamonds and Pearls]]''.
The album was much better received in sales than the film. It reached number 6 in the United States and was his third consecutive chart-topper (following ''Lovesexy'' and ''Batman'') on the [[UK Albums Chart]].<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Roberts|editor-first=David|year=1996|title=The Guinness Book of British Hit Albums|title-link=British Hit Singles & Albums|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|edition=7th|isbn=0-85112-619-7|page=444}}</ref> Nearly every song on the record was written by Prince despite the handful of artists performing, including [[Tevin Campbell]], [[Mavis Staples]], and [[The Time (band)|the Time]]. The album produced the hit singles "[[Thieves in the Temple]]" and "[[New Power Generation (song)|New Power Generation]]", an anthem in two parts celebrating Prince's newly created backing band, [[the New Power Generation]]. The band would get its first official outing on Prince's next album, ''[[Diamonds and Pearls]]''.


==Evolution of the album==
==Evolution of the album==
The concept for the album and film began as early as mid-1987, but experienced delays for various reasons. The title track was originally recorded during this period, hence the liner notes listing [[Sheila E.]] and Boni Boyer as performers on the track. In fact, nearly the entire album is composed of previously recorded sessions that were updated for this release.
The concept for the album and film began as early as mid-1987, but experienced delays for various reasons. The title track was originally recorded during this period, hence the liner notes listing [[Sheila E.]] and [[Boni Boyer]] as performers on the track. In fact, nearly the entire album is composed of previously recorded sessions that were updated for this release.


"Tick, Tick, Bang" was originally from 1981 during the sessions for the ''[[Controversy (Prince album)|Controversy]]'' album. Written by Prince, it was originally a more [[punk rock]] song with a bass synthesizer; the update of the song includes an uncredited drum sample from [[Jimi Hendrix]]'s "[[Little Miss Lover]]". "Can't Stop This Feeling I Got" was from 1982, but later updated in mid-1986 during sessions for aborted album ''[[Dream Factory (album)|Dream Factory]]'', before further updating. "We Can Funk" was first recorded in 1983, originally titled "We Can Fuck", before Prince re-recorded the song in 1986 with [[The Revolution (band)|The Revolution]] (under the title "We Can Funk"), before further updating to 1983 version took place. A melody similar to that of "[[Purple Rain (song)|Purple Rain]]" can be heard during the bridge of "Can't Stop This Feeling I Got". The three tracks were drastically updated in 1989 for release on ''Graffiti Bridge''.
"Tick, Tick, Bang" was originally from 1981 during the sessions for the ''[[Controversy (Prince album)|Controversy]]'' album. Written by Prince, it was originally a more [[punk rock]] song with a bass synthesizer; the update of the song includes an uncredited drum sample from [[Jimi Hendrix]]'s "[[Little Miss Lover]]". "Can't Stop This Feeling I Got" was from 1982, but later updated in mid-1986 during sessions for aborted album ''[[Dream Factory (album)|Dream Factory]]'', before further updating. "We Can Funk" was first recorded in 1983, originally titled "We Can Fuck", before Prince re-recorded the song in 1986 with [[The Revolution (band)|the Revolution]] (under the title "We Can Funk"), before further updating to the 1983 version took place. A melody similar to that of "[[Purple Rain (song)|Purple Rain]]" can be heard during the bridge of "Can't Stop This Feeling I Got". The three tracks were drastically updated in 1989 for release on ''Graffiti Bridge''.


"The Question of U" was recorded in 1985 during sessions for [[Parade (Prince album)|Parade]] with little updating added to the original version. "Joy in Repetition" was first included on the ''[[Crystal Ball (unreleased album)|Crystal Ball]]'' unreleased album in late 1986, and the same recording was used for this album (the track was not updated further for release, unlike the other "old" songs). Prince also kept the original [[segue]] of party noise at the start of the song (this time segueing from "We Can Funk" on this album instead of "The Ball" when "Joy In Repetition" was placed on ''[[Crystal Ball (unreleased album)|Crystal Ball]]'' in 1986) which is also heard at the end of "Eye No", leading into "[[Alphabet St.]]" on ''[[Lovesexy]]''. The title track (from 1987) was updated for the album as well as "Elephants & Flowers" (from the 1988 unreleased ''Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic'' album) and "The Latest Fashion" (later given to The Time for "Corporate World" album). "Melody Cool" and "Still Would Stand All Time" were intended for ''Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic'' album and were later performed in some ''Lovesexy'' aftershows. "Still Would Stand All Time" was later considered for ''[[Batman (album)|Batman]]'', but was replaced by "[[Scandalous!|Scandalous]]". The four tracks featuring The Time were originally going to be on their unreleased ''Corporate World'' album, recorded in 1989, though "The Latest Fashion" reuses music from "My Summertime Thang" from their album ''[[Pandemonium (The Time album)|Pandemonium]]''. "New Power Generation" was originally recorded in 1982 as "Bold Generation".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.princevault.com/index.php?title=New_Power_Generation|title=New Power Generation - Prince Vault}}</ref>
"The Question of U" was recorded in 1985 during sessions for ''[[Parade (Prince album)|Parade]]'' with little updating added to the original version. "Joy in Repetition" was first included on the unreleased ''[[Crystal Ball (unreleased album)|Crystal Ball]]'' album in late 1986, and the same recording was used for this album (the track was not updated further for release, unlike the other "old" songs). Prince also kept the original [[segue]] of party noise at the start of the song (this time segueing from "We Can Funk" on this album instead of "The Ball" when "Joy in Repetition" was placed on ''Crystal Ball'' in 1986) which is also heard at the end of "Eye No", leading into "[[Alphabet St.]]" on ''[[Lovesexy]]''. The title track (from 1987) was updated for the album as well as "Elephants & Flowers" (from the 1988 unreleased ''[[Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic#Background and release|Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic]]'' album) and "The Latest Fashion" (later given to [[The Time (band)|the Time]] for their unreleased ''Corporate World'' album). "Melody Cool" and "Still Would Stand All Time" were intended for ''Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic'' and were later performed in some ''Lovesexy'' aftershows. "Still Would Stand All Time" was later considered for ''[[Batman (album)|Batman]]'', but was replaced by "[[Scandalous!|Scandalous]]". The four tracks featuring the Time were originally going to be on ''Corporate World'', recorded in 1989, though "The Latest Fashion" reuses music from "My Summertime Thang" from their album ''[[Pandemonium (The Time album)|Pandemonium]]''. "[[New Power Generation (song)|New Power Generation]]" was originally recorded in 1982 as "Bold Generation".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.princevault.com/index.php?title=New_Power_Generation|title=New Power Generation - Prince Vault}}</ref>


The only truly "new" compositions recorded for the album were "Round and Round" and "Thieves in the Temple." The latter song was the final track recorded for the album, recorded in early 1990. The B-side "Get Off" would soon be incorporated into [[Gett Off]] the following year.
The only truly "new" compositions recorded for the album were "[[Round and Round (Tevin Campbell song)|Round and Round]]", performed by [[Tevin Campbell]], and "[[Thieves in the Temple]]". The latter song was the final track recorded for the album, recorded in early 1990. The B-side "Get Off" would soon be incorporated into "[[Gett Off]]" the following year.


== Critical reception ==
== Critical reception ==
{{Music ratings
{{Album reviews
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="AM">{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r131848|tab=review |label="Prince: ''Graffiti Bridge'' > Review" |first=Stephen Thomas |last=Erlewine |access-date=15 September 2011}}</ref>
| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="AM">{{cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/graffiti-bridge-mw0000204308|title=Graffiti Bridge Prince|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=September 15, 2011}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''
| rev2 = ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''
| rev2Score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}<ref name="Kot">{{cite web|last=Kot|first=Greg|author-link=Greg Kot|date=August 23, 1990|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1990-08-23/features/9003110667_1_graffiti-bridge-paisley-park-prince|title=Graffiti Bridge|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|access-date=December 18, 2016}}</ref>
| rev2score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Harris|first=Keith|date=June–July 2001|url=http://www.blender.com/reviews/review_2293.html|title=Prince: Graffiti Bridge|magazine=[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]|volume=1|issue=1|access-date=July 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040820041700/http://www.blender.com/reviews/review_2293.html|archive-date=August 20, 2004|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
| rev3 = ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''
| rev3Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|year=2006|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|volume=10|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|isbn=0195313739|edition=4th|page=653|chapter=Prince}}</ref>
| rev3score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}<ref name="CT">{{cite news|last=Kot|first=Greg|author-link=Greg Kot|date=August 23, 1990|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1990-08-23-9003110667-story.html|title='Graffiti Bridge'|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|access-date=December 18, 2016}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev4 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev4Score = A+<ref name="EW">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,318056,00.html |title=''Graffiti Bridge'': Prince |first=Greg |last=Sandow |date=August 31, 1990 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |issue=#29 |publisher=Time |issn=1049-0434 |access-date=September 15, 2011}}</ref>
| rev4score = A+<ref name="EW">{{cite magazine|last=Sandow|first=Greg|author-link=Greg Sandow|date=August 31, 1990|url=https://ew.com/article/1990/08/31/graffiti-bridge-3/|title=Graffiti Bridge|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|issue=29|access-date=September 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406055307/https://ew.com/article/1990/08/31/graffiti-bridge-3/|archive-date=April 6, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
| rev5 = ''[[The Guardian]]''
| rev5Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web|last=Willman|first=Chris|date=August 12, 1990|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1990-08-12/entertainment/ca-705_1_graffiti-bridge|title=Prince's 'Graffiti Bridge' to the Past : *** 1/2 PRINCE "Graffiti Bridge" Paisley Park/Warner Bros.|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=December 18, 2016}}</ref>
| rev5score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite news|last=Price|first=Simon|author-link=Simon Price|date=April 22, 2016|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/apr/22/prince-every-album-rated-and-ranked|title=Prince: every album rated and ranked|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=July 30, 2023}}</ref>
| rev6= ''[[MusicHound|MusicHound Rock]]''
| rev6 = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
| rev6score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite news|last=Willman|first=Chris|date=August 12, 1990|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-08-12-ca-705-story.html|title=Prince's 'Graffiti Bridge' to the Past|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=December 18, 2016}}</ref>
| rev6score = 2/5<ref>{{cite book |editor-last1=Graff |editor-first1=Gary |editor-last2=Durchholz |editor-first2=Daniel |title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide|edition=2nd|publisher=Visible Ink Press|location=Farmington Hills, MI|year=1999|isbn=1-57859-061-2|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781578590612/page/897 897]|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781578590612/page/897}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev7 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev7score = 9/10<ref name="NME">{{cite magazine|last=Quantick|first=David|author-link=David Quantick|date=August 25, 1990|title=Bridge of Highs|magazine=[[NME]]|page=34}}</ref>
| rev7Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1100609&style=music |title=Graffiti Bridge Soundtrack CD Album |publisher=CDUniverse.com |access-date=September 15, 2011}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev8 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev8Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="RS">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/graffiti-bridge-sdtrk-19900823 |title=Prince: ''Graffiti Bridge'' (Sdtrk) |first=Paul |last=Evans |date=August 23, 1990 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |issue=RS 585 |publisher=Wenner Media |issn=0035-791X |access-date=September 15, 2011}}</ref>
| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Q">{{cite magazine|last=Bradley|first=Lloyd|author-link=Lloyd Bradley|date=October 1990|title=Prince: Music from the Graffiti Bridge|magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]]|issue=49}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev9 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="RS">{{cite magazine|last=Evans|first=Paul|date=August 23, 1990|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/graffiti-bridge-sdtrk-252783/|title=Graffiti Bridge (Sdtrk)|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|issue=585|access-date=September 15, 2011}}</ref>
| rev9Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="RSguide"/>
| rev10 = ''[[The Village Voice]]''
| rev10 = ''[[The Village Voice]]''
| rev10Score = B+<ref name="VV">{{cite news|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=October 23, 1990|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv1090-90.php|title=Consumer Guide|newspaper=[[The Village Voice]]|access-date=December 18, 2016}}</ref>
| rev10score = B+<ref name="VV">{{cite news|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=October 23, 1990|url=https://robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv1090-90.php|title=Consumer Guide|newspaper=[[The Village Voice]]|access-date=December 18, 2016}}</ref>
}}
}}
''Graffiti Bridge'' received positive reviews from contemporary critics, who praised Prince's songwriting and the variety of the music while deeming it an improvement over 1988's ''[[Lovesexy]]''. ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine hailed the record as a "groovable feast", while ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' claimed it was "practically impossible to choose anything that doesn't deserve to be there. How long is it since that can honestly be said about a Prince album?"<ref>{{cite book|last=Draper|first=Jason|year=2016|title=Prince: Life and Times|publisher=Book Sales|isbn=978-0760353639|page=98}}</ref> In ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', [[Greg Sandow]] said the album was likely a "masterpiece" that found Prince rediscovering his ability to cover different styles effortlessly.<ref name="EW"/> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' reviewer Paul Evans credited him for lending a "sharper focus", "harder groove", and emphasis on [[funk]] and [[rock music|rock]] rather than "the feckless genre dabbling" of albums such as ''Lovesexy'' and ''[[Around the World in a Day]]'' (1985). Evans also believed Prince's catchy compositions helped make the "omnivorous mysticism" of his lyrics "newly convincing — convincing, but still startling, sensual and freeing".<ref name="RS"/> [[Greg Kot]], the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''{{'}}s chief music critic, called the album "a sprawling, wildly diffuse statement on love, sin, sex and salvation that ranks with his best work", as well as "perhaps his most complex and, dare we say, mature exploration" of those themes.<ref name="Kot"/>


''Graffiti Bridge'' received positive reviews from contemporary critics, who praised Prince's songwriting and the variety of the music while deeming it an improvement over 1988's ''[[Lovesexy]]''. ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine hailed the record as a "groovable feast",<ref>{{cite book|last=Draper|first=Jason|year=2016|title=Prince: Life & Times|publisher=[[Chartwell Books]]|isbn=978-0-7858-3497-7|page=98}}</ref> while ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''{{'}}s [[Lloyd Bradley]] claimed it was "practically impossible to choose anything that doesn't deserve to be there. How long is it since that can honestly be said about a Prince album?"<ref name="Q"/> In ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', [[Greg Sandow]] said the album was likely a "masterpiece" that found Prince rediscovering his ability to cover different styles effortlessly.<ref name="EW"/> [[David Quantick]] of ''[[NME]]'' felt that it was the first Prince album to consolidate his various influences into a unified sound, instead of "separating them out so we can see how good he is at displaying his references".<ref name="NME"/> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' reviewer Paul Evans credited him for lending a "sharper focus", "harder groove", and emphasis on [[funk]] and [[rock music|rock]] rather than "the feckless genre dabbling" of albums such as ''Lovesexy'' and ''[[Around the World in a Day]]'' (1985). Evans also believed Prince's catchy compositions helped make the "omnivorous mysticism" of his lyrics "newly convincing — convincing, but still startling, sensual and freeing".<ref name="RS"/> [[Greg Kot]], the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''{{'}}s chief music critic, called the album "a sprawling, wildly diffuse statement on love, sin, sex and salvation that ranks with his best work", as well as "perhaps his most complex and, dare we say, mature exploration" of those themes.<ref name="CT"/>
In ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Jon Pareles]] believed ''Graffiti Bridge'' would perhaps give Prince a success on both commercial and artistic terms, although he lamented some of the lyrics: "Verbally, he's no deep thinker; when he's not singing about sex, his messages tend to be benevolent and banal."<ref>{{cite web|last=Pareles|first=Jon|author-link=Jon Pareles|date=August 19, 1990|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/19/arts/recordings-sonic-and-sexual-updates-from-prince.html|title=RECORDINGS; Sonic and Sexual Updates From Prince|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 18, 2016}}</ref> [[Robert Christgau]] was less impressed in his consumer guide for ''[[The Village Voice]]''. He applauded the guest artists, particularly [[The Time (band)|The Time]], and some of Prince's own half of songs, but said most of them were "overly subtle if not rehashed or just weak: title track, generational anthem, and lead single all reprise familiar themes, and the ballads fall short of the exquisite vocalese that can make his slow ones sing."<ref name="VV"/> At the end of 1990, ''Graffiti Bridge'' was voted the tenth best album of the year in the [[Pazz & Jop]], a nationwide poll of American critics, published by ''The Village Voice''.<ref>{{cite news|author=Anon.|date=March 5, 1991|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres90.php|title=The 1990 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll|newspaper=The Village Voice|access-date=December 18, 2016}}</ref>


In ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Jon Pareles]] believed ''Graffiti Bridge'' would perhaps give Prince a success on both commercial and artistic terms, although he lamented some of the lyrics: "Verbally, he's no deep thinker; when he's not singing about sex, his messages tend to be benevolent and banal."<ref>{{cite news|last=Pareles|first=Jon|author-link=Jon Pareles|date=August 19, 1990|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/19/arts/recordings-sonic-and-sexual-updates-from-prince.html|title=Sonic and Sexual Updates From Prince|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 18, 2016}}</ref> [[Robert Christgau]] was less impressed in his consumer guide for ''[[The Village Voice]]''. He applauded the guest artists, particularly the Time, and some of Prince's own half of songs, but said most of them were "overly subtle if not rehashed or just weak: title track, generational anthem, and lead single all reprise familiar themes, and the ballads fall short of the exquisite vocalese that can make his slow ones sing."<ref name="VV"/> At the end of 1990, ''Graffiti Bridge'' was voted the tenth best album of the year in the [[Pazz & Jop]], a nationwide poll of American critics, published by ''The Village Voice''.<ref>{{cite news|author=Anon.|date=March 5, 1991|url=https://robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres90.php|title=The 1990 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll|newspaper=The Village Voice|access-date=December 18, 2016}}</ref>
In a retrospective review for [[AllMusic]], [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] called ''Graffiti Bridge'' an "often very good" album whose best songs were those performed by Prince, with the exception of The Time's "Release It" and [[Tevin Campbell]]'s "Round and Round".<ref name="AM"/> Michaelangelo Matos was more critical in ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]'' (2004), finding the record "interesting primarily for its guest stars" and "for the fact that it now sounds as dated as the [[new jack swing]] it apes".<ref name="RSguide">{{cite book|last=Matos|first=Michaelangelo|chapter=Prince|editor1-last=Brackett|editor1-first=Nathan|editor2-last=Hoard|editor2-first=Christian|date=November 2, 2004|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t9eocwUfoSoC&pg=PA656|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|location=New York|pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/655 655–6]|edition=4th|isbn=0743201698|access-date=December 18, 2016|url=https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/655}}</ref>

In a retrospective review for [[AllMusic]], [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] called ''Graffiti Bridge'' an "often very good" album whose best songs were those performed by Prince, with the exception of the Time's "Release It" and Tevin Campbell's "Round and Round".<ref name="AM"/> Michaelangelo Matos was more critical in ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]'' (2004), finding the record "interesting primarily for its guest stars" and "for the fact that it now sounds as dated as the [[new jack swing]] it apes".<ref>{{cite book|last=Matos|first=Michaelangelo|editor1-last=Brackett|editor1-first=Nathan|editor1-link=Nathan Brackett|editor2-last=Hoard|editor2-first=Christian|editor2-link=Christian Hoard|year=2004|chapter=Prince|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t9eocwUfoSoC&pg=PA656|access-date=December 18, 2016|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|location=New York|edition=4th|isbn=0-7432-0169-8|pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/656 654–657]}}</ref>


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
Line 84: Line 93:


{{Track listing
{{Track listing
| collapsed = no
| headline = ''Graffiti Bridge'' track listing
| headline =
| extra_column = Artist
| extra_column = Artist


| title1 = Can't Stop This Feeling I Got
| title1 = Can't Stop This Feeling I Got
| extra1 = [[Prince Rogers Nelson|Prince]]
| extra1 = [[Prince Rogers Nelson|Prince]]
| length1 = 4:24
| length1 = 4:24


| title2 = [[New Power Generation (song)|New Power Generation, Part 1]]
| title2 = [[New Power Generation (song)|New Power Generation, Part 1]]
| extra2 = Prince and [[The New Power Generation]]
| extra2 = Prince and [[the New Power Generation]]
| length2 = 3:39
| length2 = 3:39


| title3 = Release It
| title3 = Release It
| extra3 = [[The Time (Band)|The Time]]
| extra3 = [[The Time (Band)|The Time]]
| length3 = 3:54
| length3 = 3:54


| title4 = The Question of U
| title4 = The Question of U
| extra4 = Prince
| extra4 = Prince
| length4 = 3:59
| length4 = 3:59


| title5 = Elephants & Flowers
| title5 = Elephants & Flowers
| extra5 = Prince
| extra5 = Prince
| length5 = 3:54
| length5 = 3:54


| title6 = [[Round and Round (Tevin Campbell song)|Round and Round]]
| title6 = [[Round and Round (Tevin Campbell song)|Round and Round]]
| extra6 = [[Tevin Campbell]]
| extra6 = [[Tevin Campbell]]
| length6 = 3:55
| length6 = 3:55


| title7 = We Can Funk
| title7 = We Can Funk
| extra7 = Prince feat. [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]]
| extra7 = Prince featuring [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]]
| length7 = 5:28
| length7 = 5:28


| title8 = Joy in Repetition
| title8 = Joy in Repetition
| extra8 = Prince
| extra8 = Prince
| length8 = 4:53
| length8 = 4:53


| title9 = Love Machine
| title9 = Love Machine
| extra9 = The Time feat. [[Elisa Fiorillo]]
| extra9 = The Time featuring [[Elisa Fiorillo]]
| length9 = 3:34
| length9 = 3:34


| title10 = Tick, Tick, Bang
| title10 = Tick, Tick, Bang
| extra10 = Prince
| extra10 = Prince
| length10 = 3:31
| length10 = 3:31


| title11 = Shake!
| title11 = Shake!
| extra11 = The Time
| extra11 = The Time
| length11 = 4:01
| length11 = 4:01


| title12 = [[Thieves in the Temple]]
| title12 = [[Thieves in the Temple]]
| extra12 = Prince
| extra12 = Prince
| length12 = 3:19
| length12 = 3:19


| title13 = The Latest Fashion
| title13 = The Latest Fashion
| extra13 = The Time feat. Prince
| extra13 = The Time featuring Prince
| length13 = 4:02
| length13 = 4:02


| title14 = Melody Cool
| title14 = Melody Cool
| extra14 = [[Mavis Staples]]
| extra14 = [[Mavis Staples]]
| length14 = 3:39
| length14 = 3:39


| title15 = Still Would Stand All Time
| title15 = Still Would Stand All Time
| extra15 = Prince
| extra15 = Prince
| length15 = 5:23
| length15 = 5:23


| title16 = Graffiti Bridge
| title16 = Graffiti Bridge
| extra16 = Prince
| extra16 = Prince featuring Mavis Staples and Tevin Campbell
| length16 = 3:51
| length16 = 3:51


| title17 = New Power Generation, Part 2
| title17 = New Power Generation, Part 2
| extra17 = Prince and The New Power Generation
| extra17 = Prince and the New Power Generation featuring Mavis Staples, Tevin Campbell, T.C. Ellis and Robin Power
| length17 = 2:57
| length17 = 2:57}}
}}


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
{{col-start}}
* [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] – lead and backing vocals and various instruments
{{col-2}}
* [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] – lead and backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, [[Roland D-50]], [[E-mu Emax]], [[Fairlight CMI]], [[Oberheim OB-8]], synthesizers, bass guitar, drums, [[LinnDrum]], [[Linn LM-1]], [[Dynacord Add-One|Dynacord ADD-One]], Publison IM90 Infernal Machine
* [[Morris Day]] – drums (2, 17), lead vocals (3, 11), co-lead vocals (9, 13)
* [[Morris Day]] – drums (2, 17), lead vocals (3, 11), co-lead vocals (9, 13)
* [[Amp Fiddler|Joseph "Amp" Fiddler]] – additional keyboards and backing vocals (7)
* [[Amp Fiddler|Joseph "Amp" Fiddler]] – additional synthesizers and backing vocals (7)
* [[Boni Boyer]] – organ and background vocals (16)
* [[Boni Boyer]] – [[Hammond organ]] (16), backing vocals (16)
* [[Levi Seacer, Jr.]] – bass and backing vocals (16)
* [[Levi Seacer, Jr.]] – bass guitar (16), backing vocals (16)
* [[Sheila E.]] – drums and background vocals (16)
* [[Sheila E.]] – drums (16), backing vocals (16)
* [[Candy Dulfer]] – saxophone (3, 9, 13)
* [[Candy Dulfer]] – saxophone (3, 9, 13)
* [[Eric Leeds]] – saxophone (7)
* [[Eric Leeds]] – saxophone (7)
* [[Atlanta Bliss]] – trumpet (7)
* [[Atlanta Bliss]] – trumpet (7)
* [[Wendy Melvoin]] – electric guitar (7), backing vocals (7)
* [[Lisa Coleman (musician)|Lisa Coleman]] – synthesizers (7), backing vocals (7)
* [[Tevin Campbell]] – lead vocals (6), backing vocals (16, 17)
* [[Tevin Campbell]] – lead vocals (6), backing vocals (16, 17)
* [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]] – co-lead vocals (7)
* [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]] – co-lead vocals (7)
* [[Elisa Fiorillo]] – co-lead vocals (9) (credited as Elisa)
* [[Elisa Fiorillo]] – co-lead vocals (9) (credited as Elisa)
* [[Susannah Melvoin]] – backing vocals (8)
* [[Mavis Staples]] – lead vocals (14), backing vocals (16, 17)
* [[Mavis Staples]] – lead vocals (14), backing vocals (16, 17)
* [[Rosie Gaines]] – backing vocals (2)
* [[Rosie Gaines]] – backing vocals (2)
* [[Michael "Clip" Payne]] additional drumming and backing vocals (7)
* Robin Power – backing vocals (17)
{{col-2}}
* [[New Power Generation]] – co-lead vocals (2), spoken word (2, 17), backing vocals (17)
* [[Michael "Clip" Payne]] – additional drums and backing vocals (7)
* David Coleman – [[oud]] (7), finger cymbals (7)
* [[Jerome Benton]] – spoken word and crowd chatter (13), backing vocals (3, 9, 15)
* Tom Garneau, Michael Koppelman – crowd chatter (13)
* Jana Anderson backing vocals (11)
* T.C. Ellis – rap (17)
* T.C. Ellis – rap (17)
* Gary Shider, Steve Boyd, William Payne, Belita Woods,Paul Hill, Tracey Lewis, Mike Harris, Pat Lewis, Sandra Dance – backing vocals (7)
*Paul Hill - backing vocals
* Jevetta Steele, J.D. Steele, Fred Steele, Jearlyn Steele – backing vocals (14, 15)
* [[Jill Jones]], [[Jellybean Johnson]], [[Jesse Johnson (musician)|Jesse Johnson]], [[Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis]], [[Monte Moir]] – backing vocals (15)
* [[Clare Fischer]] – orchestral arrangement (16)
* Steven Parke – album artwork design
* Steven Parke – album artwork design
* Harmonica on 12 played by Lester Chambers, sampled from "I Can't Stand It" (1967) by the [[Chambers Brothers]].
* Harmonica on 12 played by Lester Chambers, sampled from "I Can't Stand It" (1967) by [[The Chambers Brothers]].
* Drums on 3 played by David Garibaldi, sampled from "[[Back to Oakland|Squib Cakes]]" (1974) by [[Tower of Power]].
* Drums on 3 played by David Garibaldi, sampled from "[[Back to Oakland|Squib Cakes]]" (1974) by [[Tower of Power]].
* Michael Koppelman – engineer
{{col-end}}


==Singles and Hot 100 chart placings==
==Singles and Hot 100 chart placings==
Line 207: Line 231:


* "Shake!" maxi-single
* "Shake!" maxi-single
# "Shake!" (Extended Mix) – 5:03
# "Shake!" (Extended Mix) – 5:03
# "Shake!" (Battle Mix) – 4:06
# "Shake!" (Battle Mix) – 4:06
# "Shake!" (Funky House Mix) – 8:20
# "Shake!" (Funky House Mix) – 8:20
# "The Latest Fashion" (Remix) – 6:20
# "The Latest Fashion" (Remix) – 6:20
# "Shake!" (Boom Mix) – 5:01
# "Shake!" (Boom Mix) – 5:01
# "Shake!" – 4:00
# "Shake!" – 4:00


==Charts==
==Charts==
Line 220: Line 244:
===Weekly charts===
===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Weekly chart performance for ''Graffiti Bridge''
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1990)
! scope="col"| Chart (1990)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
Line 232: Line 256:
|-
|-
{{album chart|Netherlands|4|artist=Prince|album=Graffiti Bridge|rowheader=true|access-date=February 13, 2022}}
{{album chart|Netherlands|4|artist=Prince|album=Graffiti Bridge|rowheader=true|access-date=February 13, 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | Finnish Albums ([[Official Finnish Charts|Suomen virallinen lista]])<ref>{{cite book|url=https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=204|first=Timo|last=Pennanen|year=2021|title=Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021|section=Prince|page=204|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|location=Helsinki|language=fi}}</ref>
| 7
|-
|-
{{album chart|Germany4|4|id=1098|artist=Prince|album=Graffiti Bridge|rowheader=true|access-date=February 13, 2022}}
{{album chart|Germany4|4|id=1098|artist=Prince|album=Graffiti Bridge|rowheader=true|access-date=February 13, 2022}}
Line 251: Line 278:
|-
|-
{{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|6|artist=Prince|rowheader=true|access-date=February 13, 2022}}
{{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|6|artist=Prince|rowheader=true|access-date=February 13, 2022}}
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+2016 weekly chart performance for ''Graffiti Bridge''
! scope="col"| Chart (2016)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|BillboardSoundtrack|9|artist=Prince|rowheader=true|access-date=July 3, 2022}}
|}
|}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
Line 256: Line 290:
===Year-end charts===
===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Year-end chart performance for ''Graffiti Bridge''
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1990)
! scope="col"| Chart (1990)
! scope="col"| Position
! scope="col"| Position
Line 269: Line 303:


==Certifications==
==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''Graffiti Bridge''}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|artist=Prince|title=Graffiti Bridge|award=Gold|relyear=1990}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|artist=Prince|title=Graffiti Bridge|award=Gold|relyear=1990}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=album|artist=Prince|title=Graffiti Bridge|relyear=1990|certyear=1990|award=Gold|certref=<ref name="Spanish certifications 1979-1990">{{cite book|url=http://www.mediafire.com/view/x263f6daopkswo8|title=Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990|year=2005|publisher=Iberautor Promociones Culturales|language=es|isbn=8480486392}}</ref>|access-date=16 August 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=album|artist=Prince|title=Graffiti Bridge|relyear=1990|certyear=1990|award=Gold|certref=<ref name="Spanish certifications 1979-1990">{{cite book|url=http://www.mediafire.com/view/x263f6daopkswo8|title=Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990|year=2005|publisher=Iberautor Promociones Culturales|language=es|isbn=8480486392}}</ref>|access-date=August 16, 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|type=album|artist=Prince|title=Graffiti Bridge|award=Gold|relyear=1990|certyear=1990|access-date=11 September 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|type=album|artist=Prince|title=Graffiti Bridge|award=Gold|relyear=1990|certyear=1990|access-date=September 11, 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=Prince|title=Graffiti Bridge|award=Gold|relyear=1990}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=Prince|title=Graffiti Bridge|award=Gold|relyear=1990|id=2637-1115-2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Prince|title=Graffiti Bridge|award=Gold|relyear=1990}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Prince|title=Graffiti Bridge|award=Gold|relyear=1990}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==

Latest revision as of 07:12, 18 November 2024

Graffiti Bridge
Studio album / soundtrack by
Prince and other artists
ReleasedAugust 20, 1990
Recorded1981–1990
Studio
Genre
Length68:32
LabelPaisley Park, Warner Bros.
ProducerPrince
Prince chronology
Batman
(1989)
Graffiti Bridge
(1990)
Diamonds and Pearls
(1991)
Singles from Graffiti Bridge
  1. "Thieves in the Temple"
    Released: July 17, 1990
  2. "Melody Cool"
    Released: August 10, 1990 (US & EU)
  3. "Round and Round"
    Released: September 24, 1990 (US, CA & EU)
  4. "New Power Generation"
    Released: October 23, 1990
  5. "Can't Stop This Feeling I Got"
    Released: 1990 (PH)
  6. "Shake!"
    Released: January 8, 1991

Graffiti Bridge is the twelfth studio album by American recording artist Prince and is the soundtrack album to the 1990 film of the same name. It was released on August 20, 1990, by Paisley Park Records and Warner Bros. Records.

The album was much better received in sales than the film. It reached number 6 in the United States and was his third consecutive chart-topper (following Lovesexy and Batman) on the UK Albums Chart.[3] Nearly every song on the record was written by Prince despite the handful of artists performing, including Tevin Campbell, Mavis Staples, and the Time. The album produced the hit singles "Thieves in the Temple" and "New Power Generation", an anthem in two parts celebrating Prince's newly created backing band, the New Power Generation. The band would get its first official outing on Prince's next album, Diamonds and Pearls.

Evolution of the album

[edit]

The concept for the album and film began as early as mid-1987, but experienced delays for various reasons. The title track was originally recorded during this period, hence the liner notes listing Sheila E. and Boni Boyer as performers on the track. In fact, nearly the entire album is composed of previously recorded sessions that were updated for this release.

"Tick, Tick, Bang" was originally from 1981 during the sessions for the Controversy album. Written by Prince, it was originally a more punk rock song with a bass synthesizer; the update of the song includes an uncredited drum sample from Jimi Hendrix's "Little Miss Lover". "Can't Stop This Feeling I Got" was from 1982, but later updated in mid-1986 during sessions for aborted album Dream Factory, before further updating. "We Can Funk" was first recorded in 1983, originally titled "We Can Fuck", before Prince re-recorded the song in 1986 with the Revolution (under the title "We Can Funk"), before further updating to the 1983 version took place. A melody similar to that of "Purple Rain" can be heard during the bridge of "Can't Stop This Feeling I Got". The three tracks were drastically updated in 1989 for release on Graffiti Bridge.

"The Question of U" was recorded in 1985 during sessions for Parade with little updating added to the original version. "Joy in Repetition" was first included on the unreleased Crystal Ball album in late 1986, and the same recording was used for this album (the track was not updated further for release, unlike the other "old" songs). Prince also kept the original segue of party noise at the start of the song (this time segueing from "We Can Funk" on this album instead of "The Ball" when "Joy in Repetition" was placed on Crystal Ball in 1986) which is also heard at the end of "Eye No", leading into "Alphabet St." on Lovesexy. The title track (from 1987) was updated for the album as well as "Elephants & Flowers" (from the 1988 unreleased Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic album) and "The Latest Fashion" (later given to the Time for their unreleased Corporate World album). "Melody Cool" and "Still Would Stand All Time" were intended for Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic and were later performed in some Lovesexy aftershows. "Still Would Stand All Time" was later considered for Batman, but was replaced by "Scandalous". The four tracks featuring the Time were originally going to be on Corporate World, recorded in 1989, though "The Latest Fashion" reuses music from "My Summertime Thang" from their album Pandemonium. "New Power Generation" was originally recorded in 1982 as "Bold Generation".[4]

The only truly "new" compositions recorded for the album were "Round and Round", performed by Tevin Campbell, and "Thieves in the Temple". The latter song was the final track recorded for the album, recorded in early 1990. The B-side "Get Off" would soon be incorporated into "Gett Off" the following year.

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
Blender[6]
Chicago Tribune[7]
Entertainment WeeklyA+[2]
The Guardian[8]
Los Angeles Times[9]
NME9/10[10]
Q[11]
Rolling Stone[1]
The Village VoiceB+[12]

Graffiti Bridge received positive reviews from contemporary critics, who praised Prince's songwriting and the variety of the music while deeming it an improvement over 1988's Lovesexy. Time magazine hailed the record as a "groovable feast",[13] while Q's Lloyd Bradley claimed it was "practically impossible to choose anything that doesn't deserve to be there. How long is it since that can honestly be said about a Prince album?"[11] In Entertainment Weekly, Greg Sandow said the album was likely a "masterpiece" that found Prince rediscovering his ability to cover different styles effortlessly.[2] David Quantick of NME felt that it was the first Prince album to consolidate his various influences into a unified sound, instead of "separating them out so we can see how good he is at displaying his references".[10] Rolling Stone reviewer Paul Evans credited him for lending a "sharper focus", "harder groove", and emphasis on funk and rock rather than "the feckless genre dabbling" of albums such as Lovesexy and Around the World in a Day (1985). Evans also believed Prince's catchy compositions helped make the "omnivorous mysticism" of his lyrics "newly convincing — convincing, but still startling, sensual and freeing".[1] Greg Kot, the Chicago Tribune's chief music critic, called the album "a sprawling, wildly diffuse statement on love, sin, sex and salvation that ranks with his best work", as well as "perhaps his most complex and, dare we say, mature exploration" of those themes.[7]

In The New York Times, Jon Pareles believed Graffiti Bridge would perhaps give Prince a success on both commercial and artistic terms, although he lamented some of the lyrics: "Verbally, he's no deep thinker; when he's not singing about sex, his messages tend to be benevolent and banal."[14] Robert Christgau was less impressed in his consumer guide for The Village Voice. He applauded the guest artists, particularly the Time, and some of Prince's own half of songs, but said most of them were "overly subtle if not rehashed or just weak: title track, generational anthem, and lead single all reprise familiar themes, and the ballads fall short of the exquisite vocalese that can make his slow ones sing."[12] At the end of 1990, Graffiti Bridge was voted the tenth best album of the year in the Pazz & Jop, a nationwide poll of American critics, published by The Village Voice.[15]

In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine called Graffiti Bridge an "often very good" album whose best songs were those performed by Prince, with the exception of the Time's "Release It" and Tevin Campbell's "Round and Round".[5] Michaelangelo Matos was more critical in The Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004), finding the record "interesting primarily for its guest stars" and "for the fact that it now sounds as dated as the new jack swing it apes".[16]

Track listing

[edit]

All songs written by Prince, except track 3, co-written with Levi Seacer, Jr., track 7, co-written with George Clinton, and track 9, co-written with Levi Seacer, Jr. and Morris Day.

Graffiti Bridge track listing
No.TitleArtistLength
1."Can't Stop This Feeling I Got"Prince4:24
2."New Power Generation, Part 1"Prince and the New Power Generation3:39
3."Release It"The Time3:54
4."The Question of U"Prince3:59
5."Elephants & Flowers"Prince3:54
6."Round and Round"Tevin Campbell3:55
7."We Can Funk"Prince featuring George Clinton5:28
8."Joy in Repetition"Prince4:53
9."Love Machine"The Time featuring Elisa Fiorillo3:34
10."Tick, Tick, Bang"Prince3:31
11."Shake!"The Time4:01
12."Thieves in the Temple"Prince3:19
13."The Latest Fashion"The Time featuring Prince4:02
14."Melody Cool"Mavis Staples3:39
15."Still Would Stand All Time"Prince5:23
16."Graffiti Bridge"Prince featuring Mavis Staples and Tevin Campbell3:51
17."New Power Generation, Part 2"Prince and the New Power Generation featuring Mavis Staples, Tevin Campbell, T.C. Ellis and Robin Power2:57

Personnel

[edit]

Singles and Hot 100 chart placings

[edit]
  1. "Thieves in the Temple" (extended)
  2. "Thieves in the House"
  3. "Temple House dub"
  1. "New Power Generation" (funky weapon remix)
  2. "T.C.'s Rap"
  3. "Brother with a Purpose"
  4. "Get Off"
  5. "The Lubricated Lady"
  6. "Loveleft/Loveright"
  1. "Round and Round" (Solu Mix Edit)
  2. "Round and Round" (The House Mix)
  3. "Goodbye" (Tevin's Dub – Part 1 & 2)
  4. "Goodbye" (Soiddub & Listen)
  • "Melody Cool" maxi-single (#36 US R&B)
  1. "Melody Cool" (Extended LP Mix)
  2. "Melody Cool" (Extended Remix)
  3. "Melody Cool" (Deep House Vocal)
  4. "Melody Cool" (Mellow Dub Mix)
  5. "Time Waits for No-one" (Edit)
  • "Shake!" maxi-single
  1. "Shake!" (Extended Mix) – 5:03
  2. "Shake!" (Battle Mix) – 4:06
  3. "Shake!" (Funky House Mix) – 8:20
  4. "The Latest Fashion" (Remix) – 6:20
  5. "Shake!" (Boom Mix) – 5:01
  6. "Shake!" – 4:00

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for Graffiti Bridge
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[34] Gold 50,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[35] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[36] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[37] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[38] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Evans, Paul (August 23, 1990). "Graffiti Bridge (Sdtrk)". Rolling Stone. No. 585. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c Sandow, Greg (August 31, 1990). "Graffiti Bridge". Entertainment Weekly. No. 29. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  3. ^ Roberts, David, ed. (1996). The Guinness Book of British Hit Albums (7th ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 444. ISBN 0-85112-619-7.
  4. ^ "New Power Generation - Prince Vault".
  5. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Graffiti Bridge – Prince". AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  6. ^ Harris, Keith (June–July 2001). "Prince: Graffiti Bridge". Blender. Vol. 1, no. 1. Archived from the original on August 20, 2004. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Kot, Greg (August 23, 1990). "'Graffiti Bridge'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  8. ^ Price, Simon (April 22, 2016). "Prince: every album rated – and ranked". The Guardian. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  9. ^ Willman, Chris (August 12, 1990). "Prince's 'Graffiti Bridge' to the Past". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  10. ^ a b Quantick, David (August 25, 1990). "Bridge of Highs". NME. p. 34.
  11. ^ a b Bradley, Lloyd (October 1990). "Prince: Music from the Graffiti Bridge". Q. No. 49.
  12. ^ a b Christgau, Robert (October 23, 1990). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  13. ^ Draper, Jason (2016). Prince: Life & Times. Chartwell Books. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-7858-3497-7.
  14. ^ Pareles, Jon (August 19, 1990). "Sonic and Sexual Updates From Prince". The New York Times. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  15. ^ Anon. (March 5, 1991). "The 1990 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". The Village Voice. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  16. ^ Matos, Michaelangelo (2004). "Prince". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster. pp. 654–657. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  17. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Prince – Graffiti Bridge". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  18. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Prince – Graffiti Bridge" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  19. ^ "RPM Top Albums/CDs – Volume 52, No. 24, October 27 1990". Archived from the original on January 22, 2009. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  20. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Prince – Graffiti Bridge" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  21. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Prince". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 204.
  22. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Prince – Graffiti Bridge" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  23. ^ "Charts.nz – Prince – Graffiti Bridge". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  24. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Prince – Graffiti Bridge". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  25. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  26. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Prince – Graffiti Bridge". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  27. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Prince – Graffiti Bridge". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  28. ^ "Prince | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  29. ^ "Prince Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  30. ^ "Prince Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  31. ^ "Prince Chart History (Soundtrack Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
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