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Originals

Prince

Originals

Previously unreleased demos of songs Prince wrote for other artists including Manic Monday and Nothing Compares 2 U

Label
Rhino
UK Release date
21/06/2019
US Release date
21/06/2019
  1. 10.0 |   NME

    These unearthed tracks, which Prince recorded himself and handed over to other artists, show off his astonishing, chameleon-like ability to master practically any genre
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  2. 10.0 |   The Irish Times

    Always shifting gears, sensitivities and styles, these songs created for others – including Kenny Rogers, Sheila E and Prince’s protege girl group Appolonia 6 – are an insight into the genius who never stopped thinking in music
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  3. 10.0 |   Q

    The production values here exceed most of the finished works: not so much blueprints as purpleprints. Print edition only

  4. 9.5 |   Pitchfork

    Hearing Prince sing these songs that he gave to other performers brings you close to the pulse of his artistry: transgressive, funky, sexy, a testament to his genius even in the form of demos
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  5. 9.0 |   PopMatters

    A collection of 15 highly enjoyable demos of songs written for other artists is another reminder – as if we needed one – of why we love Prince Rogers Nelson
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  6. 8.6 |   Paste Magazine

    He gave these songs away, but they could never lose his DNA
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  7. 8.0 |   American Songwriter

    It really is a treasure trove of amazing music, all professionally recorded, even if some of these selections didn’t make it onto Prince albums because they just weren’t up to his high standards of the time
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  8. 8.0 |   Record Collector

    Properly curated, the material in Prince’s Vault contains a body of work that would rival Dylan’s Bootleg Series for both quality control and cultural importance. The next volume can’t come quick enoug
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  9. 8.0 |   Uncut

    If you're a Prince bootleg freak you'll know most of it already, but if not it's a great introduction to his writing for outside productions. Often, the real revelation is how closely performers hew to his demos. Print edition only

  10. 7.0 |   All Music

    If Prince intended these songs to be released under his own name, they'd have been given richer, bolder arrangements, and his singing would've been sharper, but he meant these as guides toward a finished product. Keeping that caveat in mind, this is an enlightening and illuminating listen
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  11. 6.0 |   The Observer

    If there’s little in the way of revelation, there are little thrills
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