| The Black Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 22, 1994 | |||
| Recorded | 1986–1987 | |||
| Studio | Paisley Park, Chanhassen | |||
| Genre | Funk | |||
| Length | 44:43 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. 25677 (original pressing) 45793 (second pressing) | |||
| Producer | Prince | |||
| Prince chronology | ||||
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The untitled sixteenth studio album by American recording artist Prince, referred to as The Black Album, was scheduled for release in November 1987 but was canceled at Prince's request after promotional copies had been issued. The follow-up to Sign o' the Times,[1] the album was to appear in an entirely black sleeve with no title or even a credit to Prince; hence it being referred to as The Black Album. Dubbed The Funk Bible by preceding press releases, and in a hidden message within the album itself, the work seemed to be a reaction to criticism that Prince had become too pop-oriented. The album was his attempt to regain his black audience.[2]
The 1987 promotional release had no printed title, artist name, production credits or photography printed; a simple black sleeve accompanied the disc. On promotional copies, only a song listing and catalog number 25677 were printed on the disc itself. The commercial version was to only have the catalog number printed in pink on the spine.[3] The original compact disc pressing was made by Sony DADC rather than WEA Manufacturing.
After Prince became convinced that the album was "evil", he ordered it to be withdrawn a week before its release date. It was replaced with the album Lovesexy, a brighter pop-oriented album with elements of religious affirmation.
The album was officially released, with re-mastered audio and a few song title revisions, on November 22, 1994, by Warner Bros. Records.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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Harriswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "1987 - Welcome to the Funk Bible". The Black Album. theblackalbum.info. August 13, 2006. Retrieved September 16, 2011.