By JOHN SAKAMOTO --
TORONTO -- It's a measure of both the continuing allure of The Artist Formerly Known As Prince and the almost frenzied determination of his new record label to score him a hit that 50 or so industry types gathered in a small studio here Wednesday and dutifully submitted to being searched by one of those hand-held metal detectors.
All for the privilege of hearing portions of TAFKAP's new album -- and to pose questions, not to TAFKAP, but to his LAWYER. (TAFKAP was on his way to Japan to chat up press and retailers there.)
What we got after all the rigamarole was a generous helping of 15 tracks -- several of them stunning, even on first listen -- but representing less than half of the upcoming triple-album, "Emancipation". That was, we were assured, still a good deal more than anybody in any other country had been allowed to hear.
Though TAFKAP has a huge backlog of unreleased material in the vaults, "Emancipation" consists entirely of new songs written, according to his lawyer, Londell McMillan, who fielded questions via a phone hook-up from New York.
The plan, he said, is to hit the road for two years to tour behind the new album, including dates in Canada and the U.S., though no dates have been mapped out yet.
So, what can you ask the lawyer for TAFKAP? How about, given the soft retail climate (not to mention the piddling 90,000 or so in sales of his last album) did you have any reservations about releasing a THREE-CD set that fans in Canada will have to shell upwards of $30 for? (In Canada, EMI will likely ship in the neighborhood of 75,000 copies.)
"Yes, we had reservations," McMillan said. "A lot of thought was given to the retail climate and that this may not be the best thing to do, but the whole object of The Artist's struggle (with Warner Music) was that he wanted to do things his way. So we compromised, and the CDs will be priced at a price point that's affordable and makes sense. It's three CDs, but it'll basically be priced as two CDs."
The lead single from "Emancipation" will be a silky cover of the old Stylistics hit, "Betcha By Golly Wow!". A video will be shot next week at TAFKAP's Paisley Park complex, with TAFKAP himself slated to direct. Both will be debuted on Nov. 12, a week before the album hits the streets. (By that point, TAFKAP and his wife, Mayte, should be new parents.)
Meanwhile, here are some potted notes about the most notable of the 15 tracks previewed Wednesday:
Betcha By Golly Wow!: A lushly arranged, though surprisingly faithful, cover of the Stylistics hit. Features falsetto vocals and a spoken-word interlude.
The Holy River: "If you ask God to love you longer/Every breath you take will make you stronger ..." A long, mid-tempo hymn, featuring some beautiful piano work. TAFKAP talks about asking someone (presumably Mayte) to marry him.
Somebody's Somebody: A slinky bedroom ballad that opens with the sound of a rainstorm, followed by the lament, "It's two o'clock in the morning/I got no one to call."
Damned If I Do: A poppy track that bears a passing resemblance to the chorus of "Little Red Corvette" before mutating into Latin rhythms near the end. Features another reference to marriage, "Maybe we should say goodbye/Maybe we should say I do ..."
The Human Body: An attempt at a Hi NRG dance track, this 120 beats-per-minute thumper features little more than TAFKAP's falsetto vocal over a spare drums/bass/synth backing track.
My Computer: "I scan my computer/Looking for a sign/Somebody to talk to/Funny and bright ..." TAFKAP, says McMillan, is "a computer buff" who is well-acquainted with cyberspace, which accounts for this song's use of the "Welcome, you've got mail" message, familiar to users of America Online.
Sex In The Summer: Sounds exactly as the title suggests: slow and sultry.
One Of Us: After not recording any covers, this is one of FOUR on "Emancipation." The Joan Osborne hit gets a new, more soulful arrangement, with a very raw vocal on the chorus. TAFKAP's version ends with him shouting, "He ain't home" after the line "'Cept for the Pope maybe in Rome".
The Love We Make: A lush, poignant prayer, complete with what sounds like a heavenly choir. "The only love there is/Is the love we make."
I Can't Make You Love Me: Yes, the Bonnie Raitt hit which, in TAFKAP's hands, sounds more like the Stylistics.
La, La, La Means I Love You: An absolutely stunning remake of the '68 Delfonics classic that'll remind anyone who may have forgotten just what a spectacular singer TAFKAP can be.
