Love Symbol

An early configuration of the album contained as many as eight segues, as well as an introduction setting the scene of Prince's self-proclaimed "rock opera". These helped to provide a narrative thread to the songs which when taken together explained the album's conceptual storyline: An Egyptian Princess (played by Mayte Garcia, in her debut on a Prince album) falls in love with a rock star (Prince) and entrusts him with a sacred religious artefact known as the Three Chains of Turin (colloquially referred to by Prince as the 3 Chains o' Gold) after escaping from seven assassins who had murdered her Father in cold blood in an attempt to obtain the priceless relic, as referenced in "7".

In a last-minute attempt to add an additional song: "I Wanna Melt with U", which contains several sampled elements also present in "7" (and which was originally considered as a non-album B-side for the "7" maxi single), Prince had to cut many of the segues in order for its inclusion and to fit within album length constraints. The few that remain are somewhat confusing without the connective tissue these excised segues had helped provide. The unreleased segues have long been available amongst fans in the years since, and it is likely that any future Super Deluxe Edition release of the album by the Paisley Park Estate will see them reinstated.{{cite web |url=http://www.dawnation.com/menu4/special-lovesymbol92.html |title=The lost album segues / original version |publisher=dawnation.com}}

On the released album, the segues featuring Kirstie Alley as reporter Vanessa Bartholomew are mostly kept intact. In these, she scrambles to salvage some sense of an interview with the elusive rock star (Prince) but fails at the first hurdle when he promptly hangs-up after she informs him he is being recorded. In a later segue, Prince toys with Vanessa and her line of increasingly intrusive questioning by being purposefully vague and responding with nonsensical answers for his own amusement. A few lines in which Vanessa enquires about the Three Chains of Turin was edited from the final sequence provided for mastering and release.

3 Chains o' Gold, (a direct-to-video promotional film produced and directed by Prince), was eventually released in the Fall of 1994 even though filming for the project had been ongoing since 1991 and was completed in time with the intention of being a lavish visual companion piece to tie-in with its album counterpart upon release. Despite Prince’s protestations (after financing much of the project himself), Warner Bros Records nonetheless held it back. The film follows the sequence and narrative structure of the Love Symbol Album also containing a number of the excised segues originally intended for the album.

{{Music ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}

|rev2 = Chicago Tribune

|rev2Score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/10/15/princepaisley-park-starstarstar-12the-new-prince-album/|title=Prince(Paisley Park) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR) 1/2The new Prince album,…|first=Greg|last=Kot|date=October 15, 1992|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=October 13, 2024}}

|rev3 = Christgau's Consumer Guide

|rev3Score = A−

|rev4 = Entertainment Weekly

|rev4Score = A−{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/1992/10/23/artist-formerly-known-prince/ |title=The Artist Formerly Known As Prince(1992): Prince |first=Greg |last=Sandow |date=October 23, 1992 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |issue=#141 |issn=1049-0434 |access-date=September 16, 2011 |archive-date=October 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020231000/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,312103,00.html |url-status=live }}

|rev5 = The Guardian

|rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{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|location=London|access-date=April 25, 2016}}

|rev6 = Los Angeles Times

|rev6Score = {{Rating|2|4}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-10-11-ca-136-story.html|title=Prince's Latest Fleshed-Out Fantasy : ** PRINCE & THE N.P.G. "(genders merging symbol) " Paisley Park/Warner Bros .|first=Chris|last=Willman|date=October 11, 1992|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=October 13, 2024}}

|rev7 = Q

|rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1418668&style=music |title=Prince/Prince & the New Power Generation – Love Symbol Album CD Album |website=CDUniverse.com |access-date=September 16, 2011}}

|rev8 = Rolling Stone

|rev8Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}

|rev9 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

|rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/prince/albumguide |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110320034112/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/prince/albumguide |title=Prince: Album Guide|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=April 23, 2016|url-status=dead |archive-date=March 20, 2011}}

|rev10 = Spin Alternative Record Guide

|rev10Score = 7/10{{cite book |url=http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/Current/A1711.htm |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |first=Eric |last=Weisbard |date=October 10, 1995 |publisher=Vintage |edition=1st |isbn=978-0-679-75574-6 |access-date=June 7, 2009 |archive-date=April 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427153327/http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/Current/A1711.htm |url-status=dead }}

}}

The Love Symbol Album was voted the 14th best record of 1992 in the Pazz & Jop, an annual poll of American critics nationwide, published by The Village Voice.{{Cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres92.php|title=Robert Christgau: Pazz & Jop 1992: Critics Poll|website=Robertchristgau.com|access-date=October 13, 2024}} Robert Christgau, the poll's creator, later wrote of the album: "Designed to prove his utter inexhaustibility in the wake of Diamonds and Pearls, by some stroke of commerce his best-selling album since Purple Rain, this absurdly designated 'rock soap opera' (is he serious? is he ever? is he ever not?) proves mainly that he's got the funk."{{cite book|page=252|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|title=Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s|publisher=Macmillan Publishers|year=2000|isbn=0312245602|url=https://archive.org/details/christgausconsum00chri_0}}

All tracks written by Prince, except where noted; all tracks arranged and produced by Prince and The New Power Generation.

{{Track listing

| headline = Love Symbol track listing

| title1 = My Name Is Prince

| note1 = Prince, Tony M.

| length1 = 6:36

| title2 = Sexy MF

| note2 = Prince, Tony M., Levi Seacer, Jr.

| length2 = 5:25

| title3 = Love 2 the 9's

| length3 = 5:45

| title4 = The Morning Papers

| length4 = 3:57

| title5 = The Max

| length5 = 4:30

| title6 = Segue

| length6 = 0:21

| title7 = Blue Light

| length7 = 4:38

| title8 = I Wanna Melt with U

| length8 = 3:50

| title9 = Sweet Baby

| length9 = 4:01

| title10 = The Continental

| length10 = 5:31

| title11 = Damn U

| length11 = 4:25

| title12 = Arrogance

| length12 = 1:35

| title13 = The Flow

| note13 = Prince, Tony M.

| length13 = 2:26

| title14 = 7

| note14 = Prince, Lowell Fulson, Jimmy McCracklin

| length14 = 5:13

| title15 = And God Created Woman

| length15 = 3:18

| title16 = 3 Chains o' Gold

| length16 = 6:03

| title17 = Segue

| length17 = 1:30

| title18 = The Sacrifice of Victor

| length18 = 5:41

}}

Every use of the pronoun "I" throughout the song titles and liner notes is represented by a stylized "👁" symbol. Prince fans commonly transliterate this symbol as "Eye".

Several editions of this album were released. Early pressings of the album featured an embossed gold love symbol on the jewel case, sometimes matte, sometimes glossy. Later editions feature it printed on the booklet or not present at all. A Special Limited Edition Gold Box CD was released with a purple love symbol engraved in the golden box. One boxed set came with a bonus "Sexy MF" CD single, another with a specially created CD single of "My Name Is Prince" mixes.

Below is the early version of the album with all the original segues. "The Sacrifice of Victor" is slightly longer on the early configuration.

{{Div col}}

1. "Intro"
2. "My Name Is Prince"
3. "Sexy MF"
4. "Segue"
5. "Love 2 the 9's"
6. "The Morning Papers"
7. "The Max"
8. "Segue"
9. "Blue Light"
10. "Segue"
11. "Sweet Baby"
12. "Segue"
13. "The Continental"
14. "Damn U"
15. "Segue"
16. "Arrogance"
17. "The Flow"
18. "Segue"
19. "7"
20. "Segue"
21. "And God Created Woman"
22. "3 Chains o' Gold"
23. "Segue"
24. "The Sacrifice of Victor"

{{Div col end}}

Adapted from Benoît Clerc{{Cite book |last=Clerc |first=Benoît |title=Prince: All the Songs |publisher=Octopus Publishing |year=2022 |isbn=9781784728816 |pages=}}

• Prince – lead vocals {{Small|(tracks 1–5, 7–16, 18)}}, rap {{Small|(track 13)}}, spoken vocals {{Small|(tracks 6, 17)}}, backing vocals {{Small|(tracks 1, 3–5, 7–10, 14–16, 18)}}, electric guitar {{Small|(tracks 1, 3–5, 7–8, 10–13, 16, 18)}}, acoustic guitar {{Small|(track 14)}}, bass guitar {{Small|(tracks 1, 5, 8, 10, 14)}}, synthesizers {{Small|(tracks 1, 5, 7–12, 14)}}, piano {{Small|(track 16)}}, drums {{Small|(track 7)}}, programming {{Small|(tracks 1, 5, 7–8, 10, 14, 18)}}, finger snapping {{Small|(track 3)}}, percussion {{Small|(tracks 4, 14)}}, claps {{Small|(tracks 5, 12, 14)}}, tamborine {{Small|(tracks 8, 16)}}, finger cymbals {{Small|(tracks 11, 14)}}
• Tony M. – rap {{Small|(tracks 1–3, 5, 13, 18)}}, spoken vocals {{Small|(tracks 3, 12)}}, backing vocals {{Small|(track 12)}}
• Tommy Barbarella – synthesizers {{Small|(tracks 2–4, 9, 12, 15–16, 18)}}, Hammond organ {{Small|(track 2)}}
• Michael B. – drums {{Small|(tracks 2–4, 9, 11–12, 15–16, 18)}}
• Damon Dickinson – backing vocals {{Small|(tracks 2–3, 12–13, 18)}}, percussion {{Small|(tracks 2–3, 12)}}
• Kirk Johnson – backing vocals {{Small|(tracks 2–3, 12–13, 18)}}, percussion {{Small|(tracks 2–3, 12, 15–16)}}
• Levi Seacer Jr. – lead vocals {{Small|(track 2)}}, electric guitar {{Small|(tracks 2–4, 9, 11–12, 15–16, 18)}}
• Sonny T. – bass guitar {{Small|(tracks 2–4, 9, 11–12, 15–16, 18)}}
• Mayte – lead vocals {{Small|(track 3)}}, spoken vocals {{Small|(tracks 3, 5, 16)}}, backing vocals {{Small|(tracks 7, 15)}}

• Brian Gallagher – tenor saxophone {{Small|(tracks 2–4, 10, 12–13, 15–16, 18)}}
• DJ Graves – scratching {{Small|(tracks 2–3, 5, 8, 10, 12–13, 18)}}
• Dave Jensen, Steve Strand – trumpet {{Small|(tracks 2–4, 10, 12–13, 15–16, 18)}}
• Kathy Jensen – baritone saxophone {{Small|(tracks 2–4, 10, 12–13, 15–16, 18)}}
• Michael B. Nelson – trombone {{Small|(tracks 2–4, 10, 12–13, 15–16, 18)}}
• Airiq Anest – programming {{Small|(tracks 5, 8, 10, 13)}}
• Kirstie Alley – spoken vocals {{Small|(tracks 6, 11–12, 17)}}
• Michael Koppelman – bass guitar {{Small|(track 7)}}, synthesizers {{Small|(track 7)}}
• Eric Leeds – saxophone {{Small|(track 7)}}
• Carmen Electra – rap {{Small|(track 10)}}
• String orchestra {{Small|(tracks 11, 16)}}
• Fred Steele, J D Steele, Jearlyn Steele, Jevetta Steele – backing vocals {{Small|(track 18)}}

• Prince – producer
• Keith Cohen – additional producer, mixing
• George Black – additional producer {{Small|(track 8)}}
• David Friedlander – recording engineer {{Small|(tracks 1–6, 8–18)}}
• Steve Noonan – recording engineer {{Small|(tracks 1–6, 8–18)}}, additional mixing, mastering
• Ray Hahnfedt, Brian Poer – recording engineers {{Small|(tracks 1–5, 8–18)}}, additional mixing
• Michael Koppelman – recording engineer {{Small|(tracks 1–5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 18)}}, mixing
• Peter Arata – recording engineer {{Small|(tracks 6, 11–12, 17–18)}}
• Larry Mahn – recording engineer {{Small|(tracks 11, 16)}}
• Airiq Anest, Dave Aron, Steve Durkee – assistant recording engineers {{Small|(tracks 1–5, 8–16, 18)}}, additional mixing
• Tom Garneau, Bob Rosa, Steve Beltran – mixing
• Brian Gardner – mastering
• Clare Fischer – string arrangements {{Small|(tracks 11, 16)}}

• All songs published by Controversy Music/WB Music Corp.; except:
• Track 1 (Copyright NPG Music/Michael Anthony Music), track 15 (NPG Music)
• Track 12 (Controversy Music/WB Music Corp; contains a sample of "I Know You Got Soul" by Eric B. & Rakim which is published by Songs of Polygram International Inc./Robert Hill Music; contains a sample of "Jazz It Up" originally by C.F.M. Band and also a sample of "Niggaz 4 Life" by N.W.A; copyright Ruthless Attack Muzik/Sony Songs/Bridgeport Music).
• Track 14 published by Controversy Music; additional publishing by Powerforce Music/Budget Music; sample of "Tramp" by Lowell Fulsom published by Blues Interactions, Inc.

• "Sexy MF" maxi-single (#66 US, #76 US R&B, #4 UK)
• "My Name Is Prince" maxi-single (#36 US, #25 US R&B, #7 UK)
• "7" maxi-single (#7 US, #3 US R&B, #27 UK)
• "Damn U" (#105 US, #32 US R&B)
• "The Morning Papers" maxi-single (#44 US, #8 US R&B, #52 UK)

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for Love Symbol}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|artist=Prince|title=The Love Symbol Album|award=Platinum|relyear=1992|certyear=1992|access-date=15 November 2021}}

{{certification Table Entry|title=Love Symbol|artist=Prince|type=album|relyear=1992|certyear=1994|region=Austria|award=Gold|access-date=11 September 2019}}

{{certification Table Entry|region=France|nocert=true|salesamount=200,000|salesref={{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cygEAAAAMBAJ&q=musique+france+gall+sales+billboard&pg=PA90|title = Billboard|date = May 22, 1993}}}}

{{certification Table Entry|title=ラブ・シンボル・アルバム|artist=プリンス＆ザ・ニュー・パワー・ジェネレーション|type=album|relyear=1992|region=Japan|award=Gold|certmonth=4|certyear=1994|access-date=11 September 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=album|artist=Prince|title=Symbol|relyear=1992|certyear=1992|award=Gold|certref={{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}}|access-date=20 August 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|type=album|artist=Prince|title=Love Symbol|award=Gold|relyear=1992|certyear=1992|access-date=11 September 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=Prince|title=Symbol|award=Platinum|relyear=1992|certyear=1993|id=6429-1115-2}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Prince|title=Symbol|award=Platinum|relyear=1992|access-date=24 March 2023}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book | author = Nathan Brackett, Christian Hoard | title = The New Rolling Stone Album Guide: Completely Revised and Updated 4th Edition | publisher = Simon and Schuster | year = 2004 | isbn = 0-7432-0169-8 | url = https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac }}

• [http://www.discogs.com/Prince-And-New-Power-Generation-Love-Symbol/release/619546 Love Symbol Album] at Discogs
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20170227062407/http://www.mtv.com/news/2985850/prince-love-symbol-25-years/?fb_ref=fbshare_web Revisiting the Love Symbol Album after 25 years] at MTV

{{Prince albums}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1992 albums

Category:Albums produced by Prince (musician)

Category:1990s concept albums

Category:Paisley Park Records albums

Category:Prince (musician) albums

Category:Warner Records albums

Category:Albums arranged by Clare Fischer