Diamonds and Pearls is the thirteenth studio album by American recording artist Prince, and the first with his backing band The New Power Generation. It was released on October 1, 1991, by Paisley Park Records and Warner Bros. Records. The album produced several hit singles, including "Gett Off", "Cream", "Money Don't Matter 2 Night", "Insatiable", and the title track. Dancers Lori Werner (then dancing under the stage name of Lori Elle) and Robia LaMorte, known as "Diamond" and "Pearl" respectively, appeared on the holographic cover (re-pressings of the album are non holographic). Diamond and Pearl also appeared in the music videos for "Cream", "Strollin'", "Gett Off", and the title track, and also participated in Prince's Diamonds and Pearls Tour.
Diamonds and Pearls contains a hybrid of music styles, from the funk of "Daddy Pop", "Jughead", and first single "Gett Off", to some of the more mainstream pop/rock songs Prince had recorded in some time, such as "Cream", "Money Don't Matter 2 Night" and the title song. "Willing and Able" was used in a video montage during the closing credits of CBS' coverage of Super Bowl XXVI.
Contents
Release
Diamonds and Pearls was released in the United States on October 1, 1991, and internationally two days later. It peaked at number three on the Billboard 200, number two on the UK Albums Chart, and number one on the Billboard Top R&B Albums and Australia's ARIA Albums Chart. It also peaked in the top 10 across several charts in Europe and New Zealand. The album gathered two top 5 singles: the title track, which peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, and his career-final Hot 100 number-one single, "Cream". "Gett Off" and "Money Don't Matter 2 Night" both hit the top 40 on the Hot 100, peaking at 21 and 23, respectively.
Diamonds and Pearls was reissued in remastered, deluxe and super deluxe versions on October 27, 2023. The super deluxe version contains a 2023 remaster of the album, 15 remastered versions of all the singles mixes and edits, 33 previously unreleased studio recordings, an unreleased live concert album of the official dress rehearsal of the Diamonds and Pearls Tour recorded at Glam Slam on January 11, 1992. The final disc, a Blu-ray, includes the Glam Slam performance; footage from a Special Olympics concert recorded on July 20, 1991, and the soundcheck the day before; and a restored version of the Diamonds and Pearls Video Collection. A limited edition 7" vinyl set of the singles from Diamonds and Pearls included the new single "Alice Through the Looking Glass."
Track listing
Remastered, deluxe and super deluxe editions
All songs written by Prince and The New Power Generation, except where noted.
Personnel
Prince – lead and backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, Roland D-50, E-mu Emax, Korg M1, Korg T3, bass guitar, drums, Roland R-8, Linn LM-1, finger cymbals
Rosie Gaines – co-lead vocals (3, 7, 8, 11), backing vocals (2, 4, 6–9), Hammond organ (2, 4, 6), Korg T3 and Roland D-50 (9)
Tommy Barbarella – synthesizers (2–4, 6–8)
Levi Seacer, Jr. – bass guitar (2, 5, 6, 8–10), electric rhythm guitar (4, 7), backing vocals (7)
Sonny T. – bass guitar (3, 4, 7, 13)
Michael B. – drums (2–8, 10, 13)
Sheila E. – synth drum fills (3)
Damon Dickson – percussion (6, 7, 9), backing vocals (7)
Kirk Johnson – percussion (6, 7, 9), backing vocals (7)
Eric Leeds – flute (7)
Tony M. – rap (2, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13)
Elisa Fiorillo – additional vocals (2, 8)
Clare Fischer – sampled orchestration (11)
Production
Arranged and produced by Prince and The New Power Generation
Engineered by Keith "KC" Cohen, David Friedlander, Michael Koppelman, Matt Larson, Sylvia Massy, Steve Noonan, Tim Penn and Brian Poer
Mixed by Michael Koppelman, Keith Cohen and Tom Garneau
Mastered by Michael Koppelman
Atmos mixing by Chris James
CD and Atmos mastering by Brad Blackwood
Vinyl and CD mastering by Bernie Grundman
Singles and chart placings
"Gett Off" maxi-single (#21 US, #6 US R&B, #4 UK, #8 AUS)
"Gett Off"
"Horny Pony"
"Cream" maxi-single (#1 US, #15 UK, #2 AUS)
"Cream"
"Horny Pony"
"Insatiable" (#3 US R&B)
"Insatiable"
"I Love U in Me"
"Diamonds and Pearls" maxi-single (#3 US, #1 US R&B, #25 UK, #13 AUS)
"Diamonds and Pearls"
"Q in Doubt"
"Money Don't Matter 2 Night" maxi-single (#23 US, #14 US R&B, #19 UK, #18 AUS)
"Money Don't Matter 2 Night"
"Call the Law"
"Push" (UK)
"Thunder" maxi-single (#28 UK)
"Thunder"
"Violet the Organ Grinder"
"Gett Off" (Thrust Dub)