Diamonds and Pearls

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.

Release
Diamonds and Pearls was released in the United States on October 1, 1991, and two days later internationally. 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 the ARIA Albums Chart in Australia. It also peaked top 10 across several charts in Europe and New Zealand. The album gathered two top 5 singles, the title track, which peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the final number-one single on the Hot 100 of his career with "Cream". Along with that, "Gett Off" and "Money Don't Matter 2 Night" both hit the top 40 on the Hot 100, peaking at 21 and 23, respectively.

On August 24, 2023, it was announced that Diamonds and Pearls would be reissued in remastered, deluxe and super deluxe versions that were released 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 from the vault, an unreleased live concert album of the official dress rehearsal of the Diamonds and Pearls Tour recorded at Glam Slam on January 11, 1992, a Blu-ray release of the dress rehearsal at Glam Slam on January 11, 1992, as well as footage from Special Olympics Concert recorded on July 20, 1991, and the soundcheck that took place the day before, and a completely restored version of the Diamonds and Pearls Video Collection. A limited edition 7" vinyl of all the singles from Diamonds and Pearls including the new single "Alice Through The Looking Glass" were released as well.

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
 * Atmos mastering by Brad Blackwood
 * Vinyl and CD mastering Bernie Grundman

Singles and Hot 100 chart placings

 * "Gett Off" maxi-single (#21 US, #6 US R&B, #4 UK, #8 AUS)
 * 1) "Gett Off"
 * 2) "Horny Pony"


 * "Cream" maxi-single (#1 US, #15 UK, #2 AUS)
 * 1) "Cream"
 * 2) "Horny Pony"


 * "Insatiable" (#3 US R&B)
 * 1) "Insatiable"
 * 2) "I Love U in Me"


 * "Diamonds and Pearls" maxi-single (#3 US, #1 US R&B, #25 UK, #13 AUS)
 * 1) "Diamonds and Pearls"
 * 2) "Q in Doubt"


 * "Money Don't Matter 2 Night" maxi-single (#23 US, #14 US R&B, #19 UK, #18 AUS)
 * 1) "Money Don't Matter 2 Night"
 * 2) "Call the Law"
 * 3) "Push" (UK)


 * "Thunder" maxi-single (#28 UK)
 * 1) "Thunder"
 * 2) "Violet the Organ Grinder"
 * 3) "Gett Off" (Thrust Dub)