SDE takes a look at the recently released PrinceWelcome 2 America deluxe edition and wonders if the package justifies the high retail price. Watch the unboxing video.
The Prince Estate and Legacy Recordings are to issue Welcome 2 America a previously unreleased Prince album recorded in 2010. The album was “mysteriously archived” by Prince and features some of his only studio collaborations with bassist Tal Wilkenfeld, drummer Chris Coleman, and engineer Jason Agel, with additional contributions from New Power Generation singers Shelby J., Liv Warfield, and Elisa Fiorillo and keyboardist Morris Hayes, who Prince also recruited to co-produce several tracks on the album.
In terms of chronology, if issued at the time, the album would have sat between 20Ten (2010) and Plectrumelectrum (2014).
Welcome 2 America is being issued on CD and 2LP vinyl, but a four-disc deluxe edition brings together CD, 2LP and blu-ray in a large format package.
The blu-ray is Welcome 2 America (Live at The Forum, April 28, 2011). In typical Prince style, he may not have bothered issuing the album, but he still embarked on a tour of the same name! This is the full show at the forum and it’s presented in stereo, 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos, and includes a generous 24 tracks from across Prince’s career; big hits, fan favourites and rare covers.
The deluxe edition is large format and features a 32 page 12″ x 12″ book, poster and an “embossed vellum envelope” of limited edition memorabilia all housed in a luxe, gold embossed package.
Welcome 2 America deluxe edition
Sadly there’s no CD+blu-ray edition, which means if you want that blu-ray with the Atmos mix, the deluxe edition is your only option. At the time of writing Amazon France is by far the best deal for UK fans.
Welcome 2 America will be released on 30 July 2021.
This is the luxury, ‘posh’ version of the Imagine book. It’s an expanded copy bound in real cloth, with 150 additional illustrations, more artworks from the ‘This Is Not Here’ exhibition, an additional chapter devoted to the singles from the period, and six, almost 1 metre-long gatefolds of panoramas stitched together from rare film outtakes. It also includes a numbered and officially stamped 30cm x 23cm lithographic print (of an unused photographic proof of the Imagine album artwork by Yoko Ono) in a clothbound portfolio case, reproduced on acid-free Olin Regular High White 400gsm woodfree paper, using archival pigment inks. Limited to 2000 copies worldwide.
Fantastic pre-order price for the deluxe version of the newly announced Prince release via Amazon France. Easily the best option for fans in the UK, although how long this lasts, and whether it will be even be honoured, is open to question. But nothing ventured…
