1994 Release

You will find below details about the 1994 vinyl, CD and tape released.

Vinyl

There are only German pressings of the retail version while promotional records were pressed in the USA.

The 1994 release of the Black Album was accompanied by the release of 4 different promotional coloured US vinyls LPs: black, grey marbled, white and peach marbled.

The grey marbled, white and peach marbled all have the same catalog number but are each distinguished through their colour (see below).

Germany (Cat: 9362-45793-1)

Description

The style of the label is different than the 1987 German pressing which himself differed from the 1987 USA pressing. The 1994 USA and German releases labels are quite alike, except for details such as GEMA/BIEM logo and a stereo mention.

The plain black sleeve bear only a catalog number. In addition two or three stickers (depending on where the record was sold) contains information.

The front sticker mentions: "Prince The legendary Black Album Limited Edition".

On copies sold in the USA an additional sticker “Parental Advisory Explicit Lyrics” was sticked on the front sleeve.

USA Promo (Cat: PRO-A-7330)

Description

The black vinyl promo is housed in a common plain black sleeve with a big hole in the middle. On the sleeve and label there is no mention of Prince. Only a mention of the controversy music ascap below the song titles. The label is a plain white Warner standard with their logo imprinted in colour and shaded as watermarking.

A promotional black and orange postcard as well as an all black poster complete the lot.

USA Promo (Cat: 1-45793 - grey marbled vinyl)

History

Only 50 were pressed and they were meant as give-away for Warner Brother Records Executives only.

After mentioning the idea on the defunct HouseQuake, "Yormeister" picked it up and started tracking the 50 copies of the grey marbled vinyl. It became soon apparent that more than 50 copies were circulating as repeated numbers, as well as unlabelled and unnumbered copies surfaced.

The repeated numbers are dropouts from quality control that were not shipped. After selling the inventory to Rockaway Records in Los Angeles these appeared in the public market.

The unlabelled copy is an unfinished test run

The ones without a number where used in the Prince store in Minneapolis for promotional purposes.

Description

Each disc is separately numbered from 001 to 050 through a gold-stamp on a white label. Besides the number the label shows a WB logo and the tracklisting in orange print.

The record is housed in a plain white sleeve. Its side contains nothing but Warner Brothers address and record catalogue number 1-45793 (also in orange).

The vinyl is pressed with a random grey marbled pattern that renders every piece unique as a fingerprint.

See our gallery of pictures on the site to help identify/authenticate an item.

USA Promo (Cat: 1-45793 - white vinyl)

History

According to a Dutch Warner representative, who the founder of this spoke to in March 1995, only 300 copies of this vinyl where pressed. They were meant as give-away for business relations of the Warner Brother Records.

Description

Each disc is separately numbered from 001 to 300 through a gold-stamp on the white label. Besides the number the label shows a WB logo and tracklisting in orange print.

The record is usually housed in a plain white sleeve; sometimes the record is housed in black sleeve (for instance number 070). Its side contains nothing but Warner Brothers address and record catalogue number 1-45793 (also in orange).

It is possible that more than 300 white vinyls exist. While tracking the grey marbled vinyl some extra copies of the white vinyl surfaced, all dropouts from quality control. They were not shipped but after the inventory sale, these appeared in the public market.

USA Promo (Cat: 1-45793 - peach marbled vinyl)

History

Information circulating about this release always mention that 1.000 copies where pressed. The record was sent as promo to DJ and radio stations. Occasionally you could find it in a record shop.

Description

The vinyl is pressed with a random peach marbled pattern. The colour is very beautiful when held in the light.

The label contains a WB logo and tracklisting in orange print.

The record is housed in a plain black sleeve. Its side contains Warner Brothers address and record catalogue number 1-45793 (also in orange).

CD

Australia (Cat: 9362457932)

History

Facts needed about the decision to wrap the CD in a limited numbered cardboard sleeve and how many numbers (likely 1,000).

Description

Wrapped in a cardboard sleeve reading: "Limited Edition Virgin Megastore Melbourne Sydney Adelaide Prince The Black Album Worldwide 1st Release".
Some issues come without the wrapper but with a sticker reading: "Prince The legendary Black Album Limited Edition 9362457932".

In both cases spine reads "9362457932" on one side and "9362457932 Warner Bros. Records Inc. 3300 Warner Blvrd Burbank CA 91505-4694 75 Rockefeller Plaza New York NY 10019-6908" on the other side.

No Barcode.

Canada (Cat: CDW 45793)

Description

Front sticker is black with orange font and reads "Prince The legendary Black Album Limited Edition CDW 4579 / 24 57934". Spine reads CDW 45793 on one side and CDW 45793 + (more information to follow) on the other side.

No Barcode.

Germany (Cat: 9362-45793-2)

Description

Front sticker is black with orange font and reads "Prince The legendary Black Album Limited Edition 9362-45793-2. Case features a "W" logo engraved in the plastic.
Back sticker is orange with black font; it features the barcode, an additional european category WE833, LC0392 and the mention "Made in germany by Warner Music MFG, Europe."

Spine reads "2-45793" on one side and "2-45793 Warner Bros. Records Inc. 3300 Warner Blvrd Burbank CA 91505-4694 75 Rockefeller Plaza New York NY 10019-6908" on the other side.

Label features "LC0392" mention above "GEMA/BIEM" logo.
Barcode reads: 0 9362-45793-2 8.

Japan (Cat: WPCR-160)

Description

Come with an black OBI strip featuring japanese mentions, the catalog number (WPCR-160) and the price (¥2,400) being in orange font, while the rest of in white font. In addition, a white sticker reads "714229" and other japanese mentions in red font. Sometimes seen without this particular sticker.

Spine reads "WPCR-160" on one side and "WPCR-160 Warner Bros. Records Inc. 3300 Warner Blvrd Burbank CA 91505-4694 75 Rockefeller Plaza New York NY 10019-6908" on the other side.

Barcode on the OBI reads: 4 943674 016020.

South-Africa (Cat: WBCD 1811)

Description

Marketed and distributed by Tusk Music Co. Manufactured by CDT. Comes with a white sticker reading "Prince The legendary Black Album Limited Edition".
Disc features "TUSK" logo.

Spine reads "WBCD 1811" on one side and "WBCD 1811 ℗, © Warner Bros. Records Inc. Marketed and distributed by Tusk Music Co. (Pty) Ldt. Printed in R.S.A. All tracks published by Warner Brothers" on the other side.

Barcode reads: 6 001491 320220.

USA Promo (Cat: 2-45793)

Description

Comes with a gold stamp in the back reading:
"For promotional use only. Sale or other transfer is prohibited. Must be returned on demand of the recording company".

Front sticker is black with orange font and reads "Prince The legendary Black Album Limited Edition 2-45793".

Spine reads "2-45793" on one side and "2-45793 Warner Bros. Records Inc. 3300 Warner Blvrd Burbank CA 91505-4694 75 Rockefeller Plaza New York NY 10019-6908" on the other side.

No barcode.