Glam Slam
"Glam Slam" is a song by American musician Prince, and the second single from his 1988 album, Lovesexy.[1] The song has sexual overtones with a spiritual undertone and fits the Lovesexy theme of integrating God and sex. The song is complex musically, recalling "Life Can Be So Nice" from Parade. It ends with a chorus of strings (played on the keyboard). A 12" single remix of the song by Shep Pettibone and Steve Peck mainly includes dance beats and extra instrumentation and samples.
"Glam Slam" | ||||
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UK 7" single | ||||
Single by Prince | ||||
from the album Lovesexy | ||||
B-side | "Escape" | |||
Released | July 11, 1988 | |||
Recorded | Paisley Park Studios, December 1987–January 1988 | |||
Genre | Pop rock | |||
Length |
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Label | Paisley Park | |||
Songwriter(s) | Prince | |||
Producer(s) | Prince | |||
Prince singles chronology | ||||
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The B-side, "Escape (Free yo mind from this rat race)", is somewhat of a remix, sampling the chorus from "Glam Slam", but adding all new lyrics and a funky bass guitar. The theme of "Escape" is more anti-drugs and gangs and is generally more of a dance number than "Glam Slam". The edit of "Escape" was included on 1993's The Hits/The B-Sides.
The opening lines to "Escape" were lifted from the Camille outtake, "Rebirth of the Flesh". These lines also kicked off the Lovesexy World Tour, before leading into "Erotic City".
Prince recorded a new version in 1991 called "Glam Slam '91" that later was the basis of "Gett Off" from Diamonds and Pearls.
Glam Slam nightclubs
In late 1989, Prince and Gilbert Davison (former Prince Manager and President of Paisley Park) opened a nightclub in Minneapolis named after the song and partially decorated with paintings by Brian Canfield Mitchell. After eight years of frustration vis-a-vis its more established rival First Avenue, he then sold his 10% stake in the club and Gilbert Davison renamed it The Quest. The club became one of the premier nightspots in the Twin Cities, rivaling First Avenue as a live music venue, before closing in 2006 due to a fire in the club. The building was reconfigured following the closure and reopened as the nightclub Epic.
Other Glam Slam clubs opened in Miami (Glam Slam East), Los Angeles (Glam Slam West), and Yokohama (Glam Slam Yokohama); all have since closed, or closed and reopened under new management not tied to Prince.
Glam Slam Ulysses
The Glam Slam moniker was extended in 1993 with Prince's Glam Slam Ulysses, a combination of live performances and video loosely based on Homer's Odyssey.
Track listing
- 7" single / Cassette single
- "Glam Slam" (Edit) – 3:28
- "Escape" (Edit) – 3:31
- 12" single
- "Glam Slam (Remix)" – 8:52 (Remixed Shep Pettibone and Steve Peck)
- "Escape (Free Your Mind From This Rat Race)" – 6:26
- Mini CD single
- "Glam Slam" (Edit) – 3:28
- "Escape" (Edit) – 3:31
- "Glam Slam (Remix)" – 8:52 (Remixed Shep Pettibone and Steve Peck)
Charts
Chart (1988) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report)[2] | 76 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[3] | 17 |
Denmark (IFPI)[4] | 7 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[5] | 33 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[6] | 9 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[7] | 12 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[8] | 29 |
References
- "Prince - Glam Slam". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). Australian Chart Book. p. 239. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- "Ultratop.be – Prince – Glam Slam" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- Danish Singles Chart 5 August 1988
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Prince – Glam Slam". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Prince – Glam Slam" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- "Charts.nz – Prince – Glam Slam". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- "Prince: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 3, 2016.