Cream (Prince song)

"Cream" is a song by Prince and the New Power Generation, from the album Diamonds and Pearls (1991).[3] On MTV Unplugged 2004, Prince joked that he wrote the song while looking at himself in the mirror.[4]

"Cream"
UK 7-inch single
Single by Prince and the New Power Generation
from the album Diamonds and Pearls
B-side
  • "Horny Pony"
  • "Gangster Glam" (UK 12-inch and CD)
ReleasedSeptember 9, 1991
RecordedDecember 3, 1990
StudioPaisley Park
Genre
Length4:12
Label
Songwriter(s)Prince
Producer(s)Prince
Prince and the New Power Generation singles chronology
"Gett Off"
(1991)		 "Cream"
(1991)		 "Insatiable"
(1991)
Music video
"Cream" on YouTube

The single's B-side, "Horny Pony", a rap song which was replaced on Diamonds and Pearls at the last minute by "Gett Off", was re-used from the "Gett Off" single. "Cream" was also released as a maxi-single EP with remixes and songs/raps loosely based on "Cream". The EP was notable for including several prank telephone conversations.

In the UK, "Gangster Glam" was an additional B-side on the 12-inch maxi maxi-CD single. In Japan, an EP was released with the tracks from the US maxi single, and four tracks from the US "Gett Off" maxi single. "Cream" was Prince's fifth and last number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100.

Critical reception

Patrick Corcoran from Albumism stated that "the oft-repeated tale of "Cream"'s composition doesn't lessen the impact of its swaggering braggadocio years later".[5] Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic called it a "sexy T. Rex groove" and a "terrific" pop single.[6] Mike Diver for the BBC said in his 2010 review that it is "quite simply a song about getting it on, and a brilliant one at that".[7] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "On the heels of the risque "Gett Off" comes an equally sexy pop/rocker that recalls T-Rex's "Bang a Gong"." He added, "Militaristic drum beats, an unshakable chorus, and snakey guitar and keyboard lines add up to a pretty good bet for multiformat acceptance."[8] David Browne from Entertainment Weekly described it as "a standard-issue funk workout with oh-so-daring lyrics like "U got the horn so why don't U blow it!"".[9] Alexis Petridis from The Guardian stated that the song is a "glorious, loving homage to Get It On, complete with lyrical echoes (the object of Prince's affections is "filthy-cute" as opposed to "dirty-sweet")." He added, "Never given to underestimating his own importance, Marc Bolan would doubtless have adored it."[10] Music & Media commented, "Could this second single from the new album Diamonds and Pearls be a leftover composition of the never-realised Prince/Bonnie Raitt collaboration?" They also wrote, "This basic R&B song is definitely his best single since 1989's Alphabet Street."[11] People described "Cream" as "tart and bluesy".[12] Rolling Stone said it is "impossibly slinky".[13] Scott Poulson-Bryant from Spin called it "poppy glam-rock".[14] Neil McKay from Sunday Life noted it as "irresistible pop".

Chart performance

In the United States, "Cream" hit number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1991; however, it did not make the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart because it was not sent to urban radio; "Insatiable" was sent to urban stations instead. The song made the top 20 in the United Kingdom, and it reached the top 10 in several European countries, Australia, and New Zealand. On the Eurochart Hot 100, "Cream" climbed to number six.

Music video

A music video was made to accompany the song, directed by Rebecca Blake.[15] It was published on YouTube in September 2017. By November 2020, the video has been viewed over 8 million times.[16]

Track listing
7-inch
No.TitleLength
1."Cream"4:12
2."Horny Pony"4:17
UK CD and 12-inch
No.TitleLength
1."Cream"4:12
2."Horny Pony"4:17
3."Gangster Glam"5:06
US CD maxi single (9 40197-2)
No.TitleCreditsLength
1."Cream" (album version) 4:12/0:33
2."Cream" (N.P.G. Mix) 4:52/0:51
3."Things Have Gotta Change" (Tony M. Rap) 3:57
4."2 the Wire" (Creamy Instrumental) 3:13
5."Get Some Solo" 1:31
6."Do Your Dance" (KC's Remix)Special guest vocal by Jevetta Steele; mixed and co-produced by Keith "KC" Cohen; Assisted by Dave Aron and Eric Anset at Larrabee West5:58
7."Housebangers"Additional production and Mix by Junior Vasquez; keyboard programming by Joseph Moskowitz; Remix engineer: Curt Frasca4:23
8."Q in Doubt" (instrumental)Edits by Dave Friedlander4:00
9."Ethereal Mix"Edits by Dave Friedlander3:56/0:48

Several tracks on this release include unlisted telephone segues, and are listed with separate lengths on this page.

Charts

References
  1. Browne, David (October 4, 1991). "Diamonds and Pearls: Prince". Entertainment Weekly. No. #86. Time. ISSN 1049-0434. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  2. Poulson-Bryant, Scott (November 1991). "Prince and the New Power Generation: Diamonds and Pearls". Spin. Spin Media. ISSN 0886-3032. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  3. "Prince & The New Power Generation – Cream". Discogs. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  4. Prince (April 22, 2019), Prince – Cream (Live At Webster Hall – April 20, 2004, retrieved April 19, 2020
  5. Corcoran, Patrick (September 27, 2016). "Prince & The New Power Generation's 'Diamonds and Pearls' Turns 25: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  6. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Prince & the New Power Generation / Prince – Diamonds and Pearls". AllMusic. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  7. Diver, Mike (2010). "Prince & The New Power Generation Diamonds and Pearls Review". BBC. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  8. Flick, Larry (September 28, 1991). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 77. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  9. Browne, David (October 4, 1991). "Diamonds and Pearls". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  10. Petridis, Alexis (September 12, 2019). "Prince's 50 greatest singles – ranked!". The Guardian. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  11. "New Releases Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. October 5, 1991. p. 10. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  12. "Picks and Pans Review: Diamonds and Pearls". People. October 21, 1991. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  13. "25 Essential Prince Songs". Rolling Stone. April 15, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  14. Poulson-Bryant, Scott (November 1991). "SPINS". Spin. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  15. "Cream (1991) by Prince feat. The New Power Generation". IMVDb. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  16. "Prince & The New Power Generation – Cream (Official Music Video)". YouTube. September 22, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  17. "Australian-charts.com – Prince and the New Power Generation – Cream". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  18. "Austriancharts.at – Prince and the New Power Generation – Cream" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  19. "Ultratop.be – Prince and the New Power Generation – Cream" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  20. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1690." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  21. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 1693." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  22. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 43. October 26, 1991. p. 31. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  23. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 50. December 14, 1991. p. 37. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
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  27. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Cream". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
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  33. "Notowanie nr509" (in Polish). LP3. November 22, 1991. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
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