After a series of deluxe reissues of three of Prince’s biggest albums of the 1980s, his estate is exciting hardcore fans with the long-awaited emergence of the previously unreleased “Welcome 2 America” album from 2010.
The 12-tune, politically charged album, which includes “One Day We’ll All B Free” and a cover of Soul Asylum’s anthem “Stand Up and B Strong,” will be released July 30 via Legacy Recordings, it was announced.
The deluxe version of “Welcome 2 America” will include a Blu-ray film of a Prince concert from April 28, 2011, which was part of his “21 Nite Stand” at the Forum in Los Angeles. Ledisi made a guest appearance at that show.
The estate released the nearly 5 1/2 -minute “Welcome 2 America” title track on streaming services. It is a slow-burn social commentary about corporations, mass media, technology, taxes and women’s rights, among other topics. Prince says “there’s no arguing with the Book” and “transformation happens deep within.” The most biting lyric: “Land of the free, home of the slave.”