New Prince EP May Drop Friday, If Suit Doesn't Stop It

Star's estate is suing to stop release of 6-track 'Deliverance' on death anniversary
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 19, 2017 8:46 AM CDT
New Prince EP May Drop Friday, If Suit Doesn't Stop It
Prince in a Nov. 22, 2015, file photo, presenting an award at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles.   (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)

The doves may soon dry their tears: a new Prince EP is set to be released Friday, the first anniversary of his death, Rolling Stone reports. The six-track Deliverance—which a press release notes can be preordered online at iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon—is a posthumous compilation of songs co-written and co-produced between 2006 and 2008 by the Minnesota pop star and Ian Boxill, whom he often worked with and who finished up the songs after Prince's death. The title track, which Rolling Stone says "unleashes fervent guitar and vocal performance," is already available to stream and download; the remaining short tracks make up what's called the "Man Opera" medley, plus an extended version of one song.

Billboard notes, however, that there's legal action threatening to stifle the EP's release by indie label Rogue Music Alliance. Per KSTP, a lawsuit filed by Paisley Park and Prince's estate accuses Boxill of breaking a confidentiality contract and "trying to exploit one or more songs for his personal gain"; the complaint values the songs at more than $75,000. The press release notes "the majority of all sales of Deliverance will benefit Prince's estate." If the EP drop does happen, there are also plans to distribute it as a disc at stores such as Walmart and Target. "I hope when people hear Prince singing these songs it will bring comfort to many," Boxill says in the release. (More Prince stories.)

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