Gett Off

Background and release

"Gett Off" evolved from several earlier compositions, starting with the song "Glam Slam" from 1988's Lovesexy. Prince created an unreleased remix in October 1990 called "Glam Slam '91", which used the chorus of "Glam Slam", but with new music and lyrics that borrowed partially from *Graffiti Bridge'''s "Love Machine". Prince toyed with the song some more, adding a new chorus, and involving the newly formed New Power Generation. The song was renamed "Gett Off", which was very similar to a B-side/remix called "Get Off" from the maxi single release of "New Power Generation", also from *Graffiti Bridge''. "Gett Off" also uses a few musical segments from "Get Off". The new track features vocal contributions from Rosie Gaines and Tony M., and flute by long-time Prince associate Eric Leeds. Prince also contributes a guitar solo.

Prince delivered the song exclusively to nightclubs on his 33rd birthday on a now valuable 12-inch single featuring the otherwise unavailable "Gett Off (Damn Near 10 Minutes Mix)" remix. It was so well-received that Prince decided to release the song commercially as a single with the rap song "Horny Pony" as its B-side, and also as a maxi single with several remixes, which varied from country to country. He also added it at the last minute to Diamonds and Pearls, replacing "Horny Pony" (on the packaging for Diamonds and Pearls, "Horny Pony" is written in red over "Gett Off", to fit in with the narrative track listing that was already finished.) Coincidentally, "Gett Off" contains a sample from 'Horny Pony'. As well as being conceived from other compositions, it served as the musical blueprint for "Blue Light" and "Get Wild".

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote that "this delicious sleaze-speed funk dish cuts deep with an intense bass line, vocal shrieks, and racy lyrics." A reviewer from Music Week said the song is "a brilliant curtain raiser for his new album. Cool and funky, it evokes memories of George Clinton and Gil Scott-Heron, while remaining totally original. Massive." Machgiel Bakker from Music & Media called it a "hectic funk workout". People Magazine wrote that the singer will "blind you with his brilliance, as he does on the conspicuously funky "Gett Off"." NME ranked it number 32 in their list of "Singles of the Year" in December 1991. David Fricke from Rolling Stone commented, "Dirty Mind goes house".

Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic described it as a "slamming dancefloor rallying cry" and a "terrific" pop single. Neil McKay from Sunday Life noted that it features "heavy dance".

Mike Diver for the BBC felt in his 2010 review, that it's "more explicit" and "borrows a line or two from James Brown but is undeniably Prince through and through". Simon Price from The Guardian named it a "highlight" from the Diamonds and Pearls album, describing it as "hilariously immature". Jeff Weiss from Pitchfork said the song "led to more unplanned pregnancies than anything Prince had recorded" since "Kiss". Another The Guardian editor, Alexis Petridis, stated, "From its opening scream to its ferocious concluding guitar solo, Gett Off is prime-quality Prince: funny, lubricious, preposterously funky, every bit the equal of his best work." Patrick Corcoran of Albumism felt that the song's "exhortation to "23 positions in a one night stand" was a lightning conduit for rampant male sexuality, unfettered by the playful androgyny of the past."

Music video

An official music video was developed and released for the song. It is directed by Randee St. Nicholas and is notable for the appearance of Diamond & Pearl, as well as Prince's Yellow Cloud Guitar.

"Mother Popcorn"

The lyrics "I like 'em fat, I like 'em proud, you've got to have a mother for me..." and the music that accompanies them in the fourth verse of "Gett Off" are paraphrased from the 1969 James Brown song "Mother Popcorn". Prince alludes to the borrowing in a vocal aside ("Reminds me of something James used to say..."). The musical quotation is preceded by a crackling noise mimicking the sound of an old vinyl record and a sample of Brown's song.

Track listings

7-inch releases

• US 7-19225

1. "Gett Off" (single remix) – 4:31
2. "Horny Pony" – 4:17

• UK W0056
• German 5439-19225-7

1. "Gett Off" (UK single remix) – 4:01
2. "Horny Pony" – 4:17

12-inch releases

• US 0-40138
• Australian MX79029-30
• UK 0-40138

1. "Gett Off" (extended remix) – 8:31
2. "Gett Off" (Houstyle) – 8:20
3. "Violet the Organ Grinder" – 4:59
4. "Gett Off" (Flutestramental) – 7:26
5. "Gangster Glam" – 6:04
6. "Clockin' the Jizz" (Instrumental) – 4:51

• UK W0056T
• German 9362-40187-0

1. "Gett Off" (Urge Mix) – 8:20
2. "Gett Off" (Thrust Mix) – 9:29

CD maxi single releases

• US 9 40138-2

1. "Gett Off" (single remix) – 4:31
2. "Gett Off" (Houstyle) – 8:20
3. "Violet the Organ Grinder" – 4:59
4. "Gett Off" (Flutestramental) – 7:26
5. "Gangster Glam" – 6:04
6. "Clockin' the Jizz" (Instrumental) – 4:51
7. "Gett Off" (Extended Remix) – 8:31

• UK W0056CD
• German 9362-40188-2

1. "Gett Off" (UK single remix) – 4:01
2. "Gett Off" (Urge Single Edit) – 4:24
3. "Gett Off" (Purple Pump Mix) – 8:31

• Japanese WPCP-4630

1. "Gett Off" (extended remix) – 8:31
2. "Gett Off" (Houstyle) – 8:20
3. "Violet the Organ Grinder" – 4:59
4. "Gangster Glam" – 6:04
5. "Cream" (N.P.G Mix) – 4:54
6. "Things Have Gotta Change" (Tony M. Rap) – 3:57
7. "2 the Wire" (Creamy Instrumental) – 3:13
8. "Get Some Solo" – 1:31
9. "Do Your Dance" (KC's Remix) – 5:58
10. "Housebangers" – 4:23
11. "Q in Doubt" (instrumental) – 4:00
12. "Ethereal Mix" – 4:43

Notes

• "Damn Near 10 Minutes" is the original, unpolished mix.
• "Album Version", "Single Remix" and "Extended Remix" a.k.a. "Purple Pump Mix" are edits of the 'final' mix. This version has Prince say 'Club Mix' near the beginning of the song, whereas he does not in the original.
• "Urge Mix" (alternatively titled "Houstyle"), "Thrust Dub" (alternatively titled "Flutestramental"), "Thrust Single Edit", "Urge Single Edit", and "Thrust Mix" are house versions remixed by Steve "Silk" Hurley.
• "Violet the Organ Grinder", "Gangster Glam" and "Clockin' the Jizz" are variations around the original version with added rap parts, chants or instrumental parts.

Personnel

Personnel are adapted from Benoît Clerc and Guitarcloud

• Prince – lead and backing vocals, rap, electric lead guitar, Roland R-8
• Rosie Gaines – co-lead and backing vocals
• Tony M. – rap
• Levi Seacer Jr. – electric rhythm guitar, backing vocals
• Tommy Barbarella – synthesizers
• Sonny T. – bass guitar
• Michael B. – drums
• Damon Dickson – percussion, backing vocals
• Kirk Johnson – percussion, backing vocals
• Eric Leeds – flute

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Release history

References

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