"The Gold Experience" is the seventeenth studio album by Prince, released on September 26, 1995, under his stage name represented by an unpronounceable symbol, known as the "Love Symbol." The album, produced entirely by Prince, debuted at number 6 on the Billboard 200 and number 2 on the Top R&B Albums chart. It features notable singles such as "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World," "I Hate U," and "Gold," which reached numbers 3, 12, and 88 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively.
On June 18, 2022, The Gold Experience was reissued for Record Store Day, with the vinyl version replicating the original translucent gold promo album from 1995. This reissue marked the first complete release of the album following a legal dispute over "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World."
The Gold Experience sold 500,000 copies in the United States and peaked at number six on the Billboard 200, but it did not meet the commercial expectations set by the record label. Biographer Jason Draper suggests that its underperformance may be attributed to Prince losing touch with younger listeners, as well as the overshadowing effects of his contractual dispute with Warner Bros. Records, which impacted the album's promotion despite Prince's efforts leading up to its release.
