There have long been stories of Prince attempting to shut down websites which use his image, or which use imagery connected to him. So for some time, I figured I would have to avoid doing a Prince blog. But given that sites like Discogs have photos of all his records, I thought “well, if they can get away with it, so can I”. Because I have decided I can no longer not talk about this man. Because Prince is a genius.
In May last year, I saw Prince play in Birmingham as part of his “Hit And Run Part 2” tour, a tour notable for tickets going on sale just days, or weeks, rather than months, in advance, with the tour itself being a mix of impossible to get into secret club gigs, and larger (but still sell out shows in) arenas, but all with one common feature - the Purple one reminding people just how incredible he is.
A magnificent concoction of (at least) James Brown, Stevie Wonder and Jimi Hendrix, Prince is monumentally talented. During that Birmingham show, he played - at various points - lead guitar, keyboards and bass. He opened the show with a 4-song whammy of “Let’s Go Crazy”, “Take Me With U”, “Raspberry Beret” and “U Got The Look” - impressive, you have to admit. He pulled out routinely magnificent guitar solos throughout, and after the closing “Purple Rain”, as the house lights went up and people started to file out, he came back on, and rattled through a 20 minute heavy funk encore including “I Would Die 4 U”, “What’s My Name” and “Housequake”. It looked like he was just going to carry on playing all night, and as the staff tried to clean the venue, the now half full arena witnessed a man at the top of his game. It was quite incredible to witness. It was astonishing to watch. It will remain in my memory forever.
When the Glasto organisers then announced they were going to reveal their Saturday night headliner once “contractual issues” had been sorted, it seemed like obvious code for “Prince is headlining”. After all, there had been rumours about him playing there for years, and with the man about to release a new LP, it all made sense. So imagine the shock and disbelief that greeted the announcement that it was Metallica who were playing instead. Once the final arena shows in the UK were completed, everybody was in total agreement - the Eavis’s had missed a trick by not booking Prince. Although it was later claimed Prince had been semi-booked, and then pulled out, because he had only wanted to play as a sort of “surprise” act, and the circulating rumours meant it wasn’t going to be so much of a surprise if he actually did play. Shame - he would have outshone the entire 3 day long bill.
So to celebrate the man’s highly successful return to the world stage, it is time I think to look at the releases in the UK by the master of P-Funk. There is a brief career overview, detailing most of the important Prince album releases since he emerged in the late 70s. Catalogue numbers are given of the standard pressings of these albums, in most cases, these are the same copies you are likely to still find on the net or in your local record emporium. Prince has rarely ever gone back and reissued old records, instead preferring to always look to the future. At the end is a list of Prince UK Singles, and just looking at some of those A-sides should remind you just how much of a towering presence he has had over so many of his contemporaries during the 80s and 90s. Oh and the image above, of course, is the Batman logo, meaning I have technically managed to do a blog without using a genuine Prince image. Just as cheeky and subversive as the man himself, I might say.
Overview
Prince’s debut LP, “For You” (CD, Warner Bros 7599 27348 2), went relatively unnoticed when it was issued in 1978. In the USA, it was promoted soon after it’s release by the release of Prince’s debut US 45, “Soft And Wet”, but in the UK, Warners opted to release no singles from it at all. Instead, the debut UK Prince 45 was 1979’s “I Wanna Be Your Lover”, issued to promote his second album, simply titled “Prince” (CD, Warner Bros 7599 27404 2), a record that was noticeable for the inclusion of “I Feel For You”, later popularised by Chaka Khan. “I Wanna Be Your Lover” was issued in a standard Warner Brothers bag, rather than a picture cover, and just failed to hit the top 40.
By the time Prince issued 1980’s “Dirty Mind” (CD, Warner Bros 7599 27408 2), the Purple one was starting to get a reputation as something of a pop perv, posing on the cover in some tight briefs, and recording songs like “Head”. Come 1981’s “Controversy” (CD, Warner Bros 7599 23601 2), and he was beginning to use his own “shortened” alphabet, by using single numbers or letters instead of full blown words (“Jack U Off”). Meanwhile, the near success of “I Wanna Be Your Lover” had been followed by a never ending run of flop singles, including the stand alone “Gotta Stop”, all of which are now worth a few quid due to their rarity status.
In 1982, Prince formed a new band, called Prince And The Revolution, the first of a number of outfits that would feature Prince as the front man - although many of the releases by these bands were still marketed as if they were Prince solo outings. He/they immediately hit pay dirt with “1999” (CD, Warner Bros 7599 23720 2), the beginning of a decade long run of hit singles, mega selling albums, and critical adoration. Originally issued as a double LP, some countries opted to release a bizarre “highlights” mini album, including the UK (LP, Warner Bros W 3809).
1984’s “Purple Rain” (CD, Warner Bros 7599 25110 2) saw Prince attempt a dual career as a pop star and movie star, and was the first of several studio records to double up as the soundtrack to his latest movie, although in most cases, the critical reactions to the LP’s have survived the intervening years better than the reaction to the films. 1985’s “Around The World In A Day” (CD, Warner Bros 7599 25286 2) was the first album to be co-released on his own Paisley Park imprint, with a song of the same title appearing on side 1 of the album. It was also released as a UK single, where selected copies of the 12” were mispressed, and featured one of the B-sides twice. It was followed by 1986’s “Parade” (CD, Warner Bros 7599 25395 2), the soundtrack album to the “Under The Cherry Moon” film, and the last album by The Revolution.
For many, 1987’s “Sign O The Times” (2xCD, Warner Bros 7599 25577 2) remains Prince’s standout moment - an 80 plus minute exploration of futuristic, socially conscious, R&B (the title track), left field soul-pop (the gender spinning “If I Was Your Girlfriend”, “I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man“) and hi energy uber-funk (“Hot Thing”, “Housequake”). But 1988’s “Lovesexy” (CD, Warner Bros 7599 25720 2) wasn’t too far behind, with lead single “Alphabet Street” a genius piece of minimalist dance-pop. Whilst a lot of acts struggled to come to terms with 80s technology, and often ended up issuing wildly overproduced and bland offerings, Prince was simply able to use the technology perfectly to create music that was leaving his contemporaries in the shade - I’m sorry, but “Bad” had nothing on what Prince was doing at the same time.
The turn of the late 80s/early 90s saw Prince back in soundtrack land again, staring with 1989’s “Batman” (CD, Warner Bros 7599 25936 2), an album that has been somewhat lost in time, partly due to licensing issues preventing singles from the album to ever be reused on subsequent compilation albums. Shame, because the movie sampling lead 45 “Batdance” is astounding, all slap bass, funky guitar, and as innovative as a single as you will ever hear. 1990’s “Graffiti Bridge” (CD, Warner Bros 7599 25395 2) was also plugged as a Prince solo effort, but is actually the first soundtrack album to feature singers other than the man himself, but given he is all over the record in other ways (producer, arranger, composer, and indeed seemingly playing all instruments), it’s always been viewed as the follow up to “Batman”, and is an essential buy as the majority of the Prince songs are unavailable anywhere else. (Note: A later soundtrack to the “Girl 6” movie, in 1996, despite also being heavily indebted to Prince, was instead issued as a “Various Artists” set, as a number of ‘non-Prince sung’ songs got included, and the only genuine Prince songs were old hits. Even a single released with Prince on co-lead vocals was credited instead to “The New Power Generation“).
But 1991 did seem to herald a real comeback, as if these albums weren’t really “proper” Prince albums, and Prince returned with the sublime “Diamonds And Pearls” (CD, Warner Bross 7599 25379 2), which was also issued in some countries in a “3D” hologram sleeve. It veered between beautiful laid back vintage soul (“Money Don’t Matter 2 Night”, the title track) and deliciously filthy smut (the incendiary groove driven monster that is “Gett Off”). By now, Prince was fronting another “new” band, the aforementioned New Power Generation.
The fall from grace, if you want to call it that, that has sort of overshadowed Prince’s career in the last 20 years, can be traced back to 1992’s untitled album, which featured no name but simply a logo which was designed to be a cross between the male and female gender symbols, earlier versions of which had featured on older Prince records and memorabilia. The album is generally thus known as “Lovesymbol” (CD, Warner Bros 9362 45037 2), again issued in snazzy packaging Stateside (a big, thick, gold box, with the symbol emblazoned on the front). Despite featuring some monumental pieces of faultless P-Funk (the riotous “My Name Is Prince”, the catchy ultra sleaze of “Sexy MF”), Prince came to view the sales of the album as something of a failure, and laid the blame at Warner Brothers door for not promoting the album properly.
Prince and the label were not really seeing eye to eye now, and after some years of trying, Warners finally managed to release a greatest hits album the following year - against his wishes. In fact, they managed two - “The Hits 1” (CD, Warner Bros 9362 45431 2) and “The Hits 2”, (CD, Warner Bros 9362 45435 2), which both provided a non chronological overview of the man’s entire career, and both included new songs, album mixes and single edits. Amongst the “new” songs was a cover of (his own) “Nothing Compares 2 U”, originally written for another of Prince’s pet projects, the mid 80s outfit The Family, and included on their first (and last) LP in 1985. The performance on “The Hits” was from a recent live gig, whilst a triple disc release called “The Hits / The B Sides” (3xCD, Warner Bros 9362 45440 2) coupled together both albums with a third CD of selected B-sides - several songs were omitted, whilst to avoid repetition, where a particular flipside had been subjected to an extended remix, it was the “original” short version that got the nod. Anybody trying to find an entry point into the man’s career should really start with this one, as it is near flawless. In the UK, several singles were issued to plug the records, including a repressing of previous chart flop “Controversy”. The singles were issued as 2-CD sets including hits that had failed to get onto the main LPs, with “Controversy” coming backed with a remix of “Batman” track “The Future”, which had appeared as a single in it’s own right in Germany in 1990.
And so now the problems really kicked in in earnest. Warners were worried that Prince was simply recording too much, and cited “market saturation” as their excuse to try and get him to reign his creative juices in. He changed his named to the Lovesymbol, I understand, as a way to try and get around it - Warners had signed “Prince” in 1978, not “The Symbol”. His next Warners effort, 1994’s “Come” (CD, Warner Bros 9362 45700 2), an album consisting of songs with one word titles only, famously came in a sleeve of the man standing in front of some cemetery gates, and featured the legend “1958-1993”, signifying the death of Prince, and his rebirth as “The Artist Formerly Known As Prince”, or “TAFKAP” as most people tried to pronounce it. “The Artist” got adopted as a shorter alternate version, and at one point, fans even began referring to him as “Victor”, after a song title on the “Lovesymbol” LP called “The Sacrifice Of Victor”. The first release as “TAFKAP” had surfaced earlier that year, when Prince was able to make arrangements for the release of the stand alone “The Most Beautiful Girl In The World” single on his own NPG record label. It became the biggest hit he had had for some years, although there were stories of mass purchasing of the single being conducted by people close to the label to help push the single skywards up the charts, as a sort of two fingered salute to Warners. A remix EP, “The Beautiful Experience”, surfaced several months later.
In an attempt to try and riggle out of his Warners deal, Prince authorised the release of 1988’s unreleased LP “The Black Album” (CD, Warner Bros 9362 45793 2), pulled in favour of “Lovesexy” for being too dark, but now prepped for release so he would be one LP nearer to fulfilling his contract. It was marketed as a limited edition pressing, and sold quite poorly, and is one of the more obscure pieces of the back catalogue. In 1995, “The Most Beautiful Girl” was included on the first Warners release by TAFKAP, who had now taken to scribbling the legend “SLAVE” onto his face as another form of anti-Warners propaganda. That record was the critically acclaimed “The Gold Experience” (CD, Warners 9362 45999 2), and Prince toured the UK for the last time (save for occasional London dates) for what would be a nearly 20 year long gap. Several more singles were released from the LP, but all appeared on the Warners imprint, as opposed to being issued independently by NPG. However, in an attempt to get more material out ‘whilst they weren’t looking’, Prince adopted another persona called Tora Tora, and had a number of new songs recorded by The New Power Generation, who included Tora Tora as part of their line up. They released an album that year called “Exodus” (CD, NPG 0061032NPG), which featured Prince throughout, although most lead vocals (but not all) were handled by another member of the NPG. Prince appeared as “Tora Tora” on UK TV, wearing a chain mail mask, and usually conducting “interviews” where he didn’t speak, but let the rest of the band speak for him. Presumably another Warners related “thing”. Despite not handling lead vocals on it, the single “Get Wild” was played on several TV shows at the time, with “Tora Tora” on lead, if my memory serves me correctly. The singles discography below lists the NPG singles from this period, as I consider them an important part of Prince history.
Prince’s/Tora Tora’s get out of jail card was played on Warners with 1996’s “Chaos And Disorder” (CD, Warner Bros 9362 46317 2), another near forgotten record that felt a bit like a quickfire grab bag of leftovers, done to escape from the shackles of the majors. The album disappeared from view quite quickly, although Warners did try to promote it with the “Dinner With Delores” single, even though B-sides were not forthcoming and they had to pad the release out with tracks from the album. No sooner had that one surfaced than Prince, now free to resume releasing material on his own NPG imprint, appeared with - get this - a triple album, the 3 hour long “Emancipation” (3xCD, NPG CDEMD 1102). Kate Bush made a cameo, the first time she had ventured near a recording studio for two years, and although it had a sort of home made, slightly messy feel to it (the artwork looked quite enthusiastic, but did seem as though it had been done on Microsoft Paint, obviously the art budget was less than they had at Warners), the UK release was actually conducted via another major label - EMI. The album was promoted by a cover of “Betcha By Golly Wow!”, representing the first time Prince had decided to record a cover for a studio record, issued as a AA with another track from the LP, “Right Back Here In My Arms”. In a deliberate chart assault by EMI, follow up 45 “The Holy River” turned up as another 2-CD set, with remixes of “Somebody’s Somebody” on the flipside.
Despite his desire to get away from Warners so he could release more music, Prince now actually suddenly went a bit quiet. He announced details of a mail order album called “Crystal Ball”, but copies would only be produced once enough pre orders were received to ensure it would not be made at a loss. As such, it was not until 1998 that “Crystal Ball” (4xCD, NPG CRCL 80005-8) finally surfaced. In an attempt to say sorry for the delay, the original triple album was bolstered by a fourth CD of acoustic recordings called “The Truth”. Retail copies came in both standard jewel casing, and in a “circular” ball design, whilst the mail order copies included a second bonus album, a fifth CD called “Kamasutra”, previously issued as a mail order only Cassette through NPG in 1997. “Crystal Ball” included a remix of an older promo only single called “Love Sign”, a duet with Nona Gaye that had previously appeared on the Prince-helmed Various Artists set, “1-800-NEW-FUNK”. This title related to a phone line that Prince had set up for the mail order releases, as was designed as a showcase for other acts on the NPG label. The same year saw another NPG release, “New Power Soul” (CD, RCA 74321 60598 2), this time with Prince on lead vocals throughout, and his image - minus mask - proudly displayed on the LP cover.
As 1999 approached, Prince material started trickling out from various places. Warners reissued 1999 (again) as a single, whilst Prince re-recorded it for the US only mini album “1999 - The New Master”. Another album of offcuts appeared on Warners titled “The Vault: Old Friends For Sale” (CD, Warner Bros 9362 47522 2), a curious record that seemed to have been issued without Prince’s input, but which consisted of songs that he seem to have authorised for release - at least one song got wheeled out for a subsequent tour. Prince’s next “proper” album was through another major, “Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic” (CD, Arista 07822 14624 2), including a Sheryl Crow cover amongst other things, and housed in a strange plastic digipack sleeve, giving it - like “Emancipation” - a sort of “home made” feel (in my opinion). Prince was still sort of a little bit underground - lead single “The Greatest Romance” hadn’t been a huge seller, and the album stalled way outside the top 100 in the UK - but come the start of 2000, something happened. The Symbol got dropped, Prince became Prince again, and there seemed to be a bit of a buzz about the man once more. Warners even issued another Best-of set in 2001.
The next studio album was a genuine NPG label release, “The Rainbow Children” (CD, NPG 70004-2), issued in the USA and several overseas countries, but only available in the UK on import. Prince quite happily played chunks of it the following year when I saw him at the Hammersmith Apollo, although by this point, he had released a new mail order only album, the now impossible to find “One Nite Alone”. A live album documenting this tour, the triple disc “One Nite Alone...Live” (3xCD, NPG 2193 CD 0213/15) appeared at the end of the year, technically another US only import.
“One Nite Alone” (CD, NPG no catalogue number) was the first release of new material through the NPG Music Club, although a companion remix album to the “Rave Un2...” release had surfaced in 2001, entitled “Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic“ (CD, NPG 85337 20002). Thereafter, Prince began issuing material for downloading through the website, including several new “albums” such as 2003’s “Xpectation”. A number of “digital only” records surfaced in the intervening years, with the only physical release being 2003’s experimental “NEWS” (CD, NPG 85337 70712-8), an instrumental offering with just four songs (“North”, “East”, “West” and “South”) each exactly 14 minutes in length. This release had also started as a mail order only release, but even the retail copies are now hard to find. Prince continued to issue digital only albums through the club until it was closed in 2006.
In 2004, Prince signed to Columbia and issued “Musicology” (CD, Columbia 517165 2). This helped to really re-raise his profile, and he released his first proper UK single for some five years in the form of “Cinnamon Girl”, which nearly dented the top 40. Meanwhile, the LP went top 5, suggesting that Prince, with the help of a major label again, was starting to get his career back into public view in quite a big way. In 2006, he released the equally impressive “3121” (CD, MCA 985207 2), with several singles issued to help push it on it’s way, including the glorious minimalist funk strut of “Black Sweat”, possibly the best thing he had recorded in the last 20 years.
The album went top 10, and Prince was back. In 2007, he announced a series of shows at the enormodrome that is London’s O2, with tickets priced at £31.21. Every time the shows sold out, he added several more dates, resulting in a near month long residency. Not bad for somebody who was viewed to be dead and buried a decade before. The shows were later documented in a book called “21 Nights” - the number of shows he eventually ended up playing there - which included a free live CD inside called “Indigo Nights” (CD, Simon & Schuster/NPG ISBN 1847373836). Prince, for some years now, had been notorious for his secret gigs and after show parties, and played a number of such shows at the nearby Indigo club during the O2 period. The album was compiled from some of these shows, with live recordings of old songs, covers and brand new material.
The O2 shows were part of a tour dubbed the “Earth Tour”, relating to the fact that Prince had a new LP ready for release. “Planet Earth” (CD, NPG PrinceUP1) was famously given away as a newspaper freebie later the same year, which allegedly infuriated his UK label so much they dropped him. It was home to another fantastic latter period classic, the Led Zepp-esque “Guitar”, and the album was later given a proper release back in the USA on the NPG label, with enhanced artwork and with a slightly altered front cover image.
Warners, meanwhile, were still in the background. In 2006, they released the - admittedly quite good - “Ultimate Prince” (2xCD, Warner Bros 8122 73381 2), notable for including a second CD of hard to find 12” mixes. A number of Warners era singles were also reissued in the UK in 2007, using the same artwork and track listing (usually) as the originals, but with new catalogue numbers, making the likes of the extended mix of “Hello” available again on a “new” release for the first time in twenty odd years.
Thereafter, Prince once again decided to do things his own way. With the NPG site closed in 2006, and then “Planet Earth” surfacing the year after in the form it did, maybe he was now looking at how to issue new material outside of the usual channels. 2009 thus saw another “US only” release in the form of “Lotusflow3r” (3xCD, NPG 7586-CD). Reports somewhere suggest Warners arranged for European copies to be made available, but the copy I got from Amazon was the original NPG release. It consisted of two new albums, “Lotusflow3r” and “MPL Sound”, along with a bonus album by Prince’s - at the time - latest protégé, Bria Valente (following on from the likes of Carmen Electra). One of the songs, “Chocolate Box”, shares it’s name with an old Prince bootleg dating from the early 1990s.
Another newspaper freebie, was 2010’s - well - “20 Ten” (CD, NPG Up20TEN 001). Unlike “Planet Earth”, this one hasn’t been dished around so freely, and remains unavailable in the US. You do wonder if this was done deliberately to make up for the failure to release “Lotusflow3r” in the UK, or maybe, Prince just likes the idea of releasing oddball albums, and watching people scramble around trying to track them down. It was issued, still as a freebie, in several other European territories.
All of which brings up to now. The last few years have seen the release of various download singles, but it is only now that Prince and his latest band, 3rd Eye Girl, have actually released new material. Late 2014 saw the release of both a “normal” Prince LP, “Art Official Age” (CD, Warner Bros 9362 49333 0) and one credited to Prince & 3rd Eye Girl, “Plectrum Electrum” (CD, Warner Bros 9362 49444 5). A quick look at those cat numbers will show you he now seems to have made up with Warners, and seems quite happy to acknowledge his past. Whenever he plays, he will happily remind you that he has “lots of hits” - and that is indeed true. The last few years may have seen him come in and out of public view, but perhaps now, with 5 star reviews for that recent tour, we can confirm without a doubt that Prince is back.
Discography
OK, this is quite intense, but here we go. The basic albums are above, as discussed. Now follows the UK 45s. I have listed any Prince single that, when first issued, included something rare - a 7” edit, a 12” mix, or a non album B-side. I have then listed, where appropriate, a later release that hoovered up said rarity. If this means another, less important format, thus becomes more interesting, then this is also shown. Where a single exists but is simply absent, it is because it contained absolutely nothing rare at the time of release, other formats contain something important, and is thus omitted for clarity. Picture discs and singles in special sleeves are only noted where generally considered important enough to warrant a mention.
SINGLES 1979-1983
I Wanna Be Your Lover (Edit)/Just As Long As We’re Together (7”, Warner Bros K 17537, a-side later included on “The Hits 2“)
I Wanna Be Your Lover/Just As Long As We’re Together (12”, Warner Bros K 17537 T)
Sexy Dancer (12“ Version)/Bambi (12”, Warner Bros K 17590 T)
Do It All Night (Edit)/Head (7”, Warner Bros K 17768)
Do It All Night (Edit)/Head (12”, Warner Bros K 17768 T)
Gotta Stop/Uptown (Edit) (7”, Warner Bros K 17819, b-side later included on “The Hits 1“, later copies play “I Wanna Be Your Lover“ (Edit)” instead)
Gotta Stop/I Wanna Be Your Lover/Head (12”, Warner Bros LV 47, different p/s)
Controversy (Edit)/When U Were Mine (7”, Warner Bros K 17866, a-side later included on 1993 reissue)
Controversy/When U Were Mine (12”, Warner Bros K 17866 T)
Let’s Work (Edit)/Ronnie Talk To Russia (7”, Warner Bros K 17922)
Let’s Work (Dance Remix)/Ronnie Talk To Russia (12”, Warner Bros K 17922 T, a-side later included on “Ultimate Prince“)
1999 (Edit)/How Come U Don’t Call Anymore (7”, Warner Bros W9896, a-side later included on “The Hits 1“)
1999/How Come U Don’t Call Anymore/DMSR (12”, Warner Bros W9896 T)
1999/Uptown/Controversy/Dirty Mind/Sexuality (Cassette, Warner Bros W9896 C)
Little Red Corvette (Edit)/Horny Toad (7”, Warner Bros W9436, b-side later included on “The Hits / The B-Sides“)
Little Red Corvette/Horny Toad/DMSR (12”, Warner Bros W9436 T)
Little Red Corvette (Edit)/Lady Cab Driver (Edit) (7”, Warner Bros W9688, late ‘83 reissue in new p/s)
SINGLES 1983 - 1986
When Doves Cry (Edit)/17 Days (7”, Warner Bros W9286, a-side later included on “The Hits 1“)
When Doves Cry/17 Days (12”, Warner Bros W9286 T)
When Doves Cry/17 Days/1999/DMSR (2x12”, Warner Bros W9286 T / SAM 199)
Twelve Inches On Tape: When Doves Cry/17 Days/1999/DMSR (Cassette, Warner Bros W9286 C)
Let’s Go Crazy (Edit)/Take Me With U (7”, Warner Bros W2000)
Let’s Go Crazy (Special Dance Mix)/Take Me With U/Erotic City (12”, Warner Bros W2000 T, a-side later included on “Ultimate Prince“, b-side later included on “Girls & Boys“ 12-inch)
Purple Rain (Edit)/God (7”, Warner Bros W9174)
Purple Rain (Edit)/God (Shaped Picture Disc, Warner Bros W9174 P)
Purple Rain (12” Version)/God - Love Theme From Purple Rain/God (12”, Warner Bros W9174 T)
I Would Die 4 U (Single Version)/Another Lonely Christmas (7”, Warner Bros W9121, both tracks later included on “The Hits / The B-Sides“)
I Would Die 4 U (Single Version)/Another Lonely Christmas/Free (12”, Warner Bros W9121 T)
I Would Die 4 U (US Remix)/Another Lonely Christmas (US Remix) (Remix 12”, Warner Bros W9121 TE, unique p/s)
1999 (Edit)/Little Red Corvette (Edit) (7”, Warner Bros W1999)
1999/Little Red Corvette (12”, Warner Bros W1999 T)
Paisley Park/She’s Always In My Hair/Paisley Park (Remix) (12”, Warner Bros W9052 T, shaped picture disc also exists which plays first 2 tracks only)
Raspberry Beret/Hello (7”, Warner Bros W8929, b-side later included on “The Hits / The B-Sides“)
Raspberry Beret (New Mix)/Hello (Extended Remix) (12”, Warner Bros W8929 T)
Pop Life/Girl (7”, Warner Bros W8858, b-side later included on “The Hits / The B-Sides“)
Pop Life (Extended Version)/Girl (Extended Version) (12”, Warner Bros W8858 T)
Kiss (Single Version)/Love Or Money (7”, Warner Bros W8751, a-side later included on “The Hits 2“)
Kiss (Single Version)/Love Or Money (Shaped Picture Disc, Warner Bros W8751P)
Kiss (Extended Version)/Love Or Money (12”, Warner Bros W8751 T)
Mountains/Alexa De Paris (7”, Warner Bros W8711)
Mountains (Extended Version)/Alexa De Paris (Extended Version) (White Vinyl 10”, Warner Bros W8711 TE)
Girls & Boys (Edit)/Under The Cherry Moon (7”, Warner Bros W8586, a-side later included on “Peach“ CD2)
Girls & Boys (Edit)/Under The Cherry Moon/She’s Always In My Hair/17 Days (2x7”, Warner Bros W8586 F, b-sides later included on “The Hits / The B-Sides“)
Girls & Boys (Edit)/Under The Cherry Moon (Shaped Picture Disc, Warner Bros W8586 P)
Girls & Boys/Erotic City (12”, Warner Bros W8586 T)
Girls & Boys/Erotic City (12” + poster, Warner Bros W8586 TW)
Anotherloverholenyohead (Edit)/I Wanna Be Your Lover (Edit) (7”, Warner Bros W8521)
Anotherloverholenyohead (Edit)/I Wanna Be Your Lover (Edit) (Posterbag 7”, Warner Bros W8521 W)
Anotherloverholenyohead (Edit)/I Wanna Be Your Lover (Edit)/Mountains/Alexa De Paris (2x7”, Warner Bros W8521 F)
Anotherloverholenyohead (Extended Version)/I Wanna Be Your Lover (12”, Warner Bros W8521 T)
SINGLES 1987 - 1988
Sign O The Times (Edit)/La La La He He Hee (7”, Warner Bros W8399, both tracks later included on “The Hits / The B-Sides“)
Sign O The Times/La La La He He Hee (Highly Explosive) (12”, Warner Bros W8399 T)
Sign O The Times/La La La He He Hee (Highly Explosive) (12” Picture Disc, Warner Bros W8399 TP)
If I Was Your Girlfriend (Edit)/Shockadelica (7”, Warner Bros W8334, both tracks later included on “The Hits / The B-Sides“)
If I Was Your Girlfriend (Edit)/Shockadelica (Posterbag 7”, Warner Bros W8334 W)
If I Was Your Girlfriend (Edit)/Shockadelica (Pink Vinyl 7”, Warner Bros W8334 E)
If I Was Your Girlfriend/Shockadelica (Extended Version) (12”, Warner Bros W8334 T)
If I Was Your Girlfriend/Shockadelica (Extended Version) (12” Picture Disc, Warner Bros W8334 TP)
U Got The Look/Housequake (Edit) (7”, Warner Bros W8289)
U Got The Look/Housequake (Edit) (Cassette, Warner Bros W8289 C)
U Got The Look (Long Look)/Housequake (7 Minutes Moquake)/U Got The Look (12”, Warner Bros W8289 T)
U Got The Look (Long Look)/Housequake (7 Minutes Moquake)/U Got The Look (12” Picture Disc, Warner Bros W8289 TP)
I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (Fade)/Hot Thing (Edit) (7”, Warner Bros W8288, a-side later included on “The Hits 1“)
I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man/Hot Thing (Edit)/(Extended Remix) (12”, Warner Bros W8288 T)
I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man/Hot Thing (Edit)/(Extended Remix) (12” Picture Disc, Warner Bros W8288 TP)
Alphabet St (Edit)/(Part 2) (7”, Warner Bros W7900)
Alphabet St (Album Version)/(This Is Not Music This Is A Trip) (Cassette, Warner Bros W7900 C)
Alphabet St (Album Version)/(This Is Not Music This Is A Trip) (12”, Warner Bros W7900 T)
Alphabet St (Album Version)/(This Is Not Music This Is A Trip) (CD, Warner Bros W7900 CD)
Glam Slam (Edit)/Escape (Edit) (7”, Warner Bros W7806)
Glam Slam (Remix)/Escape (Free Yo Mind From This Rat Race) (12”, Warner Bros W7806 T)
Glam Slam (Edit)/Escape (Edit)/Glam Slam (Remix) (CD, Warner Bros W7806 CD)
I Wish U Heaven/Scarlet Pussy (Edit) (7”, Warner Bros W7745, b-side later included on “The Hits / The B-Sides")
I Wish U Heaven/Scarlet Pussy (Edit) (Posterbag 7”, Warner Bros W7745 W)
I Wish U Heaven (Parts 1, 2 & 3)/Scarlet Pussy (12”, Warner Bros W7745 T)
I Wish U Heaven (Parts 1, 2 & 3)/Scarlet Pussy (12” + poster, Warner Bros W7745 TW)
I Wish U Heaven (Parts 1, 2 & 3)/Scarlet Pussy (CD, Warner Bros W7745 CD)
Note: “Alphabet St” and “Glam Slam” were issued on vinyl in clear sleeves, meaning that the artwork between each format effectively differs.
SINGLES 1989 - 1990
Batdance (Edit)/200 Balloons (7”, Warner Bros W2924)
Batdance (Edit)/200 Balloons (Cassette, Warner Bros W2924 C)
Batdance (The Batmix)/(Vicky Vale Mix)/200 Balloons (12”, Warner Bros W2924 TX, Picture Disc also exists which replaces first two tracks with LP version only of “Batdance“)
Batdance (The Batmix)/(Vicky Vale Mix)/200 Balloons (CD, Warner Bros W2924 CDTX)
Partyman (The Video Mix)/Feel U Up (Long Stroke) (12”, Warner Bros W2814 T)
Partyman (The Video Mix)/Feel U Up (Long Stroke) (12” Picture Disc, Warner Bros W2814 TP)
Partyman (The Purple Party Mix)/(Partyman Music Mix)/(The Video Mix Edit)/Feel U Up (Short Stroke) (Remix 12”, Warner Bros W2814 TX)
Partyman (The Video Mix)/Feel U Up (Long Stroke) (CD, Warner Bros W2814 CD)
Partyman (The Video Mix)/Feel U Up (Long Stroke) (Collectors Edition CD, Warner Bros W2814 CDX)
Partyman (The Purple Party Mix)/(Partyman Music Mix)/(The Video Mix Edit)/Feel U Up (Short Stroke) (Remix CD, Warner Bros W2814 CDT)
The Arms Of Orion (Edit)/I Love U In Me (7”, Warner Bros W2757)
The Arms Of Orion (Edit)/I Love U In Me (Cassette, Warner Bros W2757 C)
The Arms Of Orion/I Love U In Me/The Arms Of Orion (Edit) (12”, Warner Bros W2757 T)
The Arms Of Orion/I Love U In Me/The Arms Of Orion (Edit) (CD, Warner Bros W2757 CD)
The Arms Of Orion/I Love U In Me/The Arms Of Orion (Edit) (Collectors Edition CD, Warner Bros W2757 CDX)
Thieves In The Temple (LP Mix)/(Part 2) (7”, Warner Bros W9751)
Thieves In The Temple (LP Mix)/(Part 2) (Cassette, Warner Bros W9751 C)
Thieves In The Temple (Remix)/(House Mix)/(House Dub) (12”, Warner Bros W9751 T)
Thieves In The Temple (Remix)/(House Mix)/(House Dub) (12” Picture Disc, Warner Bros W9751 TP)
Thieves In The Temple (Remix)/(House Mix)/(House Dub) (CD, Warner Bros W9751 CD)
New Power Generation (LP Mix)/(Part 2) (7”, Warner Bros W9525)
New Power Generation (LP Mix)/(Part 2) (Cassette, Warner Bros W9525 C)
New Power Generation (LP Mix)/(Part 2)/Melody Cool (By Mavis Staples) (12“, Warner Bros W9525 T)
New Power Generation (LP Mix)/(Part 2)/Melody Cool (By Mavis Staples) (12“ Picture Disc, Warner Bros W9525 TP)
New Power Generation (LP Mix)/(Part 2)/Melody Cool (By Mavis Staples) (CD, Warner Bros W9525 CD)
SINGLES 1991 - 1993
Gett Off (Single Remix)/Horny Pony (7”, Warner Bros W0056)
Gett Off (Single Remix)/Horny Pony (Cassette, Warner Bros W0056 C)
Gett Off (Urge Mix)/(Thrust Mix) (12”, Warner Bros W0056 T)
Gett Off (Single Remix)/(Urge Single Edit)/(Purple Pump Mix) (CD, Warner Bros W0056 CD)
Cream/Horny Pony (7”, Warner Bros W0061)
Cream/Horny Pony (Cassette, Warner Bros W0061 C)
Cream/Horny Pony/Gangster Glam (12”, Warner Bros W0061 T, final track later included on 2007 reissue of “Gett Off“)
Cream/Horny Pony/Gangster Glam (CD, Warner Bros W0061 CD)
Diamonds And Pearls/Q In Doubt (7”, Warner Bros W0075)
Diamonds And Pearls/Q In Doubt (Cassette, Warner Bros W0075 C)
Diamonds And Pearls/Housebangers/Cream (NPG Mix)/Things Have Gotta Change (Tony M Rap) (12”, Warner Bros W0075 T)
Diamonds And Pearls/2 The Wire/Do Your Dance (KC’s Remix) (CD, Warner Bros W0075 CD)
Diamonds And Pearls/2 The Wire/Do Your Dance (KC’s Remix) (Hologram CD, Warner Bros W0075 CDX)
Money Don’t Matter 2 Night (Edit)/Call The Law (7”, Warner Bros W0091, a-side later included on “Peach“ CD1)
Money Don’t Matter 2 Night (Edit)/Call The Law (Cassette, Warner Bros W0091 C)
Money Don’t Matter 2 Night/Push/Call The Law (12“, Warner Bros W0091 T)
Money Don’t Matter 2 Night/Push/Call The Law (12“ Picture Disc, Warner Bros W0091 TP)
Money Don’t Matter 2 Night/Push/Call The Law (CD, Warner Bros W0091 CD)
Money Don’t Matter 2 Night/Push/Call The Law (Hologram CD, Warner Bros W0091 CDX)
Thunder/Violet The Organ Grinder/Gett Off (Thrust Dub) (12” Picture Disc, Warner Bros W0113 TP)
Sexy MF/Strollin’ (7”, Warner Bros W0123)
Sexy MF/Strollin’ (Shaped Picture Disc, Warner Bros W0123 P)
Sexy MF/Strollin’ (Cassette, Warner Bros W0123 C)
Sexy MF/Strollin’/Daddy Pop (12”, Warner Bros W0123 T)
Sexy MF/Strollin’/Daddy Pop (CD, Warner Bros W0123 CD)
My Name Is Prince (Edit)/2 Whom It May Concern (7”, Warner Bros W0132, a-side later included on “Peach“ CD2)
My Name Is Prince (Edit)/2 Whom It May Concern (Cassette, Warner Bros W0132 C)
My Name Is Prince/Sexy Mutha/2 Whom It May Concern (12”, Warner Bros W0132 T)
My Name Is Prince/Sexy Mutha/2 Whom It May Concern (12” Picture Disc, Warner Bros W0132 TP)
My Name Is Prince (Edit)/Sexy Mutha/2 Whom It May Concern/My Name Is Prince (CD, Warner Bros W0132 CD)
My Name Is Prince Remixes EP: Original Mix Edit/12” Club Mix/House Mix/Hardcore 12” Mix (12”, Warner Bros W0142 T)
My Name Is Prince Remixes EP: Original Mix Edit/12” Club Mix/Sexy MF (12” Remix) (CD, Warner Bros W0142 CD)
7 (Album Edit)/(Acoustic Version)/(After 6 Edit)/(After 6 Long Version) (CD, Warner Bros W0147 CD, 12“ Picture Disc exists which plays only selected versions)
The Morning Papers/Live 4 Love (7”, Warner Bros W0162)
The Morning Papers/Live 4 Love/Love 2 The 9’s (CD, Warner Bros W0162 CD)
SINGLES 1993 - 2006
Peach/My Name Is Prince (Edit) (7”, Warner Bros W0210)
Peach/My Name Is Prince (Edit) (Cassette, Warner Bros W0210 C)
Peach/Mountains/Partyman (Edit)/Money Don’t Matter 2 Night (Edit) (CD1, Warner Bros W0210 CD1)
Peach/I Wish U Heaven/Girls & Boys (Edit)/My Name Is Prince (Edit) (CD2, Warner Bros W0210 CD2)
Controversy (Edit)/The Future (Remix) (7” Picture Disc, Warner Bros W0215 P)
Controversy (Edit)/The Future (Remix) (Cassette, Warner Bros W0215 C)
Controversy (Edit)/The Future (Remix)/Glam Slam/DMSR (CD1, Warner Bros W0215 CD1)
Controversy (Edit)/Anotherloverholenyohead/Paisley Park/New Power Generation (Part 2) (CD2, Warner Bros W0215 CD2)
The Most Beautiful Girl In The World (Edit)/Beautiful (Edit)/(Extended Club Version)/(Beats) (12”, NPG 0060150NPG)
The Beautiful Experience EP: Beautiful/Staxowax/Mustang Mix/Flutestramental/Sexy Staxophone And Guitar/Mustang Instrumental/The Most Beautiful Girl In The World (12”, NPG 0060210NPG)
The Beautiful Experience EP: Beautiful/Staxowax/Mustang Mix/Flutestramental/Sexy Staxophone And Guitar/Mustang Instrumental/The Most Beautiful Girl In The World (CD, NPG 0060212NPG)
Letitgo (Edit)/Solo (7” Picture Disc, Warner Bros W0260 P)
Letitgo (Edit)/Solo (Cassette, Warner Bros W0260 C)
Letitgo (Caviar Radio Edit)/(Cavi’ Street Edit)/(Instrumental)/(On The Cool Out Tip Radio Edit)/(Sherm Stick Edit)/(Album Version) (12“, Warner Bros W0260 T)
Letitgo (Edit)/Solo/Alexa De Paris (Extended Version)/Pope (CD, Warner Bros W0260 CD)
Purple Medley (Edit)/(Full Length)/(Kirk J’s B Sides Remix) (CD, Warner Bros W0289 CD)
Get Wild (Single Version)/Beautiful Girl/Hallucination Rain (12“, NPG 0061040NPG)
Get Wild (Single Version)/Beautiful Girl/Hallucination Rain (CD1, NPG 0061045NPG)
Get Wild (Money Maker)/(Kirky J’s Get Wild)/(Club Mix)/(In The House)/(Single Version)/(Money Maker Funky Jazz Mix) (CD2, NPG 0061195NPG)
The Good Life (Platinum People Edit)/(Platinum People Mix)/(Dancing Divaz Mix)/(Bullets Go Bang Remix)/(Big City Remix)/(Album Version) (CD, NPG 0061515NPG)
I Hate U (7” Edit w/o Guitar)/(Album Edit)/(Quiet Night Mix by Eric Leeds)/(Extended Remix)/(Album Version) (CD, Warner Bros W0315 CD)
Count The Days (Edit)/New Power Soul (Edit) (Cassette, NPG 0061339NPG)
Count The Days (Edit)/(Album Version)/New Power Soul (Edit) (CD, NPG 0061335NPG)
Gold (Edit)/Rock N Roll Is Alive! (And It Lives In Minneapolis) (Cassette, Warner Bros W0325 C)
Gold (Edit)/Rock N Roll Is Alive! (And It Lives In Minneapolis)/I Hate U (Extended Remix) (CD, Warner Bros W0325 CD)
Gold (Edit)/Rock N Roll Is Alive! (And It Lives In Minneapolis)/I Hate U (Extended Remix) (Limited Edition CD in gold case, Warner Bros W0325 CDX)
Dinner With Delores/Had U/Right The Wrong (Single Edit) (CD, Warner Bros W0360 CD)
Betcha By Golly Wow!/Right Back Here In My Arms (Cassette, EMI TCEM 463)
Betcha By Golly Wow!/Right Back Here In My Arms (CD, EMI CDEM 463)
Betcha By Golly Wow!/Right Back Here In My Arms (CD + poster, EMI CDEMS 463)
The Holy River (Radio Edit)/Somebody’s Somebody (Edit)/(Livestudio Mix)/(Ultrafantasy Edit) (CD1, EMI CDEMS 467, with 4 prints)
The Holy River (Radio Edit)/The Most Beautiful Girl In The World (Mustang Mix)/Somebody’s Somebody (Edit)/On Sale Now! (CD2, EMI CDEM 467, green p/s)
Come On (Radio Edit)/(Remix)/(Late Nite Mix) (CD, RCA 74321 634722)
1999 (Edit)/How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore (Cassette, Warner Bros W467 C)
1999/How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore/DMSR (12“, Warner Bros W467 T)
1999 (Edit)/How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore/DMSR (CD, Warner Bros W467 CD)
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Radio Edit)/(Album Version)/(Radio Edit feat. Eve)/(Adam & Eve Remix) (CD, Arista 74321 70664 2)
Cinnamon Girl/Dear Mr Man (Live)/United States Of Division/Dear Mr Man (Video) (CD, Columbia 675142 2)
Black Sweat/Beautiful Loved And Blessed (Alternate) (12” Picture Disc, MCA MCST 40457)
Black Sweat/Beautiful Loved And Blessed (Alternate)/Black Sweat (Video) (CD, MCA MCSTD 40457)
Fury/Te Amo Corazon - Fury (Live, 2006 Brit Awards) (12“ Picture Disc, MCA MCST 40462)
Fury/Te Amo Corazon - Fury (Live, 2006 Brit Awards)/(Video) (CD, MCA MCSTD 40462)
Note: other internet resources will list other singles and other formats other than those listed above as UK releases, but I believe such items were European pressings never intended for release in the UK, although they may have been available as imports.
SINGLES 2007
These are the Warners “cash in” releases that surfaced en masse in 2007, coinciding with the O2 gigs. 12 such singles were repressed, using the original artwork but with new catalogue numbers either on a barcode sticker that was used, where possible, to cover over where the original catalogue number was, or simply scratched into the running grooves. All were usually standard repressings of the original UK release, with the exception of “Gett Off”, which was a repressing of the original US 6 track maxi single, and “Let‘s Go Crazy“, which was based on the US 2 track original 12. A number of these mixes had never been available on a UK Prince single before.
I Wanna Be Your Lover/Just As Long As We’re Together (12”, Warner Bros 8122 799687 1)
When Doves Cry/17 Days (12”, Warner Bros 8122 799686 4)
Sign O The Times/La La La He He Hee (Highly Explosive) (12”, Warner Bros 8122 799685 7)
Kiss (Extended Version)/Love Or Money (12”, Warner Bros 8122 799683 3)
Raspberry Beret (New Mix)/Hello (Extended Remix) (12”, Warner Bros 8122 799681 9)
Let’s Go Crazy (Special Dance Mix)/Erotic City (12”, Warner Bros 8122 799680 2)
1999/Little Red Corvette (12”, Warner Bros 8122 799679 6)
Purple Rain/God (Instrumental)/(Vocal) (12", Warner Bros 8122 799678 9)
I Would Die 4 U (Single Version)/Another Lonely Christmas/Free (12”, Warner Bros 8122 799677 2)
Gett Off (Extended Remix)/(Houstyle)/Violet The Organ Grinder/Gett Off (Flutestramental)/Gangster Glam/Clockin’ The Jizz (12”, Warner Bros 8122 799676 5)
Sexy MF/Strollin’/Daddy Pop (12”, Warner Bros 8122 799675 0)
Diamonds And Pearls/Housebangers/Cream (NPG Mix)/Things Have Gotta Change (Tony M Rap) (12”, Warner Bros 8122 799674 1)
And remember. His name is Prince. And yes, he is funky.