- Music
- 20 Apr 18
Check out the stunning performance ahead of its May 25 vinyl release!
It's a very good day for Prince fans as Warner Bros. confirm the May 25 release of the original version of 'Nothing Compares 2 U', which was recorded in 1984, six years before Sinéad O'Connor's classic re-imagining of the song, which turned her into a global superstar.
"The track was recorded at the Flying Cloud Drive 'Warehouse' in Eden Prairie by Prince’s long-time engineer Susan Rogers, and originally composed, arranged and performed in its entirety by Prince, aside from the backing vocals by Susannah Melvoin and Paul 'St. Paul' Peterson," we're told. "Also featured on the original track is saxophone work by Eric Leeds. The new version of the song will be available to stream, to purchase via digital retailers and as two 7” vinyl singles in picture disc and standard black vinyl formats."
Explaining how he stumbled across this lost gem, the Prince Estate's official Vault Archivist Michael Howe says: “I spotted the 2" multitrack reel in the Vault some weeks back while doing a 1984-era inventory. After retrieving my jaw from the floor, we took the reel upstairs, analysed it, put it up on the Studer 24 track machine, and digitized it to 24/192. Even our 'faders up' rough mix was compelling enough to indicate that this was something very special indeed.
“No Prince-penned song performed by another artist has enjoyed more chart success - number one in over a dozen countries - and overall cultural impact than Sinead O'Connor's 1990 recording, so hearing the song in its original context performed in its entirety by the author makes it particularly noteworthy.”
The song is accompanied by a video featuring never before seen rehearsal footage of Prince & The Revolution practicing their choreography in that same Eden Prairie warehouse during the same summer of 1984. Captured for Prince as a part of his rehearsal process, the footage is presented for the very first time in a video directed by Andrea Gelardin and Ruth Hogben. The video offers a glimpse into Prince’s total commitment to his art and its emotional impact, even when no audience is present.
The single is available for exclusive pre-order at PrinceHitNRun.com. Also being launched are the Prince2Me.com fan community site, and a new discography section of princeestate.com.