Do Me, Baby is the third track on Prince's fourth album Controversy, and, nine months after the album's release, Do Me, Baby was released as the album's third single. In 1993, the single edit was included as the fifth track on Prince's second compilation album The Hits 2 (also included as the second disc of The Hits / The B-Sides).
In 2002, a live version was also included as the eighth track on the second disc of One Nite Alone... Live!, Prince's first live album (along with Adore and Condition Of The ♥ (Interlude) from the same show). The song was written by André Cymone, but credited to Prince.
An early version of the song featuring André Cymone on lead vocals was recorded on 17 February 1979 at Music Farm Studios in New York, during a day of sessions led by Pepé Willie intended for Tony Silvester, leader of the group The Main Ingredient to use as demos for Little Anthony and the Imperials, who he wanted to produce (the one-day session also produced If You Feel Like Dancin', I Feel For You, Thrill You Or Kill You and With You), although Do Me, Baby was recorded with extra studio time and was not intended for use by Silvester.
Even when the song is credited solely to Prince, André Cymone has said it was his song and Pepé Willie has confirmed this statement. It seems likely André came up with the main groove or perhaps the music and Prince put lyrics to it, either lyrics he already had or something he wrote after the music was done.
While specific recording dates of the released version are not known, the album sessions took place in Spring and Summer 1981, at Prince's Kiowa Trail Home Studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota and Hollywood Sound Recorders in Los Angeles, California. The album was completed at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California, between 14 and 23 August 1981.
In 2000, Do Me, Baby was planned for inclusion on When 2 R In Love: The Ballads Of Prince (likely in re-recorded form, although it is possible this was planned but not executed). The album did not receive many votes by visitors at Prince: A Celebration, however, and was ultimately abandoned.
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Recording Information
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Recording Sessions
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Date
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Studio
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Additional info
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17 February 1979
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Music Farm Studios, New York, NY, USA
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Early recording with André Cymone on lead vocals
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Spring-Summer 1981
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Kiowa Trail Home Studio, Chanhassen, MN, USA or Hollywood Sound Recorders in Los Angeles, California (unverified)
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Basic tracking
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14 - 23 August 1981
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Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA
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Overdubs, mixing
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Recording Personnel
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Released version
- Prince - all vocals and instruments
Preliminary version
- André Cymone - lead vocals and bass guitar (assumed)
- Prince - guitar, synthesizer and keyboards (assumed)
- Pepé Willie - synthesizer, percussion (assumed)
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Versions
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Released Versions
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Title
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Length
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Released
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Version
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Additional info
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Do Me, Baby
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7:47
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Controversy
Strange Tales From The Rain promo
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Studio
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Do Me, Baby (Edit)
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3:57
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Do Me, Baby single
The Hits 2
The Hits / The B-Sides
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Edit
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Do Me, Baby
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1:56
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One Nite Alone... Live!
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Live
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14 April 2002, Verizon Wireless Theater, Houston, TX, USA
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Do Me, Baby
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7:18
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1999 Deluxe
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Live
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1 December 1982 (a.m.): Masonic Temple Auditorium, Detroit, MI, USA
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Video Versions
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Title
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Length
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Released
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Version
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Additional info
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Do Me, Baby
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4:40
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Prince And The Revolution: Live VHS/laserdisc
Purple Rain Deluxe – Live at the Carrier Dome (DVD)
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Live
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30 March 1985, Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY, USA
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Do Me, Baby
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T.B.C.
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Lovesexy Live 2 VHS
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Live
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9 September 1988, Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, West Germany
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Do Me, Baby
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6:35
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1999 Deluxe DVD
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Live
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29 December 1982: The Summit, Houston, TX, USA
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Broadcasts/streaming (only)
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Title
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Length
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Released
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Version
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Additional info
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Do Me, Baby
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T.B.C.
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Live concert radio broadcast
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Live
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22 July 1990, Estadio Vicente Calderón, Madrid, Spain
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Do Me, Baby
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T.B.C.
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Delayed concert TV broadcast
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Live
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29 July 1990, Estadio Santa María del Mar, La Coruña, Spain
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Do Me, Baby
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T.B.C.
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Delayed concert TV broadcast
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Live
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31 August 1990, Tokyo Dome (東京ドーム), Tokyo, Japan
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Do Me, Baby
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T.B.C.
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Live concert performance
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Live
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20 November 1996, Harpo Studios, Chicago, IL, USA
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Sampled, Referred to, Quoted in...
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Unreleased Versions
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Title
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Version
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Additional Info
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Do Me, Baby
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Studio
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1979 André Cymone version
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