Love Sign
{{song|
|song name = Love Sign
|album image = 
from the album 1-800 New Funk
|single image = 
promo art for Love Sign
|performer = Nona Gaye & 
|first released = 12 August 1994 - 1-800 New Funk album
|album(s) = 1-800 New Funk
Crystal Ball
|writer(s) = Prince (as )
|producer(s) = Prince (as )
|previous song = ♥ Or $
|next song = Love Song
|introduction = Love Sign is the third track on the album 1-800 New Funk (a compilation of mostly-unreleased music largely written and produced by Prince/, recorded by other Paisley Park Records artists), and is credited to Nona Gaye and Prince (as ). Six weeks earlier, Love Sign was available as a promotional single in the USA and Germany, but Warner Bros. prevented a retail release of the single. In 1998, the Shock G.’s Silky Remix, one of the remixes planned for the single was included as the fifth track on the first disc of Prince’s 20th album Crystal Ball (his fourth using the name ).
While specific recording dates are not known, basic tracking is believed to have taken place in early 1994 at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Remixes were made in Spring 1994.
The song contains repeated vocal samples of "Time is passing, passing is time" from Ninety-9’s track Stained Glass (containing input by Prince) - it is unknown if this sample was added immediately or at a later date.
|recording info =
|- align="left"
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Early 1994
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Tracking
|- align="left"
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Spring 1994
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Remixes
|recording personnel =
- Prince (as ) - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
- Nona Gaye - co-lead vocals
- Paul Peterson - bass guitar
- Ricky Peterson - keyboards
- New Power Generation - "featuring..." (unidentified musicians, although most likely all just Prince (as ))
|released versions =
| Title | Length | Released | Version | Additional info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Love Sign | 4:31 | 1-800 New Funk | Studio | Credited to "Nona Gaye & "
|
| Love Sign (Radio Edit) | 3:23 | Standing At The Altar promo | Edit | |
| Love Sign (Remix by Shock G.) | 3:52 | Crystal Ball | Remix | Contains looped sample of D.M.S.R.; remix by Shock G., drum programming and turntable by DJ-Fuze |
| Love Sign (The Storyboard Video Mix) | 5:36 | Love Sign promo | Remix | |
| Love Sign (Ted’s Funky Chariot Mix) | 2:58 | NPG Ahdio Show 1 mp3 (not available separately) | Remix edit | Excerpt of unreleased remix |
|video versions = |- |style="color:#AB3E00" |Video Versions
|- | valign="top"|
| Title | Length | Released | Version | Additional info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Love Sign | 5:37 | Promotional release only | Promo video | See Love Sign video for more details |
|broadcasts, streaming = |- |style="color:#AB3E00" |Broadcasts/streaming (only)
|- | valign="top"|
| Title | Length | Released | Version | Additional info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Love Sign | 4:15 | Live lip-synch TV broadcast | Studio, (small differences in mix compared to released version) | 9 April 1994, Soul Train, Paramount Studios, Stage 30, Hollywood, CA, USA |
| Love Sign | ?:?? | Live performance TV broadcast | Live | 12 July 1994 (mat.), The Today Show, NBC TV Studios, GE Building (Studio 1A), New York, NY, USA |
|unreleased versions = |- |style="color:#AB3E00" |Unreleased Versions
|- | valign="top"|
| Title | Version | Additional Info |
|---|---|---|
| Love Sign (Mack Attack Message Mix) | Remix | Remix intended for single release with additional rappers |
| Love Sign (Shock’s Silky Smooth Int’s) | Remix | Instrumental of Remix by Shock G. |
| Love Sign (Ted’s Funky Chariot Mix) | Remix | Remix by Teddy Riley with additional rap; intended for single release; excerpted on NPG Ahdio Show 1 |
| Love Sign (Ted’s Double Trouble Mix) | Remix | Instrumental of Love Sign (Ted’s Funky Chariot Mix) by Teddy Riley |
| Love Sign (Ted’s Get 'Em Up Mix) | Remix | Remix by Teddy Riley intended for single release |
| Love Sign (Ted’s Love Sign Radio Mix) | Remix | Remix by Teddy Riley intended for single release |
