Difference between revisions of "Nothing Compares 2 U"

From Prince Vault
Jump to: navigation, search
m
 
(30 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 4: Line 4:
 
|single image              = [[File:thehits1.jpg|100px|link=Album: The Hits 1]]<br><small> from the album [[Album: The Hits 1|The Hits 1]]</small><br> [[File:Nothing_Compares_2_U_Tidal.jpg|100px|link=Single: Nothing Compares 2 U 2018]] <br><small> single art for [[Single: Nothing Compares 2 U 2018|Nothing Compares 2 U]] (2018 release)
 
|single image              = [[File:thehits1.jpg|100px|link=Album: The Hits 1]]<br><small> from the album [[Album: The Hits 1|The Hits 1]]</small><br> [[File:Nothing_Compares_2_U_Tidal.jpg|100px|link=Single: Nothing Compares 2 U 2018]] <br><small> single art for [[Single: Nothing Compares 2 U 2018|Nothing Compares 2 U]] (2018 release)
 
|performer                = [[The Family]]; [[Prince and the New Power Generation]]; [[Prince]]
 
|performer                = [[The Family]]; [[Prince and the New Power Generation]]; [[Prince]]
|first released            = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/August 19|19 August 1985]] - [[Album: The Family|The Family]] ([[The Family]] version)<br>
+
|first released            = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/August 19|19 August 1985]] - [[Album: The Family|The Family]] album ([[The Family]] version)<br>
[[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/September 14|14 September 1993]] - [[Album: The Hits 1|The Hits 1]] ([[Prince and the New Power Generation]] version)<br>
+
[[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/September 14|14 September 1993]] - [[Album: The Hits 1|The Hits 1]] album ([[Prince and the New Power Generation]] version)<br>
 +
[[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/April 19|19 April 2018]] - [[Single: Nothing Compares 2 U 2018|Nothing Compares 2 U]] single ([[Prince]] version)
 
|album(s)                  = [[Album: The Family|The Family]]<br>
 
|album(s)                  = [[Album: The Family|The Family]]<br>
 
[[Album: The Hits 1|The Hits 1]]<br>
 
[[Album: The Hits 1|The Hits 1]]<br>
 
[[Album: The Hits / The B-Sides|The Hits / The B-Sides]]<br>
 
[[Album: The Hits / The B-Sides|The Hits / The B-Sides]]<br>
 
[[Album: One Nite Alone... Live!|One Nite Alone... Live!]]<br>
 
[[Album: One Nite Alone... Live!|One Nite Alone... Live!]]<br>
 +
[[Album: Ultimate|Ultimate]]<br>
 
[[Album: 4Ever|4Ever]]<br>
 
[[Album: 4Ever|4Ever]]<br>
 +
[[Album: Originals|Originals]] <br>
 +
[[Album: Diamonds And Pearls SuperDeluxe| Diamonds And Pearls ''Super Deluxe Edition'']]
 
|writer(s)                = [[Prince]]
 
|writer(s)                = [[Prince]]
|producer(s)              = [[Prince]] (credited to [[David Z.|David Z. Rivkin]] and [[The Family]]); [[Prince]]
+
|producer(s)              = [[Prince]] (credited to [[David Z.|David Z. Rivkin]] and [[The Family]] on their album); [[Prince]] on his versions
 
|previous song            = [[Northside]]
 
|previous song            = [[Northside]]
 
|next song                = [[Now]]
 
|next song                = [[Now]]
|introduction              = '''Nothing Compares 2 U''' is the sixth track on [[The Family]]'s first and only album [[Album: The Family|The Family]]. [[Prince]] wrote seven of the eight songs on the album, but [[Nothing Compares 2 U]] is the only track for which [[Prince]] took official credit.  
+
|introduction              = '''Nothing Compares 2 U''' is the sixth track on [[The Family]]’s first and only album [[Album: The Family|The Family]]. [[Prince]] wrote seven of the eight songs on the album, but [[Nothing Compares 2 U]] is the only track for which [[Prince]] took official credit.  
  
After becoming a worldwide number one single when covered by Irish singer [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinead_O%27Connor Sinead O'Connor], [[Prince]] began playing the song live, and in 1993, he released a live version (sharing lead vocals with [[Rosie Gaines]]) as the eleventh track (one of two new tracks) on [[Album: The Hits 1|The Hits 1]].  
+
After becoming a worldwide number one single when covered by Irish singer [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinead_O’Connor Sinead O’Connor], [[Prince]] began playing the song live, and in 1993, he released a live version (sharing lead vocals with [[Rosie Gaines]]) as the eleventh track (one of two new tracks) on [[Album: The Hits 1|The Hits 1]].  
  
He played it live consistently from 1990 onwards, and in 2002, released another live version as the twelfth track on the second disc of his first live album, [[Album: One Nite Alone... Live!|One Nite Alone... Live!]] (along with [[Xenophobia]], [[Extraordinary]], [[Avalanche]], [[Family Name]], [[Raspberry Beret]], [[The Everlasting Now]], [[File:EyeBlue.png|link=I Wanna Be Your Lover]][[I Wanna Be Your Lover| Wanna B Ur Lover]], [[Diamonds And Pearls|Diamonds & Pearls]], [[The Beautiful Ones]] and [[How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore]] from the same show).  
+
He played it live consistently from 1990 onwards, and in 2002, released another live version as the twelfth track on the second disc of his first live album, [[Album: One Nite Alone... Live!|One Nite Alone... Live!]] (along with [[Xenophobia]], [[Extraordinary]], [[Avalanche]], [[Family Name]], [[Raspberry Beret]], [[The Everlasting Now]], [[File:EyeBlue.png|link=I Wanna Be Your Lover]][[I Wanna Be Your Lover| Wanna B Ur Lover]], [[Diamonds And Pearls|Diamonds & Pearls]], [[The Beautiful Ones]] and [[How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore]] from the same show).  
  
Basic tracking for [[Prince]]'s original version took place on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July 15|15 July 1984]] at the [[Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse]] in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. with [[Susannah Melvoin]] on backing vox. [[Paul Peterson|St. Paul Peterson]] and [[Susannah Melvoin]] overdubbed vocals onto the track in late 1984 - early 1985, and [[Clare Fischer]] added orchestral overdubs during the same period.
+
Basic tracking for [[Prince]]’s original version took place on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July 15|15 July 1984]] at the [[Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse]] in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. with [[Susannah Melvoin]] on backing vox (a slighlty altered mix of the original version was released posthumously in 2018). [[Paul Peterson|St. Paul Peterson]] and [[Susannah Melvoin]] overdubbed vocals onto the track in late 1984 - early 1985, and [[Clare Fischer]] added orchestral overdubs during the same period.
  
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_Davis Miles Davis] had requested an instrumental of '''Nothing Compares 2 U''' to record his trumpet on. But Prince wasn't keen on that and thought it was ''corny just to do a trumpet on top of a song that already existed''. So around 1991 [[Prince]] re-cut it and gave it a different flavor.
+
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_Davis Miles Davis] had requested an instrumental of '''Nothing Compares 2 U''' to record his trumpet on. But Prince wasn’t keen on that and thought it was ''corny just to do a trumpet on top of a song that already existed''. So around 1991 [[Prince]] re-cut it and gave it a different flavor.
  
[[Prince]] was partly inspired in writing the the song by Sandy Scipioni, his personal assistant in the 1980s, who had to leave suddenly after her father's death ([[Prince]] and Scipioni were not in a romantic relationship, however).
+
[[Prince]] was partly inspired in writing the the song by Sandy Scipioni, his personal assistant in the 1980s, who had to leave suddenly after her father’s death ([[Prince]] and Scipioni were not in a romantic relationship, however).
  
[[Prince]]'s live version from [[Album: The Hits 1|The Hits 1]] went on to be simulcast on US radio stations at 5:07 p.m. CT (6:07 ET/3:07 PT) on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/May 4|4 May 2016]], marking exactly "7 hours and 13 days" since [[Prince]] was pronounced dead.
+
[[Prince]]’s live version from [[Album: The Hits 1|The Hits 1]] went on to be simulcast on US radio stations at 5:07 p.m. CT (6:07 ET/3:07 PT) on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/May 4|4 May 2016]], marking exactly "7 hours and 13 days" since [[Prince]] was pronounced dead.
 +
 
 +
In 2018, a new mix of [[Prince]]’s original version was made and released on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/April 19|19 April 2018]] as download file on [[Tidal]] and Apple Music as well as streaming on Spotify and Deezer, and on [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpGA0azFdCs&feature=youtu.be youtube] with an accompanying video made up of [[Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse]] rehearsal footage. A (limited to 1984 copies) purple vinyl single was available on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/April 21|21 April 2018]] at Electric Fetus in Minneapolis, while a picture disc was available through [https://www.princehitnrun.com/store/ The Prince official store]. A normal black 7 inch single of the song was subsequently available from 25 May. This version was subsequently also included as the fifteenth and last track on the posthumous album [[Album:_Originals|Originals]] in 2019.
 +
 
 +
This 2018 version was mixed  by Tony Maserati to mimic the original [[Prince]] version from 1984, but has the [[Clare Fischer]] orchestral overdubs buried deep in the mix, but audible. It also has [[Susannah Melvoin]] backing vocals, which were not in the 1984 original. That version also has more layers of saxophone in the bridge than the 2018 remix.
  
On [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/April 19|19 April 2018]] [[Prince]]'s original version was released as download file on [[Tidal]] and Apple Music as well as streaming on  Spotify and Deezer, and on [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpGA0azFdCs&feature=youtu.be youtube] with an accompanying video made up of [[Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse]] rehearsal footage. A (limited to 1984 copies) purple vinyl single was available on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/April 21|21 April 2018]] at Electric Fetus in Minneapolis, while  a picture disc was available through [https://www.princehitnrun.com/store/ The Prince official store]. A normal black 7 inch single of the song would be available on 25 May.
 
 
|recording info            =
 
|recording info            =
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July 15|15 July 1984]]
 
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July 15|15 July 1984]]
 
|studio                    = [[Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse]],<br>Eden Prairie, MN, USA
 
|studio                    = [[Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse]],<br>Eden Prairie, MN, USA
|additional info          = Basic tracking
+
|additional info          = Tracking
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
{{RecordingLine|
Line 44: Line 51:
 
|date                      = Late Summer 1984 (estimate)
 
|date                      = Late Summer 1984 (estimate)
 
|studio                    = [[Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse]],<br>Eden Prairie, MN, USA
 
|studio                    = [[Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse]],<br>Eden Prairie, MN, USA
|additional info          = Vocal overdubs by [[Paul Peterson|St. Paul Peterson]]
+
|additional info          = Vocal overdubs by [[Susannah Melvoin]] and [[Paul Peterson|St. Paul Peterson]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
|date                      = October 1984 (estimate)
 
|date                      = October 1984 (estimate)
|studio                    = [https://www.yellowpages.com/los-angeles-ca/mip/monterey-sound-studios-512137723 Monterey Sound Studios],<br> Glendale, CA, USA
+
|studio                    = Monterey Sound Studios,<br> Glendale, CA, USA
 
|additional info          = [[Clare Fischer]] Orchestral overdubs
 
|additional info          = [[Clare Fischer]] Orchestral overdubs
 
}}
 
}}
Line 55: Line 62:
 
|studio                    = [[Paisley Park Studios]],<br>Chanhassen, MN, USA
 
|studio                    = [[Paisley Park Studios]],<br>Chanhassen, MN, USA
 
|additional info          = Re-recording
 
|additional info          = Re-recording
 +
}}
 +
{{RecordingLine|
 +
|date                      = 2018
 +
|studio                    = Mirrorball studios, <br>North Hollywood, CA, USA
 +
|additional info          = Tony Maserati mix attempting to recreate a facsimile of the original [[Prince]] version
 
}}
 
}}
 
|recording personnel      =  
 
|recording personnel      =  
Line 66: Line 78:
 
*[[Jerome Benton]] - credited, but did not contribute
 
*[[Jerome Benton]] - credited, but did not contribute
 
*[[Miko Weaver]] - credited, but did not contribute</small>
 
*[[Miko Weaver]] - credited, but did not contribute</small>
<br>'''Prince and the New Power Generation version'''
+
<br>
 +
'''Prince and the New Power Generation version'''
 
*[[Prince]] - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
 
*[[Prince]] - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
 
*[[Rosie Gaines]] - co-lead vocals, keyboards
 
*[[Rosie Gaines]] - co-lead vocals, keyboards
Line 75: Line 88:
 
*[[Kathy Jensen]] - baritone saxophone
 
*[[Kathy Jensen]] - baritone saxophone
 
<br>
 
<br>
'''Original version'''
+
'''Original version 1984'''
 +
*[[Prince]] - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
 +
*[[Eric Leeds]] - saxophone
 +
<br>
 +
'''Original version 2018'''
 
*[[Prince]] - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
 
*[[Prince]] - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
 
*[[Susannah Melvoin]] - background vocals
 
*[[Susannah Melvoin]] - background vocals
*[[Paul Peterson|St. Paul Peterson]] - (inaccurately credited for background vocals on 2018 7" release)
 
 
*[[Eric Leeds]] - saxophone
 
*[[Eric Leeds]] - saxophone
 +
*[[Paul Peterson|St. Paul Peterson]] - (inaccurately credited for background vocals on 2018 7" release)
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
'''Unreleased 1991 version'''
 
'''Unreleased 1991 version'''
Line 98: Line 115:
 
|3= [[Album: The Hits 1|The Hits 1]]<br>
 
|3= [[Album: The Hits 1|The Hits 1]]<br>
 
[[Album: The Hits / The B-Sides|The Hits / The B-Sides]]<br>
 
[[Album: The Hits / The B-Sides|The Hits / The B-Sides]]<br>
[[Single: Nothing Compares 2 U|Nothing Compares 2 U]] promo
+
[[Single: Nothing Compares 2 U|Nothing Compares 2 U]] promo<br>
 +
[[Album: My Name Was Prince|My Name Was Prince]] promotional album <br>
 +
[[Album: Ultimate|Ultimate]]<br>
 
|4= Live
 
|4= Live
|5= [[Prince and the New Power Generation]] version; [[27_January 1992-am|27 January 1992 (a.m.): Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA]]
+
|5= [[Prince and the New Power Generation]] version; [[27_January 1992-am|27 January 1992 (a.m.): Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA]]. Also known as '''Nothing Compares 2 U (Live)'''
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Songline|
 
{{Songline|
Line 117: Line 136:
 
|4= Live
 
|4= Live
 
|5= [[30_April 2002|30 April 2002, Portland Center for the Perf. Arts - Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland, OR, USA]]
 
|5= [[30_April 2002|30 April 2002, Portland Center for the Perf. Arts - Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland, OR, USA]]
 +
}}
 +
{{Songline|
 +
|1= '''Nothing Compares 2 U'''
 +
|2= 4:47
 +
|3= [[The Family|Fdeluxe]]: ''Live & Tight As A Funk Fiends' Fix''
 +
|4= Live
 +
|5= 2 September 2012, Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Songline|
 
{{Songline|
Line 138: Line 164:
 
|3= [[Album:_Originals|Originals]] (Target & Japanese version only)
 
|3= [[Album:_Originals|Originals]] (Target & Japanese version only)
 
|4= Studio
 
|4= Studio
|5= Mix of [[Prince]] original version, mixed in 2018
+
|5= Mix of [[Prince]] original version, re-mixed in 2019
 +
}}
 +
{{Songline|
 +
|1= '''Nothing Compares 2 U (Radio Edit)'''
 +
|2= 3:30
 +
|3= [[Single: Nothing Compares 2 U 2018|Nothing Compares 2 U]] promo
 +
|4= Studio
 +
|5= Mix of [[Prince]] original version, re-mixed in 2018
 +
}}
 +
{{Songline|
 +
|1= '''Nothing Compares 2 U (Live At Glam Slam)'''
 +
|2= 4:54
 +
|3= [[Single: Diamonds And Pearls / Nothing Compares 2 U (Live At Glam Slam)‎|Diamonds And Pearls / Nothing Compares 2 U (Live At Glam Slam)]] single<br>
 +
|4= Live (Fade)
 +
|5= [[11 January 1992|11 January 1992, Glam Slam, Minneapolis, MN, USA]]
 +
}}
 +
{{Songline|
 +
|1= '''Nothing Compares 2 U (Live At Glam Slam)'''
 +
|2= 4:50
 +
|3= [[Album: Diamonds And Pearls SuperDeluxe| Diamonds And Pearls ''Super Deluxe Edition'']]
 +
|4= Live
 +
|5= [[11 January 1992|11 January 1992, Glam Slam, Minneapolis, MN, USA]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
Line 159: Line 206:
 
|4= Live
 
|4= Live
 
|5= [[18_December 1999|18 December 1999, Paisley Park, Chanhassen, MN, USA]]
 
|5= [[18_December 1999|18 December 1999, Paisley Park, Chanhassen, MN, USA]]
 +
}}
 +
{{Songline|
 +
|1= '''Nothing Compares 2 U'''
 +
|2= ?:??
 +
|3= [[Paul_Peterson|St. Paul]]: ''Live At Bunkers'' DVD
 +
|4= Live
 +
|5= As part of the "Family Medley". Recorded live in 2005, Bunker's Bar And Grill, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Songline|
 
{{Songline|
Line 165: Line 219:
 
|3= [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpGA0azFdCs&feature=youtu.be youtube] (2018)
 
|3= [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpGA0azFdCs&feature=youtu.be youtube] (2018)
 
|4= Studio
 
|4= Studio
|5= [[Prince]]'s original version
+
|5= [[Prince]]’s original version
 +
}}
 +
{{Songline|
 +
|1= '''Nothing Compares 2 U (Live At Glam Slam)'''
 +
|2= 4:50
 +
|3= [[Album: Diamonds And Pearls SuperDeluxe| Diamonds And Pearls ''Super Deluxe Edition'']] blu-ray
 +
|4= Live
 +
|5= [[11 January 1992|11 January 1992, Glam Slam, Minneapolis, MN, USA]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
Line 187: Line 248:
 
|4= Live
 
|4= Live
 
|5= [[29_July 1990|29 July 1990, Estadio Santa María del Mar, La Coruña, Spain]]
 
|5= [[29_July 1990|29 July 1990, Estadio Santa María del Mar, La Coruña, Spain]]
 +
}}
 +
{{Songline|
 +
|1= '''Nothing Compares 2 U'''
 +
|2= T.B.C.
 +
|3= Delayed concert TV broadcast
 +
|4= Live
 +
|5= [[19_January_1991-am|19 January 1991 (a.m.), Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Songline|
 
{{Songline|
Line 193: Line 261:
 
|3= Delayed performance TV broadcast
 
|3= Delayed performance TV broadcast
 
|4= Live
 
|4= Live
|5= [[02 March 2004|2 March 2004, The Ellen Degeneres Show, NBC Studios, Burbank, CA, USA]]
+
|5= [[02 March 2004|2 March 2004, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, NBC Studios, Burbank, CA, USA]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Songline|
 
{{Songline|
Line 230: Line 298:
 
{{Unreleasedline|
 
{{Unreleasedline|
 
|1= '''Nothing Compares 2 U'''
 
|1= '''Nothing Compares 2 U'''
|2= Studio |3= Alternate mix of [[The Family]]'s version, with stronger synth element
+
|2= Studio |3= Alternate mix of [[The Family]]’s version, with stronger synth element
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Unreleasedline|
 
{{Unreleasedline|
Line 240: Line 308:
 
}}
 
}}
 
|sampled in                =  
 
|sampled in                =  
|first live appearance    = 13 August 1985: First Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota <small>(first performance by [[The Family]])</small>; [[30 April 1990|30 April 1990: Rupert's, Golden Valley, MN, USA]] <small>(first performance by [[Prince]])</small> <br>
+
|first live appearance    = 13 August 1985: First Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota <small>(first performance by [[The Family]])</small>; [[30 April 1990|30 April 1990: Rupert’s, Golden Valley, MN, USA]] <small>(first performance by [[Prince]])</small> <br>
 
* [[14_April_2016-2|14 April 2016 (Show 2): Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA, USA]]  
 
* [[14_April_2016-2|14 April 2016 (Show 2): Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA, USA]]  
 
|performed regularly on    = [[Nude Tour]]<br>
 
|performed regularly on    = [[Nude Tour]]<br>
Line 258: Line 326:
 
* [[Welcome 2 Australia Tour]]
 
* [[Welcome 2 Australia Tour]]
 
* [[Hit And Run Part II]]
 
* [[Hit And Run Part II]]
|performed occasionally in = [[All Concerts#1990|1990]], [[All Concerts#1991|1991]], [[All Concerts#1992|1992]], [[All Concerts#2000|2000]], [[All Concerts#2001|2001]], [[All Concerts#2002|2002]], [[All Concerts#2004|2004]], [[All Concerts#2007|2007]], [[All Concerts#2009|2009]], [[All Concerts#2010|2010]], [[All_Concerts#2011|2011]], [[All_Concerts#2012|2012]], [[All Concerts#2013|2013]], [[All Concerts#2014|2014]], [[All Concerts#2015|2015]], [[All Concerts#2016|2016]] <small>''(solo piano)'' </small>  
+
|performed occasionally in = [[All Concerts#1990|1990]], [[All Concerts#1991|1991]], [[All Concerts#1992|1992]], [[All Concerts#2000|2000]], [[All Concerts#2001|2001]], [[All Concerts#2002|2002]], [[All Concerts#2004|2004]], [[All Concerts#2007|2007]], [[All Concerts#2009|2009]], [[All Concerts#2010|2010]], [[All_Concerts#2011|2011]], [[All_Concerts#2012|2012]], [[All Concerts#2013|2013]], [[All Concerts#2014|2014]], [[All Concerts#2015|2015]], [[All Concerts#2016|2016]] <small>''(solo piano)'' </small>  
 
|trivia                    = Businessman and future US presidential candidate [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump Donald Trump] was in the 200-person audience for the [[27_January 1992-am|27 January 1992 (a.m.): Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA]] live version that was included on [[Album: The Hits 1|The Hits 1]]. By coincidence, when the track was simulcast on US radio stations at 5:07 p.m. CT (6:07 ET/3:07 PT) on May 4 2016, marking exactly "7 hours and 13 days" since [[Prince]] was pronounced dead, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump Trump] had just secured the Republican party nomination for US president a few hours earlier.
 
|trivia                    = Businessman and future US presidential candidate [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump Donald Trump] was in the 200-person audience for the [[27_January 1992-am|27 January 1992 (a.m.): Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA]] live version that was included on [[Album: The Hits 1|The Hits 1]]. By coincidence, when the track was simulcast on US radio stations at 5:07 p.m. CT (6:07 ET/3:07 PT) on May 4 2016, marking exactly "7 hours and 13 days" since [[Prince]] was pronounced dead, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump Trump] had just secured the Republican party nomination for US president a few hours earlier.
 
|see also                  = [[Album: The Family|The Family]] album
 
|see also                  = [[Album: The Family|The Family]] album
Line 264: Line 332:
 
* [[Album: The Hits 1|The Hits 1]] album
 
* [[Album: The Hits 1|The Hits 1]] album
 
* [[Single: Nothing Compares 2 U|Nothing Compares 2 U]] promo
 
* [[Single: Nothing Compares 2 U|Nothing Compares 2 U]] promo
 +
* [[Single: Nothing Compares 2 U 2018|Nothing Compares 2 U]] 2018 single release
 
* [[Video: Nothing Compares 2 U|Nothing Compares 2 U]] video
 
* [[Video: Nothing Compares 2 U|Nothing Compares 2 U]] video
 +
* [[Single: Diamonds And Pearls / Nothing Compares 2 U (Live At Glam Slam)‎|Diamonds And Pearls / Nothing Compares 2 U (Live At Glam Slam)]] single
 
|references                = ''[[Book:_The_Vault|The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004)]]''
 
|references                = ''[[Book:_The_Vault|The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004)]]''
 
* ''[https://www.amazon.com/Prince-Purple-Rain-Studio-Sessions/dp/1538114623/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8 Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions 1983 and 1984 (Expanded Edition, paperback), Duane Tudahl (2018)]''
 
* ''[https://www.amazon.com/Prince-Purple-Rain-Studio-Sessions/dp/1538114623/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8 Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions 1983 and 1984 (Expanded Edition, paperback), Duane Tudahl (2018)]''
 
* http://thelastmiles.com/interviews-alan-leeds.php
 
* http://thelastmiles.com/interviews-alan-leeds.php
|categories                = [[Category:1985]][[Category:Released Songs (Associated Artists)]][[Category:Released Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Songs (Prince and the New Power Generation)]][[Category:Songs (Associated Artists)]][[Category:Recorded 1984]]
+
|categories                = [[Category:1985]][[Category:2018]][[Category:2018]][[Category:Recorded 1984]][[Category:Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Songs (Prince and the New Power Generation)]][[Category:Songs (Associated Artists)]][[Category:Released Songs (Associated Artists)]][[Category:Released Songs (Prince)]]
 
}}
 
}}

Latest revision as of 19:07, 11 January 2024

Northside   < < < Non-Prince Songs All Prince Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Now
Nothing Compares 2 U

Thefamily album.jpg
from the album The Family
Originals album artwork
from the album Originals
Thehits1.jpg
from the album The Hits 1
Nothingcompares2u2018 single.jpg
single art for Nothing Compares 2 U (2018 release)
Song details
Performer: The Family; Prince and the New Power Generation; Prince
First Released: 19 August 1985 - The Family album (The Family version)

14 September 1993 - The Hits 1 album (Prince and the New Power Generation version)
19 April 2018 - Nothing Compares 2 U single (Prince version)

Album(s): The Family

The Hits 1
The Hits / The B-Sides
One Nite Alone... Live!
Ultimate
4Ever
Originals
Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition

Writer(s): Prince
Producer(s): Prince (credited to David Z. Rivkin and The Family on their album); Prince on his versions
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
Performed regularly on tour:
Performed occasionally in shows:

Nothing Compares 2 U is the sixth track on The Family’s first and only album The Family. Prince wrote seven of the eight songs on the album, but Nothing Compares 2 U is the only track for which Prince took official credit.

After becoming a worldwide number one single when covered by Irish singer Sinead O’Connor, Prince began playing the song live, and in 1993, he released a live version (sharing lead vocals with Rosie Gaines) as the eleventh track (one of two new tracks) on The Hits 1.

He played it live consistently from 1990 onwards, and in 2002, released another live version as the twelfth track on the second disc of his first live album, One Nite Alone... Live! (along with Xenophobia, Extraordinary, Avalanche, Family Name, Raspberry Beret, The Everlasting Now, EyeBlue.png Wanna B Ur Lover, Diamonds & Pearls, The Beautiful Ones and How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore from the same show).

Basic tracking for Prince’s original version took place on 15 July 1984 at the Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. with Susannah Melvoin on backing vox (a slighlty altered mix of the original version was released posthumously in 2018). St. Paul Peterson and Susannah Melvoin overdubbed vocals onto the track in late 1984 - early 1985, and Clare Fischer added orchestral overdubs during the same period.

Miles Davis had requested an instrumental of Nothing Compares 2 U to record his trumpet on. But Prince wasn’t keen on that and thought it was corny just to do a trumpet on top of a song that already existed. So around 1991 Prince re-cut it and gave it a different flavor.

Prince was partly inspired in writing the the song by Sandy Scipioni, his personal assistant in the 1980s, who had to leave suddenly after her father’s death (Prince and Scipioni were not in a romantic relationship, however).

Prince’s live version from The Hits 1 went on to be simulcast on US radio stations at 5:07 p.m. CT (6:07 ET/3:07 PT) on 4 May 2016, marking exactly "7 hours and 13 days" since Prince was pronounced dead.

In 2018, a new mix of Prince’s original version was made and released on 19 April 2018 as download file on Tidal and Apple Music as well as streaming on Spotify and Deezer, and on youtube with an accompanying video made up of Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse rehearsal footage. A (limited to 1984 copies) purple vinyl single was available on 21 April 2018 at Electric Fetus in Minneapolis, while a picture disc was available through The Prince official store. A normal black 7 inch single of the song was subsequently available from 25 May. This version was subsequently also included as the fifteenth and last track on the posthumous album Originals in 2019.

This 2018 version was mixed by Tony Maserati to mimic the original Prince version from 1984, but has the Clare Fischer orchestral overdubs buried deep in the mix, but audible. It also has Susannah Melvoin backing vocals, which were not in the 1984 original. That version also has more layers of saxophone in the bridge than the 2018 remix.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
15 July 1984 Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse,
Eden Prairie, MN, USA
Tracking
18 July 1984 Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse,
Eden Prairie, MN, USA
Saxophone overdubs
Late Summer 1984 (estimate) Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse,
Eden Prairie, MN, USA
Vocal overdubs by Susannah Melvoin and St. Paul Peterson
October 1984 (estimate) Monterey Sound Studios,
Glendale, CA, USA
Clare Fischer Orchestral overdubs
1991 (assumed) Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Re-recording
2018 Mirrorball studios,
North Hollywood, CA, USA
Tony Maserati mix attempting to recreate a facsimile of the original Prince version
Recording Personnel

The Family version


Prince and the New Power Generation version


Original version 1984


Original version 2018


Unreleased 1991 version

  • Prince - all instruments (assumed)

Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Nothing Compares 2 U 4:31 The Family Studio The Family version
Nothing Compares 2 U 4:57 The Hits 1

The Hits / The B-Sides
Nothing Compares 2 U promo
My Name Was Prince promotional album
Ultimate

Live Prince and the New Power Generation version; 27 January 1992 (a.m.): Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA. Also known as Nothing Compares 2 U (Live)
Nothing Compares 2 U 4:17 Peach single

Nothing Compares 2 U promo
4Ever

Live edit Prince and the New Power Generation version; edit of version above
Nothing Compares 2 U 3:47 One Nite Alone... Live! Live 30 April 2002, Portland Center for the Perf. Arts - Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland, OR, USA
Nothing Compares 2 U 4:47 Fdeluxe: Live & Tight As A Funk Fiends' Fix Live 2 September 2012, Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Nothing Compares 2 U 4:40 Nothing Compares 2 U (2018 release)

Originals

Studio Prince original version, mixed in 2018
Nothing Compares 2 U 4:12 Nothing Compares 2 U (2018 release) Studio Edit of Prince original version, mixed in 2018
Nothing Compares 2 U (Cinematic Mix) 4:20 Originals (Target & Japanese version only) Studio Mix of Prince original version, re-mixed in 2019
Nothing Compares 2 U (Radio Edit) 3:30 Nothing Compares 2 U promo Studio Mix of Prince original version, re-mixed in 2018
Nothing Compares 2 U (Live At Glam Slam) 4:54 Diamonds And Pearls / Nothing Compares 2 U (Live At Glam Slam) single
Live (Fade) 11 January 1992, Glam Slam, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Nothing Compares 2 U (Live At Glam Slam) 4:50 Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition Live 11 January 1992, Glam Slam, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Video Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Nothing Compares 2 U 5:03 Promotional release only Live promo video 27 January 1992 (a.m.): Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA intercut with footage from past videos; see Nothing Compares 2 U for details
Nothing Compares 2 U 4:02 Rave Un2 The Year 2000 VHS/DVD Live 18 December 1999, Paisley Park, Chanhassen, MN, USA
Nothing Compares 2 U ?:?? St. Paul: Live At Bunkers DVD Live As part of the "Family Medley". Recorded live in 2005, Bunker's Bar And Grill, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Nothing Compares 2 U 4:59 youtube (2018) Studio Prince’s original version
Nothing Compares 2 U (Live At Glam Slam) 4:50 Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition blu-ray Live 11 January 1992, Glam Slam, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Broadcasts/streaming (only)
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Nothing Compares 2 U T.B.C. Live concert radio broadcast Live 22 July 1990, Estadio Vicente Calderón, Madrid, Spain
Nothing Compares 2 U T.B.C. Delayed concert TV broadcast Live 29 July 1990, Estadio Santa María del Mar, La Coruña, Spain
Nothing Compares 2 U T.B.C. Delayed concert TV broadcast Live 19 January 1991 (a.m.), Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Nothing Compares 2 U T.B.C. Delayed performance TV broadcast Live 2 March 2004, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, NBC Studios, Burbank, CA, USA
Nothing Compares 2 U T.B.C. iHeartRadio Music Festival video stream Live 22 September 2012, MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV, USA; guesting with Mary J. Blige
Nothing Compares 2 U T.B.C. iHeartRadio Music Festival TV broadcast Live 22 September 2012, MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV, USA; guesting with Mary J. Blige; same performance as above with different camera angles and editing
Nothing Compares 2 U T.B.C. Live concert online stream Live 10 May 2015, Baltimore, MN, USA, Royal Farms Arena
Unreleased Versions
Title Version Additional Info
Nothing Compares 2 U Studio true 1984 original, without 2018 mix
Nothing Compares 2 U Studio Alternate mix of The Family’s version, with stronger synth element
Nothing Compares 2 U Studio Instrumental re-recording for Miles Davis
 
Additional Information

See also Trivia

  • Businessman and future US presidential candidate Donald Trump was in the 200-person audience for the 27 January 1992 (a.m.): Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA live version that was included on The Hits 1. By coincidence, when the track was simulcast on US radio stations at 5:07 p.m. CT (6:07 ET/3:07 PT) on May 4 2016, marking exactly "7 hours and 13 days" since Prince was pronounced dead, Trump had just secured the Republican party nomination for US president a few hours earlier.

References
Northside   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Now