Difference between revisions of "Nothing Compares 2 U"

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{{song|
 
{{song|
 
|song name                = Nothing Compares 2 U
 
|song name                = Nothing Compares 2 U
|album image              = [[File:Thefamily album.jpg|100px|link=Album: The Family]]<br><small> from the album [[Album: The Family|The Family]]</small>
+
|album image              = [[File:Thefamily album.jpg|100px|link=Album: The Family]]<br><small> from the album [[Album: The Family|The Family]]</small> <br> [[File:Originals.jpg|100px|border|Originals album artwork]]<br><small> from the album [[Album: Originals|Originals]]</small><br>
|single image              = [[File:thehits1.jpg|100px|link=Album: The Hits 1]]<br><small> from the album [[Album: The Hits 1|The Hits 1]]</small> [[File:Nothing_Compares_2_U_Tidal.jpg|100px|link=Tidal]] <br>
+
|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]]
+
|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]] ([[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]] ([[Prince and the New Power Generation]] version)<br>
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[[Album: One Nite Alone... Live!|One Nite Alone... Live!]]<br>
 
[[Album: One Nite Alone... Live!|One Nite Alone... Live!]]<br>
 
[[Album: 4Ever|4Ever]]<br>
 
[[Album: 4Ever|4Ever]]<br>
[[Single: Nothing Compares 2 U|Nothing Compares 2 U]] 7"<br>
 
 
|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]]); [[Prince]]
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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. [[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. [[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.
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[[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.
  
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 picture disc single was available through [https://www.princehitnrun.com/store/ The Prince official store]. While a normal black 7 inch single of the song would be available on 25 May.
+
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 was subsequently available from 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]], Eden Prairie, MN, USA
+
|studio                    = [[Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse]],<br>Eden Prairie, MN, USA
 
|additional info          = Basic tracking
 
|additional info          = Basic tracking
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July_18|18 July 1984]]
 
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July_18|18 July 1984]]
|studio                    = [[Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse]], Eden Prairie, MN, USA
+
|studio                    = [[Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse]],<br>Eden Prairie, MN, USA
 
|additional info          = Saxophone overdubs
 
|additional info          = Saxophone overdubs
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
|date                      = Late Summer 1984 (estimate)
 
|date                      = Late Summer 1984 (estimate)
|studio                    = [[Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse]], 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 [[Paul Peterson|St. Paul Peterson]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
|date                      = October 1984 (estimate)
 
|date                      = October 1984 (estimate)
|studio                    = Monterey Studios, Glendale, CA, USA
+
|studio                    = [https://www.yellowpages.com/los-angeles-ca/mip/monterey-sound-studios-512137723 Monterey Sound Studios],<br> Glendale, CA, USA
 
|additional info          = [[Clare Fischer]] Orchestral overdubs
 
|additional info          = [[Clare Fischer]] Orchestral overdubs
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
|date                      = 1991 (assumed)
 
|date                      = 1991 (assumed)
|studio                 = [[Paisley Park Studios]], Chanhassen, MN, USA
+
|studio                   = [[Paisley Park Studios]],<br>Chanhassen, MN, USA
|additional info         = Re-recording
+
|additional info           = Re-recording
 
}}
 
}}
 
|recording personnel      =  
 
|recording personnel      =  
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*[[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]] - background vocals (tentative)
+
*[[Paul Peterson|St. Paul Peterson]] - (inaccurately credited for background vocals on 2018 7" release)
 
*[[Eric Leeds]] - saxophone
 
*[[Eric Leeds]] - saxophone
 
<br>
 
<br>
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|1= '''Nothing Compares 2 U'''
 
|1= '''Nothing Compares 2 U'''
 
|2= 4:40
 
|2= 4:40
|3= '''Nothing Compares 2 U'''  7" single; [[Tidal]], Apple Music download
+
|3= [[Single: Nothing Compares 2 U 2018|Nothing Compares 2 U]] (2018 release) <br>
 +
[[Album:_Originals|Originals]]
 
|4= Studio
 
|4= Studio
|5= [[Prince]] original version
+
|5= [[Prince]] original version, mixed in 2018
 +
}}
 +
{{Songline|
 +
|1= '''Nothing Compares 2 U'''
 +
|2= 4:12
 +
|3= [[Single: Nothing Compares 2 U 2018|Nothing Compares 2 U]] (2018 release)
 +
|4= Studio
 +
|5= Edit of [[Prince]] original version, mixed in 2018
 +
}}
 +
{{Songline|
 +
|1= '''Nothing Compares 2 U (Cinematic Mix)'''
 +
|2= 4:20
 +
|3= [[Album:_Originals|Originals]] (Target & Japanese version only)
 +
|4= Studio
 +
|5= Mix of [[Prince]] original version, re-mixed in 2019
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
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{{Unreleasedline|
 
{{Unreleasedline|
 
|1= '''Nothing Compares 2 U'''
 
|1= '''Nothing Compares 2 U'''
|2= Alternate mix
+
|2= Studio
|3= Alternate mix of [[The Family]]'s version, with stronger synth element
+
|3= true 1984 original, without 2018 mix
 +
}}
 +
{{Unreleasedline|
 +
|1= '''Nothing Compares 2 U'''
 +
|2= Studio |3= Alternate mix of [[The Family]]'s version, with stronger synth element
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Unreleasedline|
 
{{Unreleasedline|
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* [[Video: Nothing Compares 2 U|Nothing Compares 2 U]] video
 
* [[Video: Nothing Compares 2 U|Nothing Compares 2 U]] video
 
|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/1538105497/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511110969&sr=8-1&keywords=duane+tudahl+prince&dpID=51jJZJCGZoL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions 1983 and 1984, Duane Tudahl (2017)]''
+
* ''[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: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]]
 
}}
 
}}

Revision as of 21:00, 22 June 2019

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 (The Family version)

14 September 1993 - The Hits 1 (Prince and the New Power Generation version)

Album(s): The Family

The Hits 1
The Hits / The B-Sides
One Nite Alone... Live!
4Ever

Writer(s): Prince
Producer(s): Prince (credited to David Z. Rivkin and The Family); Prince
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. 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.

On 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 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.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
15 July 1984 Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse,
Eden Prairie, MN, USA
Basic 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 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
Recording Personnel

The Family version


Prince and the New Power Generation version


Original version


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

Live Prince and the New Power Generation version; 27 January 1992 (a.m.): Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA
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 4:40 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
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 4:59 youtube (2018) Studio Prince's original version
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 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