Single: When Doves Cry

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Letspretendweremarried single.jpg 1983: Let’s Pretend We’re Married All Singles All Related Artists Singles 1984: Let’s Go Crazy Letsgocrazy single.jpg
When Doves Cry

Whendovescry single.jpg

Single details


Released: 16 May 1984 (USA 7")

13 June 1984 (USA 12")
22 June 1984 (UK 7")

Related album: Purple Rain
Label(s): Warner Bros.
Non-Album track(s):

17 Days (3:54)
When Doves Cry (Edit) (3:47)

Charts, Certifications & Awards


Charts
America
Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart
USA: Billboard Hot 100 2 Jun. 1984 1 (5) 21
USA: Billboard Black Singles 9 Jun. 1984 1 (8) 20
USA: Billboard Dance/Disco Top 80
(Listed with 17 Days)
9 Jun. 1984 1 (6) 14
 
Europe
Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart
Austria: Single Top 75 10 Oct. 1984 19 2
Belgium: Ultratop Flanders 11 Aug. 1984 6 10
France: Show Magazine Top 50 30 Sep. 1984 6 20
France: Ipsos & Nielsen Top 50 30 Nov. 1984 32 7
Ireland: IRMA Singles Chart 8 Aug. 1984 2 (?) 9
The Netherlands: Nationale Hitparade (Top 50) 7 Jul. 1984 6 14
Norway: Topp 20 Single 28 Sep. 1984 Week 39 10 14
Sweden: Top 60 Single 10 Aug. 1984 18 1
Switzerland: Single Top 75 19 Aug. 1984 17 9
U.K.: Top 40 30 Jun. 1984 4 11
 
Pacific
Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart
Australia: ARIA Single Top 50 9 Jul. 1984 1 (1) 20
New Zealand: Top 50 Singles 15 Jun. 1984 2 (2) 17
Certifications
Institution, Country Date Certification
RIAA, USA 24 Jul. 1984 Gold (500,000)
RIAA, USA 21 Aug. 1984 Platinum (2- million)
BPI, UK 1 Aug. 1984 Silver (200,000)
Awards
Institution, Country Date Award
American Music Awards, USA 28 Jan. 1985 Favorite Single (Soul/R&B)

See also


When Doves Cry
(Sheet music)
When Doves Cry
(Music video)
SheetMusic-WhenDovesCryUS-smaller.jpg Whendovescry-tb-vid.png

When Doves Cry was the first single to be released from the album Purple Rain, by Prince and the Revolution (the single was credited only to Prince, as he recorded the track alone).

It was released five weeks prior to the album, and received a release around the world. The b-side, 17 Days, was previously-unreleased and not included on the album. 17 Days was credited to Prince and the Revolution, marking the first time a track was released with that credit.

The single became Prince’s first US number 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. It also reached number 1 on the Billboard Black Singles Chart and on the Dance Disco Top 80 Chart. Billboard also ranked it as the #1 single of 1984.

When Doves Cry was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, indicated two-million units shipping in the United States. It was the last single released by a solo artist to receive such certification before the certification requirements were lowered in 1989.


Track listing
7" 12"

A. When Doves Cry (Edit) (3:47)
B. 17 Days (3:54)

  • Cat #: US/CA/GT/NZ: 7-29286

MX: SWB129
PE: 0729286.0
UK/IR: W 9286
DE/FR: 929 286-7
SP: S 929286-7
IT: 92 9286-7
PT: 759 92-0228-0
ZF/ZW: WBS 465
AU: 7-29286 MX209151/2
JP: P-1868
PH: WB-77-403

Cassette Single

A1. When Doves Cry (5:52)
A2. 17 Days (3:54)
A3. 1999 (6:22)
A4. D.M.S.R. (8:15)
(both sides play the same sequence)

  • Cat #: DE: 920 231-4 W 9286C (Twelve Inch On tape)

A. When Doves Cry (5:52)
B. 17 Days (3:54)

  • Cat #: US/CA: 0-20228

EC: 80000-19
UK: W 9286T
DE/FR: 920 228-0
SP: MS 920228-0
AU: 0-20228 MX209255/6
NZ: 20228

A. When Doves Cry (Long Version) (5:52)
B. When Doves Cry (Short Version) (3:49)

  • Cat #: PH: DS-006 (limited edition)


12" Double Pack

1A. When Doves Cry (5:52)
1B. 17 Days (3:54)
2A. 1999 (6:22)
2B. D.M.S.R. (8:15)

  • Cat #: UK: W 9286T/SAM 199
  • See individual tracks and related albums for credits.

Other Formats
7" Promo 12" Promo
  • (JP: PS-1022 - Red flexidisc)

A. When Doves Cry (Edit) (3:49)

  • (US: 7-29286)

A. When Doves Cry (Edit) (3:47)
B. When Doves Cry (5:52)

  • (SP: 795)

A. When Doves Cry (Edit) (3:49)
B. Purple Rain (Edit) ( 4:02)

7" Back To Back Hits 1987 Reissue

  • (US: GWB-0516, CA: GS 45210)

A. When Doves Cry (Edit) (3:47)
AA. Let’s Go Crazy (Edit) (3:46)

  • (US: PRO-A-2139, UK: SAM 201)

A. When Doves Cry (Long Version) (5:52)
B. When Doves Cry (Short Version) (3:47)

12" 2007 Reissue

  • (UK: W 9286T 081227 996864)

A. When Doves Cry (5:52)
B. 17 Days (3:54)

CD 1989 Reissue

  • (DE: 921 186-2)

1. When Doves Cry (Album Version) (5:52)
2. Purple Rain (8:45)

(BPM Digital) A. When Doves Cry (5:52)
B. 17 Days (3:54)


Releases
7", 12", CD, Cassettes and Other versions
Country Format Cat. Number Comments Front Back Label 1 Label 2

America
USA 12" PRO-A-2139 Promotional center center center center
USA 12" 0-20228 1st edition w/o barcode center center center center
USA 12" 0-20228 2nd edition w/ barcode center center center center
USA 7" 7-29286 Promotional center center center center
USA 7" 7-29286 Promotonal Purple Vinyl center center center center
USA 7" 7-29286 center center center center
► See more  ► See more 
Country Format Cat. Number Comments Front Back Label 1 Label 2
USA 7" 7-29286 Alternate label printing center center center center
USA 7" 7-29286 Purple Vinyl center center center center
Canada 12" 92 02280 WEA Music Of Canada labels, promotional gold stamp center center center center
Canada 12" 92 02280 WEA Music Of Canada labels center center center center
Canada 7" 92 92867 Q WEA Music Of Canada labels Promotional center center center center
Canada 7" 92 92867 Q WEA Music Of Canada labels center center center center
Mexico 7" SWB129 WEA S.A. labels Promotional stamp center center center center
Mexico 7" SWB129 WEA S.A. labels center center center center
Guatemala 7" 7-29286 DIDECA labels center center center center
Ecuador 12" 80000-19 Fediscos labels center center center center
Peru 7" 0729286.0 El Virrey labels Promotional center center center center
Peru 7" 0729286.0 El Virrey labels center center center center
Brazil 7" 16.263 EMI-ODEON labels center center center center
Europe
UK 12" SAM 201 White labels center center center center
UK 12" W9286T Island Music labels center center center center
UK 7" W9286 1st edition w/ Island Music paper labels center center center center
UK 7" W9286 1st edition w/ Island Music paper labels, different back sleeve center center center center
UK 7" W9286 2nd edition w/ Island Music paper labels center center center center
UK 7" W9286 Island Music Grey PVC labels center center center center
UK 7" W9286 Island Music Grey PVC labels Jukebox center center center center
UK 7" W9286 Island Music Blue PVC labels center center center center
UK 7" W9286 Island Music Blue PVC labels center center center center
UK 7" W9286 Island Music Blue PVC labels jukebox center center center center
Ireland 7" W9286 Island Music labels center center center center
Germany 7" 920 228-0 1st edition w/ Gema / Biem labels Promotional w/ product facts sheet center center center center
Germany 7" 920 228-0 1st edition w/ Gema / Biem labels center center center center
Germany 7" 920 228-0 2nd edition w/Gema / Biem labels + Sticker Promotional w/ product facts sheet center center center center
Germany 7" 920 228-0 2nd edition w/Gema / Biem labels + Sticker center center center center
France 12" 929 286-7 Gema / Biem labels + stickers center center center center
France 7" 929 286-7 SACEM labels center center center center
Italy 7" 92 9286-7 S.I.A.E. labels center center center center
Spain 12" MS 920228-0 Island Music labels center center center center
Spain 7" S 929286-7 Island Music labels Promotional center center center center
Spain 7" S 929286-7 Island Music labels center center center center
Portugal 12" 759 92-0228-0 SPA labels center center center center
Africa
Zimbabwe 7" WBS 465 WEA records Pty labels center center center center
South Africa 7" WBS 465 WEA records Pty labels center center center center
Asia / Pacific
Japan 7" P-1868 Jasmac labels Promotional Special Cardboard Folder center center center center
Japan 7" P-1868 Purple Vinyl w/ Jasmac labels promotional center center center center
Japan 7" P-1868 Purple Vinyl w/ Jasmac labels center center center center
Japan 7" P-1868 Jasmac labels center center center center
Philippines 12" DS-006 Pari labels center center center center
Philippines 7" WB-77-403 Pari labels center center center center
Australia 12" 0-20228 - MX209255/6 WEA Records Pty labels center center center center
Australia 7" 7-29286 - MX209151/2 WEA Records Pty labels + sticker center center center center
New Zealand 12" 20228 center center center center
New Zealand 7" 7-29286 center center center center

Variants, Special Editions and Reissues
Country Format Cat. Number Comments Front Back Label 1 Label 2

Special Editions (on time of release)
UK 12" W 9286T/SAM 199 1984 2x 12" special edition center center center center
► See more  ► See more 
Country Format Cat. Number Comments Front Back Label 1 Label 2
Germany Cassette 920 231-4 Black PVC tape w/ paper labels center center center center
Germany Cassette 920 231-4 Transparent PVC tape center center center center
Spain 7" 795 SGAE labels Promotional center center center center
Japan 6" PS-1022 Red one-sided flexidisc with Warner Pioneer catalog center center center center
Reissues
Canada 7" GS 45210 Gold standards edition center center center center
USA 7" GWB-0516 1987 Back to back reissue center center center center
Italy 7" PROMO 208 S.I.A.E. labels jukebox center center center center
Germany 3"CD 921 186-2 1988 reissue center center center center
Germany 5"CD 7599-21186-2 1989 reissue center center center center
UK 12" 081227 996864 2007 Rhino reissue center center center center

 

 

 
Additional Information

Promotion (at time of release) Triva

  • Promotional instore stand and WB advert published in Billboard for this single.

Promo-whendovescry-stand.jpg    1984-WBRecordsAD-Nr1.png

  • The single was #1 in the U.S.A. Billboard Hot 100 chart for five weeks, from July 7 1984 to August 4 1984.
  • The single remained 18 weeks in the Billboard Black Single Top 40 Chart.
  • The single remained 11 weeks in the UK Top 40 Chart.

References
The Netherlands Dutchcharts.nl / When Doves Cry
UK British Hit Singles by Martin Roach (ISBN 978-0-7535-1537-2), The Official UK Charts Company / Prince
USA The Billboard Book Of Top 40 R&B and Hip-Hop Hits by Joel Whitburn (ISBN 0-8230-8283-0), Top R&B Singles 1942 - 1999 by Joel Whitburn (ISBN 0-89820-136-5), Billboard Hot 100 Charts - The Eighties by Joel Whitburn (ISBN 0-89820-079-2), Hot Dance/Disco 1974-2003 by Joel Withburn (ISBN 0-89820-156-X)
Letspretendweremarried single.jpg 1983
Let’s Pretend We’re Married
All Singles All Related Artists Singles 1984
Let’s Go Crazy
Letsgocrazy single.jpg