The Belle Of St. Mark is the first track on Sheila E.'s first album The Glamorous Life, and, six months after the album's release, The Belle Of St. Mark was released as the album's third and final single. In 1986, the extended Dance Remix version was included as the fourth and final track on The Glamorous Club Dance EP, a Japan-only EP of extended versions of Sheila E.'s singles. The Belle Of St. Mark was written by Prince, but credited to Sheila E..
Initial tracking took place on 5 January, 1984 at Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA (the day after The Bird, the same day as Oliver's House, three days before a re-recording of 17 Days), and the song was originally intended for Apollonia 6 until Prince began to work with Sheila E. in February, 1984, at which time he set the song aside for her. Sheila E.'s vocals were recorded in the first few days of April, 1984 at Sunset Sound.
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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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5 January, 1984
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Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA
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Initial tracking
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1-4 April, 1984
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Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA
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Sheila E. vocal overdubs
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Recording Personnel
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- Sheila E. - vocals, percussion
- Prince - all instruments, except where noted (uncredited)
- Jill Jones - background vocals (as "J.J.")
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Versions
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Released Versions
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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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The Belle Of St. Mark
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4:38
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Promotional release only
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Live promo video
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Live, Washington, D.C., 1985; see The Belle Of St. Mark video for more details
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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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The Belle Of St. Mark
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Studio
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Original 1984 version with Prince vocals
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