Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad? is the second track on Prince's second album Prince, and, four months after the album's release, Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad? was released as the album's second single (released in the USA and New Zealand).
Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad? was also the b-side of Prince's first single to be released in Germany, I Wanna Be Your Lover.
In 1993, the track was included as the fifth track on Prince's first compilation album The Hits 1 (also included as the first disc of The Hits / The B-Sides).
In 2009, a rehearsal version (titled Y U Wanna Treat Me So Bad) was streamed on the website DrFunkenberry.com a day after it was recorded (recorded on 21 September, 2009, and streamed on 22 September, 2009); it was offered as an mp3 download for members of lotusflow3r.com the following month.
Recording process
While specific recording dates for the studio version are not known, the album sessions took place from late April to 13 June, 1979 at Alpha Studios, Burbank, CA, USA. Overdubs and mixing took place at Hollywood Sound Recorders, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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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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April - 13 June, 1979
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Alpha Studios, Burbank, CA, USA
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Initial tracking
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April - 13 June, 1979
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Hollywood Sound Recorders, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Overdubs, mixing
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Recording Personnel
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- Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
- André Cymone - vocal harmony (uncredited)
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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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Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?
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3:49
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Promotional release only
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Promo video
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See Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad? video for more details
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Broadcasts/streaming (only)
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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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Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?
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?:??
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Live TV broadcast
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Lip sync
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16 December, 1979, American Bandstand, Hollywood, CA, USA
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Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?
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?:??
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Live TV broadcast
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Lip sync
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8 January, 1980, Midnight Special, Burbank, CA, USA
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