Single: When Doves Cry

1983: Let’s Pretend We’re Married ◄

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► 1984: Let’s Go Crazy

When Doves Cry

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 (1 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)

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 USA 12" 0-20228 1st edition w/o barcode USA 12" 0-20228 2nd edition w/ barcode USA 7" 7-29286 Promotional USA 7" 7-29286 Promotonal Purple Vinyl USA 7" 7-29286 ► See more  ► See more  Country Format Cat. Number Comments Front Back Label 1 Label 2 USA 7" 7-29286 Alternate label printing USA 7" 7-29286 Purple Vinyl Canada 12" 92 02280 WEA Music Of Canada labels, promotional gold stamp Canada 12" 92 02280 WEA Music Of Canada labels Canada 7" 92 92867 Q WEA Music Of Canada labels Promotional Canada 7" 92 92867 Q WEA Music Of Canada labels Mexico 7" SWB129 WEA S.A. labels Promotional stamp Mexico 7" SWB129 WEA S.A. labels Guatemala 7" 7-29286 DIDECA labels Ecuador 12" 80000-19 Fediscos labels Peru 7" 0729286.0 El Virrey labels Promotional Peru 7" 0729286.0 El Virrey labels Brazil 7" 16.263 EMI-ODEON labels Europe UK 12" SAM 201 White labels UK 12" W9286T Island Music labels UK 7" W9286 1st edition w/ Island Music paper labels UK 7" W9286 1st edition w/ Island Music paper labels, different back sleeve UK 7" W9286 2nd edition w/ Island Music paper labels UK 7" W9286 Island Music Grey PVC labels UK 7" W9286 Island Music Grey PVC labels Jukebox UK 7" W9286 Island Music Blue PVC labels UK 7" W9286 Island Music Blue PVC labels UK 7" W9286 Island Music Blue PVC labels jukebox Ireland 7" W9286 Island Music labels Germany 7" 920 228-0 1st edition w/ Gema / Biem labels Promotional w/ product facts sheet Germany 7" 920 228-0 1st edition w/ Gema / Biem labels Germany 7" 920 228-0 2nd edition w/Gema / Biem labels + Sticker Promotional w/ product facts sheet Germany 7" 920 228-0 2nd edition w/Gema / Biem labels + Sticker France 12" 929 286-7 Gema / Biem labels + stickers France 7" 929 286-7 SACEM labels Italy 7" 92 9286-7 S.I.A.E. labels Spain 12" MS 920228-0 Island Music labels Spain 7" S 929286-7 Island Music labels Promotional Spain 7" S 929286-7 Island Music labels Portugal 12" 759 92-0228-0 SPA labels Africa Zimbabwe 7" WBS 465 WEA records Pty labels South Africa 7" WBS 465 WEA records Pty labels Asia / Pacific Japan 7" P-1868 Jasmac labels Promotional Special Cardboard Folder Japan 7" P-1868 Purple Vinyl w/ Jasmac labels promotional Japan 7" P-1868 Purple Vinyl w/ Jasmac labels Japan 7" P-1868 Jasmac labels Philippines 12" DS-006 Pari labels Philippines 7" WB-77-403 Pari labels Australia 12" 0-20228 - MX209255/6 WEA Records Pty labels Australia 7" 7-29286 - MX209151/2 WEA Records Pty labels + sticker New Zealand 12" 20228 New Zealand 7" 7-29286 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 ► 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 Germany Cassette 920 231-4 Transparent PVC tape Spain 7" 795 SGAE labels Promotional Japan 6" PS-1022 Red one-sided flexidisc with Warner Pioneer catalog Reissues Canada 7" GS 45210 Gold standards edition USA 7" GWB-0516 1987 Back to back reissue Italy 7" PROMO 208 S.I.A.E. labels jukebox Germany 3"CD 921 186-2 1988 reissue Germany 5"CD 7599-21186-2 1989 reissue UK 12" 081227 996864 2007 Rhino reissue

Additional Information Promotion (at time of release) Triva Promotional instore stand and WB advert published in Billboard for this single.     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 Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004) Certification(s): http://www.riaa.com/, Wikipedia Chart(s): 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)

1983 Let’s Pretend We’re Married

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1984 Let’s Go Crazy