Silver Tongue (Demo) was released on 13 July 2004, as a "virtual b-side" to Call My Name. No other version was released at the time. The song’s lyrics were written by Nikka Costa, and it was discussed that her own (final) version would be included on her next album. It is unclear whether Nikka Costa recorded her own studio version at that time. The track was not considered for her 2005 album Can’tneverdidnothin’. Costa ultimately released a version of Silver Tongue recorded around 2016 as the ninth track of her 2017 album Nikka & Strings, Underneath And In Between. She explained the story of the song and its late release on Facebook:
"Many years ago Prince had emailed asking for a poem. I sent him these lyrics. What he sent back to me was an amazing jazz song with just him singing with piano. I was so blown away by this and I really wanted to record it but it never fit on any records of mine. His version is the B side for his single Call My Name and its one of my proudest moments to have written a song with him that he wanted to record. When we were getting ready to record this album we listened through so much of my old stuff and stumbled across it again and thought it actually fits perfectly on this record we gotta do it! "
On Nikka & Strings, Underneath And In Between, which also contains a cover of Nothing Compares 2 U, Prince is credited as the sole author of the song, although the lyrics are identical to his version. Being re-recorded and released after Prince’s passing, this version is considered as a cover version.
Initial recording dates of Prince’s version are unknown, but it is likely that the track was recorded in early 2004 at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
On 24 May 2024 a new remix from the original 24-tracks, done by Chris James was released to streaming platforms, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its original release.
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