Single: Alphabet St.

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1987: The Cross ◄ All Singles All Related Artists Singles ► 1988: Glam Slam 
Alphabet St.

Single details

Released: 15 April 1988 (UK)

23 April 1988 (USA 7" and 12" releases)

Related album: Lovesexy
Label(s): Warner Bros. / Paisley Park Records
Non-Album track(s):

Alphabet St. (Cont.) (3:14)
Alphabet St. (Edit) (2:25)
Alphabet St. (This Is Not Music, This Is A Trip) (7:48)

Charts, Certifications & Awards

Charts
America
Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart
USA: Billboard Hot 100 30 Apr. 1988 8 13
USA: Billboard Hot Black Singles 30 Apr. 1988 3(1) 14
USA: Billboard Hot Dance Music - Club Play 28 May 1988 22 8
 
Europe
Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart
Belgium: Ultratop Flanders 7 May 1988 9 9
France: Nielsen & Ipsos Top 50 4 Jun. 1988 47 1
Germany: Media Control Top 50 Airplay 25 Apr. 1988 24A 5
Germany: MusikWoche Top 100 Singles 16 May 1988 18 11
Ireland: IRMA Singles Chart 18 Apr. 1988 3(?) 4
The Netherlands: Dutch Mega Top 50 30 Apr. 1988 3(2) 13
The Netherlands: Dutch Top 40 30 Apr. 1988 5 10
Norway: VG-Lista Week 18/1988 1(6) 9
Sweden: Swedish Single Chart 27 Apr. 1988 5 4
Switzerland: Schweizer Hitparade 15 May 1988 5 8
UK: Gallup Singles Chart 7 May 1988 9 6
 
Pacific
Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart
Australia: ARIA Single Top 50 26 May 1988 26 4
New Zealand: Single Chart 29 May 1988 1(1) 12
Certifications
This album has not received any certifications in the USA or elsewhere
Awards
Institution, Country Date Award
9th Minnesota Music Awards, USA 11 May 1989 R&B Composition

See also

Alphabet St.
(Music video) 		Alphabet St.
(Sheet music)

Alphabet St. was the first single to be released from Prince’s tenth album Lovesexy.

It was released three weeks before the album (four weeks before the album in the UK), and received a release around the world. Like the follow-up single Glam Slam, the single was released in a clear sleeve with a stylized sticker, rather than traditional artwork.

Alphabet St. single is notable as the first Prince-related single to be offered in a CD format at the time of release. Other than promotional releases of low-key country-specific releases, every single following this one was released on CD until 2007’s F.U.N.K..

For the first time on a Prince single, the b-side was another version of the track included on the a-side, instead of a different song. In fact, the a-side was an edit of the album version of Alphabet St., while the b-side was the continuation, together the two edits form the complete track.


Charts

The single reached number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart, and number 3 on the Billboard Hot Black Singles Chart. It fared well on the european market, reaching number 1 in Norway, top 5 positions in Ireland, The Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland, and top 10 positions in Belgium and in the United Kingdom.

Of note, Alphabet St. also reached number 1 position in New Zealand.


Track listing
7" 12"

A. Alphabet St. (Edit) (2:25)
B. Alphabet St. (Cont.) (3:14)

  • Cat #: US/CA: 7-27900

EC: 45-80141
UK: W7900
FR/DE: 927 900-7
ZA: WBS 537
JP: P-2398
AU: MX300909-10
A. Alphabet St. (Edit) (2:25)
B. Divine Emotion (Narada Michael Walden)

  • Cat #: IT: PROMO 319


A. Alphabet St. (Edit) (2:25)
B. I Don’t Want To Live Without Your Love (Chicago)

  • Cat #: AR: DFW118


Cassette Single

A. Alphabet St. (Edit) (2:25)
B. Alphabet St. (Cont.) (3:14)

  • Cat #: US: 4-27900

A. Alphabet St. (Album Version) (5:40)
B. Alphabet St. (This Is Not Music, This Is A Trip) (7:48)

  • Cat #: US: 0-20930

CA: 0-20930
UK: W7900T
DE: 920 930-0
AU: MX300911-2

Cassette Maxi

A1. Alphabet St. (Album Version) (5:40)
A2. Alphabet St. (This Is Not Music, This Is A Trip) (7:48)
B1. Alphabet St. (Album Version) (5:40)
B2. Alphabet St. (This Is Not Music, This Is A Trip) (7:48)

  • Cat #: US: 4-20930

UK: W7900C

  • See individual tracks and related albums for credits.

Other Formats
CD 7" 1989 Back To Back Reissue
  • (UK: W7900CD; DE: 920 930-2; JP: 10SW-35)

1. Alphabet St. (Album Version) (5:40)
2. Alphabet St. (This Is Not Music, This Is A Trip) (7:48)

CD Promo

  • (US: PRO-CD-3079)

1. Alphabet St. (Edit) (2:25)
2. Alphabet St. (LP Version) (5:40)
3. Alphabet St. (Extended Version) (5:40)
4. Alphabet St. (This Is Not Music, This Is A Trip) (7:48)
  • (US: 7-21858 - 1989 Back To Back Hits)

A. Alphabet St. (Edit) (2:25)
B. I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (Fade) (3:39)

Cassette Single 1989 Back To Back Hits Reissue

  • (US: 4-21858)

A. Alphabet St. (Edit) (2:25)
B. I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (Fade) (3:39)

This single wasn’t released in digital format.


Releases
7", 12", CD, Cassettes and Other versions
Country Format Cat. Number Comments Front Back Label 1 Label 2
America
Canada 7" PRO 79007 Promo WEA Comapny Sleeve
Canada 7" 92 79007 CR PVC sleeve w/ sticker
Canada 12" 92 09300 CR PVC sleeve w/ sticker
USA 7" 7-27900 Promo w/ Barcode
USA 7" 7-27900 Promo PVC sleeve w/ sticker w/o Barcode
USA 7" 7-27900 PVC sleeve w/ sticker
► See more  ► See more 
Country Format Cat. Number Comments Front Back Label 1 Label 2
USA 12" 0-20930 Promo Gold Stamp PVC sleeve w/ sticker
USA 12" 0-20930 PVC sleeve w/ sticker
USA 5"CD PRO-CD-3079 CD case w/ sticker
USA Cassette 4-27900 Transparent case w/ sticker
USA Cassette 4-20930 Transparent long box case w/ sticker
Mexico 7" PRO-265 Promo
Ecuador 7" 45-80141 Fediscos Company Sleeve
Argentina 7" DFW 118 Promo
Europe
UK 7" W 7900 Promo PVC sleeve w/ sticker
UK 7" W 7900 PVC sleeve w/ sticker
UK 12" W 7900 T PVC sleeve w/ sticker
UK Cassette W 7900 C Transparent case w/ sticker
Germany 7" 927 900-7 Promo PVC sleeve w/ sticker & Product Fact sheet
Germany 7" 927 900-7 PVC sleeve w/ sticker
Germany 12" 927 900-0 PVC sleeve w/ sticker 45 RpM
Germany 12" 927 900-0 PVC sleeve w/ sticker
Germany 3"CD 920 930-2 PVC case w/ sticker & adaptor
France 7" 927 900-7 White picture sleeve
Spain 7" 950 Promo Picture Sleeve
Italy 7" PROMO 319 Jukebox w/ sticker
Africa
South Africa 7" WBS 537 Tusk Company Sleeve
Asia
Japan 7" P-2398 Promo PVC sleeve w/ sticker & insert
Japan 7" P-2398 PVC sleeve w/ sticker & insert
Japan 3"CD 10SW-35
Pacific
Australia 7" 7-20930 MX300909-10 PVC sleeve w/ sticker
Australia 12" 0-20930 MX300911-2 PVC sleeve w/ sticker

Variants, Special Editions and Reissues
Country Format Cat. Number Comments Front Back Label 1 Label 2
USA 7" 7-21858 1989 Back To Back Reissue
USA Cassette 4-21858 1989 Back To Back Reissue
 

 

 
Additional Information
Promotion (at time of release) Triva
  • Two UK press adverts published in Smash Hits in May 1988 and facsimile of an US press advert published in Dance Music Report in May 1988:

Published in Smash Hits in May 1988 Published in Smash Hits in May 1988 Published in Dance Music Report on 6 May 1988.

  • Billboard Hot Black Singles Chart progression:
    Entry position 65 (30 Apr. 1988), 54 (7 May 1988), 36 (14 May 1988), 22 (21 May 1988), 19 (28 May 1988), 9 (4 Jun. 1988), 7 (11 Jun. 1988), 4 (18 Jun. 1988), 3 (25 Jun. 1988), 5 (2 Jul. 1988), 15 (9 Jul. 1988), 41 (16 Jul. 1988), ?? (23 Jul. 1988), Exit position: ?? (30 Jul. 1988).
    More information needed.
  • Billboard Hot 100 Chart progression:
    Entry position 62 (30 Apr. 1988), 49 (7 May 1988), 33 (14 May 1988), 27 (21 May 1988), 19 (28 May 1988), 15 (4 Jun. 1988), 12 (11 Jun. 1988), 10 (18 Jun. 1988), 8 (25 Jun. 1988), 12 (2 Jul. 1988), 30 (9 Jul. 1988), 41 (16 Jul. 1988), Exit position: 71 (23 Jul. 1988).
References
Top Pop Singles 1955-2010by Joel Withburn ISBN 0-89820-190-X
Top R&B Singles 1942 - 1999by Joel Whitburn ISBN 0-89820-136-5
Hot Dance/Disco 1974-2003by Joel Withburn ISBN 0-89820-156-X
1987
The Cross 		All Singles All Related Artists Singles 1988
Glam Slam
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