7
{{song|
|song name = 7
|album image = 
from the album 
|single image = 
single art for 7
digital download for 7 (E Flat Version)
|performer = Prince and the New Power Generation
|first released = 13 October 1992 - album
|album(s) =
The Hits 1
The Hits / The B-Sides
Ultimate
4Ever
|writer(s) = Prince (credited to Prince and the New Power Generation)
|producer(s) = Prince (credited to Prince and the New Power Generation)
|previous song = 5 Women
|next song = 7 Hours
|introduction = 7 is the 14th track (13th song) on Prince’s 14th album , the second to be credited to Prince and the New Power Generation, and, five weeks after the album’s release, 7 was released as the album’s third single (on the same day as the Damn U single). In 1993, the track was included as the 18th and final track on The Hits 1 (also included as the first disc of The Hits / The B-Sides). In 2006, the track was included as the 15th track on the first disc of Ultimate.
While specific recording dates are not known, basic tracking took place in December 1990 at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota. This early version was not included on any known configuration of the Diamonds And Pearls album though. Additional recording or basic tracking of a new version took place between September 1991, and March 1992, at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota. It was included as the 19th track (twelfth song) on a March 1992, configuration of the album, and the 19th track (13th song) on a late-Summer 1992, configuration, before many of the album’s segues were removed for release. The track is a solo recording by Prince, but the drum loop is sampled from Tramp, a 1967 song written by Lowell Fulson and Jimmy McCracklin, as performed by Lowell Fulson (from Tramp 1967, also released as a single; also performed by Otis Redding and Carla Thomas).
Remixes of the track were made by Hip Hop producer Marley Marl for a possible inclusion on the maxi-single but they remain unreleased.
|recording info =
|- align="left"
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|December 1990
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Tracking (early version)
|- align="left"
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|September 1991 - March 1992
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Tracking or adding to December 1990 version
|- align="left"
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|8 or 9 August 1992
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|New version in E-flat with different vocals
|- align="left"
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Summer 1992
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Larrabee Sound Studios, North Hollywood, CA, USA
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Additional Production and Mix by Keith "K.C." Cohen
|- align="left"
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Late 1992 (assumed)
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Unknown studio, USA
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Remixes by Marley Marl
|recording personnel =
- Prince - all vocals and instruments
- Chuck Thomas - drums (uncredited, sampled loop from Tramp by Lowell Fulson)
|released versions =
| Title | Length | Released | Version | Additional info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 5:13 | album |
Studio | |
| 7 (Album Version) | 5:09 | 7 single |
Edit | Same as album version without the opening sound effect |
| 7 (Album Edit) | 4:23 | 7 single |
Edit | |
| 7 (Acoustic Version) | 3:54 | 7 single |
Remix | Remix to enhance acoustic sound; not an acoustic recording |
| 7 (After 6 Long Version) | 5:15 | 7 single |
Remix | |
| 7 (After 6 Edit) | 4:20 | 7 single |
Remix edit | |
| 7 (Mix 5 Long Version) | 4:56 | 7 promo |
Remix | |
| 7 (Mix 5 Edit) | 4:06 | 7 promo |
Remix edit | |
| 7 (E Flat Version) | 5:02 | Vault Series Vol.1 USB Key |
Remix |
|sampled in = |- |style="color:#AB3E00" |Sampled, Referred to, Quoted in...
|- | valign="top"|
| Title | Length | Released | Version | Additional info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Whom It May Concern | 4:02 | My Name Is Prince single |
Studio medley | See 2 Whom It May Concern for more details |
| 95 Tour Wallpaper (video) | Unreleased | Glam Slam clubs in-house video | Long-form video-mix with vocal samples from 7 among others. |
|video versions = |- |style="color:#AB3E00" |Video Versions
|- | valign="top"|
| Title | Length | Released | Version | Additional info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 5:11 | The Hits Collection VHS/DVD | Promo video | See 7 video for more details |
| 7 | 4:40 | 3 Chains O’ Gold VHS/laserdisc | Promo video | Edited version of 7 above |
|broadcasts, streaming = |- |style="color:#AB3E00" |Broadcasts/streaming (only)
|- | valign="top"|
| Title | Length | Released | Version | Additional info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 2:52 | Act I TV-special | Video version | Edited version using the album version and the acoustic version of the song. See Act I TV-special for details. |
| 7 / Come Together | 13:47 | Lotusflow3r.com video stream |
Live | 26 April 2008, Coachella Music Festival, Empire Polo Field, Indio, CA, USA |
|unreleased versions = |- |style="color:#AB3E00" |Unreleased Versions
|- | valign="top"|
| Title | Version | Additional Info |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | early version | Mayte was the ’seed of an idea for the song', Dec. '90 |
| 7 (Bigger End Chorus) | Remix | Remix (possibly in-progress) by Marley Marl for 7 single. Almost (if not) identical to the 7 (Final Vocal). |
| 7 (Drums And Vocals) | Remix | Remix (possibly in-progress) by Marley Marl for 7 single. 7 (Final Vocal) with a slightly different backing. |
| 7 (Final Vocal) | Remix | Remix (possibly in-progress) by Marley Marl for 7 single. |
| 7 (Final Vocal Safety Remix) | Remix | Remix (possibly in-progress) by Marley Marl for 7 single. Almost (if not) identical to the 7 (Final Vocal). |
| 7 (Instrumental) | Remix | Remix (possibly in-progress) by Marley Marl for 7 single. Instrumental version of the 7 (Final Vocal). |
| 7 (Rumble Mix) | Remix | Remix (possibly in-progress) by Marley Marl for 7 single. Almost (if not) identical to the 7 (Final Vocal). |
| 7 (TV Track) | Remix | Remix (possibly in-progress) by Marley Marl for 7 single. Mostly instrumental version of the 7 (Final Vocal). |
|first live appearance = 18 February 1993, Glam Slam, Minneapolis, Minnesota |performed regularly on = Act I
|performed occasionally in = 2002, 2006, 2007 (as medley with Come Together), 2008 (as medley with Come Together), 2009, 2010 |trivia = 7 is not related in any way to the Madhouse track Seven, despite the similarity of the name.
- The version titled 7 in E Flat was one of the unreleased songs was played for VIP attendees of the Celebration event held at Paisley Park Studios in June 2023
- The loop lifted from Lowell Fulson’s Tramp was previously used on at least two singles which had charts success in 1991 : How I Could Just Kill a Man by Cyrpess Hill and Rampage by EPMD. It is not known if the initial December 1990 version of 7 used the same sample.
- 7 also uses the Evil Laugh track from Simon Harris’ compilation "Beats, Breaks & Scratches Volume 4" also heard on Shake! (Boom Mix) and 2 Whom It May Concern.
|see also = album
- 7 single
- 7 video
- 7 (E Flat Version) digital download
|single image = [[File: 7Eflat.jpg |references = The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004) |categories =
}}
