Darlene Marie

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Darkside   < < < Non-Prince Songs All Prince Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Darling Nikki
Darlene Marie / Darlin’ Marie / Darling Marie

Song details
Performer: Prince
Writer(s): Prince
Producer(s): Prince
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
  • This track is not believed to have been performed live by Prince.
Performed regularly on tour:
  • none
Performed occasionally in shows:
  • none

Darlene Marie is an unreleased track initially recorded in early November 1978 at Prince’s France Avenue Home Studio in Edina, Minnesota and again in late May 1979, at Hollywood Sound Recorders in Los Angeles, California (around the time Prince was recording overdubs for the Prince album). The track was written for Darlene, a girl Prince met in San Francisco, California in September 1978 and was seeing at the time. Her middle name was Maria, but was written as Marie on her baptismal record. Prince liked Marie better than Maria, or found it better suited the lyrics. He first wrote the song as a present for her around her birthday (1 November) and recorded a version of it in early November 1978 in his France Avenue Home Studio in Edina, Minnesota.

Apparently the song was renamed Darling Marie when re-recorded in May 1979 and tentatively placed as the last track of an early configuration for the Prince album. It has a relatively simple arrangement and features Prince accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, while the lyrics include the line "Darlene Marie... why don’t you marry me?" This likely refers to the fact that Darlene was engaged to be married when they met. Prince wanted her to marry him instead.

Darlene also inspired the song Head.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
Early Nov. 1978 France Avenue Home Studio,
Edina, MN, USA
Tracking
May 1979 Alpha Studios,
Burbank, CA, USA
Tracking (Version 2)
30 May 1979 Hollywood Sound Recorders,
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Mixing
Recording Personnel
  • Prince - all vocals and guitar

Versions
Unreleased Versions
Title Version Additional Info
Darlene Marie Studio Recorded early Nov. 1978
Darling Marie Studio Recorded late May 1979


 
Additional Information

See also Trivia

  • Another track named after a friend during the same era is Nadara (and possibly Donna)

References
Darkside   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Darling Nikki