I Would Die 4 U

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I Would Die 4 U

Purplerain.jpg
from the album Purple Rain
Iwoulddie4u single.jpg
single art for I Would Die 4 U
Song details
Performer: Prince and the Revolution
First Released: 25 June 1984 - Purple Rain album
Album(s): Purple Rain

The Hits 2
The Hits / The B-Sides
The Very Best Of Prince
Ultimate
4Ever
Purple Rain Deluxe Edition and Deluxe Expanded Edition
Prince And The Revolution: Live

Writer(s): Prince (credited to Prince and the Revolution)
Producer(s): Prince (credited to Prince and the Revolution)
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
Performed regularly on tour:
Performed occasionally in shows:
  • 1983, 2001, 2007 , 2011 (clip only during sampler set), 2012 (during sampler set), 2013 (during sampler set), 2014 (during sampler set), 2015 (during sampler set), 2016 (solo piano)

I Would Die 4 U is the seventh track on Prince’s sixth album Purple Rain, the first album to be credited to Prince and the Revolution. Five months after the album’s release, I Would Die 4 U was released as the album’s fourth single. The track is also featured in the movie Purple Rain.

In 1993, the track was included as the eighth track on the compilation album The Hits 2 (also included as the second disc of The Hits / The B-Sides).

In 2001, the track was included as the seventh track on the compilation album The Very Best Of Prince.

In 2006, the track was included as the seventh track on the first disc of the compilation album Ultimate.

The song dates back to at least 1982 when it was tried out in soundcheck during a Controversy Tour show (on 15 February 1982 at San Francisco Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, CA, USA). Together with Baby I’m A Star, it was (possibly first) rehearsed with The Revolution on 15 June 1983 at The Warehouse in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. A rehearsal take of the track was then recorded with the band on 21 June 1983 at The Warehouse in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, which remains unreleased.

The song was then cut live on 3 August 1983 at First Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota (at the same concert where Baby I’m A Star and Purple Rain were also recorded).

In September the 2-minute First Avenue live -recording song was extended in the studio with edited in extra bars after where the song originally segued into Baby I’m A Star. It then included an instrumental break, that was eventually edited out before release.

It was included as the seventh track on a tentative 7 November 1983 configuration of the album, and the sixth track on the 23 March 1984 configuration, but became the seventh track on the final 14 April 1984 configuration after some tracklist changes to the album.

A tour rehearsal jam version of the song was recorded on 25 October 1984 for release on the single’s 12". The full take lasted over 30 minutes, but was edited down by two-third before release. The 12" single version of the track was included as the eleventh track on the first disc of an early configuration of the compilation album Ultimate before the album was reworked for release.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
1982 (assumed) Kiowa Trail Home Studio,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
or
Sunset Sound
Hollywood, CA, USA (assumed)
Tracking (assumed)
21 June 1983 The Warehouse,
St. Louis Park, MN, USA
Rehearsal recording
3 August 1983, First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, USA First Avenue
Minneapolis, MN, USA
Live recording
31 August 1983-3 September 1983 Sunset Sound,
Hollywood, CA, USA
Overdubs, Mix
25 October 1984 Minneapolis Auditorium,
Minneapolis, MN,USA
Rehearsal recording
Recording Personnel

Warehouse rehearsal and Purple Rain (album) version



Tour Rehearsal Recording



Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
I Would Die 4 U 2:51 Purple Rain album

Strange Tales From The Rain promotional album
Nothing Compares 2 Him promotional album

Live with overdubs 3 August 1983, First Avenue in Minneapolis, MN, USA; segues (as recorded) with Baby I’m A Star
I Would Die 4 U 2:51 Purple Rain Deluxe Edition and Deluxe Expanded Edition
Studio Remastered 2015
I Would Die 4 U (Single Version) 2:57 I Would Die 4 U single

Prince Sampler promotional album
The Story So Far... promotional album
Sounds O’ The Times promotional album
Eye88.png Love Prince promotional album
The Hits 2 album
The Hits / The B-Sides album
The Very Best Of Prince album
Ultimate album
4Ever album

Edit Slightly alternate ending avoiding segue. a.k.a. 7" Single Edit
I Would Die 4 U (7" Single Edit) 2:57 Purple Rain Deluxe Expanded Edition - Single Edits & B-Sides album
Edit Remastered
I Would Die 4 U 2:57 I Would Die 4 U UK promo single
Edit Fade out ending
I Would Die 4 U (Extended Version) 10:15 I Would Die 4 U single

His Majesty’s Pop Life
Erotic City reissue single
Purple Rain Deluxe Expanded Edition - Single Edits & B-Sides

Rehearsal recording with Sheila E. and members of her band. A.k.a 7" Single Extended Version
I Would Die 4 U (7" Single Extended Version) 10:15 I Would Die 4 U single

His Majesty’s Pop Life
Erotic City reissue single
Purple Rain Deluxe Expanded Edition - Single Edits & B-Sides

Rehearsal recording with Sheila E. and members of her band. Remastered
I Would Die 4 U 3:27 Prince And The Revolution: Live Live 30 March 1985, Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY, USA
I Would Die 4 U 3:26 Prince And The Revolution: Live (2022 re-release) Live 30 March 1985, Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY, USA. Remastered
Video Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
I Would Die 4 U 4:01 The Hits Collection VHS/DVD

Purple Rain 20th Anniversary DVD

Live concert promo video 20 November 1984, Landover, MD, USA; See I Would Die 4 U video for more details
I Would Die 4 U 3:50 Prince And The Revolution: Live VHS/laserdisc

Purple Rain Deluxe Expanded Edition – Live at the Carrier Dome (DVD)
Prince And The Revolution: Live (2022 re-release)

Live 30 March 1985, Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY, USA


Unreleased Versions
Title Version Additional Info
I Would Die 4 U Studio Possible 1982 studio version (unverified)
I Would Die 4 U Live recording 3 August 1983, First Avenue version; without overdubs
I Would Die 4 U Live recording 3 August 1983, First Avenue version; contains instrumental break edited from release
I Would Die 4 U (Extended Version) Rehearsal recording Version edited for release on 12"; features Sheila E. and members of her band
 
Additional Information

See also Trivia


References
I Wonder U   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   I’ll Do Anything