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If I Love U 2 Nite (a.k.a. If I Love You Tonight and If  Love U 2night) was originally released as the the third track on Mica Paris’ second album Contribution, and soon after the album’s release, If I Love U 2 Nite was released as the album third and final single. Prince’s version of the song was inadvertently included on the first run limited promo edition of Paris’single. These copies (most likely from a bootleged tape) were printed by mistake without the consent of the artists and the label. A recall campaign was launched by Island Records to get back these 200 disputed copies sent to DJs. Although available for a limited time and on official media (becoming an instantly collectible item), Prince’s version is considered unofficial.
In 1994, a new version of the track by Mayte (with direct input from Prince), renamed If ♥ U 2night was included as the fourth track on the album 1-800 New Funk (a compilation of mostly-unreleased music largely written and produced by Prince/ , recorded by other Paisley Park Records artists).
In 1995, this version was included as the third track on Mayte’s first and only studio album, Child Of The Sun (with a Spanish version appearing as the eleventh track), and a month after the album’s release, If  ♥ U 2night was released as the album’s second single.
Basic tracking for the original version (called If I Love You Tonight and sung by Gayle Chapman) took place between 10-21 July 1979 at Mountain Ears Sound Studio in Boulder, Colorado, during sessions for The Rebels album (the same set of sessions that produced Too Long, Disco Away, Thrill You Or Kill You, You, The Loser, Hard To Get, an untitled instrumental by Dez Dickerson and an untitled instrumental by André Cymone ).
Prince re-recorded the song entirely in July 1987 during his first recording sessions at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota (during the same set of sessions that produced No Changes, Melody Cool and Graffiti Bridge).
This version was submitted to Mica Paris for her consideration. Her version was recorded from scratch in an unknown studio (information needed) between late 1988 and 1990. The opening of Mica Paris’ album version is a slowed down sample of the intro of Halo by Depeche Mode, from their 1990 album Violator. The song was also offered to Kohiruimaki (most likely in 1989) but it is not known if she re-recorded it.
While specific recording dates are not known for Mayte’s version, it was recorded sometime in late 1993 or 1994 at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
The Spanish Version was likely recorded at the same time or very soon after (only the vocals are different on this version). A raw version of the track was included as the first track on an early configuration of Mayte’s first solo album, known at the time as Latino Barbie Doll, which was worked on further to become Child Of The Sun and included as the tenth track on the final album, as Si Te Amo Esta Noche.
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Recording Information
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Recording Sessions
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| Date
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Studio
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Additional info
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| 10-21 July 1979
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Mountain Ears Sound Studio,
Boulder, CO, USA
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Tracking (The Rebels version)
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| July 1987
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Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
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Re-recording (Prince)
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| Late 1988 - 1990
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Unknown studio (information needed)
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Tracking (Mica Paris version)
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| 1990 - early 1991
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Unknown studio (information needed)
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Remixes (Mica Paris version)
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| Late 1993 - 1994
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Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
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Tracking (Mayte version)
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| Late 1993 - 1994
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Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
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Vocal overdubs (Mayte’s Spanish Version)
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| 1994
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Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
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Remixes (Mayte version)
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Recording Personnel
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Mica Paris version
- Mica Paris – vocals, backing vocals
- Camus Mare Celli - drum programming (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- Andres Levin - drum programming (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- Nile Rodgers - guitar (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- Chris Parks - guitar (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- Paul Pesco - guitar (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- Carl Carter - bass guitar (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- Deon Estus - bass guitar (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- Andy Hess - bass guitar (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- K.C. Filson - keyboards (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- Eric Codee - keyboards (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- Danny Wilensky - tenor and alto saxophone ("The Delta Horns") (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- Chris Botti - trumpet and flugelhorn ("The Delta Horns") (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- Birch Johnson - trombone ("The Delta Horns") (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- Cindy Mizelle - backing vocals (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- Fonzi Thonton - backing vocals (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- Dennis Collins - backing vocals (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- Marga Roman - backing vocals (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- Tracey Amos - backing vocals (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- Will Downing - backing vocals (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- Craig Derry - backing vocals (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- Michelle Cobbs - backing vocals (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- Alisha Warren - backing vocals (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- Marque Gilmore - percussion (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- Siro Baptista - percussion (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
- Miguel Valdez - percussion (credited for whole album, specific track information uncertain)
Mayte version
The Rebels version
Prince version
- Prince - all vocals and instruments (assumed)
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Versions
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Released Versions
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Video Versions
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Unreleased Versions
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| Title
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Version
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Additional Info
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| If I Love You Tonight
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Studio
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Recorded 10-21 July 1979
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| If I Love U 2 Nite
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Studio
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Prince’s version inadvertently included on Mica Paris’ 12" single
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| If I Love U 2 Nite
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Alternate
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Alternate mix of Prince’s version
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| If ♥ U 2night
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Studio
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Mayte version closer to the 1987 Prince version
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| If ♥ U 2night
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Remix
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Unreleased remix of Mayte’s final version. Used for promotional (lip-synched) performances.
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