Solo

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Solo

Come.jpg
from the album Come
Song details
Performer: Prince
First Released: 9 August 1994 - Letitgo single
Album(s): Come
Writer(s): Prince (music), David Henry Hwang (lyrics)
Producer(s): Prince
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
Performed regularly on tour:
  • none
Performed occasionally in shows:

Solo is the eighth track on Prince’s fifteenth album Come, and, a week before the album’s release, was included as the b-side of Letitgo, the album’s first single, released worldwide.

Although specific recording dates are not known, basic tracks were recorded in mid to late May 1993 at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota (during the same set of sessions that produced Space, Pope, Strays Of The World, What’s My Name, Interactive, Zannalee, and an updated recording of Race).

The lyrics had been written by David Henry Hwang, writer of the play M. Butterfly, which Prince had been to see in 1989. Hwang was contacted in 1993 by Prince about the possibility of writing a stage musical, and they met soon after in New York City to discuss the project.

When discussing the project, Prince asked Hwang to write a poem for him "about loss", to use as a spoken word interlude in a song. At some point later, Hwang wrote the lyrics of Solo as a poem and faxed them to Paisley Park Studios. A few days later, Hwang received a cassette containing the full song Solo, with the lyrics sung, rather than as a spoken interlude.

Hwang was notified when the song was released in 1994 on Come and on the Letitgo single, and he received writing co-credit and an RIAA gold album, although he was not paid for his contribution. The musical that the song was originally intended for, believed to have been titled Come, was abandoned, however.

Although released after Prince’s name change to SymbolSmallerBlue.png, the track (and album) were credited to Prince, as it was recorded prior to the change (although Hwang’s recollection of their initial phone calls was that he had already changed his name to SymbolSmallerBlue.png, which did not happen until the month after the track was recorded).


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
Mid-late May 1993 Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Tracking "New power trio" version
Mid-late May 1993 Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Tracking solo version
Recording Personnel

Released version

  • Prince - all vocals and instruments


Unreleased version


Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Solo 3:48 Come

Letitgo single

Studio


Unreleased Versions
Title Version Additional Info
Solo Studio "New power trio" version, with Michael B. and Sonny T.
 
Additional Information

See also Trivia


References
Soft And Wet   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Some Kind Of Lover