Released digitally worldwide on 6 June 2025 by Legacy Recordings, Free (Acoustic Version) presents a previously unheard 4:09 stripped‑down take of the 1982 album track from 1999. This vault recording showcases Prince alone with his guitar, delivering a tender, unembellished performance that reframes one of his most uplifting anthems as a personal, introspective confession.

1999 is Prince’s fifth studio album and his first double album, released in October 1982. A groundbreaking, futuristic masterpiece, it marked his commercial breakthrough and introduced the world to the full power of The Revolution. RELEASE DETAILS Artist: Prince Label: Warner Bros. Records Date: October 27, 1982 (USA) Catalogue: 9 23720-1 (2LP) Format: 2LP (US), Single LP (UK/Europe reissue 1983) Country: United States (international releases followed) THE STORY 1999 is a bol

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports on the second annual Minnesota Music Awards, noting that Prince won “Musician of the Year” for the second consecutive year while the Lamont Cranston Band dominated the event. PUBLICATION Publication: Minneapolis Star Tribune Date: Tuesday, May 25, 1982 Country: United States Section / Pages: Page 21 (7B) Title: Lamont Cranston overshadows field THE STORY The article covers the Minnesota Music Awards presented at the Prom Center. While th

A vibrant hometown showcase highlighting the rising power of the Minneapolis Sound, with standout performances by The Time and Vanity 6 under Prince’s creative influence SOURCE DETAILS Publication: Star Tribune Date: March 9, 1982 Country: United States Section / Pages: Concert Review / Entertainment Feature THE STORY Michael Anthony reviews a high-energy Met Center concert featuring Prince’s protégés The Time and Vanity 6. The Time deliver a tight, theatrical, and swagger-fi

A bold full-page hometown promotional advert announcing Prince’s major return to Minneapolis for a Met Center concert with The Time and the taping of a television special. SOURCE DETAILS Publication: Star Tribune Date: March 7, 1982 Country: United States Section / Pages: Full-page promotional advertisement THE STORY This eye-catching advert promotes two special events: Prince recording and taping material for an upcoming television special, and a full-scale concert at the Me

ntroduced Prince as a 21‑year‑old multi‑instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, and chart‑regular • Highlighted his rapid ascent: debut in 1978, gold certification by 1979, and the release of Controversy in October 1981 • Positioned Prince as both a rock musician and a socially conscious lyricist • Emphasised his use of provocative stage effects to raise awareness

Prince transforms a Minneapolis dance craze into an 8‑minute funk marathon — the definitive “Let’s Work” experience.

Prince’s dance‑floor command born from a local Minneapolis craze and reshaped into pure Controversy‑era funk RELEASE DETAILS Date: January 6, 1982 Catalogue: WBS 50002 (US) / WB 17922 (NL/DE) Format: 7" Single Country: United States (also issued in Netherlands/Germany) A-Side: “Let’s Work” Written by: Prince Produced by: Prince B-Side: “Ronnie, Talk To Russia” THE STORY Released on January 6, 1982, “Let’s Work” was the second single from Prince’s album Controversy. Originally