Prince (April 15, 1988) Alphabet St. - Single 7"/12"/CD UK

A stripped‑back Lovesexy groove, Alphabet St. launched as the lead single from Prince’s tenth album Lovesexy

RELEASE DETAILS

Date: April 15, 1988

Catalogue: W 7900 (7") / W 7900 T (12") / W 7900 CD (CD)

Format: 7" Single, 12" Maxi-Single, CD Mini Single, Cassette

Country: United Kingdom Album: Lovesexy (1988)

A-Side: Alphabet St. (Edit / Album Version)

B-Side: Alphabet St. (This Is Not Music, This Is A Trip)

THE STORY

Released in the UK on April 15, 1988 as the lead single from Lovesexy, “Alphabet St.” marked the beginning of the new era with a minimalist visual presentation. All formats were issued in clear sleeves/cases with a stylized sticker. The B-side is a continuation of the A-side, completing the full song across both sides. The 12", cassette, and CD formats included the extended mix “This Is Not Music, This Is A Trip.” It peaked at No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart.

CONTEXT & NOTES

This was the first Prince single issued on CD at the time of release. The clear packaging and sticker design gave it a stripped-back, modern feel that perfectly matched the Lovesexy aesthetic. The track features Cat Glover on rap and additional contributions from Sheila E., Eric Leeds, and others.

TRACK LIST

UK 7" Single (W 7900)

A. Alphabet St. (Edit) – 2:25

B. Alphabet St. – 3:14

UK 12" Maxi-Single (W 7900 T)

A. Alphabet St. (Album Version) – 5:40

B. Alphabet St. (This Is Not Music, This Is A Trip) – 7:48

TRACK LIST (CD Mini Single)

1. Alphabet St. (Album Version) – 5:40

2. Alphabet St. (This Is Not Music, This Is A Trip) – 7:48

All UK Variants

• 7" Single – Paisley Park W 7900 (clear PVC sleeve with sticker)

• 12" Single – Paisley Park W 7900 T (clear PVC sleeve with oval sticker)

• 12" White Label Promo – Paisley Park W 7900 T

• Cassette Single – Paisley Park W 7900 C (clear case with title sticker)

• CD Mini Single – Paisley Park 920 930-2 / W 7900 CD (clear 5" j-card case with white title sticker)

CHART PERFORMANCE UK Singles Chart: Peak No. 9 (6 weeks)

PERSONNEL

• Prince – lead & backing vocals, guitar, synthesizers, bass, programming

• Sheila E. – drums, handclaps

• Eric Leeds – saxophone

• Atlanta Bliss – trumpet

• Cat Glover – rap, backing vocals

• Boni Boyer – backing vocals

• Ingrid Chavez – spoken voice

PACKAGING HIGHLIGHTS

• All formats issued in clear sleeves/cases with sticker only (no traditional artwork)

• 7" and 12" in clear PVC with oval or title sticker

• CD mini single in clear j-card case with white title sticker

WHAT THE LABEL / SLEEVE SHOWS Clear sleeves with prominent title stickers. Labels feature the classic Paisley Park purple/pink/gold paisley design with full track and production credits.

RELATED MATERIAL

• Kiss (February/March 1986)

• Anotherloverholenyohead (October 20, 1986)

• Mountains (May 21, 1986)

• Sign o’ the Times (February/March 1987)

• U Got The Look (July 21, 1987)

• I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (November/December 1987)

For other relevant posts, see the tags at the foot of the page.

SOURCES Prince Vault • Discogs • BBC Official Charts Company

COPYRIGHT NOTICE All single artwork, photographs, logos, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.