🟣🎵 Alphabet St. – Single US: Apr. 1988
- GlamSlamEscape
- Apr 23, 1988
- 4 min read
Updated: 5 hours ago
Prince released “Alphabet St.” as the lead single from his tenth studio album Lovesexy. Issued three weeks before the album (four weeks before in the UK), it marked Prince’s first single to be made available commercially on CD at the time of release and featured an innovative split-side edit of the title track rather than a traditional B-side.
The single was released worldwide in a clear sleeve with a stylized sticker, reflecting Prince’s, minimalist approach to packaging during this Lovesexy era.
🟣 The Story
“Alphabet St.” was the first single lifted from Lovesexy and served as an upbeat, funky introduction to the album’s spiritual and playful themes. Unlike previous singles, the 7" version split the track into an edit on the A-side and its continuation on the B-side, effectively presenting the full song across both sides. The 12" included the full album version plus the extended “This Is Not Music, This Is A Trip” mix. Prince continued his experimentation with format and presentation, making this one of the earliest Prince singles issued on CD.
🟣 Format: 7" Single
Label: Paisley Park / Warner Bros. Records
Catalogue Number: 7-27900 (US/CA)
Released: April 23, 1988 (US)
Chart Position: US Billboard Hot 100 – #8
Track List — 7" Single
Side A
• Alphabet St. (Edit) — 2:25
Side B
• Alphabet St. (Cont.) — 3:14
Writing Credits
• Prince — all tracks
Production Credits
• Produced by: Prince
🟣 Format: 12" Single
Label: Paisley Park / Warner Bros. Records
Catalogue Number: 0-20930 (US)
Track List — 12" Single
Side A
• Alphabet St. (Album Version) — 5:40
Side B
• Alphabet St. (This Is Not Music, This Is A Trip) — 7:48
Writing Credits
• Prince — all tracks
Production Credits
• Produced by: Prince
🟣 Format: Cassette Single
Label: Paisley Park / Warner Bros. Records
Catalogue Number: 4-27900 (US)
Track List — Cassette Single
Side A
• Alphabet St. (Edit) — 2:25
Side B
• Alphabet St. (Cont.) — 3:14
🟣 Format: CD Promo Single
Label: Paisley Park / Warner Bros. Records
Catalogue Number: PRO-CD-3079 (US)
Track List — CD Promo
1. Alphabet St. (Edit) — 2:25
2. Alphabet St. (LP Version) — 5:40
3. Alphabet St. (Extended Version) — 5:40
4. Alphabet St. (This Is Not Music, This Is A Trip) — 7:48
🟣 Key Highlights
• Released April 23, 1988
• First Prince single issued on CD format at time of release
• Lead single from the album Lovesexy
• B-side is a continuation of the A-side rather than a new song
🟣 Personnel
• Prince — vocals, instruments, production
🟣 Variants
• 7" Single — Paisley Park / Warner Bros. – 7-27900 — US/CA — 1988
• 12" Single — Paisley Park / Warner Bros. – 0-20930 — US — 1988
• Cassette Single — Paisley Park / Warner Bros. – 4-27900 — US — 1988
• CD Promo Single — Paisley Park / Warner Bros. – PRO-CD-3079 — US — 1988
🟣 Chart Performance
United States — Billboard Hot 100
Peak Position: 8
Total Weeks: 13
First Chart Date: April 30, 1988
United States — Billboard Hot Black Singles
Peak Position: 3
Total Weeks: 14
First Chart Date: April 30, 1988
United States — Billboard Hot Dance Music - Club Play
Peak Position: 22
Total Weeks: 8
First Chart Date: May 28, 1988
🟣 Video
Title: Alphabet St.
Director: Patrick R. Epstein
Production Date: 20 March 1988
Producer: Michael R. Barnard
Concept: Prince walking and driving a late‑60s Ford Thunderbird through an environment constructed from letters.
Hidden Messages
“Don’t buy The Black Album, I’m sorry.”
B “heaven is so beautiful”
D “dance 4 the light ”
G “funk guitar”
H “(heroin) is 4 punks”
E “if U don’t mind”
G “GOD I LOVE U ♡”
🟣 Context & Notes
• Single era: Lovesexy (1988)
• Production: Prince
• Sleeve notes: Clear sleeve with stylized sticker (no traditional artwork)
• Historical placement: First Prince single released on CD; innovative split-side edit format
• Reissues / remasters: Later included on Lovesexy reissues and compilations
🟣 Related Material
• Previous single: “I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man” / “Hot Thing” (1987)
• Next single: “Glam Slam” (1988)
• Associated album: Lovesexy (1988)
🟣 Mini‑Timeline
✦ 1988 — Recorded during Lovesexy sessions
✦ April 23, 1988 — Single released in the US
✦ April 30, 1988 — Enters Billboard Hot 100
🟣 Glam Flashback
Alphabet St. arrived like a bright purple flash of funk and mischief — Prince dancing through the alphabet with a wink and a groove, proving once again that he could turn even the simplest idea into pure pop magic.
🟣 Sources
Prince Vault, Discogs, Billboard archives, Warner Bros. Records catalogue data.
🟣 Copyright Notice
All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle 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.
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