Prince (December 1, 1989) The Scandalous Sex Suite - Maxi-Single 12" US
- Escape
- Dec 1, 1989
- 2 min read
A seductive, cinematic extension of Prince’s Batman soundtrack — reimagined as a 19‑minute suite of desire, danger, and whispered chemistry with Kim Basinger
RELEASE DETAILS
Date: December 1, 1989
Catalogue: 0-21445 (12" Maxi) Format: 12" Maxi-Single, 7" Single, CD Maxi-Single Country: United States Album: Batman (Soundtrack, 1989)
A-Side: The Scandalous Sex Suite (The Crime / The Passion / The Rapture / Sex) B-Side: When 2 R In Love
THE STORY
Released on December 1, 1989 as the fourth single from the Batman soundtrack, The Scandalous Sex Suite expands the slow-burn ballad “Scandalous!” into a 19-minute erotic narrative divided into four movements: The Crime, The Passion, The Rapture, and Sex. Featuring spoken and moaned contributions from Kim Basinger, the suite was co-written by Prince and his father John L. Nelson. The 7" version included the radio edit of “Scandalous!” with “When 2 R In Love” as the B-side.
CONTEXT & NOTES
This maxi-single format allowed Prince to treat the release as a mini-soundtrack experience. It highlighted his cinematic approach to music and his collaboration with Kim Basinger, adding a layer of tabloid intrigue and artistic sensuality to the Batman campaign.
TRACK LIST
US 12" Maxi-Single
A1. The Crime – 6:25
A2. The Passion – 6:20
A3. The Rapture – 6:30
A4. Sex – 6:56
B. When 2 R In Love – 3:58
US 7" Single
A. Scandalous! (Edit) – 4:12
B. When 2 R In Love – 3:58
All Variants
7" Commercial Single
12" Maxi-Single (standard commercial release)
CD Maxi-Single (international editions)
CHART PERFORMANCE US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Peak No. 5
PERSONNEL
Prince – vocals, all instruments, production, arrangement
Kim Basinger – spoken word, moans
John L. Nelson – co-writer
Eric Leeds – saxophone
PACKAGING HIGHLIGHTS
Front sleeve: Dramatic image of Prince in a red suit performing with microphone
Back sleeve: Large red-and-black Batman logo with track credits
Consistent with the Batman soundtrack visual campaign
WHAT THE LABEL / SLEEVE SHOWS
Front cover features Prince in a striking red outfit under dramatic lighting. Back sleeve dominated by the bold red Batman symbol. Labels show standard Warner Bros. design with Paisley Park branding and full suite movement credits.
RELATED MATERIAL
Kiss (February/March 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)
Alphabet St. (April 1988)
Glam Slam (July 1988)
I Wish U Heaven (October 1988)
Batdance (June 1989)
Partyman (September 1989)
The Arms Of Orion (November 1989)
For other relevant posts, see the tags at the foot of the page.
SOURCES Prince Vault • Discogs • Billboard charts
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.
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