Prince (December 19, 1987) I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man - Maxi-Single 12" US
Updated: May 24
A Sign O’ The Times rocker trimmed for radio and paired with a club‑ready B‑side
RELEASE DETAILS
Date: December 19, 1987
Catalogue: 0-20728
Format: 12" Maxi-Single, Promo, Cassette Country: United States
Album: Sign o’ the Times (1987)
A-Side: I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (LP Version / Fade) – 6:31 / 3:39 B-Side: Hot Thing (Edit / Extended Remix / Dub Version)
THE STORY
Released in the United States on December 19, 1987 as the fourth and final commercial single from Sign o’ the Times, “I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man” featured the full album version alongside Shep Pettibone remixes of “Hot Thing.” This was the first time Prince allowed an outside producer (Shep Pettibone, with edits by Junior Vasquez) to create official remixes for a commercial release. The single reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
CONTEXT & NOTES
This 12" maxi-single highlighted Prince’s growing openness to club culture in the late 1980s. The extended mixes of “Hot Thing” gave the track new life on dancefloors, while the A-side remained a powerful rock-funk showcase.
TRACK LIST
US 12" Maxi-Single (0-20728)
A1. I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man – 6:31
A2. Hot Thing (Edit) – 3:40
B1. Hot Thing (Extended Remix) – 8:32 B2. Hot Thing (Dub Version) – 6:53
Cassette Long Box (4-20728)
Same tracklist as the 12" Maxi-Single
All US Variants
12" Maxi-Single — Paisley Park 0-20728
12" Promo — Paisley Park PRO-A-2770 A. I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (Fade) – 3:39 B. I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man – 6:31
CHART PERFORMANCE
US Billboard Hot 100: Peak No. 10
PERSONNEL
Prince – vocals, all instruments, production
Shep Pettibone – additional production and remix (Hot Thing)
Junior Vasquez – editing
PACKAGING HIGHLIGHTS
Front sleeve: Dramatic image of a shirtless Prince with necklaces and bracelets against a dark background
Back sleeve: Text-heavy layout with track credits and Paisley Park branding
Striking red and black colour scheme with live performance energy
WHAT THE LABEL / SLEEVE SHOWS Front cover features Prince in an intense, shirtless pose with arms crossed. Back sleeve includes full track information. Labels display ornate Paisley Park Records design with purple and gold swirls, clearly listing tracks, remixes, 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)
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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