✦ I Feel for You (Acoustic Demo) – Single: Oct. 2019

A rediscovered cassette‑tape treasure capturing 20‑year‑old Prince in a moment of pure, unfiltered creativity

✦ SUMMARY

Released on 19 October 2019 by The Prince Estate and Warner Records, I Feel for You (Acoustic Demo) arrived as a surprise drop to mark the 40th anniversary of Prince’s second album, Prince (1979). Unearthed from a cassette in the vault, the recording captures a young Prince alone with an acoustic guitar — pressing “record,” clearing his throat, and feeling his way through a song that would later become a Grammy‑winning classic.

Alongside its digital release, the demo was issued as a 7-inch vinyl single featuring the acoustic version on the A‑side and the original 1979 studio recording on the B‑side. The release offers a rare, intimate glimpse into Prince’s early songwriting process at a pivotal moment in his ascent.

✦ HIGHLIGHTS

• Released 19 October 2019 (worldwide)

• Surprise 40th‑anniversary release for the Prince album

• Previously unheard acoustic demo from winter 1978–1979

• Rediscovered on a cassette tape in the vault

• Issued as a 7" vinyl single (demo + original album version)

• Captures Prince preparing for his 1979 Capri Theater debut

✦ TRACKLISTING

I Feel for You (Acoustic Demo) — 4:31

I Feel for You — 3:25

✦ PRODUCTION & CONTEXT

Recorded in winter 1978–1979, the acoustic demo predates Prince’s breakthrough by mere months. The recording begins with the sound of Prince pressing “record” on a cassette deck — a rare, humanising detail — before he launches into a tender, exploratory performance.

Michael Howe, Prince Vault Archivist, described hearing the tape for the first time:

“Here is 20‑year‑old Prince thinking aloud… You hear his incredible talent shining through.”

The fully produced studio version appeared on Prince’s second album in 1979, but the song achieved global recognition when Chaka Khan covered it in 1984, earning two Grammys including Best R&B Song for Prince.

✦ LEGACY

I Feel for You (Acoustic Demo) stands as one of the most revealing vault releases of the 2010s — a snapshot of Prince before fame, before the Revolution, before Purple Rain. The demo’s vulnerability and melodic clarity highlight the depth of his talent at just 20 years old.

The 2019 release not only celebrates the Prince album’s anniversary but also honours Prince’s early creative fire, offering fans a rare window into the birth of a future classic.

✦ PRINCE 1978–1979 MINI‑TIMELINE — THE EARLY ASCENT

✦ Winter 1978–1979

Prince records the acoustic demo of I Feel for You while preparing for his first solo concert at the Capri Theater.

✦ October 1979

Prince releases his self‑titled second album, featuring the fully produced version of I Feel for You.

✦ 1980–1983

Prince refines his songwriting and performance style, building toward his commercial breakthrough.

✦ 1984

Chaka Khan’s cover of I Feel for You becomes a global hit, earning Prince a Grammy.

✦ 2019

The original acoustic demo is released for the first time, celebrating 40 years of the Prince album.

This era captures Prince on the cusp of greatness — young, driven and already unmistakably brilliant.

✦ GLAM FLASHBACK — ACOUSTIC DEMO VS. STUDIO VERSION

✦ I Feel for You (Acoustic Demo – 1978/2019)

• Raw, intimate, unpolished

• Prince alone with guitar and cassette recorder

• Early melodic ideas forming in real time

• A rare glimpse into his creative process

✦ I Feel for You (Studio Version – 1979)

• Polished, fully arranged R&B production

• Confident vocals and layered instrumentation

• A standout track on Prince’s second album

• Later transformed into a global hit by Chaka Khan

Together, they reveal the evolution of a classic — from a private sketch to a cornerstone of Prince’s early catalogue.

✦ SOURCES

Personal archive knowledge

Prince Vault

Discogs

AllMusic

Rate Your Music

Wikipedia

BBC Official Charts Company

Prince Estate official announcements