Prince (May 6, 1987) If I Was Your Girlfriend - Single 12" US
- GlamSlamEscape
- May 13, 1987
- 3 min read
Updated: May 24
Prince’s most intimate Camille confession wrapped in Sign O’ The Times minimalism, expanded onto 12-inch vinyl with the extended Shockadelica B-side.
Artist: Prince
Title: If I Was Your Girlfriend
Release Date: 13 May 1987 (US 12" release)
Label: Paisley Park / Warner Bros.
Format: 12" Vinyl
Catalogue Number: 0-20697
Country: United States
Length: 11 minutes (approx)
If I Was Your Girlfriend was issued as the second single from Sign O’ The Times, arriving five weeks after the album. The US 12-inch paired the full-length album version with Shockadelica (Extended Version), a track originally intended for the abandoned Camille project. The single is historically notable as part of the campaign that produced Prince’s first-ever CD single (US promo). Although it peaked modestly on the US Hot 100, it performed strongly on the R&B chart and became a UK Top 20 hit.
TRACK LISTING
12" Vinyl – Paisley Park / Warner Bros. – 1987
Side A
If I Was Your Girlfriend – 4:54
Side B
Shockadelica (Extended Version) – 6:12
If I Was Your Girlfriend was issued as the second single from Sign O’ The Times, arriving five weeks after the album. The US 12-inch paired the full-length album version with Shockadelica (Extended Version), a track originally intended for the abandoned Camille project. The single is historically notable as part of the campaign that produced Prince’s first-ever CD single (US promo). Although it peaked modestly on the US Hot 100, it performed strongly on the R&B chart and became a UK Top 20 hit.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Event: 12" single release
Era: Sign O’ The Times era
Tone: Intimate, experimental, minimalist
Artwork: Standard US 12" sleeve with album-era typography
Audience: Prince collectors, R&B listeners, 1980s vinyl buyers
CD DETAILS
US CD Promo – PRO-CD-2747
If I Was Your Girlfriend (Edit) – 3:46
Notes:
The first Prince-related single ever issued on CD, predating the first commercial CD single Alphabet St. by one year.
PRIMARY QUOTE
"If I Was Your Girlfriend" explores intimacy, vulnerability, and emotional closeness through Prince’s Camille persona.
THE STORY BEHIND IT
The single emerged during Prince’s most prolific period, following the cancellation of The Black Album and the creation of Sign O’ The Times. Shockadelica, originally part of the Camille concept, became the B-side after Prince learned that Jesse Johnson planned to release a track with the same title. Prince quickly recorded his own version to assert authorship. The 12-inch format allowed the extended Shockadelica mix to circulate widely among DJs and collectors.
PUBLICATION
Release Type: 12" Single
Date: 13 May 1987
Country: United States
Catalogue Number: 0-20697
Formats: 12" Vinyl, 7", Cassette, CD Promo
WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS
Event: US 12" release of If I Was Your Girlfriend
Era: 1987
Tone: Minimalist, intimate, experimental
Artwork: Standard US sleeve design
Audience: Prince fans, R&B listeners, vinyl collectors
CONTEXT AND NOTES
The single’s modest Hot 100 performance contrasted with its strong R&B showing. Shockadelica’s extended version became a fan favourite and a key Camille-era artifact. The release was later reissued in 2020 as part of the Sign O’ The Times Singles Collection.
SINGLES AND FORMATS
7" Single — If I Was Your Girlfriend (Edit) / Shockadelica
12" Single — If I Was Your Girlfriend / Shockadelica (Extended Version)
CD Promo — If I Was Your Girlfriend (Edit)
Cassette Single — If I Was Your Girlfriend / Shockadelica (Extended Version)
Promo 12" — If I Was Your Girlfriend (same track both sides)
CHART PERFORMANCE
United States:
Billboard Hot 100 — #67
Billboard Black Singles — #12 (9 weeks)
United Kingdom:
UK Singles Chart — #20 (5 weeks)
DISCOGRAPHY SIDEBAR
Sign O’ The Times — 1987
If I Was Your Girlfriend — 1987
U Got The Look — 1987
ERA MINI-TIMELINE
March 1987 — Sign O’ The Times released
May 1987 — If I Was Your Girlfriend released (US 7" and 12")
June 1987 — UK release
1987 — Camille project shelved
SOURCES
The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince
Billboard chart archives
Gallup / Official UK Charts Company
Joel Whitburn chart reference books
Paisley Park / Warner Bros. Records documentation
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
All artwork, photographs, 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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