Prince (January 14, 2002) Mellow - Digital Single

Prince gifts AOL users an early‑2000s exclusive with a smooth, seductive cut from The Rainbow Children

RELEASE DETAILS

Date: January 14, 2002

Format: Digital Single (Free MP3 download)

Country: United States (AOL exclusive)

Track: “Mellow” (album version)

THE STORY Released on January 14, 2002 as a free digital download exclusively for America Online members via AOL.com, “Mellow” was the seventh track on Prince’s album The Rainbow Children. It marked one of Prince’s earliest experiments with mainstream digital distribution outside the NPG Music Club. The sensual, laid-back ballad offered casual listeners a taste of the album’s lush, spiritual sound world.

CONTEXT & NOTES

As Prince transitioned back to using his name after the symbol era, “Mellow” stood out as one of The Rainbow Children’s most intimate moments. A live version later appeared on One Nite Alone… Live! (2002), performed alongside other tracks from the same concert sequence. The AOL giveaway reflected Prince’s growing interest in using digital platforms to reach new and existing audiences directly.

TRACK LIST

Digital Single (AOL Exclusive)

1. Mellow (album version)

CHART PERFORMANCE No chart entry (promotional digital release)

PERSONNEL

• Prince – vocals, all instruments, production

RELATED MATERIAL

• Silicon (2002)

• Copenhagen (2002)

• Empty Room (Live) (2003)

For other relevant posts, see the tags at the foot of the page.

SOURCES Prince Vault • Sleevographia2 • Discogs • NPG Music Club archives

ARTIST — Prince

ARTIST CATEGORY — Prince Singles ARTIST ITEM — Mellow (Digital Single) ARTIST ATTACHMENT — NPG Records ARTIST YEAR — 2002

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.