✦ He’s So Dull – US Single: 1983

A razor‑sharp slice of Vanity 6 attitude — Dez Dickerson’s punk‑funk composition delivered with Prince’s uncredited fingerprints all over the production.

✦ — SUMMARY

Released in the US on January 21, 1983 by Warner Bros. Records (catalogue 7‑29955), “He’s So Dull” served as an early single from Vanity 6, arriving four weeks before their self‑titled debut album. Written by Dez Dickerson, the track features uncredited performance work by Prince, whose sonic imprint is unmistakable.

The B‑side, “Make‑Up,” was written and performed by Prince, and the UK 12" added “Wet Dream,” another Prince‑penned track. While the single did not chart in the US, it became a minor European hit when re‑released in the Netherlands in early 1983, peaking at No. 16 on the Nederlandse Top 40.

Issued in multiple formats — US 7", US promo, and UK 12" — the single captures the raw, playful, and provocative energy of the Vanity 6 project.

✦ — HIGHLIGHTS

• Released January 21, 1983 (US)

• Written by Dez Dickerson

• Prince performs on the A‑side (uncredited)

• B‑side “Make‑Up” written and performed by Prince

• UK 12" adds “Wet Dream” (Prince)

• Formats: 7", 12", promo

• Netherlands re‑release peaked at #16

• Arrived four weeks before the Vanity 6 album

✦ — TRACK DETAILS

7" Single — Warner Bros. 7‑29955 (US)

Side A

• He’s So Dull — 2:32

Written by Dez Dickerson

Prince performs (uncredited)

Side B

• Make‑Up — 2:40

Written by Prince

Performed by Prince (uncredited)

12" Single — UK

Side A

• He’s So Dull (Long Version) — 4:05

Side B1

• Wet Dream — 4:12

Written by Prince

Side B2

• Make‑Up — 2:40

7" Promo — US

Side A

• He’s So Dull (Mono) — 2:32

Side B

• He’s So Dull (Stereo) — 2:32

✦ — RELEASE DATES

• US: July 9, 1982 (initial)

• Netherlands: August 20, 1982 (initial)

• Netherlands re‑release: January 21, 1983

✦ — REISSUES & GLOBAL VARIANTS

• US 7" (commercial & promo)

• UK 12" with extended tracklist

• European re‑pressings tied to the Netherlands chart run

• Included in later Vanity 6 compilations and reissues

✦ — PRODUCTION AND CONTEXT

• Vanity 6 project conceived and overseen by Prince

• “He’s So Dull” written by Dez Dickerson

• Prince performs on the A‑side (uncredited)

• Prince wrote and performed “Make‑Up” and “Wet Dream”

• Released ahead of the Vanity 6 album

• Reflects the early‑80s Minneapolis blend of funk, new wave, and attitude

• A key example of Prince shaping a girl‑group aesthetic through songwriting and studio control

✦ — CHART PERFORMANCE

Netherlands — Nederlandse Top 40

• Entry: January 22, 1983

• Peak: #16

• Weeks on chart: 4

(No US chart entry)

✦ — DISCOGRAPHY SIDEBAR

Nasty Girl — 1982

He’s So Dull — 1983

Drive Me Wild — 1983

✦ — PRINCE ERA MINI‑TIMELINE

1982 — Vanity 6 album sessions

1982 — Initial release of “He’s So Dull”

1983 — Netherlands re‑release hits #16

1983 — Vanity 6 project winds down as Apollonia 6 forms

✦ — GLAM FLASHBACK

“He’s So Dull” is Vanity 6 at their most playful and punk‑funk sharp — a Dez Dickerson composition polished by Prince’s unmistakable studio touch. A minor chart moment, but a major piece of the Minneapolis mythology.

✦ — COPYRIGHT NOTICE

All images, artwork, logos, and related materials referenced or displayed in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. They are included strictly for historical, educational, and archival purposes under fair‑use principles.

✦ — SOURCES

Prince Vault

Warner Bros. Records catalogue

Nederlandse Top 40 archives

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