Vanity 6 (January 21, 1983) He’s So Dull - Single

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

RELEASE DETAILS Date: January 21, 1983 (US) Catalogue: 7-29955 (US) Format: 7" Single, 12" Single, Promo Country: United States (worldwide variants)

A-Side: “He’s So Dull” – 2:32 B-Side: “Make-Up” – 2:40

THE STORY Released on January 21, 1983 by Warner Bros. Records, “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. The B-side “Make-Up” was written and performed by Prince, and the UK 12" added “Wet Dream,” another Prince-penned track.

CONTEXT & NOTES The single captures the raw, playful, and provocative energy of the Vanity 6 project. While it did not chart in the US, a Netherlands re-release in early 1983 peaked at No. 16. This release reflects Prince’s heavy involvement in shaping the Vanity 6 sound behind the scenes during the early 1980s Minneapolis explosion.

TRACK LIST

7" Single (US) (7-29955) A. He’s So Dull – 2:32 B. Make-Up – 2:40

12" Single (UK) A. He’s So Dull (Long Version) – 4:05 B1. Wet Dream – 4:12 B2. Make-Up – 2:40

7" Promo (US) A. He’s So Dull (Mono) – 2:32 B. He’s So Dull (Stereo) – 2:32

CHART PERFORMANCE Netherlands Nederlandse Top 40: Peak No. 16 (4 weeks) US: No chart entry

PERSONNEL

• Vanity 6 – vocals

• Dez Dickerson – songwriting (“He’s So Dull”)

• Prince – production, instruments, vocals (uncredited on A-side and B-side)

PACKAGING HIGHLIGHTS

• Standard Warner Bros. company sleeve (US)

• UK 12" with extended tracklist

• Various international pressings

RELATED MATERIAL

• U Make My Sun Shine (2001)

• Supercute (2001)

• The Daisy Chain (2001)

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

SOURCES Prince Vault • Discogs • Billboard / Nederlandse Top 40 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.

ARTIST — Vanity 6 ARTIST CATEGORY — Prince Singles ARTIST ITEM — He’s So Dull (Single) ARTIST ATTACHMENT — Warner Bros. Records ARTIST YEAR — 1983