Prince (April 4, 1983) Little Red Corvette - UK Single
- GlamSlamEscape
- Apr 4, 1983
- 2 min read
Updated: May 23
Prince’s breakthrough crossover hit — a sleek, seductive synth‑rock classic backed with the downtown pulse of All The Critics Love U In New York
RELEASE DETAILS Date: April 4, 1983 Catalogue: W 9688 (7") / W 9688T (12") Format: 7" Single, Double-Pack 7", 12" Single Country: United Kingdom
A-Side: “Little Red Corvette” B-Side: “Lady Cab Driver” (7") / Expanded tracks on 12" editions
THE STORY
Released in the UK on April 4, 1983 as part of a concentrated promotional push surrounding Prince’s planned London dates at the Dominion Theatre, “Little Red Corvette” received an
unusually expansive rollout. Multiple formats were issued simultaneously, including a standard 7", a double-pack 7", and two 12" editions. Although the European tour was ultimately cancelled, the UK singles remained on schedule and helped maintain momentum as Prince’s visibility grew internationally.
CONTEXT & NOTES
This UK release followed the song’s massive US success (peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100). The multi-format approach offered collectors a rich variety of tracks from the 1999 era, including “Automatic”, “International Lover”, “1999”, “How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore”, and “D.M.S.R.” on the double-pack 12". The single reached No. 54 on the UK Singles Chart.
TRACK LIST
7" Single (UK) (W 9688) A. Little Red Corvette (Edit) – 3:08 B. Lady Cab Driver – 2:12
Double-Pack 2×7" (UK) (W 9688 / W 9896)
Disc 1: A. Little Red Corvette (Edit) B. Lady Cab Driver
Disc 2: C. 1999 D. How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore
12" Single (UK) (W 9688T / 929671-0) A. Little Red Corvette (Full Version) B1. Automatic B2. International Lover
12" Double-Pack (UK) (W 9688T / 929671-0) A. Little Red Corvette (Full Version) – 5:03 B1. Automatic – 9:28 B2. International Lover – 6:38 C. 1999 – 6:17 D1. How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore – 3:51 D2. D.M.S.R. – 8:17
12" Limited Edition (Poster) (W 9688T / 929671-0) Same tracklist as standard 12" with poster insert
CHART PERFORMANCE UK Singles Chart: Peak No. 54
PERSONNEL
Prince – vocals, guitar, all instruments, production
Dez Dickerson – guitar solo, backing vocals
Lisa Coleman – backing vocals
PACKAGING HIGHLIGHTS
Standard Warner Bros. UK sleeve
Double-pack and 12" editions with expanded content
Limited poster edition
WHAT THE LABEL / SLEEVE SHOWS Artwork features dramatic Prince imagery from the 1999 era with bold typography and purple/pink tones.
RELATED MATERIAL
1999 (1982 album)
Delirious (1983 single)
The Walk (1983 single)
For other relevant posts, see the tags at the foot of the page.
SOURCES Prince Vault • Discogs • Official Charts Company
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 — Prince
ARTIST CATEGORY — Prince Singles ARTIST ITEM — Little Red Corvette (UK Single)
ARTIST ATTACHMENT — Warner Bros. Records
ARTIST YEAR — 1983
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