🎵 Nothing Compares 2 U – Single: Apr. 2018
- GlamSlamEscape
- Apr 21, 2018
- 3 min read
The 2018 release of Nothing Compares 2 U marked the first official posthumous Prince single, unveiling his original 1984 studio recording. Issued two years after his passing, the release presented the full‑length version alongside a newly prepared edit, supported by a surprise digital rollout and a video featuring raw 1984 rehearsal footage of Prince and The Revolution. The physical editions followed shortly after, forming the centrepiece of a multi‑format release strategy.
🟣 The Story
Released without prior announcement, the 2018 single introduced Prince’s original 1984 studio version of Nothing Compares 2 U, a song first given to The Family and later made globally famous by Sinéad O’Connor. The digital release arrived on 19 April 2018, accompanied by a rehearsal‑footage video from Summer 1984.
Physical formats followed: a 7" picture disc available through princehitnrun.com, a purple vinyl edition sold exclusively by Electric Fetus on 21 April 2018, and a black vinyl edition issued on 25 May 2018. The vinyl formats included both the full‑length version and a new 4:12 edit. A Swedish CD promo also circulated, containing a radio edit and the original version.
The release later connected to the 2019 posthumous album Originals, where the track appeared as part of a broader archival project.
🟣 Format: 7" Single (US)
Label:
NPG Records / Warner Bros.
Catalogue Number:
RB7‑567338
Released:
21 April 2018 (US)
Chart Position:
USA — Billboard R&B Digital Song Sales: 8
USA — Billboard Hot R&B Songs: 21
Track List — 7" Single (US)
Side A
• Nothing Compares 2 U (Edit Version) — 4:12
Side B
• Nothing Compares 2 U (Full‑Length Version) — 4:40
Writing Credits
• Prince — all tracks
Production Credits
• Produced by: Prince
🟣 Format: 7" Single (Europe)
Label:
NPG Records / Warner Bros.
Catalogue Number:
603497858781
Track List — 7" Single (Europe)
Side A
• Nothing Compares 2 U (Edit Version) — 4:12
Side B
• Nothing Compares 2 U (Full‑Length Version) — 4:40
Writing Credits
• Prince — all tracks
Production Credits
• Produced by: Prince
🟣 Format: 7" Picture Disc (US)
Label:
NPG Records / Warner Bros.
Catalogue Number:
RPD7‑567338
Released:
21 April 2018 (US)
Format:
7" Picture Disc
Track List — Picture Disc
Side A
• Nothing Compares 2 U (Edit Version) — 4:12
Side B
• Nothing Compares 2 U (Full‑Length Version) — 4:40
🟣 Format: CD Promo (Sweden)
Label:
NPG Records / Warner Bros.
Catalogue Number:
No Cat Nr
Released:
2018 (Sweden)
Track List — CD Promo
Side A
• Nothing Compares 2 U (Radio Edit) — 3:30
Side B
• Nothing Compares 2 U (Original Version) — 4:41
🟣 Key Highlights
• First official posthumous Prince single
• Digital release: 19 April 2018
• Physical releases: 21 April 2018 (purple vinyl & picture disc), 25 May 2018 (black vinyl)
• Includes Prince’s original 1984 studio version
• Accompanied by 1984 rehearsal‑footage video
• Later included on Originals (2019)
🟣 Variants
• 7" Single — RB7‑567338 — US — 2018
• 7" Single — 603497858781 — Europe — 2018
• 7" Picture Disc — RPD7‑567338 — US — 2018
• 7" Purple Vinyl — Electric Fetus — US — 2018
• 7" Black Vinyl — NPG/Warner Bros. — US — 2018
• CD Promo — Sweden — No Cat Nr — 2018
• Digital Single — iTunes id1372837566 — Worldwide — 2018
🟣 Chart Performance
USA — Billboard R&B Digital Song Sales
Peak Position: 8
Weeks: 1
Entry Date: 5 May 2018
USA — Billboard Hot R&B Songs
Peak Position: 21
Weeks: 1
Entry Date: 5 May 2018
🟣 Context & Notes
• Single era: Originals (retrospectively)
• Production: Prince (1984 studio version)
• Historical placement: First official posthumous Prince single
• Reissues / remasters: Included on Originals (2019)
• Digital version contains only the 4:40 full‑length version
🟣 Related Material
Mary Don't You Weep
Manic Monday
Holly Rock
Additional material connected to this entry is listed in the tag index at the foot of the page.
🟣 Video
Title: Nothing Compares 2 U
Director: (Not supplied)
Production Date: Summer 1984 (rehearsal footage)
Producer: (Not supplied)
Concept: Raw rehearsal footage of Prince and The Revolution, released alongside the digital single.
🟣 Mini‑Timeline
✦ 1984 — Original studio recording
✦ 19 April 2018 — Digital single released
✦ 21 April 2018 — Purple vinyl & picture disc released
✦ 25 May 2018 — Black vinyl released
✦ 2019 — Included on Originals
🟣 Glam Flashback
A long‑buried 1984 treasure resurfacing with the emotional clarity of a moment frozen in time.
🟣 Hashtags
🟣 Sources
Warner Bros., Paisley Park, Discogs, Official Charts Company, archival documentation.
🟣 Copyright Notice
All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.
Comments