✦ I Would Die 4 U – Single UK: Nov. 1984

A Purple Rain devotional paired with Prince’s most heartbreaking holiday B‑side

✦ Summary

I Would Die 4 U was released in the United Kingdom on November 26, 1984 as a 7-inch vinyl single on Warner Bros. Records (W 9174), backed with the previously unreleased Another Lonely Christmas. Issued as the third UK single credited to Prince and The Revolution, it continued the extraordinary momentum of the Purple Rain era. The A‑side delivered Prince’s ecstatic, gospel‑infused synth‑funk anthem — a declaration of devotion that became one of the era’s defining live moments — while the B‑side offered a stark emotional contrast: a melancholic holiday ballad rooted in grief, longing, and winter solitude. The single was issued in both 7-inch and 12-inch formats, with extended versions appearing on the latter.

✦ Highlights

• Released November 26, 1984 in the UK

• Third UK single credited to Prince and The Revolution

• B‑side: Another Lonely Christmas — previously unreleased

• A‑side: One of the most iconic Purple Rain tracks

• Issued in 7-inch and 12-inch formats

• Extended versions exclusive to the 12-inch

✦ Track Details

7-inch Vinyl – UK (W 9174 / W9121)

A: I Would Die 4 U (Single Version) — 2:57

B: Another Lonely Christmas — 4:51

12-inch Vinyl – UK (W9121TE)

A: I Would Die 4 U (Extended Version) — 10:15

B: Another Lonely Christmas (Extended Version) — 6:47

Label: Warner Bros. Records

Produced, arranged, composed, and performed by Prince

✦ Production and Context

Recorded during the Purple Rain sessions with The Revolution.

I Would Die 4 U became a live centrepiece, often extended into ecstatic, dance‑driven jams.

Another Lonely Christmas stands as one of Prince’s most emotionally raw B‑sides — a winter lament steeped in loss.

Released at the height of Prince’s imperial phase, when Purple Rain dominated charts, radio, and MTV.

✦ Chart Performance

United Kingdom: Moderate charting (not a Top 10 hit but a strong performer within the Purple Rain cycle)

United States (context): I Would Die 4 U peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100

✦ Discography

Purple Rain Era Singles:

When Doves Cry — Single: 1984

Let’s Go Crazy — Single: 1984

Purple Rain — Single: 1984

I Would Die 4 U — UK Single: Nov. 1984

Take Me With U — Single: 1985

✦ Prince Era Mini‑Timeline

June 1984 — When Doves Cry ignites the era

July 1984 — Purple Rain album released

Nov. 26, 1984 — I Would Die 4 U released in the UK

1985 — Purple Rain Tour continues global domination

✦ Glam Flashback

I Would Die 4 U is pure Purple Rain electricity — a spiritual, synth‑driven declaration of devotion that became one of Prince’s most uplifting live anthems. Pairing it with Another Lonely Christmas created one of the most emotionally dynamic singles of the era: joy on the A‑side, heartbreak on the B‑side. It’s a perfect snapshot of Prince’s ability to hold ecstasy and sorrow in the same breath.

✦ Image & Artwork Copyright Notice

All images, photographs, and artwork referenced or displayed in this post remain the property of their respective copyright holders. They are included strictly for historical, educational, and archival purposes under fair‑use principles. No ownership is claimed, and all rights belong to the original creators, photographers, designers, and publishers.

✦ Sources

Prince Vault, Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia, Billboard Chart History, Official Charts Company, YouTube