Prince Self Titled Album: 1979

A Funk-Pop Prodigy's Breakthrough

Prince’s Prince was released as an LP album in the US by Warner Bros. Records (catalog number BSK 3366) on October 19, 1979, marking his second album, entirely written, arranged, composed, produced, and performed by Prince, with a UK release in November 1979.Overall, Prince was regarded as more diverse than For You (1978), and performed better critically and commercially. Reviewing in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981), Robert Christgau wrote: "This boy is going to be a big star, and he deserves it".

The album peaked at 22 on the Billboard 200 and number three on the Billboard R&B Chart. The album contained three Billboard Hot Black Singles hits: "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?", "Sexy Dancer" and "I Wanna Be Your Lover". "I Wanna Be Your Lover" was Prince's first hit single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number eleven while also topping the Billboard Hot Black Singles. Prince was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) four months after its release.

Prince recorded the album in five weeks, after Warner Bros. asked for a follow-up to his 1978 debut, For You. Prince had used twice his initial recording advance on that album, and it had failed to generate a pop hit (although "Soft and Wet" became a No. 12 R&B hit). Displeased at his lack of success, Prince quickly recorded the follow-up.

In 1984 The album received its first release in the UK.

On October 19, 2019, Prince's estate released an acoustic demo version of "I Feel for You" as a single to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Prince album release.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Prince.

Side one

No. Title Length

1. "I Wanna Be Your Lover" 5:49

2. "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?" 3:49

3. "Sexy Dancer" 4:18

4. "When We're Dancing Close and Slow" 5:23

Total length: 19:19

Side two

No. Title Length

5. "With You" 4:00

6. "Bambi" 4:22

7. "Still Waiting" 4:12

8. "I Feel for You" 3:24

9. "It's Gonna Be Lonely" 5:27

Total length: 21:25

Singles

"I Wanna Be Your Lover" b/w "My Love Is Forever" (US number 11, US R&B number 1, US Dance number 2, UK number 41)

"Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?" b/w "Baby" (US R&B number 13)

"Still Waiting" b/w "Bambi" (US R&B number 65)

"Sexy Dancer" b/w "Bambi"/"Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?" (UK and Japan Only US Dance number 2)

Personnel

Prince – lead and backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, Oberheim Four Voice, Polymoog, Minimoog, ARP String Ensemble, clavinet, Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, bass guitar, drums, Pollard Syndrums, percussion, producer, arranger, remixer

André Cymone – backing vocals (uncredited)

Technical

Gary Brandt – engineer

Mark Ettel – assistant engineer

Bob Mockler – remixer

Bernie Grundman – mastering (A&M)

Lynn Barron – album design (RIA Images)

George Chacon – album design (RIA Images)

Jurgen Reisch – photography (front cover)

Chris Callis – photography (back cover)

Terry Taylor – calligraphy