Prince 0(+> (October 5, 1999) – "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold" Single CD: US
Released in the United States on October 5, 1999, "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold" was the first and only commercially available single issued from Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic, Prince's twenty-third studio album.
Issued through NPG Records and Arista Records, the single arrived approximately five weeks before the parent album and served as the public introduction to Prince's new label partnership with Arista. The release was supported by numerous remixes targeting radio, R&B and dance audiences, including contributions from Jason Nevins and The Neptunes.
"The Greatest Romance Ever Sold" was issued in a variety of configurations across the United States, United Kingdom and Europe, ranging from a simple two-track CD single to expanded remix collections, maxi-CDs, cassettes and promotional releases.
The original recording was taken from Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic.
Several exclusive remix versions were commissioned for the single campaign, including remixes by Jason Nevins and The Neptunes.
The Adam & Eve Remix featured Eve and entirely reworked the original recording around new rap performances and sampled elements from the album version.
The Neptunes remixes featured Q-Tip, while several Jason Nevins mixes targeted club and dance audiences.
STYLE & THEMES
The original version combined Prince's late-1990s blend of R&B, funk and pop.
The remix campaign expanded the song into multiple contemporary styles including hip-hop, dance, club and crossover radio formats, reflecting the commercial remix strategies of the era.
TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES
• The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Radio Edit) (4:26) — Primary commercial single version.
• The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Adam & Eve Remix) (4:30) — Re-recorded version featuring Eve.
• The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Neptunes Remix Edit) (3:42) — Remix featuring Q-Tip.
• The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Neptunes Extended Remix) (5:08) — Extended remix featuring Q-Tip.
• The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Jason Nevins Remix Edit) (3:36) — Commercial radio remix.
• The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Jason Nevins Extended Remix) (6:41) — Extended dance version.
• The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Jason Nevins Dub) (5:49) — Club-oriented dub mix.
• The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Jason Nevins Instrumental) (6:47) — Instrumental remix.
• The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Jason Nevins Romance Beats) (6:03) — Percussion-focused remix.
RELEASE HISTORY
The single was initially released in the United States on October 5, 1999 as a two-track CD single.
Additional configurations followed, including a UK CD release on November 15, 1999 and American maxi-single editions on November 23, 1999.
The release was heavily supported by remixes and promotional configurations but achieved only moderate commercial success compared to many of Prince's earlier singles.
CHARTS & CERTIFICATIONS
AMERICA
Chart | Peak | Weeks |
Billboard Hot 100 | 63 | 13 |
Billboard Hot 100 Single Sales | 19 | 21 |
Billboard Hot R&B Singles & Tracks | 23 | 20 |
Billboard Hot R&B Singles Airplay | 33 | 16 |
Billboard Hot R&B Single Sales | 15 | 27 |
Billboard Hot Dance Music / Maxi-Singles Sales | 6 | 16 |
EUROPE
Chart | Peak | Weeks |
Germany MusikWoche Top 100 | 79 | 7 |
Dutch Mega Top 50 | 71 | 3 |
Dutch Top 40 Tipparade | 21 | 4 |
UK Singles Chart | 65 | 1 |
Prince — writer, producer, performer
Eve — featured performer (Adam & Eve Remix)
Q-Tip — featured performer (Neptunes Remixes)
Jason Nevins — remixer
The Neptunes — remixers
PRODUCTION
Label: NPG Records / Arista Records
Related Album: Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic
NOTES
• "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold" was the first and only commercially released single from Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic.
• The release marked Prince's first major commercial single campaign following his partnership with Arista Records.
• The single was issued in the USA, UK and several European territories.
• The Adam & Eve Remix featured rapper Eve and was largely rebuilt around new vocal performances.
• Lyrics from the Adam & Eve Remix would later be reused on "Silicon".
• The Neptunes remixes featured guest appearances by Q-Tip.
• Jason Nevins supplied a range of dance-oriented remixes, dubs and instrumental versions.
• The accompanying music video was not completed until approximately two months after the single's initial release.
• The delayed promotional campaign may have contributed to its relatively modest chart performance.
• The release reached No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100.
• Stronger results were achieved on sales and dance-oriented charts, including No. 6 on Billboard Hot Dance Music / Maxi-Singles Sales.
• Despite extensive remix promotion, the single only reached No. 65 in the UK and achieved limited European chart success.
• The US two-track CD single served as the principal launch format and is considered the main release, with all other configurations treated as variants.
RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE
Artist | Title | Country | Catalogue | Date | Format |
Prince | The Greatest Romance Ever Sold | USA | 13749-2 | October 5, 1999 | CD Single (Main Release) |
Prince | The Greatest Romance Ever Sold | USA | 07822 13749-4 | October 1999 | Cassette Single |
Prince | The Greatest Romance Ever Sold | UK | 74321-70664-2 | November 15, 1999 | CD Single |
Prince | The Greatest Romance Ever Sold | Germany | 74321-74500-2 | 1999 | CD Single |
Prince | The Greatest Romance Ever Sold | UK | 74321-72704-2 | 1999 | Maxi CD |
Prince | The Greatest Romance Ever Sold | USA | 13750-2 | November 23, 1999 | Maxi CD |
Prince | The Greatest Romance Ever Sold | USA / Germany | 13750-1 / 74321-72704-1 | November 1999 | 2×12" Maxi Single |
Prince | The Greatest Romance Ever Sold | Spain | 74321715002 | 1999 | CD Promo |
Prince | The Greatest Romance Ever Sold | USA | ARPCD-3776 | 1999 | CD Promo |
Prince | The Greatest Romance Ever Sold | UK | 95-00 | 1999 | CD Promo |
Prince | The Greatest Romance Ever Sold | USA | ARDP-3764 | 1999 | 12" Promo |
Prince | The Greatest Romance Ever Sold | USA | ARDP-3783 | 1999 | 12" Promo |
Prince | The Greatest Romance Ever Sold | UK | GREAT1 | 1999 | 12" Promo |
Prince | The Greatest Romance Ever Sold | USA | ARDP-3750 | 1999 | 2×12" Promo |
TRACKLIST TABLE (MAIN RELEASE ONLY)
Format | Catalogue | Tracklisting |
CD Single | US: 13749-2 | 1. The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Radio Edit) (4:26) 2. The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Adam & Eve Remix) (4:30) |
SOURCES Prince Vault, Discogs, sleevographia2.
All single artwork, photographs, labels, 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.
Comments