Prince (November 23, 1999) The Greatest Romance Ever Sold - Maxi-Single US
- Escape
- Nov 23, 1999
- 3 min read
Updated: May 24
Prince’s millennial crossover statement — a glossy, remix-heavy lead single from Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic featuring The Neptunes, Eve, and Q-Tip.
RELEASE DETAILS
Date: November 23, 1999 Catalogue: 07822-13750-2 (CD) / 07822-13750-1 (2×12")
Format: CD Maxi-Single, 2×12" Vinyl Country: United States
Label: Arista / NPG Records
Album: Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic (1999)
A-Side: The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Radio Edit feat. Eve)
THE STORY
Released on November 23, 1999 as the sole single from Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic, “The Greatest Romance Ever Sold” showcased Prince’s late-’90s major-label ambitions with a star-studded remix package. The release included Neptunes remixes featuring Q-Tip, club mixes by Jason Nevins, and additional Eve appearances, highlighting Prince’s embrace of contemporary R&B, hip-hop, and dance sounds.
CONTEXT & NOTES
This maxi-single became a showcase for remix culture at the turn of the millennium. The collaboration with The Neptunes and Eve reflected Prince’s desire to reach new audiences while maintaining his signature sound. It was issued in both commercial and promotional formats, with the 2×12" aimed at DJs and clubs.
TRACK LIST
US 2×12" Vinyl (07822-13750-1 / ARDP-3750)
Side A
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Radio Edit feat. Eve) – 4:32
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Jason Nevins Romance Beats) – 6:03
Side B
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Neptunes Extended Remix feat. Q-Tip) – 5:08
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Jason Nevins Remix Edit) – 3:36
Side C
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Adam & Eve Mix feat. Eve) – 4:30
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Album Version) – 5:29
Side D
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Jason Nevins Extended Mix) – 6:41
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Neptunes Remix Edit feat. Q-Tip) – 3:42
US CD Maxi-Single (07822-13750-2)
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Radio Edit feat. Eve) – 4:32
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Neptunes Remix Edit feat. Q-Tip) – 3:42
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Adam & Eve Remix feat. Eve) – 4:30
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Album Version) – 5:29
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Jason Nevins Remix Edit) – 3:38
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Neptunes Extended Remix feat. Q-Tip) – 5:08
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Jason Nevins Extended Remix) – 6:41
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Original Radio Edit) – 4:26
All Variants
CD Maxi-Single (Arista 07822-13750-2)
2×12" Commercial Vinyl (Arista 07822-13750-1)
2×12" Promo Vinyl (ARDP-3750)
CHART PERFORMANCE
Billboard Hot 100: Peak No. 63
Hot R&B Singles & Tracks: Peak No. 23 Hot Dance Maxi-Singles Sales: Peak No. 6
PERSONNEL
Prince – vocals, instruments, production
Eve – featured vocals
Q-Tip – featured vocals (Neptunes remixes)
The Neptunes (Chad Hugo & Pharrell Williams) – remixes
Jason Nevins – remixes
Hans-Martin Buff – engineer
PACKAGING HIGHLIGHTS
Front sleeve: Dramatic image of Prince in ornate dark clothing surrounded by gold coins with “The Greatest Romance Ever Sold” title
Back sleeve: Prince holding the Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic album cover with full tracklist and credits
WHAT THE LABEL / SLEEVE SHOWS Elaborate, cinematic artwork with Prince in regal attire and symbolic imagery. The 2×12" uses a gatefold-style presentation while the CD maxi features the full Arista/NPG design.
RELATED MATERIAL
U Make My Sun Shine (with Angie Stone) (2000)
When Will We B Paid? (with Audio Stepchild) (2000)
Supercute (2001)
The Work, pt. 1 (2001)
SOURCES Prince Vault • Discogs • Billboard charts
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.
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