✦ The Greatest Romance Ever Sold – US Single: 1999

A sleek, hip‑hop‑soul comeback single issued under the Love Symbol name, launching the Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic era with Arista.

✦ — SUMMARY

Released in the US on October 5, 1999 by Arista / NPG Records, “The Greatest Romance Ever Sold” marked 0(+>’s return to major‑label distribution after years of independence. Issued under the Love Symbol moniker, the single promoted the forthcoming album Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic and showcased a smooth blend of soul, hip‑hop, and downtempo R&B.

The album version runs 5:29, while the 4:30 radio edit tightened the arrangement for mainstream play. The single’s rollout included multiple remixes featuring Eve, Q‑Tip, and club‑focused reworks by Jason Nevins and The Neptunes, reflecting Arista’s push for crossover appeal. The track achieved modest chart success but helped position the Rave era as a high‑profile return.

✦ — HIGHLIGHTS

• Released October 5, 1999 (US)

• Artist credit: 0(+>

• Lead single for Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic

• Produced by 0(+>

• Album version: 5:29

• Radio edit: 4:30

• Remixes featuring Eve and Q‑Tip

• Formats: CD single, 12" maxi‑single, cassette

• Music video directed by Malik Hassan Sayeed, filmed at Paisley Park

• Performed in Rave Un2 the Year 2000 (VHS/DVD)

• Charted in US, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Australia

✦ — TRACK DETAILS

Lead Track

• The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Album Version) — 5:29

• The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Radio Edit) — 4:30

Written and produced by 0(+>.

A romantic, introspective ballad with layered vocals, falsetto, and hip‑hop‑soul textures.

Published by Controversy Music.

Remixes & Bonus Versions

• Adam & Eve Remix (feat. Eve) — 4:30

• Jason Nevins Extended Remix — 6:41

• Neptunes Extended Remix (feat. Q‑Tip) — 5:08

• Jason Nevins Dub — 5:49

✦ — US RELEASE FORMATS

CD Single — Arista/NPG (07822‑13749‑2)

The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Radio Edit) — 4:30

The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Album Version) — 5:29

Packaging: Jewel case with Symbol artwork and promo stickers.

12" Vinyl Maxi‑Single — Arista/NPG (07822‑13749‑1)

Side A

• Jason Nevins Extended Remix — 6:41

• Neptunes Extended Remix (feat. Q‑Tip) — 5:08

Side B

• Album Version — 5:29

• Adam & Eve Remix (feat. Eve) — 4:30

• Jason Nevins Dub — 5:49

Packaging: Picture sleeve aimed at DJs and collectors.

Cassette Single — Arista/NPG (07822‑13749‑4)

Side A

• Radio Edit — 4:30

• Adam & Eve Remix — 4:30

Side B

• Radio Edit — 4:30

• Adam & Eve Remix — 4:30

Packaging: Standard cassette with J‑card artwork.

✦ — REISSUES & GLOBAL VARIANTS

• US, UK, Europe, Australia — CD singles

• 12" vinyl remixes (various territories)

• Included on Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic (2001)

• Digital availability via later reissues

• No major artwork variants beyond regional formatting

✦ — PRODUCTION AND CONTEXT

• Recorded at Paisley Park Studios, 1999

• Produced by 0(+> with contributions from the New Power Generation

• Remixes feature Eve and Q‑Tip, aligning with Arista’s late‑90s urban crossover strategy

• Released five weeks before Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic (Nov 9, 1999)

• Music video shot at Paisley Park, directed by Malik Hassan Sayeed

• Rolling Stone described the album as a “refugee from Diamonds and Pearls,” reflecting mixed critical reception

• The single was positioned as a commercial re‑entry after the Warner Bros. era

✦ — CHART PERFORMANCE

United States

• Billboard Hot 100 — #63

• Hot R&B/Hip‑Hop Songs — #23

• 10 weeks on charts

United Kingdom

• #25 (released Nov 15, 1999)

International

• Germany — #79

• Netherlands — #71

• Australia — #65

The single contributed to the album’s eventual Gold certification (500,000 US sales).

✦ — ALT TEXT (SEO)

Prince, dressed in black and gold, stands before a microphone in a dramatic, treasure‑themed setting used for the single artwork of “The Greatest Romance Ever Sold.”

✦ — DISCOGRAPHY

Emancipation — 1996

Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic — 1999

Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic — 2001

✦ — PRINCE ERA MINI‑TIMELINE

1998 — New independent releases via NPG

1999 — Arista partnership announced

Oct 1999 — “The Greatest Romance Ever Sold” released

Nov 1999 — Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic

Dec 1999 — Rave Un2 the Year 2000 performance filmed

✦ — GLAM FLASHBACK

A velvet‑smooth comeback single wrapped in late‑90s gloss, “The Greatest Romance Ever Sold” shows 0(+> leaning into romance, mystique, and hip‑hop‑soul elegance. The remixes, the video, the Arista push — all part of a moment where Prince stepped back into the mainstream spotlight on his own terms.

✦ — COPYRIGHT NOTICE

All images, artwork, logos, and related materials referenced or displayed in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. They are included strictly for historical, educational, and archival purposes under fair‑use principles.

✦ — SOURCES

Prince Vault

Arista Records catalogue data

Billboard chart archives

Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic promotional materials

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