✦ 1999 – Double Album UK: Nov. 1984

Prince’s breakthrough double‑album returns to the UK in full form — restored, expanded, and riding the Purple Rain wave.

✦ — SUMMARY

Originally released in the US on October 27, 1982, 1999 became Prince’s first major commercial breakthrough, blending funk, new wave, rock, and R&B into a futuristic double‑LP that defined the early ’80s.

The UK, however, the album received a single vinyl truncated edition released on March 7, 1983 — omitting “D.M.S.R.,” “Automatic,” “All the Critics Love U in New York,” and “International Lover.”

Following Prince’s explosive European success with Purple Rain, the full 2×LP edition finally arrived in the UK on November 9, 1984, restoring the complete 11‑track running order and original artwork.

Recorded at Kiowa Trail Home Studio and Sunset Sound, 1999 was the first album to feature Prince and the Revolution, with Prince performing most instruments himself and contributions from Dez Dickerson, Brown Mark, Bobby Z., Dr. Fink, Lisa Coleman, and Jill Jones.

The album reached #9 on the Billboard 200, #1 on the R&B Albums chart, and eventually achieved 4× Platinum in the US.

✦ — HIGHLIGHTS

• First UK release of the full 2×LP on November 9, 1984

• Original UK 1983 edition was a single‑LP with four tracks removed

• Recorded at Kiowa Trail Home Studio & Sunset Sound

• First album recorded with The Revolution

• US Billboard 200 peak: #9

• R&B Albums: #1

• Over 4 million US sales (4× Platinum)

• Title track and “Little Red Corvette” became MTV staples

• 1983 single‑LP reissued for Record Store Day 2018

✦ — TRACK DETAILS

2×LP – Warner Bros. Records – UK Reissue – 1984

Catalogue: 92.3720‑1 / 923720‑1

(All music and vocals by Prince unless noted.)

Side 1

1999 — 6:22

• Co‑lead vocals: Dez, J.J., Lisa

Little Red Corvette — 4:58

• Guitar solos: Dez

Delirious — 3:56

• Backing vocals: Lisa

Side 2

Let’s Pretend We’re Married — 7:20

D.M.S.R. — 8:05

• Backing vocals & handclaps: Mark Brown, Carol, Jamie Lisa, Peggy, Poochie, The Count

A purple insert promoting Prince's back catalogue was included in all the album reissues.

Side 3

Automatic — 9:24

• Backing vocals: J.J., Lisa

Something in the Water (Does Not Compute) — 4:00

Free — 5:00

• Backing vocals: J.J., Lisa, Vanity, Wendy

Side 4

Lady Cab Driver — 8:25

• Voice actor: J.J.

All the Critics Love U in New York — 5:55

International Lover — 6:35

Total length: ~70 minutes

✦ — REISSUES & GLOBAL VARIANTS

(Verified via Prince Vault, Discogs, Warner Records)

1982 Original US Release

• 2×LP — Warner Bros. — Worldwide

• Cassette — US/Europe

• CD — Early editions omitted “D.M.S.R.” due to 64‑minute CD limit

1983 UK Single‑LP Edition

• 1×LP — Warner Bros. — UK

• Omitted: “D.M.S.R.”, “Automatic”, “All the Critics Love U…”, “International Lover”

• Alternate artwork

• Reissued for Record Store Day 2018

1984 UK Full 2×LP Release (This Edition)

• Restores full 11‑track running order

• Semi‑gloss widespine cover

• Poly‑lined printed inner sleeves

• Embossed Warner “W” logo

• Some copies include 10" Purple Rain promo discography sheet

CD Editions

1985 (10 tracks) — “D.M.S.R.” omitted

1991 (11 tracks) — full album restored

1997 (11 tracks) — standard European reissue

✦ — PRODUCTION AND CONTEXT

• Produced, arranged, composed, and performed by Prince

• Recorded at:

– Kiowa Trail Home Studio

– Sunset Sound

• Mixed by Peggy McCreary

• Mastered by Bernie Grundman

• First album recorded with The Revolution

• Genre fusion: funk, rock, new wave, synth‑pop, R&B

• Title track reflects Cold War anxieties and apocalyptic party culture

• “Little Red Corvette” became Prince’s first major MTV breakthrough

✦ — SINGLES RELEASED

1999 — 1982

Little Red Corvette — 1983

Delirious — 1983

Let’s Pretend We’re Married — 1983

Automatic — 1983 (Australia only)

✦ — CHART PERFORMANCE

United States

• Billboard 200 — #9

• R&B Albums — #1

• RIAA — 4× Platinum

United Kingdom

• UK Albums Chart — #12 (1982)

• Re‑entered during Purple Rain era

International

• Netherlands — #4

• Norway — #4

• Sweden — #5

• Switzerland — #7

• New Zealand — #6

• France — #10

• Germany — #15

• Japan — #12

✦ — DISCOGRAPHY

Controversy — 1981

1999 — 1982

Purple Rain — 1984

✦ — PRINCE ERA MINI‑TIMELINE

1982 — 1999 released (US)

1983 — UK single‑LP edition

1984 — UK full 2×LP reissue

1984 — Purple Rain global breakthrough

✦ — GLAM FLASHBACK

1999 is the sound of Prince stepping boldly into superstardom — a double‑LP of neon funk, synth‑driven futurism, and rock swagger. Its UK reissue in 1984 finally gave Europe the full experience, just as the Purple Rain era was exploding.

✦ — 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

Discogs

Warner Bros. Records catalogue data

Billboard archives

UK Official Charts Company