Prince and the Revolution (August 4, 1986) – “Girls & Boys” b/w “Under The Cherry Moon” Single: UK

“Girls & Boys” was released as the third single from Prince and the Revolution’s eighth album Parade, four months after the album.

Issued in the UK and Europe only to coincide with the 1986 European tour, the single featured an edit of the title track.

The B-side “Under The Cherry Moon” was also taken from Parade, while additional tracks on other formats had been released previously.

COUNTRY VARIANTS

Artist: Prince and the Revolution Title: Girls & Boys

Label: Warner Bros. / Paisley Park Country: United Kingdom Catalogue: W8586 / W8586P / W8586F / SAM 304 / W8586T / W8586TW Date: August 4, 1986

Format: 7", 7" Shaped Picture Disc, 7" Gatefold Double Pack, 12", 12" with Poster

Tracklist (UK 7" – W8586):

A — Girls & Boys (Edit) (3:27)

B — Under The Cherry Moon (2:57)

- cardboard sleeve

- paper sleeve

- blue label

- gold label

- silver label

Tracklist (UK 7" Shaped Picture Disc – W8586P):

A — Girls & Boys (Edit) (3:27)

B — Under The Cherry Moon (2:57)

Tracklist (UK 7" Gatefold Double Pack – W8586F / SAM 304):

1A — Girls & Boys (Edit) (3:27)

1B — Under The Cherry Moon (2:57)

2A — She’s Always In My Hair (3:27)

2B — 17 Days (3:54)

Tracklist (UK 12" – W8586T):

A1 — Girls & Boys (LP Version) (5:30)

A2 — Under The Cherry Moon (2:57)

B — Erotic City (“Make Love Not War Erotic City Come Alive”) (7:24)

Tracklist

(UK 12" with Poster – W8586TW):

A1 — Girls & Boys (LP Version) (5:30)

A2 — Under The Cherry Moon (2:57)

B — Erotic City (“Make Love Not War Erotic City Come Alive”) (7:24)

RECORDING

Recorded on July 8, 1985 at Washington Avenue Warehouse, Minneapolis.

STYLE & THEMES

A funk track featuring both live electronic drumming and the Linn LM-1 drum machine, with a distinctive guitar hook. It includes a French spoken section by Marie-France Drouin and an early short rap by Prince. The lyrics reference characters similar to those in the film Under the Cherry Moon.

TRACK‑BY‑TRACK NOTES

• Girls & Boys — Features saxophone by Eric Leeds (his first official Prince single appearance), trumpet by Atlanta Bliss, and background vocals from Wendy & Lisa, Susannah Melvoin and Sheila E.

• Under The Cherry Moon — Album version from Parade.

• She’s Always In My Hair / 17 Days — Previously released tracks included on the double 7-inch pack.

• Erotic City — 1984 track originally issued as the B-side to “Let’s Go Crazy,” included on the 12-inch.

RELEASE HISTORY

Released in the UK and Europe on August 4, 1986. Not issued as a single in the United States (where it appeared as the B-side to “Anotherloverholenyohead”).

The shaped picture disc was released to coincide with the Wembley Arena concerts.

CHARTS & CERTIFICATIONS

Reached number 11 on the UK Gallup Singles Chart.

Additional peaks included number 10 in Belgium and Finland, number 12 in the Netherlands, number 27 in West Germany and number 38 in France.

PERSONNEL

Prince — lead and backing vocals, Roland G-707 electric guitar, Roland GR-700 guitar synthesizer, synthesizers, finger cymbals

Lisa Coleman — synthesizers, backing vocals

Wendy Melvoin — electric guitar, backing vocals

Dr. Fink — synthesizers

Brown Mark — bass guitar

Bobby Z. — Simmons SDSV, Linn LM-1 Sheila E. — backing vocals Eric Leeds — baritone saxophone

Atlanta Bliss — trumpet

Susannah Melvoin — backing vocals Marie-France Drouin — vocals in French Clare Fischer — orchestral arrangements

PRODUCTION

Produced by Prince

Label: Warner Bros. / Paisley Park Records Catalogue numbers: • W8586 (UK 7") • W8586P (UK 7" Shaped Picture Disc) • W8586F / SAM 304 (UK 7" Gatefold Double Pack) • W8586T (UK 12") • W8586TW (UK 12" with Poster)

Notes: The music video combined clips from the film Under the Cherry Moon with separately shot footage of the Revolution, including Susannah Melvoin.

SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia. BBC Official Charts Prince Vault, Sleeveographia2

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