Prince and the Revolution (July 18 & August 29, 1984) – "Let’s Go Crazy" b/w "Erotic City" 7" & 12" – USA

GlamSlamEscape
Aug 29, 1984
3 min read

Let’s Go Crazy was issued twice in the United States: first as a 7" single on 18 July 1984, and then as a 12" maxi single on 29 August 1984. It was the second US single from Purple Rain, and the first to carry the credit Prince and the Revolution. The B‑side, Erotic City, was previously unreleased and marked Sheila E.’s first appearance on a Prince‑credited release.

Artist: Prince and the Revolution Title: Let’s Go Crazy

Label: Warner Bros.

Country: USA

Catalogue: 7‑29216 / 0‑20246

Date: July 18 & August 29, 1984

Format: 7" & 12"

RECORDING

Recorded during the Purple Rain sessions, built around the Linn LM‑1, electric guitars, Oberheim synths, and Prince’s organ‑styled spoken introduction. The Special Dance Mix contains an extended instrumental middle section with a chugging guitar riff, an atonal piano solo, and layered spoken‑word samples.

STYLE & THEMES

Let’s Go Crazy blends rock, funk, gospel‑styled exhortation, electronic percussion, and two guitar solos. The “De‑elevator” metaphor reflects Prince’s recurring spiritual themes. Erotic City is a sexually charged, minimalist funk track built around drum machine programming and playful vocal interplay.

TRACK‑BY‑TRACK NOTES

• Let’s Go Crazy — A fusion of rock, funk, gospel energy, Linn LM‑1 percussion, heavy guitar leads, and two solos. The Special Dance Mix extends the instrumental middle section.

• Erotic City — A previously unreleased B‑side featuring Sheila E., built around stripped‑down funk and provocative lyrics.

RELEASE HISTORY

• US 7" — 18 July 1984

• US 12" — 29 August 1984

The single repeated the number‑one success of When Doves Cry on the Billboard Hot 100 and Black Singles charts, also topping the Dance/Disco Top 80 (listed with Erotic City).

VIDEO

The Special Dance Mix is performed in a slightly edited form within the Purple Rain film, featuring its extended instrumental middle section.

CHARTS & CERTIFICATIONS

USA: Billboard Hot 100 — #1 (2 weeks), 19 weeks

USA: Billboard Black Singles — #1 (1 week), 17 weeks

USA: Billboard Dance/Disco Top 80 (with Erotic City) — #1 (1 week), 20 weeks

PERSONNEL

Prince — lead & backing vocals, electric lead guitar, piano (Special Dance Mix), Linn LM‑1, tambourine

Wendy Melvoin — electric rhythm US 12" maxi‑single cover for “Let’s Go Crazy,” featuring Prince on a motorcycle in the iconic Purple Rain imagery.guitar, backing vocals

Lisa Coleman — Oberheim OB‑SX, backing vocals

Doctor Fink — Oberheim OB‑Xa, backing vocals

Brown Mark — bass guitar, backing vocals

Bobby Z. — Linn LM‑1, Simmons SDSV, Pearl SY‑1 Syncussion, cymbals

US FORMAT VARIANTS TABLE — LET’S GO CRAZY

Variant	Details
US 7"	A. Let’s Go Crazy (Edit) (3:46) • B. Erotic City (Edit) (3:53) • Cat#: US/NZ: 7‑29216
US 7" Promo	A. Let’s Go Crazy (Edit) (3:46) • B. Let’s Go Crazy (Edit) (3:46) • Cat#: US: 7‑29216
US 12"	A. Let’s Go Crazy (Special Dance Mix) (7:35) • B. Erotic City (Make Love Not War Erotic City Come Alive) (7:24) • Cat#: US: 0‑20246
US 12" Promo – PRO‑A‑2173	A. Let’s Go Crazy (Edit) (3:46) • B. Let’s Go Crazy (Album Version) (4:39)
US 12" Promo – PRO‑A‑2182	A. Let’s Go Crazy (Special Dance Mix) (7:35) • B. Let’s Go Crazy (LP Version) (4:40)

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

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