Prince: Dirty Mind Album (1980)

Prince’s Dirty Mind album, was released worldwide on October 8, 1980, on Warner Bros. Records (catalogue: K 56855 for UK vinyl, BSK 3478 for US vinyl). This groundbreaking 8-track LP, Prince’s third studio effort, marked a bold leap into raw funk, new wave, and provocative lyricism, blending punk energy with R&B sensuality. Entirely written, produced, and largely performed by Prince at his home studio, it shocked with its explicit themes and minimalist sound, reaching No. 7 on the UK Albums Chart and establishing Prince as a visionary. Housed in a striking sleeve with a black-and-white photo of Prince in bikini briefs, it’s a cornerstone of his early legacy.

(Promotional Release Gold Stamped USA)

Album Overview

Tracklist:

Side A (Vinyl) / Tracks 1–4 (CD/Cassette):

Dirty Mind (4:14)

When You Were Mine (3:47)

Do It All Night (3:42)

Gotta Broken Heart Again (2:16)

Side B / Tracks 5–8:

Uptown (5:32)

Head (4:44)

Sister (1:31)

Partyup (4:24)

(Commercial Release UK/EU)

Release Details:

Label: Warner Bros. Records (UK/US).

Formats: Vinyl LP, CD (later reissues), cassette (detailed below).

℗ & ©: 1980 Warner Bros. Records Inc. Recorded at Prince’s home studio in Wayzata, Minnesota, and Hollywood Sound Recorders, Los Angeles, in May–June 1980. Matrix numbers (e.g., K 56855 A-1 for UK vinyl) confirm authenticity.

Release Formats and Track Listings

Dirty Mind was issued worldwide, including in the UK, in three formats, each maintaining the same 8-track sequence:

Vinyl LP (Catalogue: K 56855 UK, BSK 3478 US):

Side A:

Dirty Mind (4:14)

When You Were Mine (3:47)

Do It All Night (3:42)

Gotta Broken Heart Again (2:16)

Side B:

Uptown (5:32)

Head (4:44)

Sister (1:31)

Partyup (4:24)

Packaging: 33⅓ RPM, stereo, in a single sleeve featuring a black-and-white photo of Prince in bikini briefs and a trench coat, with lyric inner sleeve. Some pressings included a promotional sticker.

Compact Disc (CD) (Catalogue: 7599-27408-2, later reissue):

Single Disc:

Dirty Mind (4:14)

When You Were Mine (3:47)

Do It All Night (3:42)

Gotta Broken Heart Again (2:16)

Uptown (5:32)

Head (4:44)

Sister (1:31)

Partyup (4:24)

Packaging: Jewel case with a booklet featuring lyrics, photos, and credits. CD reissues began in the mid-1980s.

2022 CD Reissue (Catalogue: 603497839704, part of Rhino/Warner Records’ reissue series):

Single Disc:

Dirty Mind (4:14)

When You Were Mine (3:47)

Do It All Night (3:42)

Gotta Broken Heart Again (2:16)

Uptown (5:32)

Head (4:44)

Sister (1:31)

Partyup (4:24)

Packaging: Jewel case or digipak with updated artwork, remastered audio, and a booklet with liner notes, photos, and credits. This reissue, part of Prince’s ongoing catalog restoration, featured enhanced sound quality from original master tapes, released alongside other Prince reissues like 1999 (2019). No bonus tracks were included, preserving the original album’s integrity.

Cassette (Catalogue: K 456855 UK, M5 3478 US):

Side A:

Dirty Mind (4:14)

When You Were Mine (3:47)

Do It All Night (3:42)

Gotta Broken Heart Again (2:16)

Side B:

Uptown (5:32)

Head (4:44)

Sister (1:31)

Partyup (4:24)

Packaging: Standard cassette case with a fold-out J-card featuring artwork and credits.

(Black Echoes June 6, 1981)

Production and Context

Written, produced, and arranged by Prince, with contributions from Dr. Fink (keyboards) and Lisa Coleman (backing vocals), Dirty Mind was recorded on a TEAC 4-track in Prince’s home studio, with overdubs in Los Angeles. The minimalist sound—featuring Prince on vocals, guitar, bass, drums, and synths—blended funk, punk, and new wave, with provocative lyrics on tracks like “Head” and “Sister” sparking controversy. Released amid the disco backlash and punk’s rise, it followed Prince (1979) and competed with acts like Rick James and Talking Heads, establishing Prince’s bold, genre-defying style.

Chart Performance

Dirty Mind achieved notable success:

UK: No. 7 (Official Albums Chart), charting for 14 weeks.

US: No. 45 (Billboard 200), No. 7 (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums), certified Gold (500,000 copies sold).

Australia: No. 22.

Canada: No. 26, certified Gold.

Netherlands: No. 18.

Germany: No. 34.

New Zealand: No. 29.Singles like “Uptown” (US R&B No. 5, no UK chart) and “Dirty Mind” (US R&B No. 65) drove sales, though their explicit content limited radio play.

Blues & Soul Magazine March 24, 1981

Legacy and Collectibility

Dirty Mind is hailed as a seminal album, influencing ‘80s funk and alternative acts like The Time and Depeche Mode. Its raw sound and provocative themes paved the way for 1999 and Purple Rain. Original UK/US vinyls fetch £20–£80 on Discogs, with first pressings (lyric sleeve, original artwork) commanding premiums—verify matrix numbers. CDs (£5–£15) and cassettes (£5–£10) are common but collectible in mint condition. Remastered versions (1987 CD, 2020 reissues) and Spotify streams preserve its edgy analog sound.

This album showcases Prince’s fearless innovation—a must-have for collectors.

Do you have Dirty Mind in vinyl, CD, or cassette? Which track gets your turntable grooving? Share in the comments!

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Prince: Dirty Mind Singles (1980)

Prince’s “Uptown” single, the first from his Dirty Mind album, was released in September 1980 in the USA, Japan, The Netherlands, and New Zealand, a month before the album’s worldwide release on October 8, 1980, on Warner Bros. Records. “Dirty Mind” followed as the second commercial single in the USA, with “Do It All Night” as the third, exclusive to the UK. “Head” and “When You Were Mine” were promotional singles, and “Gotta Stop (Messin’ About)” was a stand-alone UK single tied to the Dirty Mind era. These releases showcased Prince’s bold fusion of funk, new wave, and provocative lyricism. Below are the detailed single releases, with track listings, formats, and chart performance for the US, UK, Europe, Japan, and other regions.

Uptown

USA (Released September 1980, Warner Bros., WBS 49559, 7-inch vinyl):

Side A: Uptown (Edit) (4:09)

Side B: Crazy You (2:15) – From For You (1978).

Packaging: Warner Bros. company sleeve.

New Zealand (Warner Bros., WBS 49559, 7-inch vinyl):

Side A: Uptown (Edit) (4:09)

Side B: Crazy You (2:15)

Packaging: Warner Bros. company sleeve.

The Netherlands (Warner Bros., WB 17700, 7-inch vinyl):

Side A: Uptown (Edit) (4:09)

Side B: Crazy You (2:15)

Packaging: Warner Bros. company sleeve.

The Netherlands (Warner Bros., WB 26155, 12-inch vinyl):

Side A: Uptown (5:30)

Side B: Crazy You (2:17)

Packaging: Warner Bros. company sleeve.

Japan (Warner Bros., P-638W, 7-inch vinyl):

Side A: Uptown (Edit) (4:09)

Side B: Crazy You (2:15)

Packaging: Picture sleeve with Japanese text insert.

US Promo (Warner Bros., WBS 49559, 7-inch vinyl promo):

Side A: Uptown (Short Version) (Stereo) (4:09)

Side B: Uptown (Short Version) (Mono) (4:09)

Packaging: Promotional sleeve for radio/DJs.

US Promo (Warner Bros., PRO-A-904, 12-inch vinyl promo):

Side A: Uptown (Short Version) (4:09)

Side B: Uptown (Long Version) (5:30)

Packaging: Promotional sleeve.

France Promo (Warner Bros., PRO 524, 12-inch vinyl promo):

Side A1: Uptown (5:30)

Side A2: Head (4:40)

Side B1: Uptown (5:30)

Side B2: Dirty Mind (4:11)

Packaging: Promotional sleeve.

US Back to Back Hits (Warner Bros., 7-21981, 1988 reissue, 7-inch vinyl):

Side A: Uptown (Edit) (4:09)

Side AA: Controversy (Edit) (3:35) – From Controversy (1981).

Packaging: Warner Bros. company sleeve.

Chart Performance:

US: No. 101 (Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100), No. 5 (Billboard Hot Soul Singles).

UK/Europe/Japan: Not released commercially; promotional airplay only, no chart impact.

Dirty Mind

USA (Released November 26, 1980, Warner Bros., WBS 49638, 7-inch vinyl):

Side A: Dirty Mind (Edit) (3:54)

Side B: When We’re Dancing Close And Slow (5:18) – From Prince (1979).

Packaging: Warner Bros. company sleeve.

Philippines (Released 1980, Warner Bros., WB-77-225, 7-inch vinyl):

Side A: Dirty Mind (Alternate Edit) (3:23)

Side B: Partyup (Edit) (3:04)

Packaging: Country-specific sleeve.

US Promo (Warner Bros., WBS 49638, 7-inch vinyl promo):

Side A: Dirty Mind (Edit) (Stereo) (3:54)

Side B: Dirty Mind (Edit) (Mono) (3:54)

Packaging: Promotional sleeve.

US Promo (Warner Bros., PRO-A-929, 12-inch vinyl promo):

Side A: Dirty Mind (4:11)

Side B: Dirty Mind (Edit) (3:54)

Packaging: Promotional sleeve.

Chart Performance:

US: No. 5 (Billboard Disco Top 100), No. 65 (Billboard Hot Soul Singles).

UK/Europe/Japan: Not released commercially; limited promotional airplay, no chart impact.

Head

Philippines (Released 1980, Warner Bros., WB-77-255, 7-inch vinyl):

Side A: Head (4:40)

Side B: Uptown (5:30)

Packaging: Country-specific sleeve.

USA (Released 1980, Warner Bros., PRO-A-915, 12-inch vinyl promo):

Side A1: Head (4:40)

Side A2: Sister (1:33)

Side A3: Partyup (4:24)

Packaging: Promotional sleeve for radio/DJs.

Chart Performance: Not eligible to chart due to promotional status and explicit content.

UK/Europe/Japan: No commercial or promotional release; airplay limited due to explicit content.

When You Were Mine

USA (Released late 1980, Warner Bros., no catalogue number, 12-inch vinyl promo):

Side A1: When You Were Mine (3:44)

Side A2: Gotta Broken Heart Again (2:13)

Side B: Uptown (5:30)

Packaging: Promotional sleeve without picture sleeve, for radio/DJs to promote the album.

Chart Performance: Not eligible to chart due to promotional status.

UK/Europe/Japan: No commercial or promotional release; limited airplay.

Gotta Stop (Messin’ About)

UK (Released June 1981, Warner Bros., K 17819, 7-inch vinyl):

Side A: Gotta Stop (Messin’ About) (2:54) – Previously unreleased.

Side B: Uptown (Edit) (4:09)

Packaging: Warner Bros. company sleeve.

UK (Warner Bros., LV 47, 12-inch vinyl):

Side A: Gotta Stop (Messin’ About) (2:54)

Side B1: Uptown (5:30)

Side B2: Head (4:38)

Packaging: Warner Bros. company sleeve.

UK Reissue (Released July 1981, Warner Bros., K 17819, 7-inch vinyl):

Side A: Gotta Stop (Messin’ About) (2:54)

Side B: I Wanna Be Your Lover (Edit) (2:57) – From Prince (1979).

Packaging: Warner Bros. company sleeve.

UK Reissue (Warner Bros., LV 47, 12-inch vinyl):

Side A: Gotta Stop (Messin’ About) (2:54)

Side B1: I Wanna Be Your Lover (5:47)

Side B2: Head (4:38)

Packaging: Warner Bros. company sleeve.

US Promo (Warner Bros., PRO-A-937, 12-inch vinyl promo):

Side A1: Gotta Stop (Messin’ About) (2:54)

Side A2: Partyup (4:24)

Side B1: Head (4:40)

Side B2: When You Were Mine (3:44)

Side B3: Uptown (5:30)

Packaging: Promotional sleeve.

Chart Performance: Did not chart in the UK; a pre-release press statement listed “Uptown” as the A-side with “I Wanna Be Your Lover” as the B-side, but the final release flipped to “Gotta Stop (Messin’ About).”

US/Europe/Japan/Other Regions: Not released commercially; US promo only.

Collectibility

Original 1980 singles are prized by collectors. US “Uptown” and “Dirty Mind” 7-inch vinyls fetch £5–£25 on Discogs, with promo copies or picture sleeves (e.g., Japan) up to £50. The Philippines “Head” and “Dirty Mind” singles are rare, valued at £20–£60. US “Head” and “When You Were Mine” promo 12-inches fetch £15–£40. UK “Do It All Night” and “Gotta Stop (Messin’ About)” singles (7-inch and 12-inch) range £10–£30, with reissues and promos rarer. Verify matrix numbers to avoid reissues. Tracks stream on Spotify, preserving their analog grit.

Have you tracked down these Dirty Mind singles in your vinyl collection? Which one’s your favorite to spin? Share in the comments!