Prince (November 23, 1987) I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man - Single 7" UK
- Escape
- Nov 23, 1987
- 2 min read
Updated: May 24
A Sign O’ The Times rocker trimmed for radio and paired with a club‑ready B‑side
RELEASE DETAILS Date: November 23, 1987 Catalogue: W8288 / 928 288‑7 Format: 7" Single Country: United Kingdom Album: Sign o’ the Times (1987)
A-Side: I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (Fade) – 3:39 B-Side: Hot Thing (Edit) – 3:40
THE STORY Released in the United Kingdom on November 23, 1987 as the fourth and final single from Sign o’ the Times, “I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man” featured a radio-friendly 3:39 edit of the album track backed with an edited version of “Hot Thing.” Written, produced, arranged, and performed entirely by Prince, the single showcased his ability to blend rock energy with emotional depth. It peaked at No. 29 on the UK Singles Chart.
CONTEXT & NOTES This release came toward the end of the Sign o’ the Times campaign. The track’s guitar-driven rock edge contrasted with the album’s more experimental material, while multiple UK pressing variants make it a sought-after collector’s item.
TRACK LIST
UK 7" Single (W8288 / 928 288‑7) A. I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (Fade) – 3:39 B. Hot Thing (Edit) – 3:40
All UK 7" Variants
7-inch — Paper Labels (W8288)
7-inch — Silver Injection Labels (W8288)
7-inch — Metallic Blue Injection Labels (W8288)
7-inch — Paper Labels, Damont Pressing (W8288)
7-inch — Promo White Label (W8288)
CHART PERFORMANCE UK Singles Chart: Peak No. 29 (6 weeks)
PERSONNEL
Prince – vocals, all instruments, production
PACKAGING HIGHLIGHTS
Front sleeve: Dramatic live-style image of a shirtless Prince with necklaces and bracelets against a dark background
Back sleeve: Text-heavy layout with track credits and Paisley Park branding
Striking red and black colour scheme
WHAT THE LABEL / SLEEVE SHOWS Front cover features Prince in an intense pose with arms crossed. Back sleeve includes full track information and production credits. Labels show standard Paisley Park / Warner Bros. design.
RELATED MATERIAL
Kiss (February/March 1986)
Anotherloverholenyohead (October 20, 1986)
Mountains (May 21, 1986)
Sign o’ the Times (February/March 1987)
U Got The Look (July 21, 1987)
For other relevant posts, see the tags at the foot of the page.
SOURCES Prince Vault • Discogs • BBC Official Charts Company
COPYRIGHT NOTICE All single artwork, photographs, logos, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.
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