Prince: I Wish U Heaven 7" Single (1988)

Third Single from Lovesexy with Camille B-Side

On October 24, 1988, Prince released the 7" single I Wish U Heaven b/w Scarlet Pussy (credited to his alter ego Camille) in the United Kingdom through Paisley Park/Warner Bros. Records. As the third and final single from his album Lovesexy, this release juxtaposed a spiritual ballad with a provocative funk track, encapsulating Prince's dual themes of love and sensuality during his post-Sign o' the Times era. Issued in a standard picture sleeve and a limited poster bag variant, it targeted UK radio and fans amid the Lovesexy Tour. Below, explore the background, significance, and details of this UK 7" single.

Background and Context

The Lovesexy Album Era

Lovesexy, released on May 10, 1988, was Prince's 10th studio album, recorded in seven weeks at Paisley Park Studios after scrapping the infamous Black Album. A response to his spiritual awakening, it blended funk, pop, gospel, and R&B across 16 tracks, emphasizing love, redemption, and sensuality with the album peaking at #11 on the Billboard 200 and #1 in several European countries. It sold over 500,000 copies worldwide but faced backlash for its overt positivity after the darker Sign o' the Times (1987). The Lovesexy Tour (1988–1989) was a theatrical spectacle, with this single tying into its spiritual-funky vibe.

The Song I Wish U Heaven

Written and produced by Prince, I Wish U Heaven is an uplifting gospel-funk ballad (4:25 album version) from Lovesexy, with minimal lyrics affirming love and heaven ("I wish u heaven / I wish u love"). Recorded in 1987–1988, it features Prince on vocals, keyboards, and guitar, with Boni Boyer on keyboards and Sheila E. on percussion. The single edit (4:02) tightened the fade-out for radio. Lyrically, it reflects Prince's post-Black Album redemption, quoting "Housequake" from Sign o' the Times in extended mixes.

The B-Side Scarlet Pussy by Camille

Scarlet Pussy, credited Camille (using pitch-shifted vocals), is a raunchy funk track (4:10 edit) originally recorded in 1986 for the unreleased Camille album. With playful, explicit lyrics about seduction ("Do you know what my pussy's doin'? / It's goin' meow!"), it features sped-up Camille vocals over funky bass and synths. Intended for Sheila E. initially, it was shelved until this B-side, embodying Prince's cheeky sensuality. The full 6:09 version appeared on 12" formats.

Chart Performance:

UK: #39 on UK Singles Chart (peaked December 1988, 5 weeks).

US: #12 on Dance Club Songs; no Hot 100 entry.

Modest success, following Alphabet St. (#8 UK) and Glam Slam (#24 UK); Scarlet Pussy's explicitness limited radio play.

Cultural Context

October 1988 aligned with the Lovesexy Tour's European leg, amid UK charts dominated by U2's Rattle and Hum and Rick Astley's Whenever You Need Somebody. Prince's release contrasted the era's synth-pop with its gospel-funk duality, reflecting his spiritual pivot post-Black Album cancellation.

The UK 7" Single Release Formats

7" Vinyl Single UK (Standard Picture Sleeve)

Label: Paisley Park – W 7745, Warner Bros. – 927 745-7

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single

Country: UK

Details: Black vinyl in a picture sleeve with artwork part from the singles video.

Paisley Park label on A-side, black Warner Bros. on B-side; includes "From the LP 'Lovesexy' WX164" text. Pressed in the UK (Damont or Orlake variants).

Track Listing:

A: I Wish U Heaven (Edit) – 4:02

B: Scarlet Pussy (by Camille) – 4:10).

7" Vinyl Single UK (Poster Bag Variant)

Label: Paisley Park – W 7745, Warner Bros. – 927 745-7

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Poster Bag

Country: UK

Details: Black vinyl in a wrap round poster bag pressing

Track Listing:

Side A: I Wish U Heaven (Edit) – 4:02

Side B: Scarlet Pussy (by Camille) – 4:10).

12" Maxi-Single  UK (Standard Picture Sleeve)

Label: Paisley Park – W7745T, Paisley Park – 921 074-0, Paisley Park – W 7745 (T)

Format: Vinyl, 12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo

Track Listing:

A Prince– I Wish U Heaven (Part 1, 2 & 3) - 10:15

Producer – Prince

Remix [Remix Engineer], Engineer [Remix Engineer] – Femi Jiya

Remix [Remixed By] – Femi Jiya

B Camille– Scarlet Pussy - 6:11

12" Maxi-Single UK (Picture Sleeve with Poster)

Label: Paisley Park – W7745TW, Paisley Park – 921 085-0, Paisley Park – W 7745 (T)

Format: Vinyl, 12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo, Collectors' Edition With Free Poster

A Prince– I Wish U Heaven (Part 1, 2 & 3) - 10:15

Engineer [Remix Engineer] – Femi Jiya

Producer – Prince

Remix [Remixed By] – Femi Jiya

Written-By – Prince

B Camille – Scarlet Pussy 6:11

CD Single EU

Label: Paisley Park – W7745CD, Paisley Park – 921 074-2

Format: CD, Mini, Single

Country: UK & Europe

1 Prince– I Wish U Heaven (Part 1 · 2 · 3) - 10:15

Remix [Remixed By], Engineer [Remix Engineer] – Femi Jiya

Written-By, Producer – Prince

2 Camille – Scarlet Pussy - 6:11

CD Single JAP

Label: Paisley Park – 10P3-6052

Format: CD, Mini, Single

Country: Japan

Released: 25 Oct 1988

1 Prince– I Wish U Heaven - 2:46

2 Camille – Scarlet Pussy - 4:19

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – WEA International Inc.

Licensed From – Warner Bros. Records (Japan) Inc.

Made By – Warner-Pioneer Corporation

℗ 1988 WEA International Inc.

CD comes in the usual japanese mini-cd packaging of that time, a double sized case. The lower portion of the case can be snapped off to make a small 3" case ("snap-pack").

Cultural and Musical Significance

Musical Innovation

I Wish U Heaven embodied Lovesexy's spiritual funk, with gospel chants and synths—extended mixes incorporating Take This Beat outtake for a 10-minute suite. Scarlet Pussy revived Camille's androgynous funk from the scrapped 1987 album, using explicit cat/dog metaphors for sensuality, contrasting the A-side's purity.

Prince’s UK Presence

The single reinforced Prince's UK fanbase post-Sign o' the Times tour, peaking at #39 amid Lovesexy's #1 album status. Scarlet Pussy's raunchiness sparked controversy, limiting airplay but boosting underground appeal.

Broader Context of October 24, 1988

UK charts featured Enya's Orinoco Flow (#1) and Intermediate Unbelievable; Prince's release bridged his spiritual pivot with funky edge, prefiguring 90s reinventions.

Collectibility and Modern Availability

Collectibility: The poster bag 7" and Poster 12" are prized items

Streaming and Reissues: I Wish U Heaven on Spotify/Apple Music via Lovesexy (remastered 2018); Scarlet Pussy on The Hits/The B-Sides (1993). Full mixes on fan rips.

Physical Media: Scarce UK pressings on Discogs; 2025 Prince Estate vaults may yield unreleased Camille material.

Additional Notes

Camille Legacy: Scarlet Pussy is the only official Camille release post-1987 shelving; its explicitness ties to Black Album sensuality.

Fan Reception: Prince.org lauds the A/B contrast; 2023 Reddit calls it "peak duality."

October 24, 1988, Context: Coincided with Lovesexy Tour prep, emphasizing spiritual themes.

Legacy

The I Wish U Heaven 7" single of October 24, 1988, encapsulates Prince's Lovesexy ethos—heavenly hope meets playful vice via Camille's Scarlet Pussy. A footnote in charts, it's a fan staple for its contrasts. Collectors seek the poster; streams evoke 1988's magic. Dive deeper at princevault.com.