Prince: My Name is Prince US 12” Single (1992)
- Escape
- Oct 21, 1992
- 5 min read
Prince's "My Name Is Prince" was released as a 12" Vinyl Maxi Single in the U.S. on October 22, 1992.
Additionally, a 7" vinyl single, a CD single, a CD single promo, a cassette single, a cassette maxi-single, a CD maxi-single in Digipak, three additional promotional CD singles, and a reissued CD maxi-single were released on September 1, 1992, under Paisley Park and Warner Bros. Records.
The reissue’s exact date is unspecified but assumed to be within 1992 or later (please confirm if known). These releases showcased Prince’s bold fusion of funk, hip-hop, and house, marking his artistic reinvention and the debut of his “Love Symbol” persona. All formats share the same distinctive artwork (Prince in a chainmail-inspired outfit with a microphone, under a purple "MY NAME IS PRINCE" banner, and the "Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics" label), unless otherwise noted for promotional variants. Below, explore the background, significance, and precise details of these US releases.
Background and Context
The Love Symbol Album EraThe Love Symbol Album, released on October 13, 1992, was Prince’s second project with The New Power Generation (NPG), following the success of Diamonds and Pearls (1991). Recorded at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota, from 1990 to 1992, the album blended funk, rock, pop, hip-hop, and R&B, weaving a loose narrative about a princess and a rock star. It debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200, selling over 2 million copies worldwide, and reflected Prince’s response to the early-90s rise of hip-hop, featuring rap contributions from NPG member Tony M. The album’s lead single, Sexy M.F., sparked controversy for its explicit lyrics, setting the stage for the more radio-accessible My Name Is Prince as the second single.
The Song My Name Is Prince
Written by Prince and Tony M., My Name Is Prince is a swaggering anthem of self-affirmation, with Prince proclaiming his iconic status and new “Love Symbol” persona, adopted amid tensions with Warner Bros. over his name. Recorded in late 1991 at Paisley Park, the track features a funky bassline, horn stabs, turntable scratches, and Tony M.’s rap, embracing the hip-hop trends of the era. The album version (6:38) is high-energy, with playful lyrics (“In the beginning, God made the sea / But on the seventh day, he made me”), while the single edit (4:05) was tailored for radio.
Chart Performance:
UK: #7 on the UK Singles Chart (released September 29, 1992, ahead of the US).
Its moderate US success contrasted with stronger international performance, boosted by a vibrant music video.
Music Video: Directed by Randee St. Nicholas, the video featured Prince in his Love Symbol persona, with elaborate choreography, gold outfits, and NPG dancers (including Mayte Garcia) in a Middle Eastern-inspired set. A staple on MTV, it amplified the song’s cultural reach.
Cultural Context
In 1992, Prince was navigating a dynamic music landscape, competing with grunge (Nirvana, Pearl Jam) and gangsta rap (Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg). The Love Symbol Album and its singles positioned him as a versatile innovator, blending genres while asserting his legacy. The My Name Is Prince releases followed the Diamonds and Pearls Tour and preceded the Act I tour (1993), showcasing the NPG’s tight musicianship. This period also marked growing tensions with Warner Bros., foreshadowing Prince’s name change to the Love Symbol in 1993.
The US 12" Vinyl, CD Releases, and Promotional Formats:
The My Name Is Prince releases in 1992 in the US included a 12" vinyl maxi-single, a CD maxi-single, a 12" promotional vinyl, a 7" vinyl single, a CD single, a CD single promo, a cassette single, a cassette maxi-single, a CD maxi-single in Digipak, three additional promotional CD singles, and a reissued CD maxi-single, designed for DJs, collectors, fans, and radio promotion.
Below are the precise details for each format.
12" Vinyl Maxi-Single
Label: Paisley Park – 9 40700-0, Warner Bros. Records – 0-40700
Format: Vinyl, 12", 33⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single
Details: Black vinyl, housed in a standard 12" sleeve, some copies included promotional stickers or inserts hyping the album. Pressed in the US for club and retail distribution.
Track Listing:
Side A:
My Name Is Prince (12" Club Mix) – 8:11
My Name Is Prince (House Mix) – 7:18
Side B:
My Name Is Prince (Original Mix Edit) – 8:06
My Name Is Prince (Hard Core 12" Mix) – 7:55
Sexy M.F. (12" Remix) – 7:34
CD Maxi-Single
Label: Paisley Park – 9 40700-2, Warner Bros. Records – 9 40700-2
Format: CD, Maxi-Single, Digipak
Country: US
My Name Is Prince (Original Mix Edit) - 8:06
My Name Is Prince (12" Club Mix) - 8:11
My Name Is Prince (House Mix) - 7:18
My Name Is Prince (Hardcore 12" Mix) - 7:55
Sexy M.F. (12" Remix) - 7:34
12" Promotional Vinyl
Label: Paisley Park – PRO-A-5770, Warner Bros. Records – PRO-A-5770
Format: Vinyl, 12", 33⅓ RPM, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1992
Pressed in the US for limited distribution.
Track Listing:
Side A:
My Name Is Prince (Edit) – 4:05
Side B:
My Name Is Prince (Album Version) – 6:38
7" Vinyl Single
Label: Paisley Park – 7-18707, Warner Bros. Records – 7-18707
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: September 1, 1992
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul, Pop
Track Listing:
Side A:
My Name Is Prince (Edit) – 4:04
Side B:
Sexy Mutha – 3:55
CD Single
Label: Paisley Park – 9 18707-2, Warner Bros. Records – 2-18707
Format: CD, Single, Cardboard
Country: US
Released: September 1, 1992
Track Listing:
My Name Is Prince (Edit) – 4:05
Sexy Mutha – 3:55
CD Single Promo
Label: Paisley Park – PRO-CD-5770, Warner Bros. Records – PRO-CD-5770
Format: CD, Single, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1992
Track Listing:
My Name Is Prince (Edit) – 4:05
My Name Is Prince (Album Version) – 6:38
Cassette Single
Label: Warner Bros. Records – 9 18707-4, Warner Bros. Records – 4-18707
Format: Cassette, Single, SR
Country: US
Released: 1992
Track Listing:
Side A:
My Name Is Prince (Edit) – 4:04
Side B:
Sexy Mutha – 3:55
Cassette Maxi-Single
Label: Paisley Park – 9 40700-4, Warner Bros. Records – 9 40700-4, Paisley Park – 4-40700, Warner Bros. Records – 4-40700
Format: Cassette, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: 1992
Track Listing:
Side A:
My Name Is Prince (12" Club Mix) – 8:11
My Name Is Prince (House Mix) – 7:18
Side B:
My Name Is Prince (Original Mix Edit) – 8:06
My Name Is Prince (Hard Core 12" Mix) – 7:55
Sexy M.F. (12" Remix) – 7:34
CD Maxi-Single in Digipak
Label: Paisley Park – 9 40700-2, Warner Bros. Records – 9 40700-2
Format: CD, Maxi-Single, Digipak
Country: US
Released: 1992
Track Listing:
My Name Is Prince (Original Mix Edit) – 8:06
My Name Is Prince (12" Club Mix) – 8:11
My Name Is Prince (House Mix) – 7:18
My Name Is Prince (Hard Core 12" Mix) – 7:55
Sexy M.F. (12" Remix) – 7:34
Promotional CD Single (1)
Label: Warner Bros. Records – none
Format: CD, Single, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1992
My Name Is Prince – 3:35
Promotional CD Single (2)
Label: Warner Bros. Records – none
Format: CD, Single, Promo
Country: US
Track Listing:
My Name Is Prince (CHR Edit-No Rap) – 3:38
My Name Is Prince (CHR Edit-With Rap) – 4:03
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