PRINCE (October 16, 1989) – "The Arms Of Orion" b/w "I Love U In Me" Format: 7" Single: US
"The Arms Of Orion" was issued as the third single from Prince's eleventh studio album, Batman. The single was released in the United States on October 16, 1989, approximately four months after the release of the parent album and continued the commercial association between the Batman album and the 1989 film.
The release featured the edited single version of "The Arms Of Orion" backed with the previously unreleased track "I Love U In Me". The appearance of "I Love U In Me" made the release particularly notable, as the song had not previously appeared on album or single.
The single received worldwide distribution. It was subsequently issued in the United Kingdom on November 6, 1989 and was released in multiple formats including 7-inch vinyl, 12-inch vinyl, cassette single and CD single.
The release achieved moderate chart success internationally, reaching number 36 on the US Billboard Hot 100, while also charting in Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
RECORDING
"The Arms Of Orion" originated from the Batman album.
The commercial 7-inch release used a dedicated edit running 3:52 rather than the full album version.
"I Love U In Me" was issued as a previously unreleased recording.
STYLE & THEMES
The single combined the edited version of "The Arms Of Orion" with the previously unreleased "I Love U In Me".
Various formats expanded the package through inclusion of both the full-length album version and the shorter single edit, allowing listeners access to multiple versions of the title track.
TRACK‑BY‑TRACK NOTES
• The Arms Of Orion (Edit) — The 3:52 single version selected for the commercial 7-inch release and featured across multiple formats.
• I Love U In Me — A previously unreleased recording issued as the principal B-side.
• The Arms Of Orion — The full-length 5:03 album version included on 12-inch and CD configurations.
RELEASE HISTORY
Released in the United States on October 16, 1989, "The Arms Of Orion" became the third commercial single taken from Batman.
The release followed Partyman and continued promotion of the Batman project around the world. A United Kingdom release followed on November 6, 1989.
The single was issued on 7-inch vinyl, 12-inch vinyl, cassette and CD formats. As with Partyman, the CD edition was available as a 3-inch CD single.
The artwork continued the visual themes associated with the Batman campaign and utilised a variation of the familiar Batman logo.
An experimental multimedia component was included on the CD single. When inserted into a computer, an unlisted CDI file displayed a slideshow accompanied by "The Arms Of Orion". According to the supplied source, the feature was an experiment by Warner Bros. and was not created with input from Prince.
CHARTS & CERTIFICATIONS
AMERICA
USA: Billboard Hot 100 Chart — Entry: October 21, 1989 — Peak: 36 — Weeks: 14
USA: Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart — Entry: October 28, 1989 — Peak: 21 — Weeks: 13
EUROPE
Belgium: Ultratop Flanders — Entry: December 2, 1989 — Peak: 33 — Weeks: 3
Ireland: IRMA Singles Chart — Entry: November 9, 1989 — Peak: 5 — Weeks: 3
Netherlands: Dutch Top 40 — Entry: November 11, 1989 — Peak: 15 — Weeks: 5
UK: Gallup Singles Chart — Entry: November 18, 1989 — Peak: 27 — Weeks: 5
PACIFIC
CERTIFICATIONS
This single did not receive any certifications in the USA or elsewhere.
AWARDS
This single did not receive any awards in the USA or elsewhere.
PERSONNEL
Prince — vocals, songwriter, performer
PRODUCTION
Produced by Prince
Label: Warner Bros. Records
NOTES
"I Love U In Me" was previously unreleased at the time of the single's release.
The single was the third release taken from the Batman album.
The commercial 7-inch issue used a 3:52 edit of "The Arms Of Orion".
Like Partyman, the CD edition was released as a 3-inch CD single.
The CD format contained an unlisted CDI file featuring a slideshow experiment created by Warner Bros. using available CD technology. According to the source, the feature did not involve Prince and was not intended as an official promotional video.
This single was not released in digital format.
RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE
Artist | Title | Label | Country | Catalogue | Date | Format |
Prince | The Arms Of Orion / I Love U In Me | Warner Bros. | USA | 7-22757 | October 16, 1989 | 7" Single |
Prince | The Arms Of Orion / I Love U In Me | Warner Bros. | USA | 4-22757 | October 16, 1989 | Cassette Single |
Prince | The Arms Of Orion | Warner Bros. | USA | 7-22757 | 1989 | Promo 7" Single |
Prince | The Arms Of Orion | Warner Bros. | USA | PRO-CD-3787 | 1989 | Promo CD Single |
--- | INTERNATIONAL VARIANTS | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
Prince | The Arms Of Orion / I Love U In Me | Warner Bros. | UK | W2757 | November 6, 1989 | 7" Single |
Prince | The Arms Of Orion / I Love U In Me | Warner Bros. | UK | W2757C | November 6, 1989 | Cassette Single |
Prince | The Arms Of Orion / I Love U In Me | Warner Bros. | UK | W2757T | 1989 | 12" Single |
Prince | The Arms Of Orion / I Love U In Me | Warner Bros. | UK | W2757TP | 1989 | 12" Picture Disc |
Prince | The Arms Of Orion / I Love U In Me | Warner Bros. | UK | W2757CD | 1989 | CD Single |
Prince | The Arms Of Orion / I Love U In Me | Warner Bros. | UK | W2757CDX | 1989 | Collectors Edition CD Single |
Prince | The Arms Of Orion / I Love U In Me | Warner Bros. | Germany | 922 757-7 | 1989 | 7" Single |
Prince | The Arms Of Orion / I Love U In Me | Warner Bros. | Germany | 921 394-0 | 1989 | 12" Single |
Prince | The Arms Of Orion / I Love U In Me | Warner Bros. | Germany | 921 394-2 | 1989 | CD Single |
Prince | The Arms Of Orion / I Love U In Me | Warner Bros. | Canada | 922 757-7 | 1989 | 7" Single |
Prince | The Arms Of Orion / I Love U In Me | Warner Bros. | Australia | MX304357-8 | 1989 | 7" Single |
Prince | The Arms Of Orion / I Love U In Me | Warner Bros. | Japan | 09P3-6208 | 1989 | CD Single |
TRACKLIST TABLE (ALL FORMATS)
SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts, Prince Vault, Sleeveographia2.
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This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.
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