Prince (October 18, 2019) – I Feel For You (Acoustic Demo) Single Worldwide: Digital / 7" Purple Vinyl
Released without advance notice on October 18, 2019, I Feel For You (Acoustic Demo) celebrated the approaching 40th anniversary of Prince's self-titled Prince album, originally released on October 19, 1979.
The release unveiled a previously unknown home recording of I Feel For You, dating from winter 1978/1979. The early performance includes lyrical differences from the version subsequently recorded for the Prince album.
The acoustic demo was made available digitally on the day of release, while a limited-edition purple vinyl 7" was simultaneously announced for pre-order through Prince.com.
RECORDING
The acoustic demo was recorded at home during winter 1978/1979.
The recording presents I Feel For You in an early, stripped-back form and includes alternate lyrics that were subsequently changed for the studio version.
The B-side of the physical single features the familiar album recording from Prince.
STYLE & THEMES
The acoustic demo provides a markedly different presentation of I Feel For You, stripping the composition back to its early form and offering insight into the song before its finished studio arrangement.
The pairing of the previously unreleased demo with the completed 1979 album version allows the development of the composition to be heard across the two sides of the vinyl edition.
TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES
SIDE ONE
• I Feel For You (Acoustic Demo) (4:34) – Previously unknown home recording dating from winter 1978/1979 and containing alternate lyrics.
SIDE TWO
• I Feel For You (3:24) – Original album recording taken from the 1979 Prince album.
RELEASE HISTORY
The digital single was released worldwide on October 18, 2019 through NPG Records / Warner Bros. Records.
On the same day, a limited-edition purple vinyl 7" was made available to pre-order through Prince.com.
Orders for the vinyl edition were accepted for a limited seven-day period, with delivery originally announced for January 2020.
The release formed part of the celebration surrounding the 40th anniversary of the Prince album.
CHARTS
Country | Chart | Entry Date | Peak | Weeks |
USA | Billboard R&B Digital Song Sales | November 2, 2019 | 8 | 1 |
CHART RUN
The release spent one week on the Billboard R&B Digital Song Sales chart, reaching No. 8.
PERSONNEL
Prince – performer, songwriter
PRODUCTION
Artist: Prince
Labels: NPG Records / Warner Bros. Records
Digital Release Date: October 18, 2019
Physical Format: Limited Edition 7" Purple Vinyl
Related Album: Prince
Anniversary: 40th Anniversary
Digital Reference: iTunes id1483790892
NOTES
• Released digitally on October 18, 2019.
• Issued without advance notice as part of the 40th anniversary celebration for the Prince album.
• The Prince album was originally released on October 19, 1979.
• I Feel For You (Acoustic Demo) was previously unknown before its 2019 release.
• The acoustic demo dates from winter 1978/1979.
• The demo includes alternate lyrics that were subsequently changed for the finished studio recording.
• The digital edition was made available for download and streaming.
• A limited-edition purple vinyl 7" was announced for pre-order through Prince.com on the same day.
• Orders for the physical edition were accepted for seven days.
• Delivery of the vinyl edition was originally expected during January 2020.
• The B-side of the vinyl edition features the original album version of I Feel For You.
• The acoustic demo is a non-album recording.
• The release reached No. 8 on the US Billboard R&B Digital Song Sales chart.
RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE
DIGITAL VARIANT
Territory | Date | Labels | Format | Reference |
Worldwide | October 18, 2019 | NPG Records / Warner Bros. Records | Digital Single | iTunes id1483790892 |
PHYSICAL VARIANT
Territory | Pre-Order Date | Format | Notes |
Worldwide | October 18, 2019 | Limited Edition 7" Purple Vinyl | Seven-day pre-order through Prince.com |
TRACKLIST TABLE
Format | Tracklisting |
Digital | 1. I Feel For You (Acoustic Demo) – 4:34 2. I Feel For You – 3:24 |
7" Purple Vinyl | Side One • I Feel For You (Acoustic Demo) – 4:34 Side Two • I Feel For You – 3:24 |
SPECIAL PRESSINGS & VARIANTS
Variant | Notes |
Digital Single | Worldwide release on October 18, 2019 |
Purple Vinyl 7" | Limited-edition physical release offered through Prince.com |
Acoustic Demo | Previously unknown winter 1978/1979 home recording |
SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts, Prince Vault, Sleeveographia2.
All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders.
This Chronicle 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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