Prince (October 8 1980) When You Were Mine – Promotional 12" US
- GlamSlamEscape
- Oct 8, 1980
- 2 min read
“When You Were Mine” was released as a promotional 12" single in the US only on October 8, 1980 — the exact same day as the Dirty Mind album — to help in the promotion.
RELEASE DETAILS
Artist: Prince
Label: Warner Bros. Records
Format: 12" Vinyl Promo
Country: USA (Promo Only)
Released: October 8, 1980
Genre: Funk, New Wave, Pop Rock
A-Side:
A1. When You Were Mine – 3:42
A2. Gotta Broken Heart Again – 2:12
Written by: Prince Produced by: Prince Arranged by: Prince
B-Side: Uptown – 5:29
Written by: Prince Produced by: Prince Arranged by: Prince
TRACK LIST
US 12" Promo Single (PRO-A-916)
Side 1
A1. When You Were Mine – 3:42
A2. Gotta Broken Heart Again – 2:12
Side 2
B. Uptown – 5:29
CHART PERFORMANCE
Not eligible for commercial charts (promotional release only).
PERSONNEL
Prince – lead and backing vocals, Oberheim OB-X, ARP Omni, electric guitar, bass guitar, drums
Production
Prince – producer, arranger, composer, performer
THE STORY
Released on October 8, 1980 simultaneously with the Dirty Mind album, this promotional 12" single served as club and radio promotion for the project (following the same strategy as the “Head” promo). The record features three album tracks and came without a picture sleeve. “When You Were Mine” later became better known through Cyndi Lauper’s popular 1983 cover version.
CONTEXT & NOTES
This was a typical Warner Bros. album promotion tactic for Prince at the time — using 12" promos with multiple album cuts to generate interest in clubs and among DJs. The track stands out for its jangle-pop/power-pop energy and distinctive organ sound within the Dirty Mind era’s raw, minimalist production.
RELATED MATERIAL
Album: Dirty Mind (1980)
Previous Single: Prince (1980) Head – 7" PH / 12" Promo US
Next Single: Dirty Mind (1980)
SOURCES
Prince Vault •
Discogs •
45cat •
Sleevographia2 •
Warner Bros. Records •
Wikipedia.
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.
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