Prince And The New Power Generation: Damn U Single (1992)

Escape
Nov 17, 1992
5 min read

A Love Symbol Funk Tease

Prince And The New Power Generation’s “Damn U” 7-inch vinyl single was released in the US on November 17, 1992, on Paisley Park/Warner Bros. Records (catalogue: 7-18700). Backed with “2 Whom It May Concern” (featuring a sample of The Headhunters’ “God Make Me Funky”), this sensual slow-jam, written/composed/performed by Prince & NPG, was from the Love Symbol album. The A-side peaked at No. 32 on Billboard Hot R&B Singles for 18 weeks and No. 108 Bubbling Under Hot 100 for 8 weeks. Pressed by Specialty Records Corporation with generic sleeve, issued in vinyl, with cassette, promo CD/12-inch, and test pressing variants, it’s a sultry ‘90s Prince classic.

Single Overview

A-Side: “Damn U (Album Version)” (4:04)

Composed By: Prince. Producer, Arranged By, Performed By: Prince, The New Power Generation.

B-Side: “2 Whom It May Concern” (4:01)

Composed By: Prince. Sample of “God Make Me Funky” by The Headhunters (used courtesy of Arista Records Inc., published by Cigum Music).

Label: Paisley Park/Warner Bros. Records (US pressing, 45 RPM).

Published By: Controversy Music (admin. by WB Music Corp. ASCAP).

Phonographic Copyright ℗: Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Pressed By: Specialty Records Corporation.

US Formats:

Vinyl, 7", Single (7-18700):

Paper labels, generic sleeve.

A: “Damn U (Album Version)” (4:04): Composed By: Prince

B: “2 Whom It May Concern” (4:01): Composed By: Prince – Sample of “God Make Me Funky” (B. Maupin, B. Summers, D. McKnight, M. Clark, P. Jackson)

Runouts: [SRC logo] 7-18700-A/B SR1 I - I.

Cassette, Single (9 18700-4 / 4-18700):
V1
Issued in a slipcase
A: “Damn U (Album Version)” (4:04): Composed By: Prince
B: “2 Whom It May Concern” (4:01): Composed By: Prince – Sample of “God Make Me Funky” (B. Maupin, B. Summers, D. McKnight, M. Clark, P. Jackson)
Record Company – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Manufactured By – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Duplicated By – Specialty Records Corporation
Distributed By – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Composed By – Prince
Producer, Arranged By – Prince, The New Power Generation
From the Paisley Park/Warner Bros. album 'LOVE SYMBOL'
Barcode: 0 5439-18700-4 9

Cassette, Single (9 18700-4 / 4-18700):
V2
Issued in a slipcase
Timescale 100 50 0 with 11 hatchmarks

A: “Damn U (Album Version)” (4:04): Composed By: Prince

B: “2 Whom It May Concern” (4:01): Composed By: Prince – Sample of “God Make Me Funky” (B. Maupin, B. Summers, D. McKnight, M. Clark, P. Jackson)

Record Company – Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Manufactured By – Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Duplicated By – Specialty Records Corporation

Distributed By – Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Composed By – Prince

Producer, Arranged By – Prince, The New Power Generation

From the Paisley Park/Warner Bros. album 'LOVE SYMBOL'

Barcode: 0 5439-18700-4 9

CD, Single, Cardboard Sleeve (9 18700-2 / 2-18700)
A: “Damn U (Album Version)” (4:04): Composed By: Prince
B: “2 Whom It May Concern” (4:01): Composed By: Prince – Sample of “God Make Me Funky” (B. Maupin, B. Summers, D. McKnight, M. Clark, P. Jackson)
Published By – Controversy Music
Copyright © – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Pressed By – Specialty Records Corporation
Manufactured By – WEA Manufacturing
Composed By – Prince
Design – Greg Ross
Photography By – Jeff Katz (2)
Producer, Arranged By, Performer – Prince, The New Power Generation
"2 Whom It May Concern" contains a sample of "God Make Me Funky" performed by The Headhunters
Barcode (Printed): 0 5439-18700-2 5
Barcode (String): 054391870025
Rights Society: ASCAP
Matrix / Runout: 1 18700-2 SRC#01.
Mastering SID Code: none
Mould SID Code: none

CD, Single, Promo (PRO-CD-5890):

1 Damn U (Album Version) 4:01

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Manufactured By – WEA Manufacturing

Manufactured By – Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Distributed By – Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Published By – Controversy Music

Published By – WB Music Corp.

Composed By – Prince

Producer, Arranged By, Performer – Prince, The New Power Generation

Standard jewel case with tray insert only

From the Paisley Park/Warner Bros. album Love Symbol

(4/2-45037, 4/2-45123 and 2-45121)

Controversy Music, admin. by WB Music Corp

Paisley Park Records, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. Records Inc., a Time Warner Company. ℗ 1992 Warner Bros. Records Inc. Mfg. by WEA Manufacturing

Made in USA. (Disc)

Rights Society: ASCAP

Matrix / Runout: 1 PRO CD 5890-2 SRC=02

12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo (PRO-A-5890):
A Damn U (Album Version) 4:01
B Damn U (Album Version) 4:01
Record Company – Paisley Park Records
Manufactured By – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Distributed By – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Record Company – Time Warner
Pressed By – Specialty Records Corporation
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Copyright © – WEA International Inc.
Copyright © – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Copyright © – WEA International Inc.
Published By – Controversy Music
Published By – WB Music Corp.
Composed By – Prince
Design – Greg Ross
Photography By – Jeff Katz
Producer, Arranged By, Performer – Prince, The New Power Generation
Cover:
Published by Controversy Music, admin. by WB Music Corp. ASCAP
Promotion only. Not for sale.
From the Paisley Park/Warner Bros. album Love Symbol. Available on Cassette and Compact Disc
(4/2-45037, 4/2-45123 and 2-45121).
Paisley Park Records, manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. Records Inc., a Time Warner Company. [...] ©℗ 1992 Warner Bros. Records Inc. for the U.S. and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the U.S. Made in U.S.A.
Labels:
Controversy Music, admin. by WB Music Corp. ASCAP
℗ 1992 Warner Bros. Records Inc. for the U.S.
Rights Society: ASCAP
Pressing Plant ID: [SRC logo]
Matrix / Runout (Side A): [SRC logo] PRO-A1/A2-5890-SR1 1-1
Matrix / Runout (Side B): [SRC logo] PRO-A1/A2-5890-SR1 1-1

12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo Test Pressing (PRO-A-5890):

A Damn U (Album Vers.) 4:04

B Damn U (Album Vers.) 4:04

Pressed By – Specialty Records Corporation

Testpressing for the 'Damn U' promo

Country Variations

Warner Bros. Records – 1602

Vinyl, 7", Single, Promo

Spain

1993

A Damn U 4:04

B Damn U 4:04

Record Company – Warner Music Spain, S.A.

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – WEA International Inc.

Pressed By – Eurogram, S.A.

Edited At – Warner Music Spain, S.A.

Record Company – Time Warner

Producer – Prince, The New Power Generation

Written-By – Prince

PROMOCIONAL PROHIBIDA SU VENTA

Matrix / Runout (A-side runout, stamped): EUR 1602 A 2

Rights Society: SGAE

Depósito Legal: M-1274-1993

Production and Context

Produced/Arranged/Performed by Prince & The New Power Generation. Recorded in 1992 during Love Symbol sessions. Sample of The Headhunters’ “God Make Me Funky” (1975). “Damn U” was a bedroom slow-jam, “2 Whom It May Concern” a funky interlude. Released amid Love Symbol (No. 5 US, 1992) and Prince’s name-change era, it competed with Michael Jackson and Madonna.

Chart Performance

“Damn U” was the fifth commercial single from Love Symbol:

USA (Billboard Hot R&B Singles): 32 (18 weeks)

USA (Bubbling Under Hot 100): 108 (8 weeks)

Legacy and Collectibility

“Damn U” is Prince’s seductive slow-burn, with “2 Whom It May Concern” a funky Headhunters-sampled B-side. Original US 7-inch vinyls fetch £5–£15 on eBay/Discogs, cassettes/CDs (£3–£10). Verify catalogue 7-18700.

Streams on Spotify via Love Symbol preserve the analog heat. This single is a must-have for Prince fans and ‘90s R&B collectors.

Do you have Damn U in your vinyl stack? Does the damn get you? Share in the comments!

Sources

Information is drawn from personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including Prince Vault, Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts Company, Billboard Chart History and YouTube

Prince And The New Power Generation: Damn U Single (1992)

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