SHEILA E. (October 15, 1984) – "The Glamorous Life" b/w "The Glamorous Life Part II" Format: 7" & 12" Single: UK
"The Glamorous Life" was released in the United Kingdom on October 15, 1984 as the first single from Sheila E.'s debut album of the same name. It was also the first release of any kind to carry Sheila E.'s name as the credited artist.
The single had originally appeared four weeks before the release of the parent album.
The standard 7-inch edition presented a 3:41 edit of "The Glamorous Life", backed with "The Glamorous Life Part II", a 3:12 continuation of the main recording.
Prince contributed extensively to "The Glamorous Life" as its writer, producer and performer. However, Prince's participation was not credited on the original release.
The single became Sheila E.'s most successful release on the US Billboard Pop Chart, where it reached number 7. It also climbed to number 9 on the Billboard Black.
Singles chart and spent two weeks at number 1 on the Billboard Dance/Disco Top 80.
This made "The Glamorous Life" the second single by an artist associated with Prince to reach number 1 on the Billboard Dance/Disco chart, following "Nasty Girl" in September 1982
The UK release produced a more modest chart result. It reached number 96 on the Gallup Singles Chart during October 1984. Following a UK reissue on April 15, 1985, the single returned to the chart at number 97.
RECORDING
Prince wrote, produced and performed on "The Glamorous Life", although these contributions were not credited on the original release.
The parent album was recorded at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California.
The commercial single appeared in several different configurations. These included the 3:41 single version, the 6:33 Club Edit and the complete 8:58 album recording.
"The Glamorous Life Part II" runs for 3:12 and continues the main composition.
STYLE & THEMES
The release was presented through several configurations designed for commercial, radio and club use.
The standard 7-inch single contained the concise 3:41 version of "The Glamorous Life". The commercial 12-inch edition expanded the song into the 6:33 Club Edit, while promotional editions offered both short and extended versions for radio and dance-floor use.
The extended versions emphasised the recording's dance-oriented qualities, while "The Glamorous Life Part II" developed the composition beyond the standard single edit.
TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES
• The Glamorous Life — The featured A-side and Sheila E.'s first credited solo release. The standard 7-inch single used the 3:41 edit, while commercial and promotional 12-inch editions presented longer 6:33 and 8:58 versions. Prince wrote, produced and performed on the recording without receiving credit on the original release.
• The Glamorous Life Part II — A 3:12 continuation of the main composition, issued as the B-side of the standard commercial 7-inch and 12-inch formats.
• The Glamorous Life (Club Edit) — A 6:33 version prepared for the commercial 12-inch single.
• The Glamorous Life (Album Version Edit) — A 6:33 promotional version coupled with the shorter 3:41 Single Edit.
• The Glamorous Life (Album Version) — The complete 8:58 recording included on a US promotional edition.
• The Glamorous Life (8 Minute Version) — The 8:58 version issued on the UK promotional 12-inch single under catalogue number SAM 196.
RELEASE HISTORY
"The Glamorous Life" was first released on May 2, 1984, four weeks before the release of Sheila E.'s debut album on June 4, 1984.
The single was released in the Netherlands on June 8, 1984. Its United Kingdom release followed on October 15, 1984, providing the central focus of this Chronicle entry.
The UK commercial 7-inch was issued through Warner Bros. under catalogue number W 9285. It coupled the 3:41 version of "The Glamorous Life" with "The Glamorous Life Part II".
A UK 12-inch edition, catalogue number W 9285 T, featured the 6:33 Club Edit on the A-side and "The Glamorous Life Part II" on the reverse.
The UK campaign also included a promotional 12-inch carrying catalogue number SAM 196. This edition paired the complete 8:58 version with "The Glamorous Life Part II".
The single was reissued in the United Kingdom on April 15, 1985. A further Dutch reissue followed on January 31, 1986.
International commercial editions included releases in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Germany and Portugal. A selection of American promotional pressings provided radio and club programmers with different combinations of the single edit, album edit and complete album version.
CHARTS & CERTIFICATIONS
AMERICA
USA: Billboard Black Singles — Entry: June 2, 1984 — Peak: 9 — Weeks: 23
USA: Billboard Dance/Disco Top 80 — Entry: June 9, 1984 — Peak: 1 — Weeks: 21
The single remained at number 1 on the Billboard Dance/Disco Top 80 for two weeks.
USA: Billboard Hot 100 — Entry: June 16, 1984 — Peak: 7 — Weeks: 26
EUROPE
Belgium: Ultratop 50 Singles — Entry: August 18, 1984 — Peak: 5 — Weeks: 9
Netherlands: Nederlandse Top 40 — Entry: August 4, 1984 — Peak: 2 — Weeks: 10
UK: Gallup Singles Chart — Entry: October 21, 1984 — Peak: 96 — Weeks: 1
UK: Gallup Singles Chart — Re-entry: April 21, 1985 — Peak: 97 — Weeks: 1
CERTIFICATIONS
The single did not receive any certifications in the USA or elsewhere.
AWARDS
The single did not receive any awards in the USA or elsewhere.
PERSONNEL
Sheila E. — credited artist and performer
Prince — writer, producer and performer, all uncredited
PRODUCTION
Produced by Prince, uncredited
Label: Warner Bros. Records
NOTES
This Chronicle entry commemorates the United Kingdom release of "The Glamorous Life" on October 15, 1984. All other supplied countries and formats are documented as international variants.
"The Glamorous Life" was the first release of any kind credited to Sheila E.
The original single was issued four weeks before the release of the parent album.
Prince wrote, produced and performed on the recording, but his contributions were not credited on the original release.
The 3:41 edit and 6:33 Club Edit were non-album versions, while "The Glamorous Life Part II" continued the main composition.
The UK release was reissued on April 15, 1985. The single re-entered the Gallup Singles Chart on April 21, 1985 at number 97.
A Dutch reissue followed on January 31, 1986.
RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE
Artist | Title | Label | Country | Catalogue | Date | Format |
Sheila E. | The Glamorous Life | Warner Bros. | UK | W 9285 | October 15, 1984 | 7" Single |
Sheila E. | The Glamorous Life | Warner Bros. | UK | W 9285 T | October 15, 1984 | 12" Single |
Sheila E. | The Glamorous Life | Warner Bros. | UK | SAM 196 | 1984 | Promotional 12" Single |
Sheila E. | The Glamorous Life | Warner Bros. | UK | W 9285 | April 15, 1985 | 7" Reissue |
Sheila E. | The Glamorous Life | Warner Bros. | USA | 9 29285-7 | May 2, 1984 | 7" Single |
Sheila E. | The Glamorous Life | Warner Bros. | USA | 0-20251 / 9 20251-0 A | 1984 | 12" Single |
Sheila E. | The Glamorous Life | Warner Bros. | USA | 7-29285 | 1984 | Promotional 7" Single |
Sheila E. | The Glamorous Life | Warner Bros. | USA | 7PRO-A-2167 | 1984 | Promotional 12" Single |
Sheila E. | The Glamorous Life | Warner Bros. | USA | PRO-A-2145 | 1984 | Promotional 12" Single |
Sheila E. | The Glamorous Life | Warner Bros. | Canada | 9 29285-7 | 1984 | 7" Single |
Sheila E. | The Glamorous Life | Warner Bros. | Canada | 92 02510 | 1984 | 12" Single |
Sheila E. | The Glamorous Life | Warner Bros. | Netherlands | 929 285-7 | June 8, 1984 | 7" Single |
Sheila E. | The Glamorous Life | Warner Bros. | Netherlands | 929 285-7 | January 31, 1986 | 7" Reissue |
Sheila E. | The Glamorous Life | Warner Bros. | Europe | 929 285-7 | 1984 | 7" Single |
Sheila E. | The Glamorous Life | Warner Bros. | Australia | 7-29285 | 1984 | 7" Single |
Sheila E. | The Glamorous Life | Warner Bros. | Germany | 920 232-0 | 1984 | 12" Single |
Sheila E. | The Glamorous Life | Warner Bros. | Portugal | 759 92-0251-0 | 1984 | 12" Single |
TRACKLIST TABLE (ALL FORMATS)
Format | Catalogue | Tracklisting |
UK 7" Single | W 9285 | A. The Glamorous Life (3:41) B. The Glamorous Life Part II (3:12) |
UK 12" Single | W 9285 T | A. The Glamorous Life (Club Edit) (6:33) B. The Glamorous Life Part II (3:12) |
UK Promotional 12" Single | SAM 196 | A. The Glamorous Life (8 Minute Version) (8:58) B. The Glamorous Life (Pt. II) (3:12) |
USA 7" Single | 9 29285-7 | A. The Glamorous Life (3:41) B. The Glamorous Life Part II (3:12) |
Canada 7" Single | 9 29285-7 | A. The Glamorous Life (3:41) B. The Glamorous Life Part II (3:12) |
European 7" Single | 929 285-7 | A. The Glamorous Life (3:41) B. The Glamorous Life Part II (3:12) |
Australian 7" Single | 7-29285 | A. The Glamorous Life (3:41) B. The Glamorous Life Part II (3:12) |
USA 12" Single | 0-20251 / 9 20251-0 A | A. The Glamorous Life (Club Edit) (6:33) B. The Glamorous Life Part II (3:12) |
Canada 12" Single | 92 02510 | A. The Glamorous Life (Club Edit) (6:33) B. The Glamorous Life Part II (3:12) |
Germany 12" Single | 920 232-0 | A. The Glamorous Life (Club Edit) (6:33) B. The Glamorous Life Part II (3:12) |
Portugal 12" Single | 759 92-0251-0 | A. The Glamorous Life (Club Edit) (6:33) B. The Glamorous Life Part II (3:12) |
USA Promotional 7" Single | 7-29285 | A. The Glamorous Life (3:41) B. The Glamorous Life (3:41) |
USA Promotional 12" Single | 7PRO-A-2167 | A. The Glamorous Life (Album Version Edit) (6:33) B. The Glamorous Life (Single Edit) (3:41) |
USA Promotional 12" Single | PRO-A-2145 | A. The Glamorous Life (Edit) (3:41) B. The Glamorous Life (Album Version) (8:58) |
SOURCES Prince Vault, Discogs, sleevographia2.
All single artwork, photographs, labels, 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.
Comments