✦ Standing At The Altar – Single: Feb. 1995

✦ Margie Cox’s standout moment from the 1-800 New Funk project

The fifth and final single from the Prince‑curated compilation — and the only one to receive a full commercial release

✦ Summary

Released in the USA on February 7, 1995, Standing At The Altar by Margie Cox served as the fifth and final single from the compilation 1-800 New Funk. The album showcased mostly unreleased tracks written and produced by Prince for various Paisley Park/NPG‑affiliated artists, and this single became its most visible release.

The single arrived one month after the album in the UK and Europe, with the B‑side “17” by Madhouse — also included on the compilation. In the USA, the single appeared in February 1995 across several promotional formats.

Two of these US promos — the 12" and cassette — featured a previously unreleased Margie Cox track, “Whistlin’ Kenny”, which has never appeared on any other release, making these editions highly collectible.

Commercially, the single made only a brief impact, appearing on the UK charts for one week at No. 100 and failing to chart in the USA. Despite this, the track remains a fan‑favourite within the Prince‑associated canon, representing one of the strongest vocal performances in the 1-800 New Funk project.

✦ Highlights

• Released February 7, 1995 (USA)

• Fifth and final single from 1-800 New Funk

• Only track from the compilation to receive a broad commercial release

• B‑side: “17” by Madhouse

• US promos include the unreleased “Whistlin’ Kenny”

• Charted for one week in the UK (No. 100)

• Did not chart in the USA

• Strong Prince involvement across the project

✦ Track Details

7" Promo – USA (NPG 60667D0)

A. Standing At The Altar — 3:54 (Margie Cox)

B. Love Sign — 4:33 (Nona Gaye and )

12" Promo – USA (BR 72531‑1)

A. Standing At The Altar — 3:54 (Margie Cox)

B. Whistlin’ Kenny — 2:45 (Margie Cox)

Cassette Promo – USA (BR 72531‑4)

A. Standing At The Altar — 3:54 (Margie Cox)

B. Whistlin’ Kenny — 2:45 (Margie Cox)

✦ Reissues & Global Variants

• Commercial release in UK and Europe

• US promotional formats only

• “Whistlin’ Kenny” exclusive to US promos

• No CD single issued in the USA

• No vinyl reissue

✦ Production and Context

• Part of the 1-800 New Funk compilation curated by Prince

• Features Prince’s songwriting/production influence across the project

• “17” by Madhouse used as B‑side

• “Whistlin’ Kenny” remains unreleased outside US promos

• Only single from the compilation to receive wide commercial distribution

• Minimal chart impact but strong collector interest

✦ Singles Released

Standing At The Altar — February 7, 1995

✦ Chart Performance

UK

• Gallup Singles Chart — No. 100 (1 week)

USA

• Did not chart

✦ Mini Discography

1-800 New Funk — 1994

Standing At The Altar (Single) — 1995

Love Sign — 1994

✦ Mini‑Timeline

January 1995 — 1-800 New Funk released

February 7, 1995 — Standing At The Altar released in the USA

February–March 1995 — UK chart appearance

1995 — Promotional formats circulate with “Whistlin’ Kenny”

✦ Glam Flashback

Standing At The Altar is one of the hidden gems of the mid‑’90s Prince universe — a soulful, commanding performance from Margie Cox wrapped in the unmistakable sonic palette of the NPG era. Though it barely grazed the charts, the single stands as the most fully realized moment from 1-800 New Funk, and its rare promo‑only B‑side has kept collectors hunting for decades.

✦ Image & Artwork Copyright Notice

All images, photographs, and artwork referenced or displayed in this post remain the property of their respective copyright holders. They are included strictly for historical, educational, and archival purposes under fair‑use principles. No ownership is claimed, and all rights belong to the original creators, photographers, designers, and publishers.

✦ Sources

Prince Vault

Wikipedia

Discogs

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