Prince (February 9, 1994) The Most Beautiful Girl in the World - Single US
- GlamSlamEscape
- Feb 9, 1994
- 2 min read
Updated: May 24
The first independent release by — and a global phenomenon. A landmark single that broke Prince free from Warner Bros., launched NPG Records, and became his first UK No. 1 hit.
RELEASE DETAILS
Date: February 9, 1994
Catalogue: BR-72514 (7"/CD/Cassette), BR-72516 (Staxowax), BR-72521 (Mustang), etc.
Format: 7" Single, 12" Single, CD Single, Cassette Single, Promo
Country: United States (primary) / International
Label: NPG Records / Bellmark
Album: The Gold Experience (1995)
A-Side: The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
THE STORY
Released on February 9, 1994, The Most Beautiful Girl in the World was the first single credited to the Love Symbol and the inaugural release on NPG Records. Issued independently of Warner Bros., it marked Prince’s bold declaration of artistic freedom. The track later appeared on The Gold Experience. Multiple versions and formats followed, including the The Beautiful Experience EP.
CONTEXT & NOTES
This single was a seismic turning point — Prince’s first independent release, first NPG Records single, and first UK No. 1. Warner Bros. blocked the planned B-side “New World,” leading to the creation of “Beautiful.” The campaign featured numerous mixes treated as separate releases (Staxowax, Mustang, 4U). It became a worldwide success despite chart-boosting allegations.
TRACK LIST
7" Single (BR-72514)
A. The Most Beautiful Girl in the World — 4:37
B. Beautiful — 3:56
Cassette Single (BR-72514-4)
A. The Most Beautiful Girl in the World B. Beautiful
CD Single (BR-72514-2)
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World — 4:37
Beautiful — 3:56
Staxowax CD Single (BR-72516-2)
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World (Staxowax Mix)
Mustang Mix CD Single (BR-72521-2)
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World (Mustang Mix)
4U CD Longbox
4U (The Most Beautiful Girl in the World)
All Variants
7" Single (BR-72514)
Cassette Single (BR-72514-4)
CD Single (BR-72514-2)
Staxowax CD Single (BR-72516-2)
Mustang Mix CD Single (BR-72521-2)
4U CD Longbox
Various Promo & International Editions
The Beautiful Experience EP (1994)
WHAT THE LABEL / SLEEVE SHOWS
Iconic yellow speech bubble artwork featuring a collage of diverse women’s portraits with bold purple text “the Most Beautiful Girl in the World” and the Love Symbol.
CHART PERFORMANCE US Billboard Hot 100: Peak No. 3 US Billboard R&B Singles: Peak No. 2 UK Singles Chart: Peak No. 1
PERSONNEL
Prince (as ) – vocals, instruments, production, arrangement
PACKAGING HIGHLIGHTS
Front sleeve: Vibrant yellow speech bubble design with collage of women’s faces and purple/pink typography
Back sleeve: Track credits and NPG branding
RELATED MATERIAL
Prince (November 1, 1994) Space - Single US/International
Nona Gaye & Prince (1994) Love Sign - Promo Single
Prince (March 14, 1995) Purple Medley - Single US
SOURCES Prince Vault • Discogs • Billboard • Official Charts Company
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. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.
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