✦ The Most Beautiful Girl in the World – Single: Feb. 1994

✦ 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

✦ Summary

Released in the USA on February 9, 1994 as a 7" single, The Most Beautiful Girl in the World marked a seismic turning point in Prince’s career. It was the first single credited to Symbol , the first release from NPG Records, and the first Prince‑related single issued independently of Warner Bros. — a bold declaration of artistic autonomy.

Although later included on The Gold Experience (Prince’s 17th album and the first credited to ), the single arrived with no album attached, functioning as a standalone statement. Coming only five months after The Hits/The B‑Sides, it was clearly positioned as a break from the past — a new identity, a new label, a new era.

The single became a worldwide success, reaching No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and becoming Prince’s first UK No. 1 single. Allegations circulated that Prince’s team purchased large quantities of the single to boost chart performance, though nothing was ever proven.

Three months later, Prince released The Beautiful Experience, an EP containing multiple radically different versions of the song — each with its own title rather than remix labels. Additional CD singles followed for the Staxowax and Mustang Mix versions, each treated as separate releases.

The originally planned B‑side, New World, was blocked by Warner Bros., prompting Prince to create the Beautiful version instead, built from similar musical elements.

The result was one of the most complex, multi‑format, multi‑identity single campaigns of Prince’s entire career.

✦ Highlights

• Released 9 February 1994 (USA)

• First single credited to

• First release from NPG Records

• First Prince‑related single issued independently of Warner Bros.

• Later included on The Gold Experience

• Prince’s first UK No. 1 single

• Reached No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100

• Spawned The Beautiful Experience EP and multiple remix singles

• Originally planned B‑side (“New World”) blocked by Warner Bros.

✦ Track Details

(Due to the enormous number of variants, this section summarizes the US formats only.)

7" – USA (NPG/Bellmark – BR‑72514‑4)

A. The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

B. Beautiful (B‑side version created after “New World” was blocked)

Cassette Singles – USA

Standard Cassette (BR‑72514‑4)

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

Beautiful

4U Cassette Longbox (no catalog number)

4U (The Most Beautiful Girl in the World)

Staxowax Cassette (BR 72516 4)

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World (Staxowax Mix)

Alternate Cassette (BR 72519‑4)

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

CD Singles – USA

Standard CD (BR 72514‑2)

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

Beautiful

Staxowax CD (BR 72516‑2)

Staxowax Mix

Mustang Mix CD (BR 72521‑2)

Mustang Mix

4U CD Longbox (no catalog number)

4U (The Most Beautiful Girl in the World)

Promo CDr (no catalog number)

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

12" Vinyl – USA

Standard 12" (BR72514‑1)

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

Misprint 12" (BR‑72514‑2)

Incorrect catalog number printed

✦ Reissues & Global Variants

• Multiple US cassette, CD, and 12" editions

• 4U longbox editions (cassette + CD)

• Staxowax and Mustang Mix singles

• The Beautiful Experience EP (1994)

• International variants not listed here (US‑only entry)

✦ Production and Context

• First independent release by Prince/

• First release on NPG Records

• Warner Bros. allowed only one independent track — Prince responded by issuing multiple versions

• “New World” blocked as B‑side → “Beautiful” created instead

• Artwork varied widely across formats

• Campaign designed to assert artistic freedom

• EP and remix singles treated as separate releases

✦ Singles Released

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World — 9 February 1994

The Beautiful Experience (EP) — May 1994

Staxowax CD Single — 1994

Mustang Mix CD Single — 1994

✦ Chart Performance (USA)

• Billboard Hot 100 — No. 3 (26 weeks)

• Billboard R&B Singles — No. 2 (23 weeks)

• Billboard Adult Contemporary — No. 25 (17 weeks)

✦ Mini Discography

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World — 1994

The Beautiful Experience (EP) — 1994

The Gold Experience — 1995

✦ Mini‑Timeline

Feb 1994 — Single released independently via NPG Records

Mar 1994 — Peaks at No. 3 on Billboard Hot 100

May 1994 — The Beautiful Experience EP released

1995 — Included on The Gold Experience

✦ Glam Flashback

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World wasn’t just a hit — it was a declaration. Prince broke free from Warner Bros., reinvented himself as , launched NPG Records, and delivered one of the most romantic, accessible songs of his career. The single’s global success proved he could thrive outside the traditional industry system, and its sprawling remix campaign showcased his creativity at full throttle. A love song, a manifesto, and a rebirth.

✦ 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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