Prince O(+> (February 14, 1997) The Truth b/w Don’t Play Me - CD Single
Updated: May 24
A rare direct‑order acoustic statement — Prince’s first and only single from the intimate album The Truth….
RELEASE DETAILS
Date: February 14, 1997
Catalogue: None assigned (Direct Order Only) Format: CD Single
Country: United States
Label: NPG Records
Album: The Truth… (1997)
A-Side: The Truth
THE STORY Released exclusively through the 1-800-NEW-FUNK phone line and website on Valentine’s Day 1997, “The Truth” b/w “Don’t Play Me” was the only single issued from Prince O(+>’s stripped-down acoustic album The Truth…. Sold for $15.00 as a direct-to-fan release, it bypassed traditional retail channels entirely.
CONTEXT & NOTES This limited CD single embodied Prince’s independent ethos during the late 1990s. Both tracks later appeared on the full The Truth… album (included in the 1998 Crystal Ball box set). No commercial retail version or international editions were ever produced, making original copies highly sought after by collectors.
TRACK LIST
Direct Order CD Single (1997)
The Truth — 3:32
Don’t Play Me — 2:50
All Variants
CD Single – 1-800-NEW-FUNK Exclusive (Direct Order Only)
CHART PERFORMANCE Not eligible for charts due to limited direct-order distribution.
PERSONNEL
Prince O(+> – vocals, acoustic guitar, production, arrangement
PACKAGING HIGHLIGHTS
Front sleeve: Dramatic classical-style painting with blue angel figure, “the TRUTH” title, and Love Symbol
Back sleeve: Minimal design with tracklist and 1-800-NEW-FUNK ordering information
WHAT THE LABEL / SLEEVE SHOWS
Striking symbolic artwork with classical painting aesthetic and bold white Love Symbol.
RELATED MATERIAL
Betcha By Golly Wow! (1996)
The Holy River (1997)
SOURCES Prince Vault • Discogs • 1-800-NEW-FUNK archives
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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