✦ Thieves In The Temple - Maxi Single: Aug.1990
- GlamSlamEscape
- Aug 1, 1990
- 4 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Prince launches the Graffiti Bridge era with a hypnotic, spiritual, genre‑blending single that became his seventh US R&B number 1
Release Date
• August 2 1990 (US maxi‑single)
Formats
• 12" Maxi‑Single
• Cassette Maxi
• 5" CD Single
• 12" Promo
• CD Promo
Catalogue Numbers
• Canada: 92 15980
• US: 0‑21598
• UK: W9751T
• Germany: 7599‑21598‑0
• Australia: MX305873‑4
• Cassette Maxi (US): 4‑21598
• 5" CD (US): 9 21598‑2
• 5" CD (UK): W9751CD
• 5" CD (DE): 7599‑21598‑2
• 12" Promo (US): PRO‑A‑4345
• CD Promo (US): PRO‑CD‑4345
Track Variants
• Thieves In The Temple (Remix) — 8:03
• Thieves In The House Mix — 6:50
• Temple House Dub — 5:06
• Thieves In The Temple (LP Version) — 3:20
Chart Performance
• US Billboard Hot 100: No. 6
• US Billboard Hot R&B Singles: No. 1
• US Billboard Dance Club Play: No. 9
Production
• Written, produced, arranged and performed by Prince
✦ SUMMARY
Released in the US on August 2 1990 as a maxi‑single, Thieves In The Temple was the first single from Prince’s twelfth album Graffiti Bridge, which also served as the soundtrack to the film of the same name. Issued five weeks before the album, the single introduced the project with a striking blend of Middle Eastern‑influenced melodies, sparse funk, and spiritual tension.
The release included an additional non‑album track, Thieves In The Temple (Part II), but did not feature a traditional b‑side — only the second time Prince had issued a lead single without a new b‑side, following Alphabet St. in 1988.
Thieves In The Temple became a major hit, reaching number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles Chart, marking Prince’s seventh number 1 on that chart. It also performed strongly on the US Dance chart, reflecting the popularity of the extended mixes included on the maxi‑single.
✦ HIGHLIGHTS
• Released 2 August 1990 (US maxi‑single)
• First single from the album Graffiti Bridge
• Contains non‑album track Thieves In The Temple (Part II)
• No traditional b‑side
• US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: No. 6
• US Billboard Hot R&B Singles Peak: No. 1
• US Billboard Dance Club Play Peak: No. 9
• Multiple formats issued worldwide
✦ TRACK DETAILS
12" Maxi‑Single
A. Thieves In The Temple (Remix) — 8:03
B1. Thieves In The House Mix — 6:50
B2. Temple House Dub — 5:06
Catalogue Numbers
• Canada: 92 15980
• US: 0‑21598
• UK: W9751T
• Germany: 7599‑21598‑0
• Australia: MX305873‑4
Cassette Maxi (US: 4‑21598)
A. Thieves In The Temple (Remix) — 8:03
B1. Thieves In The House Mix — 6:50
B2. Temple House Dub — 5:06
5" CD Single
• US: 9 21598‑2
• UK: W9751CD
• DE: 7599‑21598‑2
Thieves In The Temple (Remix) — 8:03
Thieves In The House Mix — 6:50
Temple House Dub — 5:06
12" Promo (US: PRO‑A‑4345)
A. Thieves In The Temple — 3:20
B. Thieves In The Temple — 3:20
CD Promo (US: PRO‑CD‑4345)
Thieves In The Temple — 3:20
All tracks written, produced, arranged and performed by Prince.
✦ CHART PERFORMANCE
United States
• Billboard Hot 100: Peak No. 6 (13 weeks)
• Billboard Hot Black Singles: Peak No. 1 (14 weeks)
• Billboard Dance Club Play: Peak No. 9 (7 weeks)
✦ PRINCE 1990 MINI‑TIMELINE — THE GRAFFITI BRIDGE ERA
✦ Early 1990
Prince completes the Graffiti Bridge film and soundtrack, expanding the narrative world first introduced in Purple Rain.
✦ Summer 1990
The New Power Generation becomes increasingly central to Prince’s sound, blending funk, gospel, hip‑hop and spiritual themes.
✦ 2 August 1990
Thieves In The Temple is released as the lead single. Its sparse, mystical production marks a shift from the dense sound of the late 80s.
✦ August–September 1990
The single climbs the charts, reaching No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the R&B chart — Prince’s seventh R&B number 1.
✦ 20 August 1990
Graffiti Bridge (the album) is released, featuring collaborations with Tevin Campbell, Mavis Staples, The Time and The NPG.
✦ Late 1990
The Graffiti Bridge film premieres, closing out one of Prince’s most ambitious multimedia projects.
✦ GLAM FLASHBACK — THIEVES IN THE TEMPLE VS. NEW POWER GENERATION AND ROUND AND ROUND
✦ Thieves In The Temple
• Minimalist, spiritual, Middle Eastern‑tinged production
• Prince alone on vocals and instruments
• Themes of betrayal, inner conflict and divine justice
• A stark, hypnotic sound that stands apart from his late‑80s work
✦ New Power Generation
• Funk‑driven, communal, celebratory
• Introduces the NPG as a full creative force
• Brass, chants, group vocals and hip‑hop elements
• A declaration of a new era and a new band identity
✦ Round And Round (feat. Tevin Campbell)
• Bright, youthful, melodic pop‑funk
• Showcases Prince as a mentor and producer
• Smooth, polished, radio‑friendly
• A contrast to the darker tone of Thieves In The Temple
Together, these singles map the full emotional and stylistic range of the Graffiti Bridge era — from spiritual tension to communal funk to polished pop.
✦ SOURCES
US chart archives
Label release documentation
Wikipedia
Discogs
Collector and marketplace references
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