1999 [Reissue] Prince single

Warner Bros. Records

single

Two thousand zero zero.

On 28 December 1998, Warner Bros Records re-released the original track 1999 to mark the arrival of the year 1999 and capitalise on the turning of the Millennium celebrations and the song’s obvious commercial value.

The song was recorded in the summer of 1982 at Prince’s Kiowa Trail home studio and became one of Prince’s breakout singles along side Little Red Corvette. The Warner reissue of the 1982 classic as a maxi-single backed 1999 with two further tracks Prince likewise recorded at Sunset Sound in 1982: How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore and D.M.S.R. The three tracks of the reissue exactly mirror the original maxi-single issued on 7 January 1983, the lead single promoting Prince’s first double LP 1999.

In response to the release, Prince recorded a reworked version of the track which he titled 1999: The New Master and issued it under his own NPG Records label on 2 February 1999 in answer to the Warner Brothers reissue. Because Warner owned the master recording of the original track, Prince was only permitted to put out his independent release by adding new content and completely recording the song.

Warner Brothers release fared better in the charts. With the original promotional video broadcast on VH1 continuously between midnight EST on 31 December 1998 to midnight 1 January 1999, it helped the Warner reissue to reach number 40 in the US Hot 100 on 16 January 1999. It was a top 10 single in the UK. In comparison, Prince’s re-working peaked at 150. Continuing this logic to completely rerecord every album in the effort to take back the ownership of his material, Prince set about to completely rerecord his catalogue, although getting only as far as completing the rerecording of For You – his 1978 debut LP.

Performers

Vox / All instr.

Prince

Vocals

Lisa Coleman

Dez Dickerson

Backing Vox

Jill Jones

Data

Producer

Prince

Label

Warner Bros. Records

Distribution

Warner Bros. Records

Released

27 years ago on 28 December 1998

Running Time

18:27

US Chart Peak

40

US R&B Peak

45

UK Chart Peak

10

Orig. Formats

Tracklist

1. 1999

   1999 (1982)
   [feat. Jill Jones, Lisa Coleman and Dez Dickerson] (6:22)
2. How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore

   1999 (1982)
   (3:50)
3. D.M.S.R.

   1999 (1982)
   (8:15)

1999 [Reissue] single review

The quintessential Prince song 1999 was reissued in its titular year, much to the ire of its creator who was denied ownership of his own song. Instead, Prince created his own version to circumvent the rules of his contract by giving it fresh artistic interpretation as The New Master. It highlighted the root issue behind Prince’s dispute with the contract the parties singed back in 1992, that despite creating the music, it was the label Warner Bros that remained its owner and master. Joining 1999 in its reissue was How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore its original B-side, and D.M.S.R. a trio of songs created in those iconic studio sessions of 1982 that produced Prince’s first double LP. Of course, come the year 1999 the song was spun in countless parties worldwide as 1998 turned to 1999, it re-entered the Hot 100 at number 10. Prince’s counter release The New Master languished 140 places behind – there’s no substituting the original.

1999 [Reissue] is rated 5 out of 5 by Goldies Parade.

Related releases

1999

Warner Bros. Records • 1982

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1999: The New Master EP

NPG Records • 1999

About this release and review