U Make My Sun Shine

NPG Records

U Make My Sun Shine was originally intended to be the lead single for Prince’s aborted High album. Despite the song being earlier freely available as an MP3 download, the physical version, released on 10 April 2001, still managed to chart – reaching number 59.

The CD release is unique in two ways; 1) that it is Prince‘s first single jointly credited with another performer (Angie Stone) not a member of his regular band; and 2) it is his only single to contain a cover, The Staple singers’ When Will We B Paid². Prince recorded the song as an anthem to highlight the dispute with his former record label Warner Brothers and their ownership of his music. The song is given its own artwork, occupying the back of the cover, and is essentially a double A-side release with U Make My Sun Shine.

U Make My Sun Shine also marks Prince’s first release as ‘Prince’ since reverting to his birth name on 16 May 2000, which had been previously The Artist Formally Known As Prince (Prince love symbol), again due to his dispute with Warner Brothers. The background vocals are provided by Milenia.