I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
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| "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
US 7" single | ||||
| Single by Prince | ||||
| from the album Sign o' the Times | ||||
| B-side | "Hot Thing" | |||
| Released | November 3, 1987 | |||
| Recorded | Hollywood Sound Recorders (Studio A), May 23, 1979 (Basic tracking of 1979 version)[1] Sunset Sound, July 16, 1986 (Basic tracking of album version) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:13 (1979 version) 3:39 (7" edit) 6:31 (album/12" version) | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter | Prince | |||
| Producer | Prince | |||
| Prince singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" is a song written and recorded by American musician Prince. It was released as the final single from his ninth studio album Sign o' the Times (1987), becoming the third top-ten hit off the album. It has since been covered by numerous artists.
The original 1979 version was recorded during the sessions that would be his self-titled album. When working on Sign o' the Times, Prince relistened to the original version, deciding to overhaul it with a new drum pattern on a LinnDrum, and rerecording the bass, synthesizers, guitars, and vocal tracks.[8]
The song features two guitar solos, one wild and energetic and one more bluesy and subdued in the full album cut. The song consists of two verses and two choruses, followed by a lengthy instrumental coda.
The lyrics paint the image of a woman seeking a man to replace the one who left, while Prince refuses, saying that she would not be satisfied with a one-night stand.
Cash Box called it an "exceptional tune [that] is skillfully produced and performed."[9]
Music video
The music video was made using the song's section in the Sign “☮” the Times film, and is a live take of the song and included the horn section of Eric Leeds and Atlanta Bliss. This version includes a horn solo in the song's coda, lifting a part from the Camille and The Black Album track, "Rockhard in a Funky Place".
B-side
The single was backed with "Hot Thing", also from Sign “☮” the Times. The 12-inch single includes the full album version of "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man", as well as several remixes of "Hot Thing". One of these was included on the Ultimate compilation album in 2006. "Hot Thing" received enough airplay by DJs to chart on its own, reaching No. 63.
Track listing
7": Paisley Park / 7-28288 (US)
- "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" (fade) – 3:39
- "Hot Thing" (edit) – 3:40
12": Paisley Park / 0-20728 (US)
- "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" – 6:31
- "Hot Thing" (edit) – 3:40
- "Hot Thing" (extended remix) – 8:32
- "Hot Thing" (dub version) – 6:53
12": Warner Bros / W8288T (UK)
- "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" – 6:31
- "Hot Thing" (edit) – 3:40
- "Hot Thing" (extended remix) – 8:32
*also released as a picture disc (W8288TP)
Personnel
Credits from Duane Tudahl, Benoît Clerc and Guitarcloud[10][8][11]
Album version
Musicians
- Prince – lead and backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, Fairlight CMI, Oberheim OB-8, bass guitar, LinnDrum,[12] handclaps
- Susannah Melvoin – possible backing vocals
Technical
- Prince – producer
- Susan Rogers, Coke Johnson – recording engineer
- Todd Herreman – assistant recording engineer
1979 version
Musicians
- Prince – vocals, electric guitar, bass, drums, synthesizers, claps, backing vocals
Technical
- Prince – producer
- Bob Muckler – recording engineer
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1987–1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13] | 28 |
| Italy Airplay (Music & Media)[14] | 7 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] | 30 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[16] | 9 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[17] | 29 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[18] | 10 |