When You Were Mine (Prince song)
"When You Were Mine" is a song written and released by Prince on his 1980 album, Dirty Mind.[1] Though not released as a single, the song received a promotional 12" release (which included "Gotta Broken Heart Again" and "Uptown"). "When You Were Mine" was later the B-side for Prince's "Controversy" single in 1981.
Prince has performed the song many times in concert, and a live version was included on his 2002 live album, One Nite Alone... Live!. The original studio version was also included on The Hits/The B-Sides in 1993. Prince said he was inspired to write the rock song while listening to John Lennon. The track includes a Farfisa-inspired organ sound played on an Oberheim OB-X.
Cyndi Lauper version
"When You Were Mine" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Cyndi Lauper | ||||
from the album She's So Unusual | ||||
B-side | "Yeah Yeah" "I'll Kiss You" | |||
Released | January 31, 1985 | |||
Recorded | July 1983 at The Record Plant (New York City, New York) | |||
Genre | Synthpop | |||
Length | 5:06 | |||
Label | Epic | |||
Songwriter(s) | Prince | |||
Producer(s) | Rick Chertoff | |||
Cyndi Lauper singles chronology | ||||
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Cyndi Lauper's mid-tempo ballad cover version of "When You Were Mine" is also synthesizer-based for her 1983 debut album, She's So Unusual.[1] Lauper recorded the song with the original lyrics, preserving the "he/him/his" pronouns. She performed the single at the 1985 American Music Awards. It was released exclusively as a promotional single in the United States and received a commercial release in Canada and Japan.
Track listing
Canada 7" single
- "When You Were Mine" (Single Version) – 4:00
- "Yeah Yeah" – 3:17
Japan 7" single
- "When You Were Mine"
- "I'll Kiss You"
Charts
Chart (1985) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canadian Singles Chart | 62 |
References
- "Prince Dead at 57". rollingstone.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.