I Wanna Be Your Lover
Encyclopedia
"I Wanna Be Your Lover" is a song by Prince
from his second album Prince
, released in 1979. It was his first successful single, gaining radio airplay and chart success: the song scored two weeks at number one on the R&B singles chart during December 1979, and peaked at number eleven on the Billboard Hot 100
.
In the U.S. the B-side
of the track was "My Love Is Forever", from his previous album, For You. In the UK, the B-side was "Just as Long as We're Together
", also from For You. This was Prince's debut single in the UK. It charted together with "Sexy Dancer
" on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play
chart, where it reached number two.
Prince included a sample of this song in the opening of his 1992 song "My Name Is Prince
".
The other version which is not featured on The Hits Collection compilation shows Prince and band members at the time in a tan painted room. This video was pulled because of skimpy clothing. The video is widely sought after by collectors.
7" single (UK)
7" single (DEU)
12" single (UK)
12" promo
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
from his second album Prince
Prince (album)
Prince is the second studio album by Prince, released on October 19, 1979. It was a quickly written album in reaction to his debut For You. It took seven weeks to complete. The album needed to have hits and sell well to make up for the blown budget on his first release...
, released in 1979. It was his first successful single, gaining radio airplay and chart success: the song scored two weeks at number one on the R&B singles chart during December 1979, and peaked at number eleven on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
In the U.S. the B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
of the track was "My Love Is Forever", from his previous album, For You. In the UK, the B-side was "Just as Long as We're Together
Just as Long as We're Together
"Just as Long as We're Together" was Prince's second single released from his 1978 debut album, For You. While "Soft and Wet" was more funk-based, "Just as Long as We're Together" is an all-out disco track. The song was re-recorded multiple times to prove Prince's talents to Warner Bros. Records...
", also from For You. This was Prince's debut single in the UK. It charted together with "Sexy Dancer
Sexy Dancer
"Sexy Dancer" was the follow-up single to Prince's self-titled second album in the UK. It was the first Prince single released outside of the United States that was not released as a single stateside...
" on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart, where it reached number two.
Prince included a sample of this song in the opening of his 1992 song "My Name Is Prince
My Name is Prince
"My Name Is Prince" is a song by Prince and The New Power Generation, from the 1992 Love Symbol album. The song is about Prince himself, and his musical prowess...
".
Music video
There are two versions of the music video of the single. The main version has Prince in a leopard shirt and jeans singing alone in a black background with only a mic. Various shots show Prince playing the instruments by himself.The other version which is not featured on The Hits Collection compilation shows Prince and band members at the time in a tan painted room. This video was pulled because of skimpy clothing. The video is widely sought after by collectors.
Track listings
7" single- A. "I Wanna Be Your Lover" (edit) – 2:57
- B. "My Love Is Forever" – 4:08
7" single (UK)
- A. "I Wanna Be Your Lover" (edit) – 2:57
- B. "Just as Long as We're Together" (edit) – 3:25
7" single (DEU)
- A. "I Wanna Be Your Lover" (edit) – 2:57
- B. "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?" – 3:49
12" single (UK)
- A. "I Wanna Be Your Lover" – 5:47
- B. "Just as Long as We're Together" – 6:24
12" promo
- A. "I Wanna Be Your Lover" (edit) – 2:57
- B. "I Wanna Be Your Lover" – 5:57
Cover versions
- In 1994, former NeighboursNeighboursNeighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
actors twins Gayle & Gillian BlakeneyGayle & Gillian BlakeneyGayle and Gillian Blakeney are Australian identical twins who performed together as actresses and as a dance/pop duo in the 1990s. Born in Brisbane on 9 July 1966. Gayle is older by nine minutes. They are most widely known for their stint in the soap opera Neighbours.-Early career:The girls knew...
covered the song, which was entitled "Wanna Be Your Lover". It peaked at number 62 on the UK Singles Chart. - In 2009, Patrick StumpPatrick StumpPatrick Vaughn Stump is an American singer-songwriter, composer, record producer, and music critic. He is the composer, lead singer, and multi-instrumentalist of Fall Out Boy, an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, and is also a solo artist...
, singer of the band Fall Out BoyFall Out BoyFall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008...
, did a cover of the song in a RollingStone.com exclusive video. - Millie JacksonMillie JacksonMildred "Millie" Jackson is an American R&B/soul singer-songwriter and comedienne. Three of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA for over 500,000 copies....
also covered the track, changing the opening line to "I've got plenty of money..." - Haywoode, a British R&B artist, covered the song on her 1985 album "Arrival".
- Rapper 50 Cent50 CentCurtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
added his own verse to the song, dubbing the resulting song "Your Favorite". - In 2011, Corinne Bailey RaeCorinne Bailey RaeCorinne Bailey Rae is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist from Leeds, who released her debut album Corinne Bailey Rae in February 2006....
released a cover of the song on her The Love E.P.The Love EP (Corinne Bailey Rae EP)The Love EP is a January 2011 released EP from Leeds born singer/songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae. The EP consists of 5 cover versions love songs.-Track listing:#"I Wanna Be Your Lover" - 3:29#"Low Red Moon" - 5:00... - In 2011, Guga Neiva released a cover as lead single on debut album, 17.