Ultra-rare one-sided U.K. vinyl test pressing of Prince’s 12″ single “When Doves Cry” (WEA/UK, SAM 201A). Recorded at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, “When Doves Cry” was the debut single on Prince’s iconic album “Purple Rain.” It was released worldwide several weeks prior to the album in June 1984 and quickly became Prince’s first #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100. Prince played all the instruments and provided all vocals on “When Doves Cry,” a song with no bass line (an extraordinarily innovative and bold move at the time). The song’s popularity is widely credited as the foundation for the success of the “Purple Rain” film and album. In fact, “When Doves Cry” ranks #37 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
The test pressing features a plain white label with handwritten “Prince, When Doves Cry,” and a sleeve that has “West Germany” printed on it. The vinyl appears to be in un-played condition. Test pressings are manufactured in very limited quantities (often fewer than 25 copies) for the purpose of listening to materials being considered for commercial release or for evaluating the quality of a finished product. They are usually the first discs made from production stampers and sound better than commercially available vinyl. Often the song content of a test pressing mirrors that of a commercial vinyl release, which appears to be the case here.
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