7

"7"
Single by Prince
from the album Love Symbol Album
B-side	"7" (acoustic version)
Released	November 17, 1992
Format	7" single 12" single Picture disc Cassette single CD single / maxi-single
Recorded	Paisley Park Studios, September 1991 to March 1992
Genre	Pop rock
Length	7" edit: 4:23 Album: 5:09
Label	Paisley Park/Warner Bros.
Writer(s)	Prince Lowell Fulson (as Lowell Fulsom) Jimmy McCracklin
Producer	Prince
Certification	Gold - (March 10, 1993)
Prince singles chronology
"My Name Is Prince" (1992) "7" (1992) "Damn U" (1992)
Prince (UK) chronology "My Name Is Prince" (1992) "7" (1992) "The Morning Papers" (1993)

"7" is a song by Prince and The New Power Generation, from the 1992 Love Symbol Album.^[1] It features a sample of the 1967 Otis Redding and Carla Thomas duet, "Tramp".

Music video

The video was shot on February 27, 1992. It begins with Mayte whispering "imagine" in Prince's ear, in the position they are in on the single cover. A scene from 3 Chains o' Gold is shown as well. It features Mayte belly-dancing. The video set is pictured on the album cover, along with a still shot from the video. There are little girls wearing yellow belly-dancing outfits almost identical to Mayte's. There are little boys wearing black outfits and eyebands identical to Prince's. This video is also notable for Mayte dancing with a sword on her head, which she would later do in live performances.

Chart performance

The most successful single from the album in the U.S., "7" was most successful on the Top 40 Pop/Mainstream charts, where it earned a #3 placement, and coincidentally the single peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. It performed respectably on the Rhythmic charts (#19). However, it was less popular with R&B/Hip Hop radio, stalling at #61. In the Canadian RPM charts the song peaked at #12.

The single performed well in the U.K., rising as high as #27, but falling short of the success of the previous two releases.

Track listings

7" single / CD single

1. "7" (LP version) – 5:13
2. "7" (acoustic version) – 3:54

12" single

1. "7" (LP version) – 5:13
2. "7" (acoustic version) – 3:54
3. "7" (After 6 Long Version) – 5:15

12" maxi-single / CD maxi-single

1. "7" (LP version) – 5:13
2. "7" (After 6 Edit) – 4:20
3. "7" (After 6 Long Version) – 5:15
4. "7" (acoustic version) – 3:54
5. "7" (album edit) – 4:23
6. "2 Whom It May Concern" – 4:01

US CD promo single^[2]

1. "7" (album edit) – 4:23
2. "7" (After 6 Edit) – 4:20
3. "7" (LP version) – 5:13
4. "7" (acoustic version) – 3:54
5. "7" (After 6 Long Version) – 5:15
6. "7" (Mix 5 Long Version) – 4:56
7. "7" (Mix 5 Edit) – 4:06

Charts

Cover versions

• Norwegian artist Erlend Ropstad recorded a cover of the song for the 2008 tribute album Shockadelica - 50th Anniversary Tribute to the Artist Known as Prince.^[4]
• A cappella group Sixteen Feet from Swarthmore College recorded an a cappella version of the song on the 1996 album Sasquatch.

References