BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984
“I Feel for You” is a song written by Prince that originally appeared on his 1979 self-titled album, one of two songs on that album (along with “I Wanna Be Your Lover”) written as demos for Patrice Rushen, though neither appeared on any Rushen album. The most successful and well known version was recorded by female R&B singer Chaka Khan, appearing on her 1984 album, I Feel for You. Prince, as songwriter, won the 1985 Grammy Award for Best R&B Song.
Khan’s version featured an all-star supporting cast, with rapping from Melle Mel Mel of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, guitar, drum programming, bass guitar, keyboards and arrangement by Reggie Griffin, bass synthesizer and programming by The System’s David Frank and chromatic harmonica playing by Stevie Wonder. The song also uses vocal samples from Wonder’s “Fingertips”. The repetition of Khan’s name by Melle Mel at the beginning of the song was originally a mistake made by producer Arif Mardin ), who then decided to keep it.
This version of the song became a million-selling smash in the U.S. and UK, and it helped to relaunch Khan’s career. The song hit No. 1 on the Cash Box singles chart and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in November-December 1984. The song remained on the Billboard Hot 100 for 26 weeks and became one of Billboard’s five biggest pop songs of the year for 1985. The single reached No. 1 on both the U.S. dance and R&B charts in late 1984, remaining atop both for three weeks each. In addition, the song also reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart. While touring with Prince in 1998 in support of her collaborative album, Come 2 My House, Khan and Prince performed “I Feel for You” as a duet.
The Pointer Sisters recorded the song in 1982, two years before Khan’s version was a hit, on their album So Excited!.
Rebbie Jackson recorded it for her 1984 debut album Centipede.
SIDE A:
I Feel For You (Remix) 7:12
Arranged By – Arif Mardin, Reggie Griffin
Edited By [Special Edits] – Arif Mardin
Engineer [Assistant Engineer] – Michael O’Reilly
Written-By – Prince
SIDE B:
I Feel For You (Edit) 4:03
Arranged By – Arif Mardin, Reggie Griffin
Edited By [Special Edits] – Arif Mardin
Engineer [Assistant Engineer] – Michael O’Reilly
Written-By – Prince
Chinatown 4:34
Arranged By – Philippe Saisse
Lyrics By – Chaka Khan, Rhoda Roberts
Music By – Philippe Saisse
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
Year | Single | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|---|
1984 | I Feel For You | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #3 |
1984 | For Youe Jean | U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles | #1 |
1984 | I Feel For You | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #1 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Warner Bros. Records – W 9209 T
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Funk / Soul
CREDITS:
Producer – Arif Mardin
Recorded By, Mixed By – Lew Hahn
NOTES:
Produced for Deniz Productions.
From the forthcoming Warner Bros. album “I Feel For You”
Find the 12″ on DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Txs!
=)
Thanks for this DJPaul!
The 24bit flac is really 16 bit. It is often the case with many of the releases: Some tracks are shown as 24 bit but actually 16 bit while others show correctly.
Thanks so much for uploading this great track. So many lovely memories tied to this song: balmy summer nights full of stars, my brother doing breakdance with his friends…
Absolutely love this song.
Hi! I haven’t been on site in ages. Thanks Paul for what you do!
I hate to repeat this probably often asked question but on a mac using UnRar all i get are crc failures. I just can’t figure it out!
I was so giddy when I saw that you posted this 12-inch Paul!! I had forgotten that Prince composed this song! You’re great for posting such things because it makes us look into the originals because of you. This track amazed me when it first came out because I could see how studio trickery and techniques were crossing over into the pop scene. That’s why I love dance music so much. So many trends originate in the clubs and the records that come from that culture. I remember reading how Ms. Kahn was a bit embarrassed by the rap when… Read more »
This is a true classic. A great remix. Great song.
Thank you for Chaka Khan, but I have a request, please re-upload maxi single Boney M. – Happy Song, thank you.
Excellent choice! I Always felt like this longer version was a great example of how an extended mix should work. Takes the best parts of the single and builds on them, gives you new sections that sound like they belong, and makes you miss them when you hear the original. (Duran Duran’s The Relfex extended ver. does this well too).
i feel for you!!!think i love u dj!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
a million thanx!!!!!!
I’m sure many on here will admit that they use to dance to this when the video would come on MTV, I sure did. I really loved, loved this Prince track and Chaka Khan gave it a new funky life. Thank you for sharing this with us Dj PaulT!
I will admit it I did 🙂
The Pointer Sisters also covered this on their 1982 album ‘So Excited’ Glad Chaka got a hold of it, her version is just epic!
You are right Pepé they did cover it 🙂
Great choice Paul 🙂
Thank you Jay65 🙂
Absolute CLASSIC!
There are very few songs that are true classics, yet this song certainly shows what a true classic is.
Oddly, people do forget this is a Prince cover version, but awesome it is. Also check out Cyndi Lauper’s When You Were Mine – another excellent Prince cover version from roughly the similar era.
Thank you!
You’re welcome anthonyC. I love that Cyndi song it was only released as a single Japan I believe 🙂
Excelent choice!! Love this song Paul, hope the prince’s series still keep going on!!
All the best
Thank you Cdman I still have a few more for next week then it will end.