They were all supposed to be released on November 25, 1997. Then Warner suddenly canceled them all.
(Need proof? Just google any of the WBR catalog numbers on the left of the proposed titles and click the link that says Translate This Page.)

WPCR-1522 I Wanna Be Your Lover / Just As Long As We're Together
WPCR-1523 Sexy Dancer (Long Version) / Bambi
WPCR-1524 Do It All Night / Head
WPCR-1525 Gotta Stop (Messin' About) / I Wanna Be Your Lover / Head
WPCR-1526 Controversy / When You Were Mine
WPCR-1527 Let's Work (Dance Remix) / Ronnie Talk To Russia
WPCR-1528 1999 / How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore / D.M.S.R.
WPCR-1529 Little Red Corvette / Automatic / International Lover
WPCR-1530 When Doves Cry / 17 Days
WPCR-1531 Purple Rain / God (Instrumental) / God
WPCR-1532 I Would Die 4 U / Another Lonely Christmas
WPCR-1533 Let's Go Crazy (Extended Version) /Take Me With U/Erotic City
WPCR-1534 Paisley Park (Remix) / She's Always In My Hair
WPCR-1535 Raspberry Beret (Extended Remix) / Hello
WPCR-1536 Pop Life (Extended Version) / Girl
WPCR-1537 Kiss (Extended Version) / Love or Money
WPCR-1538 Mountains (Extended Version) / Alexa De Paris
WPCR-1539 Girls And Boys / Under The Cherry Moon / Erotic City
WPCR-1540 Anotherloverholenyohead (Extended Version) / I Wanna Be Your Lover
WPCR-1541 Sign O' The Times / La La La He He Hee
WPCR-1542 If I Was Your Girlfriend / Shockadelica
WPCR-1543 U Got The Look (Long Look) / Housequake (7 Minutes MoQuake)
WPCR-1544 I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man / Hot Thing (Extended Remix)
WPCR-1545 Alphabet St. / Alphabet St. (This Is Not Music, This Is A Trip)
WPCR-1546 Glam Slam (Remix) / Escape
WPCR-1547 I Wish U Heaven (Part 1, 2, & 3) / Scarlett Pussy
WPCR-1548 Batdance (The Batmix) / Batdance (Vicki Vale Mix) / 200 Balloons
WPCR-1549 The Purple Party Mix/Partyman Music Mix/Partyman (The Video Mix)/Feel U Up (Short Stroke)
WPCR-1550 The Arms Of Orion / I Love U In Me

I would still buy all of them... if they're ever released. Even at $30 a pop. You just know they had all of the original artwork and the songs were probably/hopefully going to be remastered...

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[Edited 3/21/07 9:03am]

How are these different from the "cd BACKtrax" singles?

Didn't these get released anyway, then Prince asked us to send them to Vermilion?

Prince is scruffy.

CinisterCee said:

these are different in that none of them were released. (hence the "unreleased" portion of the subject header)...

In the UK (don't know about elsewhere), there have been times where a record company has released old single from an artist every week for a period of months (Michael Jackson and Elvis Prestley spring to mind). I'd like to see WB do this for Prince - I'd buy them every week!

Would have made a killer box set. What's this "google" you speak of?

squirrelgrease said:

you might not have it your town yet... try dejanews

I remember this from the time, and was totally gutted when they got cancelled.

Ummmm...you know most of these versions are already available, right? They aren't Japanese...but they exist. And frankly...a lot of them are the album versions -- so you may already have them.

Genesia said:

i have all of them. but in 1997, the rumor was that they were going to be remastered. so when they were canceled, those that were willing to fork over $500-600 were devastated.

Genesia said:

They're all available, they were just to be re-issues of the singles, but on CD.

Selling them individually is a bit of a cheek, but a box set would be perfect. They've done this for loads of artists, Blondie, The Clash, U2, ABBA, etc, etc, can't see any reason why not Prince (other than the usual Prince/WB dummy-throwing).
[Edited 3/22/07 7:16am]

I remember ordering about half of these while I was living in OK.

When they were pulled from sale, I was both disappointed and relieved

That was about 300 bucks!!!

'Tis still but a wish to see this materialize, though.

suomynona said: